Is it deceitful, dishonest, unethical, or lying by omission to list on your resume...

That's a different issue - because each UC is a different college/university, not different campi or schools of the same university.

 

I think that the title of this thread is leaving out one important alternative. There has been a focus on lying, deceit, etc. I would only want to point out that if someone "misrepresents" something on their resume then it might be due to the fact that they simply do not appreciate the (sometimes) subtle differences in the nomenclature.

 

But Penn State University consists of different "Colleges" as well. There is not always a one-to-one relationship between each "College" and each "Campus", but the "Colleges" are certainly important administrative divisions nonetheless. So why is it a different issue?

For example, it's my understanding that a business degree from PSU-Erie represents Behrend College, while one from PSU-University Park represents the Smeal College of Business. And I believe this difference is in fact reflected on current PSU diplomas.

 

It is reflected on the diplomas. All of the links I provided show the college in which the degree is conferred. When I complete my masters it will list the college where the degree was contained/conferred.

 

And if your resume includes the name of the College, as shown on the diploma, then it's not deceitful, dishonest, unethical, or lying by omission.

However, it's my impression that some people advertise their business (or other) degrees from the "Pennsylvania State University" while deliberately omitting the name of the College as shown on their diplomas. In that case, the ethics are cloudier. In some cases, it may not really matter; in other cases, this practice may obscure significant differences in selectivity or professional accreditation.

 

I'm not sure, but it seems that you're saying that a person is either a liar or stupid. There seems to be no room for an honest mistake in your world.

 

Honest mistakes happen, but a resume or CV is something that a lot of time and effort is expected to be spent on. As a hiring manager I do not expect honest mistakes to be on a resume or CV. I expect dishonesty or lack of attention to the facts and details (ie: stupidity) if any issues arise.

 

As anyone who viewed my original thread that spurned this exchange can see, I originated the question out of my concern regarding the reputation of the PSU iMBA as it may be perceived by employers in my particular field and in my geographic location who would most definitely know the difference between the Worldcampus MBA and the Smeal MBA. Whether it's dishonest or not has been beat to death in this forum (per Fortunato's great deceased-horse-pummeling photo in the other thread), but I'd posit that anyone who intentionally omits the complete details of their degree with even the slightest of intent of being misleading or causing a potential mis-association between two programs like the PSU MBA's above, puts themselves and their credibility at risk when using that degree to gain employment or advancement. Recruiters and HR professionals are by and large an intelligent bunch, and undoubtedly any senior hiring manager (who very well may be a Smeal grad questioning your iMBA that you did not state as being conferred by the Worldcampus) would certainly call that bluff. I'd definitely want to be honest about every detail of my graduate degree, which is why I'm being so overly obsessive about researching which MBA program is going to be the best one for me. My PSU examples are completely arbitrary and not meant to discredit either program - I'm sure that they both provide a quality graduate business education for their candidates, who selected the programs to suit their individual needs.

 

OK. I'm glad to hear it. but since you seem to have set up this polarization

"One man's "subtle differences in the nomenclature" is another man's "bureaucratic dimwittedness."

maybe you'd like to clarify your meaning.

 

It reeks of academic elitism, and also reminds me of the RA or no way threads as well.

 

Totally aside, but this whole debate has made me want to go to PSU (yes, the WORLD CAMPUS lol, and it would go on my resume) even more.

Weird, huh?

 

I think Kevin and I graduated from the same school about the same time with the same concentration. I believe he is correct and I will need to go back and do the same update to my resume.

 

Good Morning! How are things your side of the mountain?

 

I don't know if it could be defined as "academic elitism", that seems to have a negative connotation. If you worked hard to be admitted to a flagship campus such UM-College Park or PSU-University Park or Auburn University (had to throw that one in), wouldn't you want to be differentiated from UMBC (which is a great school, btw), PSU-Erie or Auburn University-Montgomery, respectively? I certainly would/do. I've had people that attended AUM try to tell me they went to Auburn, I pointed out that they did not.

Just provide full disclosure on the school you attend in your professional correspondence. Not doing so is kind of like wearing a Harvard Business School sweatshirt when you attend the extension school. You can do it, but you're inviting an uncomfortable question.

 

(Tongue in cheek but...) I have a Harvard t-shirt I bought from Target and I wear it, because I like it... Does that mean I have to tell people when I meet them that I just bought the shirt?

 

No, listing your degree somewhat differently is not unethical or deceitful, which is what the question was asking...

You have to consider the context in which the resume or whatever will be read. In other words, you have to consider what it will mean to the person reading it.

For example, some instructors choose to go by "Dr." in email and instructional materials, instead of listing the more exact designation "Ed.D." Is this unethical? No. Why?

(Personally, I never needed the crutch of a title to do anything, but some rely on this technique to perform their function. Why solicit the genuflection when nobody is yet challenging your expertise? That seems a little narcissistic... But I digress...)

The degree listing alternation is not unethical because its purpose is to simplify the degree designation for students who will not easily otherwise understand the meaning that the designation is meant to convey: "I'm trained to lead you on this instructional journey."

Perhaps that example informs a general principle for listing degrees...

 

Still making the world a safer place and still pulling for a Division II national championship.