Kennedy-Western Faculty to Present at DL Conference

I think they're probably quite happy.

They got their photo op, which will soon be on their website.

And they probably got a chance to recruit some more course developers. And so much the better if people thought there's not much content behind the courses -- makes it easier to recruit new "faculty".

And the customers weren't there and hence won't know that KW's courses looked substandard compared to the others.

 

Oxpecker has a world view that is entirely cynical, suspicious and negativisitc. This must be why I agree with him so often.

Jack

 

First, my apologies to Tony. (Don't have the tilde figured out, yet.) This was a terrific report, and I'm sure we all really appreciate it.

Second, I think K-WU accomplished its goal with this "presentation," even if inept. It was being there, and taking advantage of that fact, that mattered. The presenter might have looked foolish in front of a few people, but K-WU will sell it like Ivy League stuff to the unsuspecting.

And, as oxpecker noted, K-WU probably recruited a few people who will go for the cash. And it appears there is a lot of that to go around.

 

No need to apologize, my friend. If you hold down the ALT key and type 0241 on the keypad (not the number keys at the top of the keyboard) you will get a tilde. I am still trying to figure out how to do this on my laptop, which doesn't have a keypad.

The people who stopped to see the KW display sure did not seem impressed to me (and I saw all of them). On the other hand, I cannot say that some hungry assistant professor or adjunct faculty wouldn't call them up later for a course development gig.

I have been approached by a couple of legit accredited virtual schools with offers to teach online. If I didn't already have my full--time administrative job at Northeastern and adjunct teaching for Northeastern and La Sierra, I would seriously consider an offer from UMUC, Walden, Capella, Western Governors or Jones International. I really do not see why a faculty member trying to enhance her/his vita would choose to teach for KW.

 

Toñy, I wish to thank you for the delightful report.


(I know that Tony doesn't really have an n-aa in it but I had to make one.)

 

Yes, I agree. In much of its voluminous email spammings and online advertising and in its high-pressure/negative sell telemarketing sales operation, KW makes a great deal of the fact that many of its so-called faculty have R/A Ph.Ds. I say "so-called faculty" because KW faculty do very little that is similar to what most faculty do routinely at most accredited and legitimate universities.

As presenter Meister-Emerich herself stated, KW faculty are expected to "develop courses" and do not much more. It is worth repeating that there is no "teaching" at KW"U," and no required interactions with faculty - except for responding to the occasional question or two from an inquiring student. It is only when an enrollee writes his/her final paper that involvement/approval from one pre-selected/pre-assigned KW "faculty" is required.

Most KW "faculty" members are real/actual, sometimes even accomplished faculty at legitimate R/A institutions. However, while in the part-time employ of KW, they are not much more than a name (for advertising purposes), a responder to the occasional email/phone call from a student, resulting in the occasional paycheck.

Yes, Meister-Emerich may have "eliminated quality of instruction as well" from her inept presentation, but let's not forget that there is little to no instruction at KW, and of course, absolutely none, nada, zip, zero faculty-led or faculty-inspired research of any kind, something one would expect a legitimate and credible institution of higher learning to routinely engage in.

Perhaps most damning of all, KW has absolutely no requirements for students to take and pass a course or courses in Statistics and/or Research Methodology prior to writing a final paper! This is unbelievable but true. A student may or may not take such course(s) if available. It is not required.

Can anyone name one, just ONE, legitimately accredited, USDoE/CHEA accreditor-recognized or GAAP university or college which as a general rule makes statistics/research methods optional (not a pre-requisite) to students prior to writing a thesis/doctorate? That's right - none (to the best of my knowledge)!

Quite true! Remember that the promise and reality of not much content in KW "courses" go both ways. It helps KW recruit faculty who may be needing the extra cash for little to no work, but more importantly, I am speculating that it is a huge selling point to some prospective "students" out there, who may be seeking a degree for not much work!

I am not saying that all enrolless have this is a major goal and I am sure that some sincere, learning-oriented even accomplished and capable students do enroll. However, one cannot discount that factor (relatively easy-to-obtain degrees) in the continued ability of KW to recruit students, despite the fact-filled investigations May 2004 US Senate hearings by US Senator Collins. According to the KW website's online admissions evaluation tool, all that one needs to enroll is a resume, a credit card, a minimum 5-year work history and some prior academic work elsewhere. Having had some seminars/conferences/training courses and/or actual school credits are icing on the cake.

An unknown but growing number of students get all their academic "credentials" from KW - a Bachelors, Masters and Ph.D. degree sequentially - all obtainable in conceivably 3 to 5 years!

Some "university!"

That they most certainly will do, if past behavior is any indication of KW's future probable activities. Appearances are worth millions to the "institution"/business.

It is important for KW to put on a show, to lure new faculty hires (as others quit) and future enrollees. That is why KW filed a "anti-free speech/commerce" case against Oregon's ODA (which led to a settlement) rather than have the entity pay a small fee to ODA to have ODA evaluate its course offerings for rigor or minimal acceptability. So yes, it is almost guaranteed that KW will put this DL conference to good use in its promotional/advertising campaigns.

The unofficial KW business mantra is to just look good and smell good - you do not have to be good.

Just having KW listed on the DL 2006 Conference website is a coup d'etatt for the entity. Watch KW milk this conference to death for brownie points.

Dr. Piña, I am in a similar situation. On a WinTel (Windows-Intel) PC laptop, go to Start=>Programs=>Accessories=>System Tools=>Character map ........ and select/copy the character that you need, with the proper literal accent then paste it in your document where it needs to go. It works for me (thus I do not have to remember the Alt-0214 thingy).

They probably do it for the money and not for purposes of vita enhancement. Most (maybe all) are hired as faculty elsewhere prior to and not because of their KW gig.
posted by BillHuffman
Toñy, I wish to thank you for the delightful report.[/quote]
What he said!

Yes, Dr. Piña, we thank you for your work, time, and revealing report. You are not just an educational administrator. You are and will forever be the knowledge-seeking, knowledge-producing and knowledge-disseminating academic.

The world is your lab and you observe, record, and report - and make us think. How much do we (DI and the world) owe you?

Thanks.

 

Jake_A: "An unknown but growing number of students get all their academic "credentials" from KW - a Bachelors, Masters and Ph.D. degree sequentially - all obtainable in conceivably 3 to 5 years!"

Correction: My mistake, pardon me. The end of the sentence above should read "each obtainable in 12 to 18 months" according to the KW website and email advertising.

 

According to the KWU discussion forum (before it was made private), it had become known to the general population at the forum that KWU ignored this policy on occasion. There was much debate and gnashing of teeth over what this meant to the quality of the degrees from KWU in general and the meaning of life experience for credit at KWU.

I would guess that exceptions to the KWU's five year rule happens everytime it conflicts with what I believe is KWU's main rule, "If a victim is willing to give KWU money then take it." This along with statements by KWU telemarketers (AKA admittance counselors) about an applicant review board are examples of why I feel that KWU routinely misleads and could likely be convicted of fraud if an investigation and trail took place.

 

What he said!

Yes, Dr. Piña, we thank you for your work, time, and revealing report. You are not just an educational administrator. You are and will forever be the knowledge-seeking, knowledge-producing and knowledge-disseminating academic.

The world is your lab and you observe, record, and report - and make us think. How much do we (DI and the world) owe you?

Thanks.

[/QUOTE]

Jake,

I really don't know what to say. I'm just a guy who works in instructional technology & distance learning for a living and who loves the field. I was introduced to non-traditional education by a friend who completed his bachelors at Regents (Excelsior) when sickness prevented his finishing up at BYU. That led me to John Bear's books and, later to his website (Degree.net) which led me to Degreeinfo.

I have received much useful information via Degreeinfo which continues to be, in my opinion, the best source for up-to-the-minute information about aspects of distance learning that I find fascinating and fun. I can get information about the latest developments in course management systems, online teaching techniques, distance learning research and the other instructional and technical aspects of my profession from many sources. However, Degreeinfo is the place to see what is happening in the areas of accreditation, new DL program development, degree mills and many other topics. I even get to post occassionally on my own quirky topics of interests, such as the Ed.D. vs. the Ph.D. degree in education.

The fact that I am a university administrator and faculty has given me access to opportunities (such as designing and teaching DL courses, attending DL conferences and hiring college faculty) that others on Degreeinfo might not have, so I am happy to share my experiences with anyone who might benefit. I, in turn, benefit from the work of others who are in different arenas than mine and who post so generously in Degreeinfo. I have received many links to invaluable resources for my job from Degreeinfo (something that I have not been able to find on any of the anti-Degreeinfo fora).

Fortunately, my posts here are so innocuous, that I am not seen as a threat to anyone. So I have, thus far, been spared the vicious attacks that have been launched upon John Bear, Rich Douglas, George Gollin, Alan Contreras, Uncle Janko and others who post here.

Also, thank you for the tip about the Character Map. I knew that it was there and did not even consider it for this purpose. I have copied the shortcut onto my windows task bar and it works great! (See, I told you that I benefit from Degreeinfo!)

Toñññy Piññña

 

Re: Making ñ's

I Word, I have my keyboard mapped so that when I type ALT-n, I get the "ñ". I have all of the Spanish language characters mapped that way. Unfortunately, this doesn't work outside of Word, so I have been doing the copy and paste thing for some time. Using the Character Map will actually speed things up for me.

 

Review Committee

For what it may be worth...

I had an interesting conversation with Dr. Ted Coleman. He has taken over as the new Chancellor and is active in insituting change. He is pusing to include a greater research components in the various levels of programs. The review committee of three is one of his programs as well as new statistical research oriented courses aimed at giving the student the required tool to complete the expanded components. In addition he has instituted "Major and Minor" course components to allow students a greater latitude in going outside their normal discipline. He has personally taken over the reins of the criculum development committee.

Dick

 

Thanks for this information. Question: is what you say here written down anywhere, for the purposes of independent verification, like say in accessible KW policies and procedures, KW printed or electronic literature, on KW website, or in KW Newsletters?

If it is just talk (based on a telephone conversation you had recently or in the past), then forgive me for not being impressed.

Someone please wake me up when real change occurs on the ground at KW"U" - real verifiable change like, like, need I say it - legitimate and proper USDoE/CHEA-recognized accreditation?

A good thing though - and I hope that it is true - is that KW's top honcho, the Chancellor, according to you, has admitted that the curriculum development committee is broken, non-existent or both!

Ahhh! Dr. Douglas! Good questions, all, regarding KW dissertation committees, if they exist, and the curriculum development committee, if it exists. Any answers? Any takers from KW? Don't hold your breath!

Now, you're talking, my friend!
LOL.
As much as I agree with you, I really would like nothing better than to have someone (anyone, KW friend or not) decisively show all of us here how untrue your statement above is.

Problem is, when was the last time you found an unaccredited DL entity saying and actually practising the dictum that "If a student is willing to give KWU money - even with a broken or non-existent curriculum development committee - DO NOT take it?"

Probable answer: At least not yet!

I know that you are right, Dr. Piña.
One can bet one's bottom dollar on the veracity of your statement above (at least, I would!)

A recurring thought:

Anyone ever wonder how come it seems that owners, students, graduates, business partners, supporters, etc. of several unaccredited entities (legitimate or not), even outright diploma mills, cannot seem to be able to last a day without coming in here to check out current info on Degreeinfo?

Hmmmm.......



Long live DI!
Thanks.

 

Well the reputation this site earned is known.

I think they look at possible legal problems they may face and trying to be proactive to cover their b....

2. Trial balloons - i.e. setting bogus sites in other countries then coming here and testing if one of the experts will detect their
deception and how can do it better.

3. To try and buy some time so they can make the most sells before they shut down and run with peoples money.

4. The people with bogus degrees to check if there is new mill
in the news so they may change their bogus degree because it was exposed.

5. ..... many more

Example:

When SRU came under critique that hey award diplomas based on no work - i.e. diploma mill. They also learned that there are schools were people can test out for part of the degree or all of the degree, sites like BA in 4 weeks.

The action followed:

they added some testing on their web site so a person can have a choice to state hey I took tests and tested out just like with TEC etc.

Another example when BI chartered schools were exposed that their charter is noting but business license they went to other countries to look for a better deception.

They also come here to check what the new gimmick is.

Like VAE .
From one entity offering VAE there are now 4 or 5 that moved there.

Learner

 

Well, this is one of the only places where people keep up-to-date on the actions of (and reactions to) unaccredited entities. The people working most actively in this area on a professional and personal interest basis tend to post on Degreeinfo.

There are also a number of online discussion fora that appear to exist for little reason than to attack Degreeinfo and/or specific people who post here regularly. If it were not for Degreeinfo, those sites would have precious little to discuss.

 

Re: Review Committee

Welcome back, Dick.

For readers who don't know, University Microfilms posted the wrong document in their Dissertation Abstracts database. (My Program Summary, not my dissertation.) Dr. Suhar is the person who purchased it from UMI, using his UoP account. (Dr. Suhar was a UoP instructor at the time, and still is.) The link to the document was posted on the internet by another person. (Peter French, IIRC.) It is not clear how the information about the link--which provided access to the document for 72 hours--transferred from the purchaser (Suhar) to the poster. One of those two violated my copyrights. (The document was downloaded 66 times before UMI put a stop to it. That's why my real dissertation isn't available electronically.)

In no way should that link have been transferred from the purchaser, which also violated the purchase agreement.

Dr. Suhar, a graduate of Kennedy-Western's Ph.D. program, does not list his K-W doctorate in either his faculty profile nor on his faculty website at UoP.

 

Re: Re: Review Committee

Of course it's not listed in my faculty profile or web site! You of all people should know why... University of Phoenix policy does not allow practicioners to represent themselves as "PhD" holders who have obtained the degree from unaccredited institutions. I am just following policy... I hope you enjoyed my faculty website. There are some interesting files in the course folders.

BTW all, I did submit my transcripts form KW to University of Phoenix so it's no secret to them I hold an unaccredited doctorate.


Thanks for the welcome...

Dick

 

Interview in Lecture Archive

The conversation is archived on the KW website under "Lectures" sorted by topic on the KWEL page. As I recall the title is "An Interview with the Chancellor"


Maybe your former KW student can forward you a copy. I wouldn't want to run afoul of any copyright infringements.


Dick

 

Re: Re: Re: Review Committee

Why would Suhar do this?

 

Re: Re: Re: Review Committee

Re-read my post and you'll see that I didn't offer an opinion, just an observation. I agree with you.

A common point of discussion on this board is the situation where a person with a doctorate from an unaccredited school is found teaching at an accredited school. The nexus is whether or not seeing the unaccredited doctorate listed constitutes an endorsement and/or acceptance by the accredited school. OPINION: Your situation is exactly how things should be handled.

Another OPINION: I also agree that your faculty website is extremely well-populated with what appears to be very valuable information. I was also impressed with the array of courses for which you are approved.

And I'm still interested in how your purchase of my dissertation--which you didn't actually receive--ended up with a link posted on the internet by someone else. You've been curiously silent about that.