Pacific Western - Calling Dr. Bear

Clear the Air

I do not think that choosing a CA approved option is a poor choice. PW-CA, SCUPS, CPU and CCU all have regulatory oversight. Who is to say the RA regulatory process is that much better? I've alreday gone down the road of the K-W BS Degree, and most RA schools that I've contacted seem reluctant to accept the K-W Degree. For that matter, P-W and CPU were somewhat reluctant, buit said they would accept. I do not want to consider the H-W option becuse it is in the UK, would rather stick to the states. I fel pretty confident that if I expalin that the degree isn't RA, but CA approved, most future employers would accept.

CPU, and P-W are not Harvard, but when someone is in their mid-30's, it will be the job experience which will sell the applicant, not the school attended. If all else fails, I can re-enroll at K-W and expalin that I am loyal to my ala-mater. Despite the opionion on this site, many seem impressed when I mention K-W is where I attended (hopefully it is not confusion).

I hope this clears the air.

Regards,

RJT

 

Re: Clear the Air

 

Good advice ... but ...

Rich & Bill:

I am not doubting your advice, and in most instances it is the best. However, I feel confident that my 14 years of experience will overcome concerns about the Non-RA, but Liscenced State Approved Legal degrees. I cant give specifics, but I know of a company which just hired an executive in the SW arana for double six figures and a nice bonus plan. The fellow did not even have a degree. However, he had the big-six look and experience. In his case for instsnce, the degree is icing on the resume, demonstrating he completed a program. This is not my situation - by any means - however, it is an example where the degree on a resume could be RA or SL, however, it is the experience that matters.

Also, it makes sense to revisit that the US DOE has granted the ststes the right to determine thier post secondary educational institutions, and confer degree granting authority.

Regards,

RJT

 

Re: Good advice ... but ...

Double six figures huh?!! Does that make twelve? This isn't Bill Gates you are talking about is it?

Yeah, I am starting to get the big-six look myself. A little too much experience with my old friend Pabst.

Tony

 

Re: Re: Clear the Air

What I've seen is that outside this DegreeInfo community, CA approved schools, get one of two reactions.

1. Unaccredited? Must be a degree mill!
2. What does accreditation mean?

It is sad but that's the way it is.

If RJT is on the level and is serious about his stated plan then his best hope is that he'll get into a company that has reaction number two and they don't know any better to check if the school is accredited.

 

Re: Good advice ... but ...

RJT, just when you start making some sense you add this nonsense paragraph. It is untrue, irrelevant, and to make matters worse you've been told before that it is untrue. The US DOE did not grant the states that right. The United States constitution did by not granting that right to the federal government. i.e., All rights not granted to the federal government in the constitution, remain with the states.

 

My guess is that "RJT" is a representative of K-W, paid to keep their name prominently displayed on the distance ed boards. Here's another one of his/her stops:

http://courses.telecampus.edu/wwwboard/messages/2841.html

But don't worry, K-W can afford the marketing expense:

K-W recently got a big infusion of cash from a "private equity" venture capitalist firm named Sanders, Karp and Megrue. According to their website, they make investments of between $5 million and $250 million. SKM describes K-W as "one of the largest and fastest growing proprietary post-secondary distance learning schools in the United States", with an "active student population" of greater than 7,000.

http://www.skmequity.com/skmequity/site/investment_area_port.asp?IA=12

In this endeavor, K-W was represented by a firm called Barrington Associates (couldn't be...) that state that they represent firms with annual revenues of between $25 million and $500 million. Interestingly, Barrington Associates describes K-W as founded in 1984 and headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California. Unfortunately, K-W is not even legally authorized to offer degrees in California, and refuses to even communicate with prospective students located in this state.

http://www.baib.com/trans4_middle18.htm

Running questionable "universities" is a big business, folks. Kinda gives you the confidence you needed to get back into the stock market, doesn't it?

 

I sure hope that anyone with over ten years experience in human resources recruiting would know better than to believe the stuff that Roberta posts.

 

Not sure of all the ....

Not sure why all the negativity towards my opinion.

First, I AM NOT A K-W SPY. I have completed my Bachelor's Degree requirements at the school, because when I enrolled, as I still largely feel - they are a good institution.

However, for my Masters Degree, I have decided to enroll at Pacific Western. Why P-W, because they are CA approved. The school is straight forward - they say right out that they are absolutely not accredited, and their catalog does not condemn or denounce accreditation (unlike some other schools). P-W presents that that they are an alternative.

Many on this board have criticized the school for opening up a HI branch. However, even after exploring the HI criteria, I do not find fault with their curricula’s. First, an ACE portfolio is developed. Second, only 10 credits are eligible for life experience - the remainder of the credits MUST be earned thru coursework, under faculty advice. Third, a thesis proposal must be developed, approved and then a thesis developed.

Finally, amongst the unaccredited schools, I feel that P-W has a solid reputation. Just run an internet search and you'll be blown away at how may academic faculty at Regionally Accredited Colleges have P-W PhD’s. Also, I have read that in Canada, one can even instruct at a public school with a P-W CA degree.

Thanks,

RJT

 

Re: Not sure of all the ....

Fine, I guess, but most people on this board who are familiar with CA approved schools would probably recommend the MBA programs at California Coast University or California Pacific University. That is, if you are going the non-RA route. Still, why don't work on an RA bachelor degree instead?

I've never understood the credit for life experience option. At least do the coursework, so you'll walk away with the knowledge. People may question the non-RA credential, but at least you're getting something for your money.

Speaking as one who has an open mind about some unaccredited schools, I can't refute this last paragraph, but I will say that it seems to be from a feed lot, is warm, looks steamy and smells bad, so I'm not going to step in it...

Cheers,

Dave

 

Re: Not sure of all the ....

Two Points RJT

The negitivity comes from your playing fast and loose with the truth.

Second, your right, of the truly substandard schools P-W is near the top of list. For anyone who doesn't want an education or a useable degree it would be perfect. And, it would match up with a K-W degree in almost every way.

 

Re: Not sure of all the ....

I think you do know but just in case you don't, let me lay it out for you. You tell untruths. You seem to have a tendency to even repeat many untrue statements even after it is explained to you. You speak bullshit and like your untruths you refuse to discuss it.

In case you still don't get it let me give one example. You claim that KWU has made many creative innovations to education that you expect will be copied by RA schools. I asked you to name ONE of these innovations and you continue to ignore it and refuse to provide any support for your outlandish statements.

In short Roberta, you come up short when it comes to integrity and credibility. I believe that it is unlikely that you are who you claim to be.

 

Re: Re: Not sure of all the ....

I have stated a few times about my experience with a P-W graduate teaching a course at my nat'l accred. school. He was very current in the business world and appeared to be well rounded and was definitely effective. From this basis I have a hard time in finding fault with P-W (CA). Of course if it doesn't fit in with what your plans are, it isn't the best choice.

Tony

 

Blowing off the steam

Bill:

Again you seem hostile towards K-W, or any state licensed approved colleges. However, just a reminder, these schools, while dogged by you, are perfectly legal and serve purposes. Look at the 37,000 students that have enrolled at K-W. If the school was without merits, why would enrollment be so high?

As for emulatable qualities - I feel that K-W breaks the mold in it's literal acceptance by the business community. Check out the pub and re-review how many companies pay tuition for their K-W student employees. If you feel that all of these companies are so naive, well, I doubt it.

Hell, if I were 25 and had a great deal of career time to waste at traditional institutions, I'd pursue an on campus degree. However, for those of us who are older and seeking non-traditional accelerated options, K-W is well suited. By the way - they are regulated and reviewed by the Wyoming DoE. Amongst the many options for State Approved and Licensed schools, such as Senior, American Global, Preston, in my opinion, they rise to the top.

To borrow a quote from the Cal Pacific 2002 catalog, a well deserved and regarded non-RA college: " The most common misunderstanding is that a school or a degree program must be accredited to be legal. THAT IS ENTIRELY WRONG. IN THE UNITED STSTES ONLY THE STATES OR CONGRESS CAN AUTORIZE AN ISITUTION TO CONFER DEGREES. IT IS THAT GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATION THAT MAKES A DEGREE LEGAL IN ANY OF THE FIFTY STATES OR TERRITORIES. ... It should be noted that the degree you intend to earn need not be accredited if your intended use relates to most jobs or salary advancement in business, or certain professions such as real estate brokers, nursing home administrators, engineers and others. Also accreditation is totally unimportant for perhaps one of the most valid and important reason people pursue a degree - self enrichment and satisfaction."

California Pacific, Pacific Western, Cal Coast, and yes, K-W meet these criterion. Therefore, the degrees they issue are just as legal, as yours Bill.

Thanks,

RJT

 

Re: Re: Re: Not sure of all the ....

I don't doubt that there are many knowledgeable P-W graduates and graduates of other unaccredited schools who are capable of teaching a whole host of subjects. What I do doubt is what the original poster inferred: that there are P-W graduates who are teaching at RA universities based on the P-W degree alone -- this point, of course, was nonsense.

Cheers,

Dave

 

Re: Blowing off the steam

My last post could possibly be interpreted as hostile towards you but, could it be interpreted as hostile towards K-W? It wasn't even hostile towards you, though. You asked why people were negative about your posts. I simply pointed out that in my opinion you have zero credibility and have demonstrated problems with your integrity.

So was this last post of yours an attempt to explain something innovative by KWU that will be copied by RA schools? Are you really trying to argue that KWU has been more successful in getting companies to pay for KWU classes than RA and what about this will be copied by RA schools. Please tell what KWU has done that is innovative and will eventually be copied by RA schools.

Regarding even your last statement, that too is a lie. You've been told many times that it is a lie. A degree from UC Berkeley is legal in California and Oregon. KWU degrees have problems. KWU degrees are not as legal as RA degrees. Please stop repeating lies. And I'm not being hostile, Roberta.

Regarding your assertion that I'm "hostile" towards all state approved schools. This is nonsense as well. My alma mater is state approved, UC Berkeley. It is even approved by Oregon. Are you claiming that UC Berkeley is not state licensed? Are you claiming that any RA school is not state licensed or not state approved? The only thing I've probably said about unaccredited CA approved schools is that their degrees will have minimal utility. I don't consider that being hostile. It is just the truth. I don't even consider pointing out your untruths to be hostile. It is just the truth and I believe that your untruths could be dangerous if they were not addressed.

Perhaps you think I'm being hostile because I find your posts very amusing? Perhaps you could address exactly what I've done that you find hostile at the same time you give me ONE example of a KWU innovation that isn't already being done by RA schools but probably will be in the future.

 

Re: Not sure of all the ....

Oh, please.

 

Re: Blowing off the steam

Why do thousands of people purchase diploma mill credentials every year? Because a college degree is a valuable commodity, and people are always looking for shortcuts. Some just buy the paper, others enroll in unaccredited schools with hazy academic requirements.


Bruce

 

Re: Re: Blowing off the steam

An unfair part of the story is that the utility of the two different types of unaccredited degrees (i.e., no work and substandard work required) are very similar, both have minimal utility. I believe this to be especially true for Bachelor's degrees.

 

LOL

So RJT, are you going to turn over a new leaf and apologize for telling this lie for the umpteenth time? Remember what it means if you say an untruth when you know it to be untrue especially when you don't apologize for it? Remember you asked why people didn't take your posts seriously? It is these kind of things why you have zero credibility with me and why I question both your motives and integrity.

Oh I forgot, you're welcome.

Also I should thank you for allowing me this opportunity to LMAO.