Wanting to start a small online Associate Degree College

Dear Ladies and Gents

Would anyone be kind enough to suggest a jurisdiction / us state that is most economical in establishing a state approved Associate Degree program. The format of instruction would be online.

I have just bought an exclusive curriculum which is very innovative and would like to test it out. I need an international / marketable base from which to launch it from.

Or do you think it would be advisable to start my own school and partner up with an accredited school in a validation sense?

Can anyone make any suggestions and or suggest a consultant I can talk to in regards to these matters?

 

"...bought an exclusive curriculum ..."!!!!


How on earth can a curriculum be exclusive?

Are you going to run round all the other colleges in the country and slap their wrists if they happen to be teaching the same collection of subjects as you?

Who sold it to you for how much and how sure can you be that they haven't made the same offer to dozens of other people?

Do you have the necessary education and qualifications to teach the subjects in question; if not will you be employing other qualified people and emplacing such systems as will ensure that your students will receive education of real value?

There are numerous other questions you should ask yourself, including why ask this on this board where most repondents have a down on fake collleges and are therefore likely to be deeply suspicious of your proposals?

 

reply to questions

When I said I exclusive I mean it is combination of up to date texts, examination, materials and methodologies which has been designed just for us.

I have arts undergrad and education admin post grad qualifications. I have lectured previously and sat on several academic advisory boards of college in the past.

I would be co-ordinating the college and hiring dually qualified people who would facilitate and mentor units to which they are most suited.

Establishing a college from scratch even with one or two programs is a huge task. I want a legitimate operation but also one that will avoid as much as possible red tape and excessive costs. That is why I have asked what is a good jurisdiction to start such an operation in. In or outside the US. I am resident in Australia and would like setup outside the country due the excessive costs in establishing here. I just wouldnt have the budget for it.

Any constructive comments and suggestions would be most welcome. My email is: [email protected]

 

Somehow I'm getting the image of Mickey Rooney saying, "Hey, kids, let's put on a show!"

Isn't it a hoot when some wazoo comes along and thinks he can start a college as a one-man act? "Hey, kids, let's start a college!"

But I almost like this yahoo, albeit just for the humor in his inquiry. The phrase, "from which to launch it from" could turn out to be a new classic.

And "dually qualified people . . ." Does that mean people who each have two qualifications?

Give it up, James - save face while you can.

 

reply

To Mr Levicoff

With all due respect I would ask that you be a little bit more courteous with your public posts. What you publicly said on this post is rather offensive and immature.

As I have said I am only interested in a legitimate operation and have come onto this forum to seek useful advice on how best to get this project of the ground rather than ridicule. If you have no constructive comments please do not contribute. I have respectable and relevant qualifications to run a school and as previously stated would hire various staff to carry out what ever functions are needed (lecturing, student welfare, recruitment etc…)

To everyone else on this forum:

On the other hand thank you to all those who have emailed me. I will get back to your shortly.

Any more suggestions and advice would be most appreciated

To recap I am interested in:

1. Advice on establishing a private degree granting school at the associate degree level (online based).

2. Partnership opportunities with reputable state recognized / DETC-Regionally accredited schools which could add my associate degree program to their scope of registration/accreditation.

[email protected]

 

Mr. Ladwig,

You seem to be the one who needs reminding that this is a public forum.

It's exactly because this is a public forum that Dr. Levicoff can say whatever he wants. You do not have the option of controlling the conversation.

For what it's worth, I think Levicoff is right on the money, any you should quit while you're ahead.

 

RobbCD

Thank you for your input but I plan to press ahead.

Yes it is a public forum although ppl should not make fun of others and degrade others when they are genuine and seeking assistance. Forum or no forum this is basic etiquette in which I would presume such an esteemed academic should understand and confirm to.

If I had a simple reply saying I think it is unworkable for such and such a reason I would be most greatful for the constructive critisicm but to refer to me as a joke, a yahoo, wazoo, a one-man act when I dont intend it to be etc... It is uncalled for and I think most ppl would agree.

 

Actually, it's Dr. Levicoff.

 

Rule #1 -- Don't use fake addresses and mail drops.

Rule #2 -- If you don't have the necessary resources, then you probably shouldn't be doing it.

Rule #3 -- If you don't really know what you are doing, then don't use tuition-paying students as lab rats.

And please review Rule #1 as well. If you live in Australia, opening a mail drop marketing-front in the United States to "test" your product is just insulting.

 

Re: reply to questions

Are you saying that you have already contracted with somebody to produce original texts, examinations, materials and methodologies equivalent to two years of full-time study? Why was that necessary? Who performed all the work? Who paid for it? Who is "us"?

So why are you asking questions of strangers on an internet discussion board?

All by yourself? An individual proprietor? Will your school have an identity of its own, separate from yours?

Using your exams and texts, I take it. Not only would you be the school's owner-operator, you propose to run its curriculum as well, right?

The regulations are there for a reason. Seeking a fake address in some lax off-shore jurisdiction doesn't really generate very much confidence in your project's credibility.

My entirely layman's advice is to consult with the professionals there in Australia. Talk to successful private post-secondary schools and ask them how they started. Talk to the relevant professional organizations. Contact whatever accreditors exist, all the government regulators, and the public and private funding sources. Do things the right way.

 

I would also add that as in all endeavors of this sort, lawyers must be involved. I'd suggest that you look at the list of new graduates who have opened their own private practice. Find the smartest one and pay the going rate. If you're serious about this you'll need a good lawyer who could be in with you for the long run.

 

thanks for the input

Thank you for all the input. I have never mentioned mail drops. Wanting to be an online operation a US jurisdiction would be more affordable and marketable throughout the world. That is the reason for leaning towards it.

At this stage considering all the cost factors I am leaning towards an association with a established school with which I could work with in creating an affiliation agreement. That way much of the infrastructure is in place already.

Any suggestions regarding this specifically?

 

Re: thanks for the input

Yes. I suggest that you develop a very well written proposal that is designed to convince a skeptical university Board of Directors why a person with little or no knowledge and experience in the area of developing and running a distance learning program should be given such an opportunity (attached to their name).

 

Quote "Establishing a college from scratch even with one or two programs is a huge task. I want a legitimate operation but also one that will avoid as much as possible red tape and excessive costs. That is why I have asked what is a good jurisdiction to start such an operation in. In or outside the US. I am resident in Australia and would like setup outside the country due the excessive costs in establishing here. I just wouldnt have the budget for it."


Re the USA: Don't forget that in addition to state education requirements you have a whole other bunch of laws/regulations to cope with including corporate law, local, state, and federal taxes, immigration, customs, and international money transfer.

Also don't forget competition from US colleges including community colleges (which are extremely reasonably priced in California).

Why not just offer your course via the internet and avoid all the asociated hassle/expense of setting up a school?

Cheers

 

My dearest James,

There are two types of people who start degree mills: (1) those who are out to rip off the public, and (2) those who have sincere motives but are incompetent nincompoops with regard to educational administration - and who also end up, whether intentionally or not, ripping off the public.

I will grant you benefit of doubt, sir, and assume for the moment that you are in the second camp. Let us say your motives are sincere - that does not mitigate the fact that you are still an incompetent nincompoop.

You were asked a specific question by Steve Foerster early in this thread: "Hello, and welcome! Are you Professor James Ladwig of Australia's Newcastle University?" You evaded the question with an abstract, "I have arts undergrad and education admin post grad qualifications. I have lectured previously and sat on several academic advisory boards of college in the past."

Moreover, you have said nothing about the curriculum you were dumb enough to buy (thus giving us no measure of its credibility, let alone your credibility), nor given any indication of the field in which you intend to specialize. (And if this alleged curriculum is as well-developed as your game plan, it sounds like it is of the caliber of most other degree mills.)

So let's have some fun - what are your specific academic degrees and credentials, from where did you earn them from,* and on what specific "academic advisory boards" have you sat?

In other words, sir, you are a wazoo who has no clue about the operation of a degree-granting institution and, despite any sincerity, you will be inept at higher education administration. You are speaking of an abstract "we" and "us," but my take is that you are a one-man show who is ultimately in this for his jollies. If not, you would already be affiliated with academic professionals with prior administrative experience, and would not have to tap into a distance education forum where a primary focus is on consumer protection and advocacy.

This board has many distance education experts, as well as informed lay persons, who can spot everything from fraud to ineptitude in a heartbeat. So take your medicine, sport, because you have not given us a good first impression. Starting a college is not a one-man show. It's not even a well-cast show with an orchestra and chorus backing up a lead player - indeed, it appears you are not qualified to be a lead player, and have not done sufficient research to even have approached this board with your questions. You are, indeed, still coming off as Mickey Rooney saying, "Hey, kids, let's start a college!"

Our role is to help ensure that those who read this board are not trapped into wasting their time and money on a product that will not be worth the piece of paper on which it is printed. Got a problem with that? Get over it, sweet cheeks.

Now, go back and play in your sandbox, little boy - when it comes to academic administration, my take is that you are a rank amateur, which makes any so-called degree-granting endeavor in which you engage a high risk for educational consumers.

Dr. Levicoff
(But I still prefer Steve)
____________________________________


* The poor grammatical structure of this sentence is intentional, and directly quotes the originator of this thread, who apparently doesn't realize that even if he did have the qualifications to be one of several players in starting a new degree-granting institution, he needs to develop much better writing skills.

 

Re: thanks for the input

I believe Ian's advice has been best thus far.

From my perspective, I would like to add (and ask) what makes this curriculum unique? Have a business plan, or at the very least a venture screening to determine whether you product will have some market appeal?

Just my opinion, but I would look into offering certificates rather than AA/AS degrees. Certificates, if focused on in demand subjects or subjects where there is very little competition, can be marketed to people are looking for specific training. These people can have varying levels of education and work experience. If a person has a BA and they are interested in what you are offering, what would look better? A certificate where you take only the courses you want, or an AA/AS program that involved taking general ed courses that one may perceive as a waste your time?

I think the partnership/affiliation route is the way to go. If you want to look at an example of an entity that offers online instruction with an affiliation, look at Statistics.com. They offer plenty of online courses in their subject with options for Certificate of Completion or Program Certificates.

There aren’t many other DL options in this area, and the other options that I have found are more expensive. Statistics.com is a Virginia based organization. They have an affiliation with the Center for eLearning and Training which is associated with the Department of Statistics at the University of Pune in India. It seems (just from reading their website) that the Center is used to coordinate the online instruction.

Also, there are actually fewer procedures in Australia than in the US for starting a company. The price difference is slightly higher in Australia (just a couple hundred USD). Just look at headquartering from Australia, and if you must, then look overseas for a respectable jurisdiction.


Good luck in your venture.

 

Something else to consider: you will have to compete with low cost taxpayer funded community colleges who offer classes for rock bottom tuition prices. Granted, private schools have done it, such as Keiser College. They started off only offering Associate degrees at high prices, but they offered an accelerated format (convenience), which was their selling feature. That just goes to show that it can be done. Kaiser later branched out into Bachelors programs.

Convenience is a selling feature for students. What is the convenience of your proposed private school? And how much capital is required to start such a monumental project? Do you have investors?

 

Re: Re: thanks for the input

I'd venture to say Steve(ahem...Dr. Levicoff) has given the best advice uptil now! It is also the most colorful!

This man has a dream! Who needs capital and investors they come later, when they too are moved by this dream! Oh wait! That's right dreams have never paid my mortgage! Nevermind.

 

If you are really serious about having your course recognised then you would be best obtaining some external assessment by a competent authority. (i.e. not some of the degree mill assessment bodies).

An appropriate ISO9000 QA is one possibility; there are also many professional bodies who will check and approve courses in their particular field.

Please remember, the rules and regulations you seek to evade are there to protect both the student and the reputation of the education system, they are not intentionally arbitrary.