Clarification on Union's Troubles

More lies perpetrated by an academic fraud. You've been told that this claim that the degree was received in nine months is untrue. Yet you keep repeating it which means that it fits the definition of lie where the author of the lie knows that he's giving false information. Making it deliciously ironic is that you probably received both of your fraudulent degrees in even less time.

 

Yet more garbage from "THE KING OF GARBAGE". Please try to say something intelligent for a change.
Dr Anatidae (Knightsbridge)

 

I thought we were suppose to refrain
from this type of posting ?

 

Of course, I've only been banned at two places, both homes for degree mill shills: Kennedy-Western's Pub and CollegeHints.com. I consider both honors.

Suhar and French can deny all they want. I have Suhar's e-mail address he used to purchase the link, as well as the location of the computer. (He teaches for an RA school part-time and used their server to purchase the order.) French posted the link on a.e.d. using his alias "Carlyle," one he's used in the past with his actual name.

My Ph.D. program took longer than the 2-year minimum then in place at Union. Why he repeats that lie is not mysterious, however.

At least Hayes acknowledges that the document he stole wasn't my dissertation.

My doctoral work was supervised by:

M. Willson Williams, Ph.D.
Chris Gray, Ph.D.
John Bear, Ph.D.
Richard Crews, M.D.
Marjorie Bell Chambers, Ph.D.
Mary Hawkins, Ph.D.
Amanda Norris, Ph.D.
Joan Murray, Ph.D.
And two other peers who are still enrolled, so I'll omit them.

My dissertation is available through interlibrary loan, unlike Hayes'. And now you know who supervised my work, also unlike Hayes.

Hayes has made yet another blatant, falsehood-filled, and flaming post. Exactly what does this add to the discussion? And why must lies like these be refuted repeatedly? Because this board's moderators are much more likely to give someone like Hayes some latitude, interested in erring on the side of caution. While I applaud the constraint, I am getting a little sick of it, and it really has no place here.

 

Have you thought about requesting it through inter-library loan? It's available from Union's library.



Tom Nixon

 

A troll on alt.education.distance quotes the Cincinnati Business Courier:

and comments:

What he doesn't quote from the same article is "The [Ohio] board of regents wants to see more [Union] students focusing on statistical analysis in their dissertations". In other words, they want other Union students' dissertations to be more like Rich Douglas's.

 

The OBR is dominated by people connected with Ohio State. They have a particular bent, and have never looked to kindly towards Union and the alternatives it offers. That said, it is likely that many of the criticisms (and I've read the report) are true. One of the things Union finally did was to set a requirement for the study of research methodology. In the past, it was inferred through the quality of the documents produced. But if the quality isn't sufficient in enough cases, the inference isn't valid. So, they've (Union) finally turned it around and said you have to have these components in your degree program. I've always felt they should take it one step further, conducting such sessions and requiring attendance. As it currently stands, students must have research methodology learning areas defined, as well as learning methods and demonstrations of competency. But that still leaves a wide area for interpretation in each program. But it is a start.

My degree program had 3 research methods areas, plus the dissertation itself.

 

Moderators: Please do not ban Dr. Duck.

I believe that, like a suicide bomber, he is simply trying to achieve martyrdom. A recent post at Collegehints in which he claimed to be banned here generated 2 pages of sympathetic responses.

With two unaccredited doctorates, he is the de facto king of the "less-than-wonderful" zealots on other boards. However, they consider the fact that he is still able to post here is a black mark on his record.

Please do not add to his legitimacy.

 

By the way, in the course of developing my literature review, I purchased and read several dissertions, and reviewed the abstracts of hundreds more. There were some wonderful studies out there, and a few that were, IMHO, substandard. I don't think, however, that a crummy dissertation from a particular graduate is, by definition, an indictment of the quality of the school. It is just a function of the circumstances of the time, as well as the interpretation of the reader (me). But, unlike some posters here and elsewhere, at least I actually read the right documents!

By the way, I've served on 4 Union doctoral committees (plus my own). One produced outstanding work. On a second, I've read the draft and had a few questions that will be addressed before the learner is completed. On a third, I've only read the proposal, but it looks promising (and very useful--business evaluation methodology in Russia). I'm waiting on the learning agreement from the fourth.

In the course of a lot of years with Union, I've encountered some brilliant pieces of work, and a few that made me shake my head. This is probably normal. One can go to Union's site to see a list of PDE (dissertation) subjects. One can also search Dissertation Abstracts by degree-granting institutions and find Union PDE's. I'm sure there are more than a few "odd" ones, but most of them will sound and look like dissertations found anywhere else.

Finally, keep in mind the source of the criticisms--the OBR. The North Central Association re-accredited Union recently for the maximum 10 years.

 

I personally don't plan on it.

I've always said that if someone is banned by me, they really have to work for it. I'll always err on the side of vigorous debate.

 

I should point out that Dr. Hayes was honest about this. When he found out he was not actually banned, he admitted it.

 

Hi Rich: Why so many supervisors? I can see both potential advantages and difficulties to having such a panel. Many other universities use a committee of 3 or even a single Doktorvater. What is Union's rationale for this method of supervision? What categories are usually represented (faculty, external faculty, other grad students?)?

 

Jeff Hampton wrote:

> A recent post at Collegehints in which he claimed to be
> banned here generated 2 pages of sympathetic responses.

Not "sympathetic" in the sense "expressing pity": the respondents largely recounted their own bannings from DegreeInfo. The thread was closed by the moderator.
http://www.collegehints.com/boards/showthread.php?t=457

 

Gee, I wonder why that thread has now been closed?

But you're right. Not all of the post were "expressing pity." Many justified how it was OK to illegally download what they thought was Rich's dissertation. It was available in what they thought was a "public forum," after all. (Apparently, they are not aware of the current lawsuits against people illegally downloading music that was "available in a public forum.")

 

The Union uses a 7-person committee. The learner is the chair. There are two core faculty members, two adjuncts, and two peers. But I did my program in two stages. When I returned, several committee members were no longer available. What this meant is that I had an extra helping of supervision--not always ideal, but I worked with great people.

Contrary to troll statements elsewhere, John and I didn't know each other prior to his joining my committee. This was also true of all my other committee members. But I've enjoyed the personal and professional relationships with all of them.

Rich

 

Interesting. Thanks.

 

Dear Rich,


How do you put up with the abuse that you get on other forums? I mean they put up a website with your picture and everything. That is just DOWNRIGHT mean. I hope they see this . We have to respect everyone's opinion, no matter whether we like them or not. I might not like what you say Rich or you me, but I am certainly not going to drag you or your reputation through the mud. Our research is our baby. We care about it very much. I love my research. I feel like I am making a difference as do you. From the title, you put much effort into it.. and who knows..you might get published. Remember, you have had peer reviews ( I believe you have...anyway) and that is the highest comment. Keep on truckin' sir....

 

The situation that Rich describes relative to making copies of his dissertation available outside of the auspices of UMI is correct. This is normal. Ask anyone who has earned a doctorate...

Dave

 

Rich,

One more thing. If they attack you, then they are attacking the president of the Thomas Edison State College, my alma mater. If they attack you, then they are attacking the countless Union graduates across the country. One word of advice to those who throw stones, remember ...the grass is always greener. I had to get this off my chest. I am not flaming anyone. As to UMI, you can get dissertations from them. When I purchased dissertations( back in 1994-96) they were 36 dollars a copy. They are slow at times and can make mistakes. Believe me, I know. Union, as well as Texas A&M are participating members.

 

That's why I don't post anywhere else anymore. (Of course, that includes getting booted from CollegeHints.com, which is a prideful thing....)

As for publishing, I haven't the time. Perhaps in the future.