2003 Peterson Guide

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by obecve, Dec 21, 2002.

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  1. obecve

    obecve New Member

    I am the director of a state vocational rehabilitation agency. I am continually looking for non-traditional methods for people to go to college. Often campuses are not truly accessible and instructors are simply unwillling or unable to work with students with disabilities. Addtionally many people with disabilities simply cannot move because their primary suppports are in thier home community. As a result, I frequently look for manuals that provide quality information about distance education programs. I have historically relied on the guides written by John Bear and Marie Thorson. They are easy to use, provide detailed information and help me to evaluate programs. However I am always willing to consider different materials. This past week I purchased Peterson's 2003 Guide to Distance Programs. What a horrible disappointment. It is hard to use. Many of the schools listed do not offer coursework that lead to degrees, and many distance programs that are regionally accredited, or many specifc degrees are simply left out. Although it appears it would have more information (it is a massive book), it simply is not a helpful book and I would certainly not recommend spending the $27.00 required. I am going back to the old standards. Thank you John Bear and Marie Thorson!
     
  2. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    Thanks for the useful information, Dr. O'Brien.

    I wonder if Peterson is still doing the two things I have the most problem with --

    1. Accepting paid advertisements for schools, which don't look like, and aren't identified as advertisements, but rather "enhanced listings" -- both in the main text, and in a section in the back.

    2. Running listings for schools without recognized accreditation, without identifying them as such. Canyon College, in recent editions, was one of the most egregious.

    What really ticks me off is that even though my book typically outsells Peterson' they make vastly more money, by the simple notion of collecting over $2 million selling those paid "enhanced" listings. (At least the year Heriot-Watt did it, the cost was $2,500 and they had nearly 1,000 such listings.)

    John Bear, earning about
    80 cents
    per book sold

    PS: Did we ever find out what happened to Marcie Thorson. I liked her books, too, and had good and helpful interactions with her over the years, but no responses for 3 or 4 years now.
     
  3. obecve

    obecve New Member

    Yes they still have the special enhanced sections and no they are not identified as advertsing. As a matter of fact the opening to the special section only says "The following two-page descriptions were prepared for this book by the instituitions. An institution's absence fromt his section does not constitute an editorial decsion on the part of Peterson's. Rather it is an open forum for institutions to expand upon the information provided in the previous section of the book" NO CLUE THAT IT IS OFFICIALLY ADVERSTISING! They really act like they are doing he school and the reader a real favor.

    Additionally, in the fron sections, a number of institutions have expanded sections immediately following thier general section.

    I have not ever met Macrie Thorson (I accidentally left out the "c" in my prior post). However, I understand she lived in Tulsa at one point I have used both of you manuals to plan personally, as well as helping friends and customers in their planning.
     
  4. roy maybery

    roy maybery New Member

    Try the following website. It has worked for me. Though, it is best to stick with institutions that are state run and/or Royal Charter:

    http://www-icdl.open.ac.uk/

    Roy Maybery
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 23, 2002

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