Discrimination against online degrees

I remember my high school days when one of my teachers told us that when we get out of school to join the workforce we will be on our own, no teacher to ask questions and classmates to copy assignment from. One of the many ways to survive, he said, is to keep a book on-hand for an easy resource in times of need.

Thinking that an English language book might be difficult to find in the Arab World (and it came out not true), I did recall my teacher’s word – so I brought my books i.e. IE Handbook, Production Management, and Human Behavior at Work, when I came to work in the UAE.

The work environment has been quite a challenge that, more often than not, I have to consult the book for enlightenment and clarification of some issues – not professor/instructor. Add to that experience was the fact that I have to change my profession not by choice but by circumstances. Imagine an industrial engineer (who doesn't have real experience in software application development and network administration) turned systems developer and network administrator. And no professor to teach RDBMS programming, server/client configuration, user support and all of these IT stuff. It’s the book (now in RDBMS, Networking, etc. in addition to my IE books), sleepless nights debugging cryptic codes (only to find out it’s the missing “end if” in an “if then else” statement), and a bunch of server errors and client disconnections, that I learned all the IT stuff that I know now.

With all of these, I came up with a system based on the business model defined in the IE books, and what was required in the workplace. Again, no professor/instructor to correct my cryptic codes and to tell me what server error I’m into, or how to re-connect a client machine. Its intended users have successfully used the system, for many years until we migrated to an advanced and robust system. This time, still no professor behind my back, I lead the team in the migration, development, and support of the new enterprise system, now deployed in many areas of the country to support the “maintenance, repair, and overhaul” operations of the armed forces.

In short, it’s the book, eagerness to learn, and the output based on what was learned.

Going back to DL, it’s also the book, eagerness to learn, “faceless professor”, and an output (grades).

Now, if I came up with an appreciated output without a professor/instructor, what would make the difference between that learning experience and my DL degree? I believe the only obvious difference is the “faceless professor”. (Sorry Professors on the board, I don’t mean to offend you. I just want to raise my point in justification to a DL degree RA/NA/ or whatever – mine is DETC or NA).

regards,

 

I'm sorry but I'm having some difficulty understanding your response. I know that English is not your first language and at this point it seems to me that it's entirely possible that our differences are primarily born from misunderstanding.
Here it is a sunny, windy Fall day. The Patriots are winning and I have lots of leaves to rake. I hope your day is a good one.
Jack

 

I just thought your example was a bit too stretched.
Examples are created to serve one's purpose in making a point.
However
if one included in his CV that he had been working 20 years full time [U/]in NY while at the same time trying to "hide" the DL origin of his degree behind the brick&mortar of the bestowing UK institution, then he would be asking for further scrutiny .
That ( in my opinion ) has little to do with the assumption university of London might attract less undue attention, when compared to say OU.
As another poster said, this rather pertains to how well written a CV is.



then happy raking while i try to fix this computer

 

Re: Re: Discrimination against online degrees

Avia93,

What Boydston posted above is exactly what I was thinking when reading this thread. I would also add that some who completed their degrees by the B&M night school method have also faced some discrimination from others.

Some people simply are into creating "pecking orders" in every area of life, it's not your responsibility to change those people nor to get your education in a manner that will please them. Simply put, there is no pleasing people like that, they will simply look for something else to criticize as it's in their nature. Continue with your online studies and be damned the critics. Also, not for nothing, but if these are your "friends" speaking this way behind your back well with friends like that .... you know the rest.

Good luck in your studies,
Kit

 

Hmmm. I assume your are talking about "Virginia International University" as your example of one of the leaders in nontraditional higher education?

http://groups.google.com/groups?q=%2B%22Virginia+International+University%22&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search

 

Your latest post only confirms that we have a language/communication problem. Good luck with your computer.
Jack

 

Another baseless comment? Do you have an example? (Not me; I make 3 times that.)


Hey, nice going, must be why they call you RICH Douglas.

You make much more than most Ph.D holders. The rank average salary for a FULL professor at the prestigious Massachusetts state college is a mere $68,000

I Guess un-accredited colleges are making more money than thier accredited counterparts, they can afford to pay thier professors $90.000.

Cool

 

Hi Fred (or whoever you really are) -
I really just wanted to point out that there is no school in Massachusetts known as "Massachusetts state college." You probably pulled this figure from somewhere so maybe you'd care to share with us the source of this fact. It is a fact, isn't it? Cite the source.
Jack

 

Salary is not the total income of many professors. They supplement their income with research, consulting, and writing. Plus some of them have pretty good benefits that account for a great deal in the US.

 

This depends on the University and Faculty. In my University in the faculty of business, full professors make at least 100K plus consulting and research. Assistant professors make around 65K. However, some faculties pay only 40K to start (e.g. arts faculty).

Rich's 90K is a typical income for a PhD graduate in the US. It also depends on the country of residence, in some countries professors make as low as 20K USD a year or even less.

I know that the UK salaries for professors are not exactly high either.

 

Of course not. VIU has nothing to do with nontraditional higher education. And I never worked for them; I was an adjunct instructor for a few years.

It would help when posting on this board to actually have some knowledge about the field. Your assumption is not only wrong, but it is baseless. Nice try.

 

I wish. But since I don't work for an unaccredited college, I guess I wouldn't know.

 

So it is true? You working for VIU?

So where is this great place where you work?

 

I thought I answered the VIU question. Please try re-reading my post.

As for where I work, did I say it was great? I don't think so.

 

Sorry, that was a typo. I meant to say at ´a´ Massachusetts state college instead of ´the´.

As for my source, do your research and prove me wrong, whoever you really are Jack.

 

Rich, you said: "I've been working for the last year at a prominent nontraditional university"

So it is prominent but not great? You are ashamed to name it?

 

Thanks for your interest, but no.

 

I think i made my point & others made theirs well enough.

 

Fascinating but tragic thread... I'm glad to hear that your tuition reimbursement was approved. There are really two discussions here: modality and school reputation. The discussions about school reputation will continue forever as they have in the past. That is, Stanford v. Harvard or CSU Hayward v. CSU Fresno, as the discussion is the same regardless of where the schools are on the ladder. However, what is fascinating is that so many colleagues and perhaps HR staffers are ignorant that there are really few if any differences in the modality between online and brick and mortar schools. The latter uses email, web based curricula, discussion boards and in some cases e-texts and teaching assistants who barely speak English. Is that a better delivery system than pure online? I say, No.

Dave

 

I've got to hand it to you, that was one very clever reply. It was so clever that I think I might be advised to translate it for those newbies who didn't quite understand what you meant.
Here it is:

Thanks so much for your contribution.

Jack