The Online Degree Dorm Room

engineering degree online : The top 10 “red flags” for online diploma mills

Posted by bposton on October 30th, 2006 — Posted in engineering degree online

I saw this list of “red flags” at GetEducated.com’s website. I think it’s a very good
checklist to make sure the univerisity you’re choosing in not an online diploma mill. I’ve add some of
my own personal comments:

1. Your chosen university is not accredited. That’s the first and biggest warning sign.

2. Your chosen university is accredited - but NOT by an agency recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation, You need to know this - the majority of degree mills will tell you they are “accredited.” Problem is, they are accredited by bogus agencies that they themselves have created. Pretty sneaky, huh?

3. Admission requirements equals “do you have a valid Visa or MasterCard?”
WHen your previous academic record, grade point average, and test scores don’t matter, that’s a problem.

4. You are offered a college degree based on a “review” of your faxed resume.
Here’s something to remember - no valid distance learning university in the USA will award a graduate degree (Master’s or Doctorate) based solely on a review of your career experience. However, undergraduate programs sometimes are more flexible. But they typically limit this type of credit to a maximum of one year of a four-year degree.
Now, there actually is one exception to this that I know of, which I discuss below.

5. You are promised a diploma within 30 days. Degree Mills are just that - “mills” they want to get that worthless paper in your hands and go on to the next sucker as quickly as possible.
 
6. You are promised a degree in exchange for a lump sum, normally around $2,000 for an undergraduate degree, or $3,000 for a graduate degree. Real universities typically charge by the credit or per the course.
 
7. Your prospective online university has multiple complaints on file with the Better Business Bureau.
 
8. Your online “admission counselor” assures you that online universities can’t be accredited by CHEA recognized agencies.
This is a lie. I say again, this is a LIE…
 
9. The school’s Web site either lists no faculty or lists faculty who have attended schools accredited by bogus agencies.
 
10.The university offers online degrees almost exclusively to United States citizens even though their location is outside the US. Most of the time this is in a foreign country that lacks any system of academic accreditation.

So please, please, please - don’t be fooled by diploma mills.

They have flashy and impressive web sites. They put ads all over the internet.
YOu need to look past the flashy graphics for the name of the school’s accreditation agency. And take the time to verify accreditation by an agency that is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.

Now, for the notable exception to flag number 4. That would be Thomas Edison State College of New Jersey.
They are a publicly-funded distance learning university and it is possible there for you, in theory, to earn Associate or Bachelor degrees entirely through career portfolios, military and corporate training, and challenge exams. But if you’re interested please check them out carefully and look at all the details.

Ben

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engineering degree online : Is this a new trend - Corporate tuition discounts?

Posted by bposton on October 23rd, 2006 — Posted in engineering degree online

Drexel University  recently announced that they have created what they call an
“educational partnership” with Aqua America, which is the nation’s largest
U.S.-based, publicly-traded water company.

As a result, Aqua America employees will be able to get a special tuition rate for the
online degree or certificate program through Drexel. These employees will be able to
choose from a range of bachelor’s, master’s, and certificate programs that Drexel offers
online in areas such as business, engineering, computer science, computing technology,
and information science.

Pretty sweet deal, if you work for Aqua America

And I guess it’s a good deal for Drexel.

In case you didn’t know, Drexel is very reputable. They are ranked among the
Best National Universities in “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report for 2007.

Drexel is also accredited by the Middle States Association for
Colleges and Secondary Schools and its individual programs are accredited by bodies such as AACSB (Business), NLN and CCNE (Nursing), and ALA (Information Science).

And this isn’t the first such parternship, In fact, Drexel has been doing this for the
past three years with corporations, health systems, and professional associations across
the United States who are able to offer their employees special tuition rates, along the big benefit  - the flexibility they need to continue working while earning a degree.

Dr. Kenneth Hartman, who is the academic director of Drexel University Online had this to
said about this newest partnership:

“A well-educated workforce is a competitive advantage for companies today. Organizations have been selecting Drexel as their preferred online education provider because they know that our programs reflect the same high standards as those on-campus, but offer the convenience busy professionals desire. We look forward to this new venture with Aqua America and in assisting them in meeting the educational needs of their workforce.”

Sounds like a growing trend to me.

Maybe you should contact the HR folks at the company you work for and sugges they look into this kind of relationship as well. It can only help both you and the company you work for in the long run…

Ben

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