Fresh Look at Webster

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by kcscout, Jan 29, 2011.

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  1. kcscout

    kcscout New Member

    I was looking through old posts on this forum, and there were many posters who felt that Webster is a diploma mill. I am really interested in their MS in Finance; I already have a job and just wanted to take the classes for personal enrichment and to possibly teach some courses in the future at similar colleges. The program looks good and challenging (and actually, I will be taking most of it in a classroom environment at the KC campus).

    Is Webster still viewed as a diploma mill among the general public?
     
  2. GeneralSnus

    GeneralSnus Member

    I don't think anyone ever regarded Webster University as a diploma mill. It is a well-established, regionally accredited school with a long affiliation with the U.S. military.
     
  3. major56

    major56 Active Member

    I have a first cousin with J.B. Hunt-Transport Services Inc. (NASDAQ / JBHT), one of the World’s largest trucking lines that completed his MBA at the Webster University-Fayetteville (Regional Campus), AR campus. He told me that J.B. Hunt has an corporate partnership arrangement with Webster University. Seemingly employees are encouraged toward graduate work at Webster. (J.B. Hunt reported Fourth Quarter 2010 Revenue: $1.02 billion, up 16 % with net earnings of $57.9 million.).
    Re StreetInsider.com - J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. Reports Revenues and Earnings for the Fourth Quarter and Year Ended December 31, 2010

    Presumably the J.B. Hunt Corporation wouldn’t view Webster as a diploma-mill …
     
  4. airtorn

    airtorn Moderator

    Yes. This.

    What credible person regarded it as a diploma mill?
     
  5. J. Ayers

    J. Ayers New Member

    Good morning!

    I visited Webster University in Webster Groves near St. Louis a number of years ago, and I saw a relatively small but very pretty campus with a good library and other facilities. Although they have significant distance learning and extended learning options, they also have many programs (such as the Doctor of Management) that are only available on campus. In other words, they are a bricks & mortar institution that also offers distance learning programs. Their history goes back nearly a century and they also have appropriate accreditation. I can't imagine an informed person would consider them a diploma mill.

    Good luck with your decision!
     
  6. kcscout

    kcscout New Member

    http://www.degreeinfo.com/distance-learning-discussions/4971-webster-university-top-tier-midwest-school.html

    Also apparently on this thread the school asked to be removed from Bears' Guide?

    Also they are not AACSB, which gives me slight pause. However, as I stated earlier in the thread I am only in this for two reasons: personal enrichment and the ability to teach as a part-time adjunct in accounting (I have a CPA) and finance at smaller, non-AACSB schools in my area (we have 2 CC systems, several small business schools with less than AACSB, and some schools without regional accreditation.

    I working on due diligence before plunking down cash for the program. I will be speaking with a graduate of the MA in Counseling program within a couple weeks to discuss the overall rigour and demands of the program.
     
  7. GeneralSnus

    GeneralSnus Member

    The only person in that thread who called Webster a diploma mill was a person with 13 posts, every one of which was an attack on Webster. That same poster also claimed to have completed 10 graduate courses at Webster, but did not earn a degree from there. In my opinion, that poster probably had some type of issue arise.

    Webster did ask to be removed from Bear's Guide, but so did Nova Southeastern at one point. I wouldn't take that as indicative of anything.
     
  8. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    I'm not sure why a school wouldn't want to be included, but whatever. I'd take it as more meaningful if a school asked to be included in Bear's Guide and was rejected.

    -=Steve=-
     
  9. obecve

    obecve New Member

    Webster is a fine school. My brother worked for Raytheon Corp. They supported his pursuit of a master's degree. They have for a number of employees they have supported. Webster has degrees offered on military bases around the world.
     
  10. joanie

    joanie New Member

    I'm currently in my 6th class in the online M.A. Human Resource Management program at Webster. To be honest, I'm a little disappointed with the quality of instructor and the quality of the coursework. My undergraduate work was completed on campus, so it is possible my views are skewed more by the delivery method, so YMMV. My biggest issue is that I am missing the sense of challenge I expected would come from "grad school." My grades so far have been 4 As and an A-, one of the As being in a managerial finance course. I have always been smart enough with above average grades, but math/finance/etc., are my absolute worst subjects, and I know that in most of my classes I've been able to manage high grades without maximum effort.

    With respect to my instructors, they have ranged from great to awful, and I've found it's pretty much a crap shoot. Three of the five were uninvolved, very slow to grade, uncommunicative with the class both via the discussion boards and course or e-mail. As for my classmates, they have also ranged from interesting and engaging to those who make me shake my head in wonder at how they were accepted into a graduate program. And then I remember there are no admissions requirements, really, for most of the grad programs, and that I chose the school to avoid some of these requirements myself.

    That said, I'm impressed with the way Webster, and especially the School of Business and Technology has embraced the use of social media and is trying to maintain a good web presence. Aside from the poor aesthetics of their website itself, I feel that if a prospective employer Googles the school in an attempt to see whether it is legitimate, they will see the many events, guest speakers and seminars the SBT puts on for its students. I also appreciate that many of these events are broadcast over the web for distance or satellite campus students.

    I hope that with every course evaluation I write, some of my fellow students feel the same way and that we make an impact on how the school progresses in the future. Right now, I am not proud to be a Webster student (although I will, hopefully, be a proud M.A. HRM in June 2012), but that's something that could easily change if the school further develops its reputation and takes a serious look at the quality of the product it is delivering to its students.
     

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