Clarification on Union's Troubles

To pose the unanswered question of the ages - Why does every discussion of Union end with a discussion of how bad some other school is?

Rating American doctoral programs ordinally, Union is a lot closer to CCU than it is to Harvard. Maybe a few positions apart.

 

Well, I am not a member of the "Gang of Six" and have been posting on a fairly regular basis for the past couple of years. I would definately fall into the "other 5%" category myself. I also fall into the category of one of the few people that has read Rich Douglas' dissertation (the real one, not the summary posted on a.e.d).

Rich's dissertation is a fine piece of work and more interesting than many of the "effects of so-and-so on this-and-that" theses and dissertations that I have advised. The background and literature review provided a very good orientation, the statistical analyses were appropriate to the study and the findings are significant enough to be published.

Personally, I am not interested in defending Union U&I. Rich and Steve have been quite open about their concerns. I hope that the situation resolves because institutions like Union, Phoenix, Capella, Western Governors, etc. that push the envelope are healthy for higher education.

People are getting awfully close to condemning Rich's dissertation without having read it. I have...it's good.

Tony Pina
Faculty, Calforinia State University, San Bernardino

 

There is nowhere a CCU doctorate will do that a Union doctorate won't. The opposite isn't true.

At least Dennis admits he's pursuing an inferior degree. I couldn't agree more (with that, anyway).

 

Funny thing is, neither am I. Les Snell applied that label at a time when I was quite inactive in these matters. But the degree mill advocates we've seen lately don't know what they're talking about, so they mistakenly apply it. But at least they're consistent.

 

Rich,

As a fellow academic, I do look forward to reading your dissertation. One thing, have you thought about journal articles in which to write. Peer reviews are the key, and I am sure I dont have to tell you that. I agree with Tony, publishing is the key. I respect both you and Dennis. You are both very intelligent and provocative in the way you present your viewpoints. My hat is off to BOTH of you. One more thing Rich, I think if you tried to sell your dissertation on the open market...you would make a "killing" on it. All the folks on the other forums would be tripping over themselves to buy it.lol

 

Or steal it.

 

Maybe you could serialize it. Charles Dickens made a lot of money that way. Engravings by Tenniel or Phiz would help, too. A fac-simile of the author's signature could distinguish authorized instalments from bootleg ones. You might also change the ending part way through to thwart piracy.

 

Hey, the "non-readers" have already done that.

 

True.