From Nova Southeastern To Charles Sturt

I applied and was accepted into Nova's PhD in Conflict Resolution. I am working diligently to complete the four (4) classes I registered for. Problem is: I find that the Online Program is unorganized, confusing, too involved for the adult students and the textbook requirements are too much. The work is reasonably difficult, Ph.D level work - so this is expected, however, my problem lies in the way the classes are designed. It is very difficult to work, socialize, and obtain good grades during the semester. So far my grades are very good, however, I am getting absolutely nothing from the program. CUP's well organized program spoiled me, I guess.

In one of my classes, we have four very involved assignments due each week for the duration of the course. The professor of that course does not respond in a timely or accurate manner to emailed questions and she is almost never in office for scheduled phone calls. The entire class is confused about what to do. Know this, once an assignment has come due, even if you have questioned the professor and gained no response, the assignment box will be locked. The professors do not compromise (even in a Conflict Resolution program) on assignment. There was a computer problem a few days ago, not the students doing but the web program the school uses was down - the professors marked the students down, citing that students should have posted well ahead of the assignment due date to avoid those issues.

Not only this, but the classes have gone on, even without the required texts. Yet, questions are posted relating to the texts. Most of the students I have spoken with, have said that the classes are unorganized. Through sheer luck, I am surviving, but ask me what I am doing in each class - and I would not be able to give you and honest response.

I have therefore decided to apply for transfer to CSU's Doctor of Public Policy program (Research). It does not matter what tier they are, what I have not been able to determine is, how responsive they are to questions and assisting with the application process. I do plan to complete my 12 credits and if all goes as plan, I'd like a smooth transition into CSU.

Does anyone have a degree from CSU? Or...has anyone had cause to deal with them? How good are they with international student applications?

A response to these questions and any advice or comments would as always be received with thanks...

 

FORGOT

I forgot to ask.....

Does anyone know how foreign schools process transfer students? I'd like to get credit for the 12 semester hours I am to receive from Nova.

Regarding Financial Aid - I was told that I can get Financial Aid to attend CSU. However, I have to research the possibility of having he aid sent to me and I forward payment to CSU. My refund from Nova helps me to purchase the ton of books (about four - six) I need for each class. I dont know how foreign schools are with refunding money. I do know, it could take decades to get mail from there, LOL.

Thanks,

 

I believe that you received your master’s degree from a for-profit school. Fist off, I have to make it unwaveringly clear that I have nothing against for-profit colleges. I actually work for two of them. However, since you received your master’s degree (and perhaps bachelor’s) from a for-profit college (I believe it was UOP), you should have realized a few things when you chose a not-for-profit school for further studies. In a for-profit school, students are treated as real customers. As the saying goes, customers are never wrong. This saying is also true for for-profit schools.

To the contrary, students of not-for-profit colleges such as Nova Southeastern, UMUC, UI&U, Regis, Touro, etc, are not treated as customers. They are treated as students. If you had questions about an assignment, I wonder why you had to wait for assignment submission deadline to pass before sending your questions to your professor. Deadlines are used in both academic and professional environments to accomplish tasks in a timely fashion. I am not sure that your academic experience at CSU is going to be easier. Things will in fact be tougher at Charles Stuart. Your best bet is to continue your education at another U.S. for-profit school like NCU, UoP, and others.

 

Re: Re: From Nova Southeastern To Charles Sturt

I have no interest in UOP, but NCU I dont know about. My interest is in Public Policy. Not interested, although I do respect DETC, I prefer a degree from a regionally or state accrediting body.

Many Thanks.

 

How about Walden? This has a PA component but will it answer?

http://www.waldenu.edu/c/Schools_818.htm

 

For profit?

Unless I missed something, Shannon's undergraduate degree is from Barry University and she has recently completed California University of Pennsylvania's master's degree in Legal Studies. Both schools are not-for-profit.

 

Re: Re: From Nova Southeastern To Charles Sturt

At least the profits are honest about it. The non-profits, still making profits, always cry "non-profit". The reason Indiana sued Indiana University was that they believed they were starting to blatantly make profits. A guy I know prosecuted the case.

One of the biggest cases I have seen in a while is Earlham College's Conner Prairie intertwining. They controlled Conner Prairie Museum...controlling the profits, too. That was a huge moneymaker. The IRS is looking into it now. Never fear, though, all the while Earlham makes a buck...you can be reasonably sure they still treat their customers like students.

From the Yale Daily News...
"Inside a multicolored, Victorian mansion on Prospect Hill, David Swensen paces Yale's miniature trading floor, investing billions of University dollars and making millions in profits for Yale every year."

 

Another Idea

I experienced the same thing at Touro (Non-profit) and moved to NCU (For profit). I would suggest you look at Northcentral. They have been most helpful and will probably accept your credits.

 

I am a student in the Doctor of Public Policy program at Charles Sturt. I am aware that they have quite a number of US students in the program.

I have found them reasonable in my dealings. I would think that you won't have the same problems that you have mentioned in your post. I have had to delay assignments due to work commitments and they have been understanding. I had valid reasons and they listened. This does not mean they are a pushover for any excuse, just reasonable.

I am sure that most universities are understanding of difficulties that can be experienced by adult students. If not, change. There are plenty out there for your business.The object is to get you through the degree by support. you are paying for it and should get it. One university I have studied with in the past seem determined to make it like climbing Mount Everest. I moved on and transferred my credits to an American University. I went in the opposite direction to what you are doing.

Whatever you decide, the best of luck!

 

CSU - Doctor of Public Policy

I am going to complete this semester with Nova, and try to get into Charles Sturt for January. Its too much of a battle with Nova. The work is challenge enough, I shouldn't have to spend all this time trying to understand what the professor wants us to do, I would much prefer to understand the material.

I'd really like to talk to you about CSU - May I email you privately? I have some questions about the public policy program. Public Policy is what I've always been interested in but decided to Nova because they were here in Florida.

I do have an undergrad from Barry, I have the Masters from CUP. Both schools are for profit. I have never attended a not for profit school.

I would have tried Walden but I am not interested in a combined program - just staight Public Policy.

Shay
Thanks for your comment.

 

Re: Re: From Nova Southeastern To Charles Sturt

Deadlines are used in ALL RA schools and are usually enforced.
Besides, there is no mention of UoP.

I don't think so. Not all not-profits are equal in quality, and not all for-profits are necessarily equal in quality either here in the US.
Not all for-profits necessarily equal UoP. Doctoral programs at schools like Argosy and Walden don't get a lot of recognition, but are well organized and efficient with well updated curriculums on current market demands & latest research. And they do demand rigor and also provide each student with plenty of individualized attention that speeds the learning process. Individualized attention is something that its also common, even more so, at top doctoral programs (usually very selective). Ironically, It is at some of the lower tiered not-profit schools were I still see an ongoing lack of attentiveness and student interest by their faculty.

 

All the schools I have attended were not fot profits, except for one course I took from U of Phoenix. My question is what does that matter? In one of my MBA courses no one in the course received any feedback what so ever, but every other class, both as an undergrad and grad student if there was confusion or ambiguity, then a simple question clarified the matter, and I received feedback from my turned in assignments. Many of those in my course are professional educators, and all have told me they have never seen a course that has been taught in this manner, e.g. turning in work week after week and absolutely no feedback as to the assignements that have been turned in, so I can understand Lady Execs frustration. Fortunately this has been the exception and not the rule. Regardless, good luck Lady Exec.

William

 

for-profit -vs- not-for-profit

California University of Pennsylvania is a public institution. It is one of the state funded schools in the Pennsylvania higher education system. It is not a for-profit school.

Barry University is a private not-for-profit school.

Examples of private for-profit schools are University of Phoenix and Colorado Technical University.

 

EXACTLY

William: This is exactly the premise of my complaint with Nova. Whenever they do respond to questions, they never clarify anything and the comment is always ambiguous.

 

I thought that you received your master’s from UOP. That’s my mistake. You sought information about UOP in the past but I didn’t know that you eventually chose CUP. CUP is fine school. As a matter of fact, CUP has a better reputation than Nova.

Regarding the ambiguity of responses from your professors, I believe that you have every right to ask for more explanation if needed. One other thing that you should consider is to network with your classmates. I am sure that some of your classmates won’t find the questions confusing.

Questions given to doctoral students aren't always straightforward. You should try to analyze the question methodically before answering them. When I was a doctoral student, each time an assignment appeared ambiguous to me, I usually analyzed the assignment’s wordings -- sentence by sentence. I had always wondered thus: If other students could understand the requirements of the assignment, why couldn’t I? If the assignments were glaringly vague for every student, why would any student receive an A for that assignment?

 

Nova/Charles Sturt/CUP

I have to agree that CUP is superior to Nova. The only complaint I have about CUP is not complaint at all and that is - that I thought CUP would have indicated on my diploma that I graduated Summa Cum Laude - I am not sure if this is done in graduate programs. But when I was finished with CUP, I felt like I learned something. Those professors are good, really good and the structure cannot get any better.

The Institute of Public Policy under the directorship of Dr. Nemeth is the best! I know my stuff because of them. Not only this - but the process is simple - a child can navigate it. The material is difficult, but a student is given every opportunity to excel. I have only great words to say about CUP.

Nova's program is interesting. It looks promising but they need to pull up their boot straps and change a few things students are going to leave the program. I started out with lots of students, and now only a few are holding on. I'm trying to get into Charles Sturt, and I dont care what tier it is - Conflict Resolution is not difficult, I earned three A's and a B already but no one will convince me that four assignment for one class is not overdoing it. And when the syllabus reads like it should be read in class - confusing and requires clarification, then that is an issue.

 

Have you ever looked into the traveling scholar program through UCF?

 

NCU

NCU does offer a public policy concentration in the PhD in Business Adminsitration program

 

Question

Are these complaints with Nova accross the board or just in a particular department? Just curious.

 

Re: Question

No. It 's about a department.