Happenings at Nova Southeastern

Bruce - Great question. I'm certainly going to investigate it. At this point they haven't completed documentation on exactly what will be required. Probably it means some more research methods courses (which I enjoy). We're told we won't have to write a new dissertation - but that some sort of publication requirement is likely. That's great by me. However, I started in 1992 - and ten year old credits may be subject to some sort of review.

Regards - Andy

 

I'm constantly amazed at the insecurity that seems to surround NSU. Based on its campus, its budget, its facilities,its accreditations and its longevity, there should be absolutely nothing to be insecure about. Is the same true of grads from Saybrook, Union, Fielding and Wakden?

 

Make that Walden, not Wakden

 

Good question - although I can't say much about the others, NSU's sheer size (17,000 students split between a variety of DL and traditional programs) and assets (multi million dollar campus, 6 story research library, medical school, etc.) certainly suggest it will be around for the long haul. When I looked for a DL doctoral program these were important factors to me. I wanted a school that would be around and had some substance to it.

The insecurity some have for NSU is not totally unfounded. In the early days NSU had some financial troubles and nearly closed. I joint operating agreement with the NY Institute of Technology (which has since ended) saved the school. Today, the school is in solid financial position and is growing.

Regards - Andy

 

Nova has been bashed in the academia more than any other Research extensive (or intensive) institution, probably because Nova is a DL pioneer. When Nova opened its doors to students in the late 1960s, graduates who attended "night schools" in brick and mortar colleges were looked down. Correspondence schools then were seen as degree mills in the eyes of many. The fact is that Nova has never been a correspondence school but many people outside the state of Florida think that it is a correspondence school. Nova has been operating short-residency programs but the traditional academics have always preferred to brand it whatever they choose. As Kristin (Evenson Hirst) has noted in the past, the bashing of Nova degrees is still prevalent in many institutions. Some in the academia do not even know that Nova has regional accreditation.
I believe that all DL institutions, including Saybrook, Union, Fielding and Walding may be facing the same difficulty, although these institutions may be bashed less than Nova because they are less known. Like I said in another thread, some smaller DL institutions that are qualitatively at par with University of Phoenix are less bashed than UoP because they are less known. Nova Southeastern University is a big national university that has name recognition. As a big university, Nova takes a lion’s share of the criticisms directed to all DL schools because of its size and because it has more name recognition than any other DL school. Most people do not know anything about accreditation. They tend to equate all DL and correspondence schools to degree mill.

 

Talk About Misperceptions!

It seems like I'm the only person who did not realize that Nova's "claim to fame" is distance learning. For some reason, I've always assumed that Nova is a bricks and mortar institution that offers some distance learning programs here and there. Further, as I have visited South Florida over the years, I was of the impression that the university was fairly well respected in that region.

After reading this thread, I decided to look at NSU's web site again. I was very much surprised to learn that they offer a number of doctoral programs through online learning with annual 2-week residencies. Most of the discussions on this board appear to center on Walden, Union, Capella, (and more recently) Touro. Nova seems like a great option. I will certainly be taking a closer look.

 

Re: Talk About Misperceptions!

Although Nova is a brick and mortar university, the school is definitely one of the pioneers of short-residency doctoral programs in the United States.

You are correct. Nova is fairly well respected in Florida.

You also have to note that the current President of Nova Southeastern University annoyed a few DL experts that post in this forum. He threatened to sue them when he was told that Nova will be included in Bears Guide as DL institution (?). I believe that he has never read Bears guide and that he does not know what the book is about. The DL expert (who has no connection with Nova) that has continued to defend Nova in this forum and AED is Dr. Steve Levicoff. Others that have also said positive things about Nova are Tom Head, Bruce, North, Chip, Rich, etc.. The worst attacks always come from Lewchuk. Yes to some extent, what you read about Nova in this forum are figments of imagination of the posters. I am sure that any person that views Nova negatively will change his/her after paying a visit to the school. I am proud to say that Nova has the largest and the most beautiful university campus in Florida. Andy Borchers (an alumnus by the way) that began to harbor some doubts in recent past about the school changed his mind only after his last visit. I am inclined to opine that Nova has been unfairly vilified by some people here and elsewhere.

 

Duff,

I graduated from NSU while living in NC and know of others that have done this too. EIther you go to Florida or else a regional cluster (except for the SCIS programs which is Florida only). THe regional clusters are not held in NC so there is some travel.

John

 

Andy,

Do you know if NSU will make the DBA to Ph.D. change retroactive to earlier DBA grads. In 1994 they did this in SCIS when the Sc.D. alumni could opt for a Ph.D. At the time I noticed that NSU faculty who were also alumni with Sc.D. degreeschanged over to the Ph.D.. In my case when I enrolled it was the Sc.D. program and I was able to opt for a Sc.D. or Ph.D. prior to graduation.

John

 

I believe Andy stated they would with further coursework, but no new dissertation. It was on his first or second post I believe.

 

John and all - Yes - DBA gradswill have some way to convert to PhD, but at this point, final details are not known. Folks in the SBE (School of Business) have asked that students relax and hold off on calling until later in the year. Some general comments were made - but nothing has been published yet.

Thanks - Andy

 

I had many concerns before entering the Ed.D. program at NSU. For one thing, there was US News & World Report. (Often overlooked, however, are several other guides which almost always rate Nova higher than US News). In addition, I heard from more than one person that the then (1993) NYC Board of Education School's Chancellor was asked not to use the title "Dr." because he earned his degree from Nova.

Discussion with other people suggested that the school was perhaps legit, but offers "easy" degrees that are looked down upon. Ironically, one of the the same people (who had just about completed her doctorate at a second tier school) told me that I essentially would have to work just as hard at NSU as I would in any other doctorate program (including hers), but that I would "forever have to defend" my degree.

A classmate of mine was initially denied tuition credit from his school district because they were not sure of the validity of the Nova degree.
When doing research at a major NJ university, a kind librarian assisted me with a very difficult assignment. Several hours later, both of us frustrated with the difficulty level of the task, she asked me what course/professor was the paper for. "Uh, em, Well, it's not for this school".
When I told her it was for NSU she said, "Oh, isn't that the do whatever you want school?" Thought, but not said, "does this look like a 'do whatever you want' assignemnt to you?")
So, on a personal level, I do think the Nova's reputation is a concern for many. Perhaps not everywhere, but certainly in the New York City region.
With such an extensive array of undergraduate, graduate and professional programs (and don't forget the special education school,, PreK-12 college prep. school, health clinics, etc.), NSU should not be questioned. It is actually quite impressive, especially since most universities that have such programs have been around (or evolved from other schools) much, much longer than Nova has.

Jeffrey Levine, Ed.D.