Happenings at Nova Southeastern

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Andy Borchers, Jul 24, 2002.

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  1. Andy Borchers

    Andy Borchers New Member

    I'm currently in Ft. Lauderdale, taking an additional class at NSU. At the risk of sounding like a salesman, I'd like to pass along a number of key points that came out at a reception this evening:

    1. PhD - Effective January 1, 2003 the DBA program will switch to a new PhD format. Students currently in the DBA program will be able to switch. Those that have graduated in the past will be able to do some additional work (but not a new dissertation!) to earn a PhD. The new program will focus more on research - but the school won't abandon their interest in the application of theory.

    2. DM - Also, a new doctorate of organizational management will be offered. This program will be aimed at students interested in a more practical focus as well as folks interested in public administration.

    3. Building - NSU is building a new $19m building on campus. Since NSU requires some residencies - this is good news for students. The East campus, where they are now, just isn't big enough. The new building is right across the street from the new library (see below).

    4. Undergraduates - Historically, the undergraduate business program has been offered in the Farquar Center. Subject to final approval by the board, this will move to the School of Business. The move involves some 1800 students and a bunch of faculty.

    I also observed the following:

    1. Some students offered the opinion that the PhD move was a reaction to the acceptance, particularly in some Northeastern schools, of the DBA as a teaching credential. Apparently some schools have questioned "what is a DBA"? I suspect that it may also have something to do with a marketing response to places like Capella and Walden.

    2. Talking with students in a small group, the Dean indicated that AACSB accreditation wasn't doable at NSU. The big hangup is AACSB's insistence that 2/3 of all credit hours be taught by full-time faculty. I suspect that NSU's number is closer to 1/3. Apparently, 2/3 full-time faculty just isn't doable in an economic sense.

    3. NSU has a beautiful new library. Built as a joint use facility with Broward County, it is a state of the art facility. I've been impressed with the on-line services they have as well.

    4. One recent DBA grad that has been through an AACSB visit at her school reported that she was told that NSU's lack of AACSB accreditation wasn't an issue as far as faculty credentials. AACSB is happy with facutly that hold RA degrees - as long as they have a suitable publication record and are otherwise capable.

    All of this is great news for NSU.

    Regards - Andy
     
  2. Ike

    Ike New Member

    Uhmm, you are sounding like a salesman. How much did they pay you to change your mind to do this? :D

    Seriously, any alumnus that has visited Nova recently will agree with Andy. Things are changing so fast for good. Most of the old programs (and courses) have been revamped and new programs have been added. The overall image of the school in Florida has also improved dramatically. About 90% of the undergraduate school's faculty earned their doctorates from other schools.
     
  3. Andy Borchers

    Andy Borchers New Member

    Ike - Thanks for your note. I'm really impressed with the progress that NSU is making. While they are in the DL business, their blend of DL and on-ground capabilities is pretty unique.

    I think that students considering a DL based doctoral program should certainly give NSU a good look. The fact that NSU has a significant library and full-time faculty is an important factor, especially in doctoral study. The school has been around for a while, has a large enrollment (17,000+) and has a wide variety of programs in many fields. It is highly likely to remain for some time.

    Thanks - andy

     
  4. Tom

    Tom New Member

    Nova is turning heads.....
     
  5. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    Thanks for the report, Andy.

    I have questions about the new library. Is it up and running yet? And did you have the opportunity to form an opinion of how well it's working?

    The reason I ask is because San Jose State out here is doing much the same thing. They have gone in with the San Jose Public Library, which badly needed a new main library, and are building a new joint mega-library, funded by both the university and the city.

    But the San Jose State faculty have raised some credible questions about how well the two functions will mesh.

    The collections are different, one scholarly, the other heavy on popular titles. Questions to reference librarians are different. The many children that public libraries attract might be disruptive to graduate students.

    Have there been any stresses and strains consolidating all this under one roof?

    I'm personally a supporter of these kind of joint arrangements, since they give both the university and the community a facility that neither could afford alone. But I'd like to see them successfully in operation before I'm 100% convinced.
     
  6. defii

    defii New Member

    Question for Andy on NSU

    Andy, it still seems like NSU targets students living in Florida who can attend classes during evenings and weekends. I'm not sure the school will be real competition for Capella and others given its relatively narrow geographical focus.

    I have to admit, I am curious about the DM that focuses on Public Administration. But alas I reside on the other side of the country.

    Kudos to NSU on the developments nonetheless.
     
  7. Ike

    Ike New Member

    Re: Re: Happenings at Nova Southeastern

    Yes the library is up and running. It opened last fall.
     
  8. Andy Borchers

    Andy Borchers New Member

    Re: Re: Happenings at Nova Southeastern

    Bill - Here is a reply. Thanks - Andy


    The library is up and running. I've been in the library and worked with the on-line tools. Everything appears to be well.
    I've not heard of any complaints at all. It is pretty new - and perhaps there will be more noise in the future. Also, NSU doesn't seem to have the type of vocal faculty that some schools have.
    Good point - university and public libraries serve different customers. Business users may overlap the two, however. Further, NSU is big on education - so children's books may serve double duty with kids and unviersity students.
    Good point - I really don't know enough to fully comment. But what I've seen so far appears to be working.

    Regards - Andy
     
  9. Andy Borchers

    Andy Borchers New Member

    Re: Question for Andy on NSU

    But defii - I live in Michigan. During my DBA program I attended class in Chicago on weekends and some week long session in Ft. Lauderdale. The school does a lot in Florida - but in computer science, education and business they are truly national in scope.

    Sure, you can do Capella or Touro and not travel as much. But as I've found out - getting together with peers is very beneficial. Doctoral study in a DL program can be a lonely experience - meeting face to face with peers and faculty really helps. In my program I spent some 75 days in residence - and if it were up to me I'd have more, not less residence.

    This week I'm in a summer institute with some 150-200 students - and they are from all over the US as well as Jamaica.

    Regards - Andy

     
  10. duff

    duff New Member

    Andy:

    I am interested in the DM program as well. I have no problem doing residencies as long as they were in the VA or DC area. I live in NC. Can you attend NSU without having to go to FL or would you have to go their at some point for this program?
     
  11. Ike

    Ike New Member

    In all doctoral programs in the Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences, you are required to take classes only in Fort Lauderdale. The residency requirements in the Graduate School of Business and Graduate School of Education are different. These two schools have local clusters in several locations. There are local clusters in DC Area, Boston, Michigan, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Atlanta, San Francisco, Kingston (Jamaica), and several locations in Florida.
     
  12. Ike

    Ike New Member

    I think so.
     
  13. Andy Borchers

    Andy Borchers New Member

    In the school of business, one residency is in DC. There are clusters for weekend classes in several places - check them out at www.sbe.nova.edu. As currently setup, you do have to go to Florida for the capstone class. The new DM may be different - material is not yet out on the details.

    Regards - Andy

     
  14. Jeffrey Levine

    Jeffrey Levine New Member

    Poster Ike. Can you please be more specific as to what you describe as the improved image of Nova in Florida. As a graduate of NSU (Ed.D., 1996), I am very interested in the school's perceived reputation.

    Thanks,

    Jeffrey Levine, Ed.D.
     
  15. Ike

    Ike New Member

    Welcome back, Jeff. Improved image means improved reputation and improved reputation leads to increased acceptance. Several colleges in Florida (perhaps 80%) employ nova doctoral graduates. Nova bashing by graduates of other schools has also ebbed in Florida.
     
  16. Ike

    Ike New Member

    Also, many government and businesses leaders, including the Florida state governor and U.S government officials, have been selected as NSU commencement speakers in the past couple of years. These officials praised Nova for its innovative education and for helping to educate the workforce of today and the future.
     
  17. Jeffrey Levine

    Jeffrey Levine New Member

    Thanks for the welcome and info Ike. It is great that NSU is making strides in the area of reputation.
     
  18. rbourg

    rbourg New Member

    It is amazing to note the controversy that NSU continues to conjure up. :) I would expect that any institution of Nova's size and age should be well past any doubts re its vaue/validity.
     
  19. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    No one has yet asked the $100 question, so I will.

    Andy...do you plan on converting your D.B.A. to a Ph.D.?


    Bruce
     
  20. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    I'm not sure that Nova is controversial in real life. It's mostly an artifact of this discussion group, I think.

    Peterson's 'Graduate Schools in the US', 2001, lists the following Ph.D. programs offered by Nova: clinical psychology, oceanography, CS, IS and dispute resolution. Andy tells us that they are adding one in business.

    Nova also offers a Psy.D., Au.D. (audiology), Ed.D., SLPD (speech/language pathology), D.OT (occupational therapy), D.PT (physical therapy), DMD (dentistry), O.D. (optometry), D.O. (osteopathic medicine), Pharm.D. (pharmacy), DBA. DPA and J.D.

    So with the exception of oceanography, which has earned a pretty good reputation on its own, just about all of Nova's doctoral programs are practitioner oriented.

    That suggests that the proper place to assess whether Nova is controversial is out in the professions. And Nova dentists, audiologists and pharmacists certainly seem to be successful. It seems like half the school administrators in America have Nova degrees.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 28, 2002

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