Rushmore University

Mark, your contention is that Rushmore is better because it is different - because its model is better. That Rushmore is better because it offers students something that accredited schools do not.

Since the Rushmore model is based on topical research, projects, and writing papers, can you provide just two examples of papers or projects that a Rushmore student could research and write about that could not be researched and written about at an accredited university. This seems to be what your position boils down to so I am interested in seeing an example of how this manifests in actual subjects or research topics.

 

Re: Point of information

Steve, I asked Rushmore about this. They said:

"On June 21, 2001 Dr. Cox met with the Minister of Education, Mr. Roy Bodden and the Permanent Secretary of Education, Mrs. Joy Basdeo. Mr. Bodden reviewed our program before he invited Dr. Cox to meet with him. At the meeting Mr. Bodden told him that the Ministry of Education had no accreditation system or approval mechanism for authorizing universities to operate in the Cayman Islands. He was very positive about our program and suggested that Dr. Cox should find an attorney and apply to incorporate Rushmore University in the Cayman Islands under the company law. "

Obviously Rushmore grants themselves the authority to grant degrees and offer distance learning programs to their students.

Much in the same way Bill Gates granted himself and his team the authority to start Microsoft and sell software or any other business starts operations in a jurisdiction which does not highly regulate (as does the US for higher education) the products he is offering.

 

Mark, Rushmore offer a combination of things, "star" profs/authors, editing, no required courses, and no exams. What other schools do this? And at a reasonable cost.

Otherwise I do not disagree with your second statement.

 

Bill, the reason some online schools move is because they can (they do no own a campus and the faculty and staff do not live near a central office) when they need to as when a state changes a law.

Rushmore has moved once. SD to Cayman. They have never claimed a campus or a central office. The cities the profs live in are on the faculty page.

Rusmore offer something that the other programs do not, the opportunity to learn things that are relevant.

The traditional programs are now getting ridiculed in the media - see search Google for "MBA" in the news tab to see what I mean.

Also see the Pfeffer article at http://www.aomonline.org/Publications/Articles/BSchools.asp to see why the tradition business schools are now targets.

 

Now you are changing gears. You never said anything before about cost or no exams. These things don’t play into the superior learning paradigm you reference. It was all about how the quality of Rushmore was inherently better because of the ability to research on relevant topics to working business people. The difference you regularly state is that you could write on topics of direct interest to a business person and use this towards getting published. Don't change things in midstream here.

Tell me what research, projects, or papers could be best accomplished in that unique Rushmore model that could not also be done at an accredited university. What is an example of learning that will only take place at Rushmore that would not or could not take place at the inferior “traditional” model. I am trying to get a sense for how this unique model actually manifests itself in unique learning, which is after all, the underlying argument you have offered.

 

Mark - One more place that the school in question won't work is in seeking employment in a civil service postion in the state of Michigan:

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Non-accreditedSchools_78090_7.pdf

Michigan isn't the only place to work, but this is one more indication of the validity of the institution.

Regards - Andy

 

Re: Re: Point of information

 

Isn't that what I said? Degree mills flee to new jurisdictions to avoid legal entanglements, for example being prosecuted for fraud. I'm sure that the degree mill owners are also aware that being thrown in jail is something to try to avoid.

P.S. I also don't believe that many real schools operate out of the basement of the owner's home.

 

Has anyone noticed that all of Mark's responses are standard millspeak?

I'm wondering if Mark isn't a shill hired by the esteemed Dr. Cox...

 

"The facts, although interesting, are irrelevant."