Perceptions of DL Ph.D.s

My two cents: I like Touro--but if I were a student given the option between listing my Ph.D. as awarded by Touro College or Touro University International (and I think I really would have the option, since both names do appear on the diploma), I'd go with Touro College. I happen to see its heritage as a very positive factor (though I really don't think Scott H. meant to come across as antisemitic), and folks from the area will know it for its nontraditional bachelor's program and its school of osteopathic medicine.



Cheers,

 

I'd prefer 'Touro University'. While I love the idea of international education, I can't help thinking that the word 'international' in a school's name sounds tacky.

But Touro's problem seems to be that it is located in New York, and that state reserves the name 'university' for schools with more than x doctoral programs. Hence Touro is a 'college' with divisions like their osteopathic school and their DL ventures in California that can call themselves 'university'. (California doesn't care what they call themselves. Do your own thing, man...)

Unfortunately, this unusual name situation makes Touro subject to attack by newsgroup yahoos.

Fortunately, I expect that Touro will officially change its name to 'university' in the near future, seeing as how they are gradually adding new doctoral programs and will probably soon cross New York's statutory threshold.

Scott H. was just trying to create some heat.

Personally, I like Touro's Jewish studies program and consider it a strength. Check out their lineup of graduate courses. Certainly more comprehensive than most other graduate religion schools, even those in many of the 'top tier' doctoral universities. Add in the opportunity to study Judaism in Jerusalem (assuming that you can avoid being blown up), and I'd call it a very attractive program.

 

Tom,

I am shocked!

The program/curriculum is not offered from Touro College.
The faculty are not employed by Touro College.
The degree is not granted from Touro College.
The transcripts are not issued from Touro College.
Touro College probably does not have records that you attended the "branch campus" in California.

I think you are seriously pushing the ethical line to have on your resume:

Tom Head
Phd, Touro College.

 

"probably" Ken ? Can you verify this ?

As in once again ... you have no proof about what you state.

Several of your other "statements" have already been
addressed ... Over and over, yet you chose to ignore this.

Ken, Is it just a slow day and you feel the need to 'troll' ?

Did you ever finish the H-W MBA program ?

Do you realize that no one values your posts ?

Billy

 

TUI's problem is that it is a scam.

Example of an alternative:

Golden Gate University,

Golden Gate University is B&M school in San Francisco, with courses offered at locations up & down the coast. They also have a virtual campus. However the virtual campus is actually part of GGU, it offers GGU programs supported by GGU faculty, by studying through the virtual campus you actually get a GGU degree.

Now, I am not a big fan of GGU but they are honest and you can be relatively assured that the degree you earn will be as reputable as any GGU degree.

 

You are obviously entitled to your opinion. However, TUI offers viable doctoral programs to many others although it may not be congruent with your needs.

In effect, the points you enumerated do not negate the integrity of the programs, faculty or degrees offered by this school.

 

Opinion verses FACT Ken please ?

Ken,

Well it's my turn to play "feed Ken the troll".

Why don't you step up and answer the questions
that have been posed to you.

Calling something a "sham" without facts is at best your
opinion. What you seem to enjoy doing is posting incorrect
information with no evidence to back up your predetermined
agenda.

Many have already "plonked" you as you rarely seem to
share any form of personal experience (I attended this
school, I took this class, these are my goals in life).

Instead ... it more of a predictable bashing of certain topics ...

Over and over again.

If you are upset over your unaccredited degrees, or failing
to complete your H-W MBA (a strong program) then rather
than staying bitter ... Why not try to improve your life and
move forward. That's what most of the persons on this site
are trying to do ... Yet you sure seem bent on preventing
that from occurring, and staying "stuck" where ever you are.

That's sad Ken (or who ever you really are).

What is good, is that Touro remains a worthy option, one that
is becoming an even better alternative as time moves forward.

Billy

A TUI Student

 

The fact remains that TUI is an integral part of Touro College. Check the Middle States listing...

http://www.msache.org/dirny.asp

Eli

 

A scam that is accepted by the US Army, Middle States, IACBE, has 100% full time professors, and last but not least 50% of the tuition paid by the multinational I work for. Not bad!!

PS: Let us try to behave as adults and avoid throwing baseless and cheap accusations.

Eli

 

Did I forget to say not-for-profit ...... ?

Eli

 

credit for life experience....

Hello all,

I am quite surprised at the negative attitude toward academic credit based upon life experience. In a nutshell, in my opinion, it is merely a sign of those who wish to protect the academic "guild system" of obtaining traditional degrees. Plus, if a person markets their book regarding distance education by placing it after their name on each message, isn't this a most "wonderful" marketing technique? It's like stating, "Hey, buy my book and then you will know what distance learning institutions are 'reputable.'" I object to this mentality. The school of hard knocks is very often a much better education than the "traditional" manner. It depends upon the subject.

Charlemagne

 

The TUI/TC relationship is not generally accepted anywhere in the world that I am aware of (although there is probably a relationship somewhere that is similar).

A generally acceptable resume where a person studies at a "college" (i.e. any sub-set) of a larger entity would be:

MBA
Bauer College of Business
University of Houston
or
MBA
Edinburgh Business School
Heriot-Watt University

The interpretation being that you study at/through the business school and have a degree from the University.

Now, lets look at Touro.

MBA
Touro University International
Touro College

Incorrect. The degree is not awarded by Touro College.

MBA
Touro College
Touro University International

Incorrect. You did not study at / through Touro College... neither the faculty, programs, curriculum, assessment, etc., are connected to Touro College

The only ethical presentation would be,
MBA
Touro University International

Finally, on being the best DL doctorate available.
If you are including traditional doctorates that may be completed without residency, either through formal processes or informal negotiation, then that statement is nonsense.

If you are including only non-traditional doctorates, that may very well be the case (it may be that Touro is more rigorous than Union, Capella, etc.). However, I am a huge supporter of the Special Olympics but I don't confuse it with Salt Lake City.

 

A great many universities operate branch campuses or offer programs at remote sites. You know this.

It's a common practice with British universities. Many of them offer degree programs in places like Singapore. Some of them go considerably beyond operating a branch campus, and actually franchise their programs out to local providers to teach. But nevertheless, you are awarded your degree by whichever British university "validates" the arrangement. You already know this, too.

In fact, you were citing these kind of franchise relationships yourself when you were defending Trinity College and Seminary a year or two ago. (Assuming that you are the same Ken Lewchuk.) Has your opinion of them changed in the interim?

Aren't you the same Ken Lewchuk who was arguing adamantly a year or so ago that a student could take the open admissions University of London External Programme examinations in management and then proceed to ethically list their degree on their resume as being from the prestigious London School of Economics, because that college was the 'lead college' in preparing the management exams?

Despite the fact that such a graduate had never matriculated in the extremely selective LSE, never had contact with any of its faculty, and never appeared in that college's listing of its own students?

I'm glad that your scruples have improved so much in the last year, Ken. That's admirable.

But if you are now arguing in effect that such a student would have to write 'BA, London External Programme' rather than 'BA, University of London', I think that you are overreacting too far in the other direction.

Why do you say that? Touro College's name is on the diploma, just like the University of London's name is on the External Programme diplomas. These particular Touro diplomas specify that these particular degrees were earned through TUI, just as the London diplomas specify that the degrees were earned through the External Programme. In neither case is there any suggestion that the parent institution did not award the degrees.

 

Re: credit for life experience....

This is true in certain fields. But IMHO it shouldn't get you an academic degree.

 

Re: credit for life experience....

Being that this is his board, he has every right to market anything he wants, including his book.

Christian

 

Re: Re: credit for life experience....

It's Chip White's board, and as far as I know Chip has not written a book about distance education. I imagine Charlemagne was referring to Tom Head.

 

Kajadoro was right! Thank heavens for the ignore function! To use his enlightened terminology, it's "cool"!

 

why not a degree based upon life experience?

to: Gert Potgieter

Thank you for your message. Let me be more specific. Take for example a member of the military who has served as a legal assistant or finance officer for 20-30 years. They have proven their knowlege. Why shouldn't they be awarded a degree based upon this experience? Why should they have to sit through an "intro to management" course when they've done the work for decades?
Also, since "honorary doctorates" are given out like candy to politicians and celebrities who often do not have credentials to support the title of "Dr." (yet, can use it with an honorary doctorate) is this not awarding a degree based upon "life experience?" Yes. There is no other way about it.

Charlemagne

P.S. By the way, I support honorary degrees for those who have earned it via "life experience."

 

I am sure that such people have proven their knowledge, and could document the evidence in their CVs. But they don't deserve an academic degree for this. My opinion, of course, and I'm in the minority on this board in this regard.

And I don't support honorary degrees under any circumstance.