Kennedy Western University - How would you evaluate?

Like many of Janco's posts this one was better left unexplained.

 

CCU 2003-2004 Catalog; Page 34; Transfer of credit:

"Masters Degree Programs: A maximum of 6 Semester Units of credit may be transferred from other programs or institutions."

They must like you more than everyone else.

6 semester units = 2 courses.

 

Wow, what membership participation. 4016 members and 76 people vote. Less than 2% seem to give a damn about this issue. 280 million people now in the U.S. and of this group 4016 meet here and of this group 76 vote. We are like two fleas arguing over who owns the dog.

 

OK, OK. Here's what I think about KW.
I think it's a fake.
I think occasionally its students do genuine work. When that happens, if I were presented with evidence of that real work and an accurate description of its extent, I would not care very much about the fakery of the institution in evaluating a former student.
From what others have posted who have scientifically investigated the issue (John Bear, Rich Douglas) nobody in the academic world would agree with me.
I respect real academic effort, even under unworthy auspices. But the school itself is a bitter joke, even to one who is not "to hell or Connaught" about RA, and the presumption ought to be that the degree work was also a fake, until and unless conclusively proven otherwise. My only concession to KW would be, as I say, entertaining the possibility that such proof might be forthcoming in very rare instances.

 

Unc:

While I respect your right to an opinion, K-W is not a fake?

Why:

They are a legally State Licensed school, meeting the compliance requirements of the WY Department of Education, and therefore their state licensed is solid thru 2006.

They do offer courses. Whether or not it is enough or how many are assigned is up for debate; but it is clear that on average the minimum is 5 courses with an RA Associates.

The school does have a large staff of RA adjunct professors; while turnover amongst maybe high, the professors do develop the courses and do interface with students needing assistance.

The school does require a final project from all graduates ranging from 75 pages onward. This final project is subject to an anti plagiarism service, and cannot be fudged.

The school mandates an absolute minimum of 9 months in the program before graduation eligibility.

The school is not RA, nor does it claim to be. The school is not suitable for all purposes, including academics. However, the school is more readily accepted in the Business world, where the only occupationally related courses taken, can be utilized.

Substandard perhaps, a fake – not. However, by whose standards would the school be below, the US DoE Website allows for legally run state licensed schools to operate? Nowhere does it mandate that all schools must be accredited.

Thanks,

 

Uh, I couldn't have said it better myself?

 

Maybe a litmus test -- How would Laura Callahan have faired with a HW degree?

Better than Hamilton?
Same as Hamilton?
Worse than Hamilton?

John

 

Exactly the same. K-W is marginally better, but it's a very small margin.



Tom Nixon

 

Tom:

How could K-W only be marginally better?

K-W is fully compliant with the regulations of the Wyoming Department of Education's postsecondary secondary school requirements and operates fully legally within.

Hamilton claims exemption and has no governmental oversight.

 

Now Tom, I agree with RJT here. I do not think you can say it is the same as Hamilton. I do not know anything about Hamilton, but from what I have read lately Hamilton is strictly a purchased degree with no work, and is not legal.

 

I must also agree with plcscott and RJT.

I have read the same thing. Additionally, Hamilton does that degree for life experience thing. Hamilton is not state licensed and requires no course work.

It is not the same as KW.

 

Hamilton is a empty glass of water. K-W has some water in the glass. Some say almost none and others say a bit more. I have no problem saying K-W is better than Hamilton or Trinity.

 

HMM..
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enter

Good God RJT, use your K-W educated mind. K-W has no 'governmental oversite.' Hamilton operates 'fully legally within." Stick with arguing CA-approved.

Tony

 

...and as far as the poll goes...LOL!!

I am dead,
Tony

...from laughing

!!oh wait!! sign me up!!

 

Wyoming's school licensing laws are a farce, which is, of course, the main reason why K-W has settled there after pit stops in California, Hawaii, and Idaho.

If Hamilton bothered to rent a one-room office, list a full-time employee (singular) and put together an academic plan (regardless if they actually use it), they too could be licensed in WY.


Bruce

 

I had heard of CA, and Hawaii, but had not heard about Idaho. The things I keep finding out continue to bother me, or better yet piss me off. I too think WY laws are a farce, but it does not change the fact that KW does require work, and though they may be substandard they are not the same as Hamilton. I personally voted in "somewhat" here, and I have experience rather than opinion.

 

I have never studied with KW. Students that have studied at KW, state that they had course work and they learned from there.

Education is what you make of it. I voted "somewhat" as well.

From what I have read, Hamilton provides no education.

There is a big difference.

 

RJT:

Couple things.

I think PWU is much better than KW, so your choice to do your master's there is strategically sound.

You may well be the exception, rare but possible, to which I alluded above.

Other people have gone over the state licensing/absentee operations issues, and I have no quarrel with the 9-month minimum, the 75-page exit project, or the complete use of adjuncts.

But I can't figure out how an RA associate's degree plus 5 courses (that is, 2 1/2 years' equivalent total) figures out to the equivalent of 4 years' total work. 65 hours, give or take, just doesn't equal 120 hours, give or take. A school which says that it does is either deceptive or missing a few gears.

Deny that any learning can take place at a fake school? Not me. Deny that any learning takes place at KW? Not me. However, the gap of expectations is so great between KW (as you outlined it) and an ethical but substandard school that the label "fake" seems warranted.

 

It seems that the K-W POLL has now run its course and the anti K-W people will be somewhat surprised by the 26% support for
K-W.
As I've posted previously - for many people K-W, with its mix of credit for prior learning + study, presents an attractive method of
obtaining a degree; a degree which is widely accepted by a growing numbers of companies.