Validity of CA Universities Claim of Employer Assistance

This is very kind. However, it is not "Dr. Douglas." I do not have a doctorate.

I once worked for a guy, a government civilian, who held a position often held by holders of doctoral degrees. He didn't have one. Often, people would address him as "Dr. Smith." He never corrected them. Perhaps it seems polite not to mention it, but it always seemed to me he was pleased to let people believe he held one.

 

A friend taught at a university with a masters and he never corrected anyone. I guess it had a nice ring to it.

 

Were you under the same impression I was, that by not ever correcting it, he was allowing people to believe something that wasnt' true? I always felt it was kinda smarmy; like you were pretending to be something you were not.

 

I don't think he thought anything about, but I only heard it a couple times when I was talking with him in a hallway. Maybe it was just a pain to correct people.

 

Can you imagine the guy yelling, "Don't call me Dr. Smith, I AM NOT A DOCTOR, I do not have a doctorate. I don't want to mislead, deceive or fraudulently imply that I do have a doctorate. My ethical position will not allow me to sit idly by while you call me Dr. Smith. Don't EVER do it again, OK?"

 

That's why I posed it. But in educational circles, where such degrees indicate a certain level of accomplishment, it might be okay to politely say, "Oh, I'm not 'Dr.' Smith." Maybe not everytime; it can be a pain. But once in awhile, simply and politely. (I did it on this board yesterday.)

 

I agree with you, Dr. Douglas, oops, I mean Rich.

Seriously, I do agree. If one does not have a doctorate one should not allow the use of the title--whether directly or indirectly--on a continual basis. The same should be true of any professional title, e.g., officer, Senator, Reverend, etc...

 

Don't mean to take this discussion back on track but my employer did pay for my CalCoast degree but have recently changed the tuition assistance form to read "Name of accredited school" where it used to read "Name of school" so I will not submit TA for my last 2 CalCoast classes for my MBA.

GE not longer pays for CalCoast. They used to and a friend of mine received TA for his BS in Management but his co-worker applied for TA and was turned down.

I think the HR departments may becoming more and more aware of degree mills and questionable schools. Maybe they are taking the RA or nothing approach.

 

Richard: "it is not "Dr. Douglas." I do not have a doctorate."

Cehi: I appreciate the correction. Thank you. However, I hope you will let us share the good moment with you when you finally obtain your doctorate. Good luck, and thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

 

Randell: "Name of accredited school" where it used to read "Name of school" "so I will not submit TA for my last 2 CalCoast classes for my MBA."

"GE not longer pays for CalCoast. They used to and a friend of mine received TA for his BS in Management but his co-worker applied for TA and was turned down."



Charles: What does it mean to the utility of your degree? Would GE accept your degree for consideration for future internal opportunities for advancement? If not, what has GE done to those who may have been promoted based on the Cal Coast degrees?

 

One wonders about the change of heart. Probably not anything against CCU in particular but, as Randell points out, a stiffening of the requirements. But is it limited to RA degrees? Would other forms of recognized accreditation suffice. And I wonder if fake accreditation can still get something approved by mistake.

 

Thanks again for the kind words. But you probably won't hear any announcement from me. At some point it will come up, I guess.

 

One other thing. You might want to do it anyway. You can tell them that CCU is approved by the state of California. They might accept that, and it's honest. My recent research showed a strong willingness of employers to accept state-approved degrees, even after being told what state approval is (and is not vis-a-vis accreditation). You might find the results interesting (and rewarding financially).

I, too, wonder if your degree will be an asset in your career with your current employer, considering they might no longer be willing to fund it. Will they recognize/consider it when you compete for promotions and/or raises?

 

I don't know, I would never care to guess what GE does, I worked for them and I am really happy I no longer do work for them.

I have recently been promoted but is it based on my near degree completion... can't say. I do know that the motivation exhibited to earn my degree from Cal Coast (as well as my BS from COSC, MCSA certification, etc) had a direct effect on my promotion.

 

Randell,

Thank you for the feedback. There is an old african saying: "More grease to your elbow." which means may you continue to do well. Good luck to you in all your endeavors.

 

Randell,

Thank you for the feedback. There is an old african saying: "More grease to your elbow." which means may you continue to do well and shine. Good luck to you in all your endeavors.