Frustration with NCU

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Randell1234, Aug 10, 2009.

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  1. bazonkers

    bazonkers New Member

    Just wait until the hoops are lit on fire ...
     
  2. not4profit

    not4profit Active Member

    Randell,

    I actually just transferred from the NCU PhD-BA to the MBA due in large part to the issues you mention. I was about to start the second RSH course, and I just decided to stop. I have read SO MANY stories about this kind of thing happening to other students.

    I was also a bit worried because of a student I know who was told her degree wouldn't even be counted. They told her that since it wasn't AACSB, she wouldn't even be called "Dr." That scared me quite a bit, but the real deal-breaker was when I saw how many problems were involved in the dissertation process. I just couldn't understand why they would have a commitee review my work over and over, but then make some other reviewer check their review. I heard (read) horror stories of people getting all the way to the end only to be told by the blind reviewer that EVERYTHING was wrong including the research methodology. That is SCARY.

    You are not the only one facing this stuff. This is a problem with the school. I feel for you, I really do. It was probably a bit easier for me to leave because I wasn't as far along as you. Did you see that there were people who literally had their final product approved for their dissertation only to be told that they had to re-do it in a new format? Are you serious? The school couldn't even give them a pass, and just start the new format with people who were just starting the DISS phase?

    I was accepted, and will be starting the Northeastern University EdD program in September. Hopefully, that process will be a bit more streamlined (especially since I am starting over with no transfer credits).
     
  3. edowave

    edowave Active Member

    That is a flat out lie. AACSB doesn't accredit physics programs either, so does that mean a Harvard grad with a PhD in Physics can't be called doctor either? Who told her this nonsense?
     
  4. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    As my brother noted (he's a B&M university professor with a traditional PhD), the average attrition rate at the dissertation level is between 50 and 70%, depending on the university i.e. most students do NOT make it and are NOT awarded doctorates. What do you suppose is the reason for this high attrition rate at non-NCU universities? The fact of the matter is that you didn't make it. You're one of the 50-70% causalities who walked away. When you go to the NEXT program, don't quit!
     
  5. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Keep reminding yourself: "I am a very smart monkey and I will get my dissertation topic approved."
     
  6. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Since only business degrees are AACSB accredited, no one with an EdD could ever be called doctor. Is there something wrong with this logic? This is simply not true!
     
  7. Delta

    Delta Active Member

    I would be more concerned about the utility of the degree than what someone calls you.
     
  8. Dave Wagner

    Dave Wagner Active Member

    Hi Randell, I presume this won't make you feel any better, but it needs to be stated anyway to calibrate expectations of would-be doctoral students reading this forum... The experience you've described is a small fraction of what students have experienced at other schools.
     
  9. not4profit

    not4profit Active Member

    I'm not sure if you are saying that the student was lying, or the school she applied to was on crack.

    Based on the tone of hurt I got from her communication, I'm pretty sure it really happened. I thought it was ridiculous as well. But, the impression I got was that, had she come in with an EdD, it would be a different story. Basically, if you are trying to claim that you have a business degree, that particular school required it to be AACSB, or it wasn't really a degree. I was shocked to hear that they said they wouldn't even call her "Dr." I could see maybe not letting her teach business courses, but to pretend like the entire degree is not acceptable is crazy. Of course, this is also ridiculous, since some pretty decent schools are ACBSP accredited, or not accredited at all (business program specific, that is). Additionally, I thought I read somewhere that only like 30% of business programs are AACSB accreditted. Are they also saying that only 30% of the business degrees out there are legit, even thought they come from regionally accredited schools?

    I even saw that South University requires business instructors to have AACSB degrees. I'm pretty sure that South itself isn't even an AACSB school! I just think that a non-AACSB business degree opens the degree holder up to criticisms or rejection by any AACSB schools that person applies to teach at.

    I know how hard the NCU program is. That is why her story sickened me to the point that it was part of my reason for leaving NCU (that and the situation you mentioned when you started the thread). I just couldn't imagine going through such a difficult program, only to have someone tell me I'm not even a Doctor. I would lose it. I don't know how she kept her cool.
     
  10. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Niether since I did not speak to her. I am just saying there must have been a miscommunication "someplace".
     
  11. DeterminedAdjunct

    DeterminedAdjunct New Member

    Good Luck Randell, whichever route you take!
     
  12. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    Have you considered requesting an extension to this course in a letter explaining you frustrations?
    Maybe you will earn a B which can be upgraded later/
    Good luck.
     
  13. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    The mentor already told me he would give me a 45 day extension so all the work could be completed.
     
  14. Dave Wagner

    Dave Wagner Active Member

    It is hard to know how to interpret this situation without specifics... Still, you don't want or need respect from people who unduly withhold it.
     
  15. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    At the coursework level, NCU is not harder than any other college or university, as long as the student is willing to do the work. Nobody threatens students of the consequences of not doing the work i.e. either they do it -- or they don't. There is no one to motivate a student with threats of getting a low grade i.e. if a student turns in zero assignments, then he gets a zero for a grade.

    However...

    At the dissertation level, it is so so hard for reasons that have already been elaborated on. IMO an online dissertation is only good for students who have prior training in research -- and for people who have thick skin -- and for people who don't need someone to motivate them i.e. students must be self-motivated.

    I'm sick of discussing this. Good luck to anyone who decides to embark on a dissertation, regardless of which RA college or university you choose!
     
  16. not4profit

    not4profit Active Member

    I actually believe the opposite in many instances. Someone going for a PhD so he/she can teach definitely wants and needs prospective hiring institutions to respect the degree. I guess that was part of my point. If you are trying to get a terminal degree in order to teach, you are going to face an extra level of scrutiny in many cases. NCU, unfortunately, is the type of school that is going to be at a higher level of risk when it comes to said scrutiny.
     
  17. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    maybe this is a philosophical debate. idealism versus pragmatism? is NCU really a good school? are opponents simply biased/predjudiced? is it an anti-distance learning thing? based on what? threatened faculty? threatened administrators? snobishness? it can't really be a quantitative quality thing because it's an RA school. regular oversight and all that.

    as more and more people choose distance learning these questions will be answered and eventually some consistency will be established. i'd be willing to bet that the top 50% at NCU are at least as good as the bottom 50% at UMass. i have no proof, no data to support this belief but then, neither do you. it's in the eye of the beholder my babies. in the eye of the beholder.
     
  18. Dave Wagner

    Dave Wagner Active Member

    My point stands... Respect unduly withheld is not needed and should not be missed. You don't really want to work for someone who isn't smart enough to hire you (or listen to you). You see, it all works out.
     
  19. vadro

    vadro New Member

    I truly believe that you hit the nail on the head, DL studies requires people to be self-motivated and VERY diligent, as there is nobody that tells what to do and when to do it, it is all up to you.
     
  20. David H

    David H Member

    To the question at hand, Randall -- I am wishing you much success. Let me know if I can help in anyway!

    Warm regards,
     

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