DegreeInfo no longer what it used to be

I've seen many posts like you describe and it is one reason I lurk these days. I'm not going to waste my time arguing with people that can't agree to disagree and move on. I am not here for debate or validation. I am simply here for information and to help others when I can.

I would be very interested in discussions about different programs and course structures, as they are very important factors for me in my educational decisions. I am drawn to extremely flexible programs because of my work schedule and home life. I suspect that there are others like me out there and that some may not ever enroll in an online program because they've been burned by another schools rigid semester schedules. I also have two coworkers who completed unaccredited degree programs that are now worthless to them in working for the federal government. They simply needed a non-traditional format to accommodate their demanding work schedules and had no idea that there are bogus accreditors out there.

I think a separate topic area along these lines would be very helpful for many people, and may in turn bring new voices to Degreeinfo. Perhaps there could even be an area where bashing schools is not allowed so that people can ask questions about schools and obtain useful information without being drawn into debates.

 

Frankly, I find the NA vs. RA debate old, stale and grinding. It's all DL, so let's just point out there are differences, people need to do their homework to determine which type of institution will best suit their needs, and leave it at that. We do the DL community a disservice by fighting about this amongst ourselves, and really...it is just plain stupid.

Perhaps there could be a sticky somewhere on the board (if there isn't already) pointing out the differences between RA and NA, and leave it at that. I find that whenever someone praises a NA school, someone from the "RA or no way" crowd jumps in and bashes them. For what purpose? Let the student make up their own mind. Yes, I have attended a couple of NA schools, but I also recognize that RA is better (as in better, I mean more accepted). There is no need for anyone to try to run down somebody's choice of school, unless it's a blatant diploma mill. If someone decides a NA school will work for them, that's their decision.

I think the RA vs NA debates only drive people away, instead of informing them about the different types of accreditation. If this forum isn't about informing people, then what is it? A bitch board? There are plenty of those around.

Just my .02 cents

 

I concur. I joined not that long ago, "months", not even a year yet. I have not found any other sites as helpful as this one. The administrators and vets and newcomers I've encountered have all been helpful. I am a better "candidate" for adjunct teaching as a result of this blog. I am determined to teach adjunct somewhere during the 2009-2010 school year (even if I have to donate time to get experience.)
DeterminedAdjunct

 

My current position and being a husband and father of six gives me limited time to post on Degreeinfo or Degreediscussion. I usually log in a few times each week and look for items where I can provide a little help here and there (such as a recent question about how new degree programs are established at universities). I haven't had to answer any of the usual questions about the PhD in education versus the Ed.D. in a while

Seriously, I have tended not to answer the questions about "Which is the fastest/cheapest degree in _____?" or "Should I choose Excelsior, thomas Edison or Charter Oak?" There are people here who do a good job with those topics.

 

There are some really outstanding ideas here, and some/many of them could be implemented without too much difficulty.

Additionally, I think re-integrating the articles section will help a lot, and perhaps making better use of Facebook and Twitter could also help.

I will give thought to how to implement some of these changes, discuss with the mods, and possibly set up some sort of process where the community as a whole can vote on suggested ideas/changes/etc.

 

This is what I do. I never (okay, very rarely) use the built in search on degreeinfo.com

You can use the standard Google search box to search only degreeinfo.com. Here is an example search strategy (just copy/paste into Google):

psychology phd OR doctorate site:degreeinfo.com

Just replace "psychology phd OR doctorate" with the information you are looking to find on here.

You can also search against just the .edu domain (or any other domain) using standard (vs. advanced) Google. Here is the syntax:

psychology master "distance learning" site:.edu

Again, just replace "psychology master" with your program of choice. BTW, typing the singular "master" will also return results with word variants, such as: "master's" and "masters" (e.g. master of science; master of applied xxxx" master's degree in xxxx, etc.). The same will work with other common terms such as bachelor.

Cheers!

 

I agree with most here, but as a long time member, who used to post many times a day, now only check in on occassion, I will put in a thought - consider how your post is read..... for example(s)

1. I posted that I received my degree and was awarded my doctorate..... there was a reply posting stating "You should have posted this in "off topic", not on the main DL board".

2. I posted a question of "what do you do after the doctorate". The question itself offended a poster, who responded accordingly.

I don't mind the responses, but when I get responses such as these, I will be less inclined to post again. Just a thought.

 

I don't blame you. If I got those responses, I'd have the same reaction.

 

Wee hours ramblings

I think the various reasons we all put forward do contribute, but I’ve been thinking about this for a while and noticing that when I go into the university computer lab to use the printer, 2/3 of the students are on the ubiquitous Facebook. Especially now that FB offers a threaded discussion feature, I wonder if it and similar sites have replaced that sense of community that DI used to provide. The overarching issue seems to be that for the majority of users DI has moved from being a “place” that people hang out, a virtual water-cooler, to being merely a “resource” that can be tapped into with the search feature.

 

When you get responses such as these, I and the moderation team would very much appreciate it if you would flag those posts (there's a little icon at the bottom of each post for this purpose) and tell us about it, so that we can talk to the offending poster about it.

The only people that have any business telling someone to post in a different section are moderators. And NO ONE has any business flaming a poster for a legitimate question.

I don't read every post on degreeinfo, but I do check threads every day, and our hard working moderators do read and check posts multiple times per day. I think that perhaps people in general have gotten more rude (not just on degreeinfo but everywhere), but we can certainly work to ensure that in this little corner of the 'net, the rudeness is not tolerated.

I do appreciate your making this comment, and I hope you (and everyone else reading this thread) will make an effort to flag rude or inappropriate posts.

 

I wouldn't say flaming is the case here, just more of unhappy people spreading their unhappiness. I have had an issue or two with flaming, and you admins. were better than I ever thought (with the speed and action).

This overall is stil a good place, just not the traffic as before, which is the case on a few other sites that were leading the pack in other areas as well.

 

Han is referring to me in her #2. The 'offending' post is in this thread:

http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?t=31296

Han had asked what people do after earning a doctorate. Is there some further certification to earn, is there just research, or what? I suggested that people need to be clear about what their motives are before they initially embark on a doctoral program. There needs to be some purpose that justifies the effort and expense.

I would expect that if the goal is to qualify for some profession where a doctorate is necessary, then newly-minted doctors will already be familiar with whatever licensing examinations they will need to take, internships that they need to perform, or whatever. They should already have a pretty clear idea what their intended career path looks like and what their next step will be.

And I responded to "just research" by repeating the two words, highlighting 'just' and adding a question mark. I was thinking that people who put tremendous effort into research degrees are usually people who are fascinated with studying their subject. So finding ways to continue studying it at a level above that of a student (postdoc, research fellow, professor, staff scientist, resident scholar...) after graduation would seem to me to be a most desirable thing.

 

The amount of information available over the years has certainly increased to the point using the search feature of the forum yields significant material addressing most queries. Hence, the volume of new posts to the forum has decreased. The slowdown in registered members might in part be due to the search feature and associated body of collected knowledge and experiences.

The national accreditation (NA) versus regional accreditation (RA) debate has shifted, unfortunately, from a rational decision of the merits and potential shortcomings to a multifaceted diatribe claiming regional accreditation is the only acceptable accreditation, aside from certain specialized accreditations for business and psychology for example.

Hopefully, the forum continues to serve current and more importantly future learners seeking accurate information about distance education in its many forms. Personally, had I known of this forum or its USENET newsgroup predecessor prior to 2004 my progress towards furthering my education would have been accelerated. Maybe the volume of knowledge held in the database can be transformed and distilled into a form that survives this particular forum in the event DegreeInfo.com should cease to exist in its present form.

 

Degreeinfo had its origins in the old alt.education.distance group. That venue became unusable because it was unmoderated and subject to constant troll attacks, oftentimes by degree-mill entrepeneurs who didn't want to see their enterprises criticised.

In its early days, Degreeinfo hosted many threads in which individuals tried to advertise or promote various doubtful online ventures. Knightsbridge and Saint Regis got a tremendous amount of attention. MIGS even had its own forum for a while there. Many of those threads grew very heated and could go on for a hundred posts or more, back and forth. Controversy and confrontation are always exciting and draw lots of viewers.

Today Degreeinfo has become more of a shop-talk board for MBA students and for business students who are considering doctorates. Many threads these days seem to be requests for informal career counseling.

Degreeinfo's matured, I guess. It's probably offering better utility for more of its participants, better serving prospective and current DL students that come to it with real-life questions or in search of comradeship with others like them.

But the new and probably more-useful Degreeinfo isn't as viscerally exciting as the old degree-mill wars and most of the shop-talk threads don't draw as many ring-side spectators or as many posts.

That's ok. Everything changes, it's the nature of life.

 

Is it the case that the exotic becomes the norm? Distance learning seemingly was a novel way to get a degree in the US. Is it now the case that it is becoming more mainstream? When things become mainstream then there are less questions because there is more information available in the ordinary world.

The issue for me would be a price watch on degrees. What is value for money, rather than the arguments about NA, RA or unaccredited. A consumer center for value, which I guess was probably the original mission. In the earlier days, perhaps the question whether a distance learning college was a mill or not was the major question. I believe that value for money in legitimate colleges may be the consumer question in "cash strapped" times.

Just my thoughts

 

Various shills and trolls were spanked and sent to their rooms. Levicoff and Douglas don't fight much anymore... Unk was promoted upstairs. Jimmy and Nosbourne don't visit here. You don't think Ted posts enough?!

 

Degreeinfo is still a very useful tool to people looking to find on-line degree courses and programs.

I find it useful because it exposes new on-line degree programs including those that were formerly restricted to B&M on campus delivery only (including engineering, quality, reliability, natural science, space studies, and astronomy).

 

I am not one that posts often, but I really enjoy reading the posts and keeping up with new programs offered online. Degreeinfo has definately informed me of numerous programs and future possibilities. I dont know what it used to be but it is a valued board now for sure.

 

I agree TCord. The discussion has become rather "shrill" (to borrow a line from the hag Ann Coulter). I also agree with the sagacious Sentinel when he adds:

"The national accreditation (NA) versus regional accreditation (RA) debate has shifted, unfortunately, from a rational decision of the merits and potential shortcomings to a multifaceted diatribe claiming regional accreditation is the only acceptable accreditation, aside from certain specialized accreditations for business and psychology for example."

All accredited schools should be mentioned and explored. Newbies have a right to look at all their options. As a long time senior member, I have had many newbies pm me because they are not getting answers to questions they ASKED. They do not want to get in a pages long discussion about how RA is better, or how the can transfer credit easier. Believe it or not, there are grown adults who are capable of deciding if a NA school is what they need or want. Those of us who have RA and NA educations tend to be fair and honest in our advice and assessements. Degreeinfo would have it no other way.

Just my two centavos,

Abner

 

So let me ask you point blank. Why bother with the "You should have thought of these things before you graduated" type comment? How does that comment help Han?

Abner