New World University: is there a connection with this forum?

Steve and Randell are both pillars of the Degree Info heritage. I have no doubt that anything they are involved in is anything but first class and totally legitimate. So yes, I guess it is just you.

 

Do you think it might defuse negative reactions to be clear about who is running NWU and what your credentials are – prior to accreditation?

 

Somewhat unfair and discouraging....

I think your reaction to the New World University news is somewhat unfair and a tad bit discouraging. I say this because many companies are formed and widgets manufactured because of an intrinsic need to provide an unmet good and [or] service however innocently and unintentionally. It is rather unfair to suggest that one should not attempt to meet a need he or she has discovered because others might perceive he or she had ulterior [commercial] intentions. Such need might never have been uncovered if such persons had not been privy to them beforehand. The decision to start New World University could have been formed in part, because participating in this group highlighted the fact that certain groups of people, in certain parts of the world were not being provided with access to the same quality of education we have access to here in the United States because they were not as financially capable of paying for such--as we are here. I cannot fathom how anyone in this forum--could think two people who have been as helpful to degree seekers as Randell and Steve have been, could have sinister and underhanded intentions in providing such a noble service. Just realize this, almost every thriving university we have today--was at some point where New World University is now.

 

I will also add that I've had a working relationship with Steve and Randell (they were both adjunct remote faculty under my supervision at my former tribal community college).

Both of them did fantastic work serving an economically disadvantaged student population - and I'm not surprised they are working on an endeavor such as this. My hat is off to both of them

Shawn

 

Ed,

No, it is not only you. It appears that this school has its eyes on gullible Nigerians. It has three offices in Nigeria (Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt). I will travel to Nigeria next month and I will certainly bring this issue up when I visit the Chairman and Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission of Nigeria. I will also discuss it with some senators. The education minister is a jerk. I hope that he has nothing to do with this. He is not really the minister for education. He is the supervising minister for education. A substantive federal minister is confirmed by the Nigerian senate. This business (New World University) is owned and operated by foreigners who don’t live in Nigeria and yet it has three offices in Nigeria. It also has two offices in India. I hope that the owners and operators this school mean well. Only time will tell.

 

Crazy Talk!

First, is there a college start-up guide or some academic manual that stipulates how many roles someone starting a college must have or [must not] in-order to effectively perform his or her college development duties? Point me do it. I really don't see what you and the other naysayers are up in arms about. Had it been I, I would have kept it secret for much the same reasons that Steve mentioned but also because of the negativity I expected to be exhibited by some here.

Second, the reality is that those who are fanning the flames of doubt have probably not had any experience starting-up a college or any institution. The standards of starting a reputable institution is not measured by whether the founders added their names and credentials to its website or not, or whether the website is pretty or can compare with other institutions.

Finally, yes, absolutely...it is smart for a small institution on a shoe string budget to devote all of it to build a flashy website, and take the time to add names and credentials for its faculty and staff--when other more important foundational aspects have not yet been met. Not! Crazy talk!

 

I'll add one more point. If someone has some evidence that something wrong has been done then they can present the evidence. Until then it's all just conspiracy minded speculation and inuendo and will be treated as such.

 

Well said, Mr. Kizmet. Well said! With that, I wish you a Happy 4TH!

 

Sounds like you already decided it doesn't mean well if as you report, the school is targeting 'gullible' Nigerians. You said you'd bring the issue up with the authorities there on your planned visit next month, yet you end with, only time will tell if the owners and operators of NWU mean well. I understand your rationale now.

Whomever the owners and operators are, are welcomed to open offices in the Bahamas. You may open six of them. The more educated a community we are, the better for the country. We do not have financial aid there and can use whatever financial relief we can get. Love the thought of Bahamians having access to quality instruction without having to mortgage their homes to do it. I am from the Bahamas and I know almost as many authorities there as you listed you know in Nigeria. As an educated, well informed, professional... not only do I promote higher learning, but I am a proponent of innocent until found guilty. I see nothing to conclude that the owners and founders of NWU have anything but good intent in establishing affordable education for all. Glad to see from the encouraging comments posted by many others, that I am not alone here. Happy 4Th. My final comment.

 

The fact that three out of your six global offices of the school are located in Nigeria makes me think that you are targeting Nigerians. I am not sure why the owners chose to locate three of their global offices in Nigeria. If their decision wasn’t based on gullibility, it was certainly based on something and I don’t know what it is. My guess might be wrong. I have my concerns because none of the owners is a Nigerian. I am not sure why they don’t want to open any office in their countries of origin. Why Nigeria?

While waiting to learn more about this school, I think that I should alert Nigerian authorities about the school. Yes, only time will tell whether the motives of the owners are genuine or not. I have my reservation but I don’t want to say much right until someone answers the following questions:

1. Why did the owners open three offices in Nigerian despite the fact that none of them is a Nigerian? How well do they understand the learning needs of Nigerians?

2. Since Lay Executive mentioned “quality instruction”, can someone explain how the school is delivering (or will deliver) quality instruction to Nigerian students?

3. Since Lady Executive mentioned “more educated a community”, can someone explain why “more educated community” is not desired in the United States, the Caribbean Countries, and Asia?

4. Can someone explain how this school will “promote higher learning” in Nigerian and why promoting higher learning in Caribbean countries is not necessary?

I wish to add that at present there are more than 500 institutions of higher learning in Nigeria (universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and so one and so forth). Nigeria has more higher institutions than any country in Africa or the Caribbean.

 

Ike, I do not think you're earned the right to call Nigerian gullible. I expected a lot more from you - at least a balance approach. Referring to the founders of NWU as foreigners was clearly xenophobic. Online education is a global phenomenon. Country of origin is becoming less relevant in education, trade, regulations etc.
Steve and Randell have a verifiable body of work on Degreeinfo where they have spent thousands of hours helping students globally including myself. Clearly more offices in Nigeria is better than less - more offices in every country is better than less. There are thousands of Degreeinfoers' eyes on NWU. Thus the pressure is on Steve and Randell to offer a worldclass accredited product and I am confident they will do they utmost not to disappoint us.

 

I am sure everyone will realize that our intentions are admirable. Thank you to all that have such positive comments.

 

I'm not taking sides here but I think the above comment is unwarranted and cheapens the discourse on this forum. The poster clearly explained that his concern with "foreigners" was their ability to understand the unique needs of the local population. This same concern arises in lots of contexts. Do higher ed disability coordinators need to have a disability? Should Hispanic serving colleges be staffed by Hispanics? Does LBGT outreach need to be done by LGBT individuals? One can have different opinions on such questions without descending into xenophobia.

If NWU and it's supports want people to treat them with good will then it is important to treat comments and criticism with good will too and not leap to the worst possible explanation the moment someone disagrees with one.

 

I am not really sure where this happened, "leap to the worst possible explanation the moment someone disagrees with one".

 

Maybe it's just me but in my view calling someone xenophobic is an insult and is exactly leaping to the worst possible explanation for someone behavior.

 

Sorry, I thought you were referring to Steve and I.

 

Wow, 2 nice and decent people decide to provide a service (education) at a more affordable rate and it gets slammed.

Amazing.

@Steve and Randel, I really hope your plans work out and you're able to expand to other countries. I've worked in an NGO in SE Asia and I know how bad people in places like Laos and Vietnam need a better alternative (cost wise) education. Seems like only the rich there can afford to do anything/get anywhere in life.

 

Ike's post was intended to hurt, because its hurt me. By labeling Nigerian as gullible victims he tried to make it easier to portrayed "foreigners" as abusers. There is a word for that.... There are many of us on this board who are from developing countries; from Africa, Nigeria, from african heritage, from the Caribbean, and it is in our collective interest to speak out against comments like those from Ide. Also many of us have made our homes in developed countries and have been welcomed. Many of those who are left behind need options like what Steve and Randell are trying to provide. NWU should be judge on the quality of its education.