Trying to get a reasonable focus? More Info on CCU?

By every standard, it is recognized accreditation that determines which schools are or are not part of this nation's higher educational system. A few residential, unaccredited schools are well-enough established that their credits and degrees are generally accepted by accredited schools, but these are a very few. (Bob Jones U. is an oft-cited example).

I firmly believe unaccredited schools exist because the legal function of allowing a school to operate sits with the states. But it is their haphazard and sometimes lax enforcement of this responsibility that creates the need for a recognized body of schools: those that are accredited by recognized agencies.

Can you imagine the typical response of an employer if a job candidate walked in and said about his/her Century degree: "Well, I earned it by distance learning. It isn't accredited, but the school is legally licensed." The words "isn't accredited" would pretty much seal the deal.

I'm convinced many users of unaccredited degrees are successful because the decision-makers in their lives don't know the true nature of their degrees.

Rich Douglas

 

One other thing. Many who defend unaccredited schools complain about people around here who are "biased" against such schools. This is utter nonsense. "Bias" implies prejudgement, and judgment against something despite contrary evidence. That just isn't so here. If a lot of knowledgeable people fall to one side of an issue, perhaps there is a reason for it! This isn't bias--and no one around here colludes to form these perceived biases. How about one side is right and the other is wrong? Or does someone with a stupid point of view get to defend it by saying those who don't agree are biased? That's just wrong. And it's a poor argument for one's point.

Rich Douglas

 

First, I would never consider someone's point of view as stupid, even if they are absolutely wrong. Second, just because the majority indicates that, "they are in the right and the others are not" does not make it so. Blacks were discriminated in this country because "the majority" felt it was right - - we now know different.

I am not defending non-accredited degrees here and advocate accredited degrees. I am just saying that for some people, this option is viable. Can't we all just get along?

 

So, since a mistake was once made on one matter, we are doomed never to be able to make a judgment about any other? something as simple as the portability of a degree? How do people choose which brand of cornflakes to buy if they're so conflicted?

Does the portability of a degree depend on feelings or facts? Are you (generic 'you') justified that an unaccredited degree is viable because you feel that it should get you into an RA university or get you a desired job offer? Or does the justification come from the occasion of your acceptance or non-acceptance into the university or employment?

We are getting along; we are discussing amonst ourselves rather than throwing rocks.

 

Bill, perhaps I did not clarify the meaning of my post and for that I apologize. I am just saying here that for some people, an unaccredited degree is a viable option.

 

If you wanted to make the case that DETC might be acceptable in some rare cases I wouldn't argue. To say an unaccredited degree may be viable is just bad advice. Could it in some one in a million case? Sure, but I wouldn't "invest" my retirement money in lottery tickets. Getting a degree is very comparable. It requires a large investment of time and money that CAN make a huge return. I think I'll pass on Enron University.

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Best Regards,
Dave Hayden

 

It is bad advice when offered in a general sense. But "one in a million" probably doesn't describe it. Hundreds of thousands of people hold degrees from unaccredited schools. If that many people were being bilked out of, say, $3,000 per, that would likely approach a billion dollars. Where's the outcry? I'm not sure Enron's employees lost much more that that. No, I suspect many holders of such degrees are quite satisified with their degrees' performance. What is pathetic is the underlying ignorance and apathy that makes this possible.

Rich Douglas

P.S.: All the hyperbole surrounding how much those employees lost is greatly exaggerated. They lost what they put into the Enron stock portion of their 401K plans. Unfortunately, the media is reporting amounts based upon what the stock was trading for at its high compared to the collapse. But that money wasn't realized until the stocks were sold. These people lost their principal, not these phantom, unrealized "gains."

What was dasterdly was the practice of providing the company match in Enron stock only (and only on the portions of the employees' investments that bought company stock). This practically forced employees to buy Enron stock instead of investing in other portions of their 401k plan. Also, the company switched 401k custodians during the stock's freefall in October, essentially freezing employees from selling their Enron stock and moving the funds to other 401k options. This was a major screwing; it reduced the amount of shares for sale on the market, allowing Enron executives and others who held Enron stock to sell their shares on the NYSE with less competition (fewer shares up for sale). If this was purposeful, it could be criminal.

Now, that's a scandal. What we talk about around here scarcely registers with the public.

 

I stand by what I said. For some people, an unaccredited degree is a viable option. I was not dispensing advice here.

 

The same exact thing happened to me back in 1992 when a bank I was working for folded. All of our 401k money was used to buy the banks stock, which later became worthless. I personally lost about 10k (principle). It still hurts.

Such is life ....

 

Karen:
Just to let you know, we had a communications professor here at Athabasca who was only working with a Master's, but shortly after he received his Ph.D. from Aston, he went off and joined the U of Alberta.

His credentials are:
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Adria, Marco L, BMus (Alberta), BA (Athabasca), MA (Trent), PhD (Aston), Associate Professor in the Faculty of Extension (2000, 2000).
--
(obtained from the website: http://www.registrar.ualberta.ca/calendar/Uni_Staff/Ca.html)

Darren.