Tom Head Hits Roadblock in Ph.D. Process

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Tom Head, Jan 8, 2002.

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  1. Tom Head

    Tom Head New Member

    The good news: I was formally offered a place in an Australian Ph.D. program, assigned a student number, cleared for enrollment, et cetera, and had verified that the dissertation defense could be done via videoconferencing.

    The bad news: In my acceptance letter, I spied a clause stating that 10 days per year of face-to-face supervisor contact was required. The university did the right thing by telling me this before I sent them any money, and the dissertation defense can technically be done by videoconferencing, so nobody's really in the wrong here.

    I'm currently working to have the 10-day requirement waived (and may yet succeed), but this does highlight the importance of getting this sort of thing in writing before one enrolls for that first semester. If the program doesn't work out, I have a few more options on the table--and, failing that, enough writing projects to keep me busy for a while. But it's nice to know that an AQF-approved Australian school has approved me for Ph.D. work, and I can probably use that fact as a leveraging point should I apply to another program.


    Cheers,

    ------------------
    Tom Head
    www.tomhead.net

    co-author, Bears' Guide to the Best Education Degrees by Distance Learning (Ten Speed Press)
    co-author, Get Your IT Degree and Get Ahead (Osborne/McGraw-Hill)
     
  2. EllisZ

    EllisZ Member

    Tom,

    How tedious was the application process? What field are you planning on studying?

    Thanks,
    - Ellis
     
  3. Jack Tracey

    Jack Tracey New Member

    Well Tom, I hope the ball bounces your way.
    BTW, what school does this involve? I had a similar sort of "fine print" problem with the University of New England once although mine had more to do with fees. Best of luck,
    Jack
     
  4. Tom Head

    Tom Head New Member

    (a) The application process was remarkably easy, which is one of the reasons why it never occurred to me to ask about face-to-face residencies.

    (b) I'm planning on studying religious philosophy.

    (c) I don't want to say which school until the negotiation process is over, but it wasn't the University of New England, and the tuition was more-or-less what I expected.

    (d) Thanks for the kind words, folks. If I do end up having to drop the program, this could be a blessing in disguise; I've long lamented the fact that "international distance education" nearly always seems to mean four countries (USA, UK, Australia, South Africa), and here's my opportunity to put my money where my mouth is.


    Cheers,

    ------------------
    Tom Head
    www.tomhead.net

    co-author, Bears' Guide to the Best Education Degrees by Distance Learning (Ten Speed Press)
    co-author, Get Your IT Degree and Get Ahead (Osborne/McGraw-Hill)
     
  5. Tom Head

    Tom Head New Member

  6. Ike

    Ike New Member

    It is not a roadblock but a minor bump. The only problem is that the cost of flying to Australia and loging in hotels for 10 days each year will increase the overall cost of the program. It could be avoided if face-to-face requirement will be waved for you. Good luck.
     
  7. Ike

    Ike New Member

    I mean lodging in hotels not loging ...
     
  8. George Brown

    George Brown Active Member

    Hey Tom,

    I would be happy to do your residency for you!!!! Just think, they have never seen you, I could put on Yankie voice and pretend I know the be all and end all of your topic.

    Can't be that hard, can it?

    Cheers,

    George
     
  9. Howard

    Howard New Member

    George,
    Your kindness is overwhelming!!!!!!!!

    ------------------
    Howard Rodgers
     
  10. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Look at the bright side Tom, I can think of worse ways to spend 10 days than a working vacation in Australia.

    Now, if I can just figure out a way to get there without getting on a plane again.....


    Bruce
     
  11. WalterRogers

    WalterRogers member

    Unfortunate but you could probably easily arrange to do 10 at once (i.e. a 2 week vacation). Even with the airfare (go in our summer... cheaper)& lodging (stay in residence) the cost is probably less than any US option. A legitimate doctorate with 10 residency is still a great opportunity... go for it!!!


     
  12. Guest

    Guest Guest

    Sorry, George! Tom has already negotiated with Peter French to serve as his distance learning advocate. [​IMG]

    Russell
     
  13. Mike Albrecht

    Mike Albrecht New Member

    Roundtrip airfare from SFO to Sydney is availabl from around $1200 (Air Canada advanced purchase). Sometimes by having the school purchase it and ship the ticket to you it can be cheaper.

    So figure another $2000/year for travel and lodging.
     
  14. Tom Head

    Tom Head New Member

    ...at which point it begins to approach Union Institute territory, given the likely 4-6 years of part-time enrollment. If the $AU goes up, too, this could get ugly.

    Then again, I never liked the whole 4-6 year business anyway; 2-4 or 3-5 is more my ticket, as I can't see why any single research project should take me longer than 3.5 years. I mean, heck, people expect a book in 4-6 months. But I digress. I shouldn't diss the timeframe too much, since there's still a good chance I can get the requirement waived.

    But if I can't, note to self: 3 years. If I go much longer than that, I'll be a basketcase.


    Cheers,

    ------------------
    Tom Head
    www.tomhead.net

    co-author, Bears' Guide to the Best Education Degrees by Distance Learning (Ten Speed Press)
    co-author, Get Your IT Degree and Get Ahead (Osborne/McGraw-Hill)
     
  15. Gerstl

    Gerstl New Member

    If you time it right you might be able to do 2 years of residency in a row on one trip (assuming your department was agreeable)
     
  16. WalterRogers

    WalterRogers member

    The difference is that you will have a PhD from a respected (assumed) traditional Australian University vs. a Phd from a non-traditional, name-changing entity... IMO it is not even a close call.

     
  17. Careful, George. Tom may have applied to Northern Territory University. A long way from your mild Melbourne. Though you could go in August for the Beer Can Regatta, and who would be able to say whether you knew "the be all and end all" of anything?
     
  18. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Name-changing entity? Kind of like that respected, traditional Australian university, the University of Southern Queensland, formerly the Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education?


    Bruce
     
  19. JD

    JD New Member

    Am I missing something?

    If you can defend via video-conference, why not your advising appointments too?


     
  20. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    I can see a difference. Meeting with an advisor could/should take hours. Also, the discussion would be much more interactive than in a defense. The video conferencing medium--which we use at work--has limitations. The more free-form the conversation, the more difficult and limiting the medium becomes. We might hold a meeting with a very specific agenda using it, but we'd try to make creative sessions face to face.

    Rich Douglas, also noting that Northcentral's candidacy was allowed in part because the NCA was satisfied with the video conferencing option for interactions between students and faculty.
     

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