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An interesting thought

Last post 06-21-2009, 6:59 AM by SteveFoerster. 13 replies.
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  •  06-06-2007, 9:06 PM 3260

    An interesting thought

    With all the bashing of Univ of Phoenix, I went to the BBB to check them out.  Oddly enough, there were only 3 complaints on file for the past 36 months.  All of which were cleared up.  So if these disgruntled employees or ex-students have such legit complaints, why aren't there more on file with the BBB?

    I also did a search on the college in my area and the other online college that I was thinking about attending and both of them had 1 complaint.  They aren't anywhere near as large as U of P.

    Does this mean anything? 

     

  •  06-07-2007, 4:37 AM 3268 in reply to 3260

    Re: An interesting thought

    ROF!  Indeed, there does seem to be an abundance of 'hate and discontent' everywhere you turn these days ;-)  However, as you've demonstrated to yourself, when you get past all the hyperbole and rhetoric and posturing there's often very little substance to the complaints. 

    Given the nature of the complaints, though, I'm not altogether sure they are really appropriate for the Better Business Bureau.  I'm not into Clintonian linguistic contortions, so I just don't see any grounds for arbitration.  As an oversimplification, it seems to me almost all of the students are misplacing anger on the university when the real sources of their failure and disaffection is entirely their own  doing. 

    People tend to trivialize the inherent problems that are unique to distance learning, and overestimate their ability to meet the demands - self-discipline and self-motivation, for example.

    The issues with adjunct faculty is much more complicated, but the business aspects are not unique to DL.  Colleges have been relying on adjunct faculty increasing for decades.  One dirty little secret, it by-passess entirely the minefield of tenure and sometimes cut-throat competitiion in/for tenure-track positions.  Really, though it is essentially based on a fluctuating supply-demand, what is studiously ignored is that there is almost never any preparation of lectures or exams, and the primary function is not so much that of a teacher as it is a tutor - and, then, only on a contingency basis.  [Note also that almost all the exams are proctored, and the 'grunt' work of grading and assessment is farmed out - which, in  another cause for student dissatisfaction.]

    College is tough. It's supposed to be tough.  It really wouldn't be worthwhile if it wasn't.

    As I've said before, college is not for everybody - never has been, never will be - but we put too much emphasis on 'college' when in fact what we should be advocating is the full spectrum of post-secondary education and training.

     

     

     

     

     

  •  06-07-2007, 6:05 PM 3276 in reply to 3260

    Re: An interesting thought

    Hi Cali - I have not been aware of a lot of Phoenix-bashing, at least not on this website.  I have stated that I think their degrees are a bit pricey but I don't think that's bashing, it's actually a pretty factual statement.  I would guess that there are many students who have not paid sufficient attention to the delivery system that Phoenix uses, or they don't know enough about distance learning in general or they don't know enough about their own learning style and so they enroll, spend a pile of money and when it doesn't work out well then they blame the school.  I know there are MBA degrees (for example) that are quite a bit cheaper.  I also know that I wouldn't do well in a cohort-oriented program (I want to succeed or fail on my own terms) so I would never choose a Phoenix MBA program.  But I also know that just because the Phoenix program is not suited to me, I know that this does not mean it's a bad program.  It clearly works for many, many people.

     

    • Post Points: 25
  •  06-07-2007, 6:29 PM 3277 in reply to 3276

    Re: An interesting thought

    I am in shock that you haven't seen the horrible bashing of U of P.  My gosh, it's unreal.  I have to say that the Associates degree is not team based.  I too would rather fail on my own terms.

    After reviewing many schools that would apply to what I need out of my education, Axia is NOT that much more expensive.  Axia vs. Baker- Baker was around $900 less, but that was without books.  I also did some other cost comparisons, and it's all the same.  With Baker, they charge about $100 less, but up their courses to 4 credits instead of 3. 

    I imagine there may be a larger difference for your MBA, but I am so many years from that.  By the time I am in that situation, I hope that there will be many more choices for me.

    checkout www.uopsucks.com

     

  •  06-07-2007, 9:35 PM 3282 in reply to 3277

    Re: An interesting thought

    You shouldn't be shocked.  Why would I waste my time reading drivel about a school that I have no intention of attending?  Compared to the number of contented graduates, the few malcontents who habituate such a site constitute a microscopic percentage of Phoenix students.  You seem virtually convinced of your decision, why would you let these few change your mind?  What is the risk of trying a course or two?  It's not as if you'd be irrevocably commited.
    • Post Points: 25
  •  06-08-2007, 9:14 AM 3290 in reply to 3282

    Re: An interesting thought

    Believe it or not, it took me a long time to find this site.  Before doing so, everything I saw was bashing.  So when I did find you, I was relieved.  However, if this site had said the same things about the college, then my decision would lie with not attending.

    Until last week I knew nothing of the online world of College.  I guess I never thought they would offer a degree fully online.  Therefore when I was reading the negative comments they scared me.

    Thankfully there are sites like this who are objective.  Without it, people like myself would be lost!

  •  06-08-2007, 6:38 PM 3299 in reply to 3290

    Re: An interesting thought

    Hi cali - I'm glad you're here.  It's a great site, loaded with information.  I suspect that there are more alternatives for your AA degree than you know.  Maybe I can round up a few for you.  In the meantime, there are a couple of other good distance learning discussion forums.  Take a look at this one:

    http://www.degreediscussion.com/forums/

    I'll get back to you when I find something.

    • Post Points: 25
  •  06-08-2007, 6:54 PM 3300 in reply to 3299

    Re: An interesting thought

    I would greatly appreciate that information you could get on other schools.  Until I have begun my program, I am all for other options.

    Thanks!!

  •  07-05-2007, 11:03 AM 3811 in reply to 3290

    Re: An interesting thought

    The BBB is setup to handle business disputes. It is where you go when a store over charges you or refuses to refund your money for an item, for example. I would not be surprised that few complaints show up there. Most of the complaints against UoP are about the quality of the education which is usually handled through the Dept. of Education. Although they don't really have much authority, the Dept. of Education is the appropriate channel.

    You stated that you have heard nothing but negatives about UoP before coming here and are relieved to find minimal UoP bashing. It would seem that you are intentionally trying to ignore the many negatives and focus on the one positive you have found. For whatever reason, it seems you want to attend UoP and are just looking for any reinforcement that it is an okay choice.

    Now I have never attended UoP and have no affiliation with them. I did consider them a few years back for a CS degree. However, after comparing their curriculum to that of a respected, local, brick-and-mortar college, I found a huge disparity. They just didn't offer the same courses. I don't know about the quality of each individual course, but I have heard plenty of negatives. There are just so many other, non-controversial choices out there. Now, if you are justing looking for the easiest degree you can get, then UoP should be the best choice. If you are looking for something that you will respect, then I think you already know UoP isn't the right choice. Try Charter Oak, which is a state-run distance education institution. Or Baker College, which is where I got my A.S. from. Or just check with your local college. Most traditional brick-and-mortar colleges currently offer online courses; they just don't advertise them. You might be surprised that you can take most if not all courses for a degree online, although they don't market it as an online degree. Any choice is better than a controversial school like UoP.

  •  07-07-2007, 11:40 PM 3868 in reply to 3260

    Re: An interesting thought

    Not sure about that, but I think that it means something when a school, and its program needs to be so vehemently defended. 
  •  07-10-2007, 11:11 AM 3924 in reply to 3868

    Re: An interesting thought

    I really don't think that UoP is being "vehemently defended."  It's more a discussion about everyone's experiences and everyone's opinions about that particular university.  Personally, I don't have a problem with UoP.  I have a close friend finishing up a degree there and she is happy and doing well for herself.

    I don't think you can really compare UoP's courses with brick & mortar courses.  I'm not saying this because one is an online school and another is a traditional school.  I'm saying this because the same program offered by two colleges will not necessarily be comprised of the same classes.  I looked at the difference between the Computer Engineering degrees offered at NJIT and Stevens Institute of Technology and noticed a difference.  The programs are similar, but offer different courses.  (I'm sure they're all taught differently as well.)

     It's all really just a matter of opinion.  Some schools work better for certain people than others do.  That's why forums and blogs exist.  So people looking for information about a particular school can do some research without having to rely solely on the admissions department to give them fantastic reviews. Smile

     

  •  07-10-2007, 1:53 PM 3930 in reply to 3924

    Re: An interesting thought

    MichelleA:

    I really don't think that UoP is being "vehemently defended."  It's more a discussion about everyone's experiences and everyone's opinions about that particular university.  Personally, I don't have a problem with UoP.  I have a close friend finishing up a degree there and she is happy and doing well for herself.

    I don't think you can really compare UoP's courses with brick & mortar courses.  I'm not saying this because one is an online school and another is a traditional school.  I'm saying this because the same program offered by two colleges will not necessarily be comprised of the same classes.  I looked at the difference between the Computer Engineering degrees offered at NJIT and Stevens Institute of Technology and noticed a difference.  The programs are similar, but offer different courses.  (I'm sure they're all taught differently as well.)

     It's all really just a matter of opinion.  Some schools work better for certain people than others do.  That's why forums and blogs exist.  So people looking for information about a particular school can do some research without having to rely solely on the admissions department to give them fantastic reviews. Smile

     

    Very well said!!

  •  06-18-2009, 5:18 PM 21471 in reply to 3930

    Re: An interesting thought

    I found this thread very interesting, as I had done research about Univeristy of Phoenix ? Axia colledge..so amazed at all the websites and negativity ..I did actally go to the BBB and decided to look up stastics and as of today there was one complaint and it was resolved ( this was for a three year period) ....

     

     Very Interesting to see actual stastics .

  •  06-21-2009, 6:59 AM 21502 in reply to 21471

    Re: An interesting thought

    kerri101:
    I found this thread very interesting, as I had done research about Univeristy of Phoenix ? Axia colledge..so amazed at all the websites and negativity ..I did actally go to the BBB and decided to look up stastics and as of today there was one complaint and it was resolved ( this was for a three year period) .... Very Interesting to see actual stastics .

    Good for you -- that's the way to do it.

    -=Steve=-


    B.S., Info Sys, Charter Oak State College
    M.A., Educational Tech Leadership, George Washington University
    Doctor of Health Education, A.T. Still University, in progress
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