Earning My Doctorate Online

Too Much Work

WheelCipher — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:45:00 GMT

Sorry to be few and far between on the posts lately. My new job is throwing me for a loop. I was hired in December to do one specific job and after two months of being in limbo, I learn that my function (r the one I was supposed to have) was caught up in a re-organization and I would not be doing that job any longer. That was worrisome in the beginning, but everything worked out for the better.

My boss called me and asked me if I wanted another management position in the company. I willingly accepted it and look forward to it. Today is my first “official” day in this role. I spent all of last week in Chicago learning about the position and some of the expectations. I think the key here is that we all need to be prepared for the unexpected and then be as flexible as possible when opportunity arises. It seems to have worked for me.

On the education front, I am in the process of trying to get into the PhD in Public Policy program at Walden University. Since I had to drop out early in my previous stint at Walden, I needed to re-apply to the school. On top of that, I needed to write a nice long letter explaining why I had to leave the program. Once that was done, I needed a letter of recommendation. Whew!

It seems like a long process, but the committee that will approve or disapprove my admission will meet tomorrow. I should find something out soon. I am really looking forward to getting back to school. I can do one more two-year stint if it means earning my PhD.

In the mean time, I have a backlog of fan mail to get to. That will be posted soon!

Add to:

Walden Graduates 3,300

WheelCipher — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:43:00 GMT

Walden University is rolling right along! This week, degrees were conferred to over 3,300 students. This current class of graduates came from 49 states and 25 countries. Diversity is a big deal in the on-line learning experience. I think Walden has more than exceed those goals.

"As we enter our 40th year committed to our mission of positive social change, we are proud to welcome our newest graduates to a vibrant community of more than 36,000 alumni using their Walden degrees to make a positive impact on their organizations, their communities, and the world around them," said Jonathan Kaplan, president of Walden University.

The more I read about Walden the more respect I have for them. At this moment, I am awaiting a decision from the school on my application to their PhD program in Public Policy. I am hoping that decision comes in this week sometime. I am anxious to get going again.

I knew that Walden was big, but I had no idea that there are more than 40,000 students enrolled and taking classes. I think the time has long since passed when a high school diploma was the minimum credential needed to gain meaningful employment. The Bachelors degree is the standard now.

Another article I came across recently addresses the political ideology of professors. I am not sure how it is on-campus, but I can honestly say that in my many years of going to school on-line, I have had zero issues or concerns with this. Nobody has tried to push or promote an ideology on the classes I have been in. If anything, different points of view bring a certain level of diversity. And with an open mind, we can decide for ourselves what works and what doesn’t.

Have you had a negative experience with ideology from your instructor? Let me know. E-Mail me at ask.scott.about.elearning@gmail.com

Add to:

Online Enrollment is UP!

WheelCipher — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:11:00 GMT

As one might expect, enrollment in on-line classes is up again. I think this is partially due to high unemployment numbers combined with the natural growth of the on-line learning industry. Here is a link to a great article (which has a nice PDF attached) that spells it all out. Some things reported in the PDF include a demand for face-to-face classes have increased tremendously. I think this is a direct reflection on the economy. With fewer people working, there is extra time to take those on-campus classes.

The story on the web also states:

While the trends outlined in the survey are clearly positive for advocates of on-line learning, they also point to lingering challenges. A survey of chief academic officers indicated the growth in on-line enrollments has not been matched by consistent training programs so faculty members can learn how to teach virtually, and that many of these officers doubt that their faculties truly respect on-line learning.

There are still many growing pains in the on-line learning world. Many schools which have traditionally been on-campus brick and mortar operations are rapidly moving into the on-line world. This is a foreign concept to some as tradition would have never dictated such a drastic change in the way people learn. But as time goes by, I am sure issues experienced by a certain segment of the academic world will be ironed out. Overall, these reports are positive for the on-line learning industry. That is good news.

The story also says:

The chief academic officers were also asked whether their faculty accept "the value and legitimacy" of on-line education, and the results suggest something short of a strong endorsement of virtual learning

My feelings on this are mixed. First, I believe that “acceptance” is moving in the right direction. I have blogged for a few years now about how distance learning is slowly making inroads. That continues today. Those who doubt the legitimacy and shun acceptance are dwindling in small numbers. I think it will take a generation before this mindset is completely (or mostly eradicated).

Second, it is no secret that there is a huge marketing aspect to distance education. I won’t go into it here, but the bottom line is that like most products, the provider of that product has to be able to deliver it when, where and how the customer wants it. Many schools realize this and have adapted. Those who do not will be missing out.

Add to:

What Happens When You Don't Plan

WheelCipher — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:52:00 GMT

A few months ago, I signed up for the Doctor of Business Administration program at Walden University. If you read through my previous posts, you know that I eventually dropped out in the middle of a class to pursue opportunities in a Master’s program at Gonzaga. Now that I am trying to get back into a different doctoral program at Walden, my decision to drop out in mid-stride may catch up to me. The class was very boring and impersonal, but I may have to take it again.

I received the following e-mail today:

Dear Scott,

Walden University strives to provide students with support and flexibility as they pursue graduate studies. However, as much as we try to support students with service and flexibility, we must adhere to the University's academic policies that require standards of academic progress.

The University has reviewed your academic progress for the Fall Semester. You have not met these minimum academic progress standards and based on your failure to comply with Walden University's standards for academic progress; you are hereby notified that you have been placed on academic warning for the following reasons:

Earned a grade of 'F' or 'U' in a required course DDBA8160

You will have up to 2 semesters to retake the course and receive a grade of C or better. This means that you must receive this passing grade by August 22, 2010. At this time, your progress will again be reviewed. Failure to comply with Walden University's standards for academic progress and the meet the requirements during this period will result in dismissal from the University.

I am hoping I don’t have to take that class again now that I am applying to a new program where that class is not part of the curriculum. But we shall see.

Add to:

Support From Viking

WheelCipher — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:54:00 GMT

Scott,

I wrote to you a few times last spring/summer if you recall. Since I've least written, I have graduated from Kaplan with a BS in paralegal studies. I can't find a job, so I'm considering doing a BS in accounting from Southern New Hampshire, and then possibly a MS in accounting from the University of Connecticut. My ultimate goal is to become a CPA, but that is way into the future.

I see that you withdrew from Walden. I think you made a good decision. Unless you are planning to become a full time professor or want to work in research, I don't really see a benefit to a doctorate. Traditionally, these are the fields that doctorates were meant for. If you’re planning to work in the private sector or even as an adjunct professor, an MBA should be more than adequate.

With that said, I'm sure you will be very successful in your career and I would not regret the decision to withdraw at all, especially since you did not like the program. I hope your job search is going well. Mine is horrible and a complete disaster.

Anyway, good luck to you in the future.

Thanks for the support. I was not willing to do the Walden program for two years if it didn’t hold my attention. The program seemed to be focused on things that I was not interested in. It was very much like hard science and did not focus on a lot of the leadership topics that I enjoy so much. I have since enrolled in Gonzaga University (my new blog should be up soon) and I’ve had more fun in the first three days than I did in more than two months at Walden.

I am sure the Walden program is good. It seemed to be of high quality. It just was not for me. Hang in there with the job search. Things are getting better.

Add to: