Walden University

Established: 1970
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA-HLC), The Higher Learning Commission
For-Profit: Yes
Country: USA

Programs:

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Walden University Reviews:

Walden AMDS PhD actually more socially-relevant
September 20, 2009
Having completed my MBA at a traditional AACSB-accredited brick-and-mortar university, I was at first skeptical about the marketability of Walden's online PhD in Applied Management and Decision Sciences. Having attended my first academic residency in St. Charles, IL, last year I am confident Walden was the right choice. One criticism ...

Excellent Detailed Program
August 30, 2009
I completed the MSN in Nursing Education in June 2008. I've since been promoted. I thought an online degree would look bad compared to the conventional college or university program. It looks better because it requires more time, effort, and some actual computer knowledge. Employers look for those qualities. It ...

Walden U - MSN Nursing Education
August 30, 2009
I am reading some of these reviews about Walden and I wonder what school these people really attended. I recently graduated from the MSN - Nursing Education Specialization and my experience was exceptional. I learned to be a leader and scholar. I learned information about adult learning principles that are ...


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Comments:

Denise Miller August 29, 2006 at 12:16 a.m.

This is a for-profit college...your information is wrong. And, everything they do is aimed at making a profit :-)

WhoStoleSecond September 20, 2006 at 11:33 p.m.

Just another mini version of UOP. Money oriented, nothing different, nothing spectacular. At least they do screen candidates. Ultimately, they deliver in the same way, the same product as most every other online college. When is someone going to offer something new?

RC October 1, 2006 at 11:37 p.m.

I'm a student of Walden, and I can tell you, I'm totally satisfied and have learned a great deal. It is a great school. I don't believe UOP has a psychology program either.

RL October 26, 2006 at 1:57 a.m.

I am a Walden PhD student in the Psychology program and can not say enough good things about the school. The professors are great and knowledgable. (Having attended Capella and UoP, I can not say the same).

I would and do recommend Walden to anyone and eCollege is a standand learning environment much like BlackBoard or WebCT. All of which UoP and Capella do not use, while other Brick and Mortar Colleges/Universities do.

MBA October 31, 2006 at 12:04 a.m.

UOP uses a new blackboard program they just switched....

New Guy November 27, 2006 at 1:14 a.m.

Denis Miller, just to let you know most institutions of higher learnings are in business to make a profit. If you know of a college or university that does not make a profit on its tuition, fees and etc.. please let me know. They have expenses like all other institutions and businesses, which are all financially held accountable by either the state, trustees or shareholders.

Mohammed Mamun January 14, 2007 at 8:08 a.m.

Walden is a great school. I'm enrolled in their MBA program specializing in Management of Technology. The curriculum is just as challenging as most bricks-and-mortar school; you have to put in at least 20-25 hours per week per class. The only drawback with the school is the lack of AACSB accreditation; my undergraduate degree had both regional and AACSB accreditation. However, since Walden is regionally accredited, most employers will respect the degree. Additionally, their faculty members are very knowledgeable and hold degrees from top schools in the country. I highly recommend this school to those that are serious about getting a good education.

RRFO February 21, 2007 at 10:42 p.m.

I have liked everything I have seen about Walden so far. I have been accepted to the counseling psych M.S. program, but before I enroll I am wondering if anyone out there can vouch for how a degree from Walden looks to employers? Is it generally considered a valuable degree? Is it worth the investment if the program offered meets all my student needs (licensing program)?

Thanks for any advice....

Just a Guy February 24, 2007 at 11:30 a.m.

As the growth of online education continues I do not understand why anyone would even consider an online university that does not also have traditional on-campus programs. "Schools" such as Capella, Walden, NCU, Phoenix, and others are not well respected by academia or human resources professionals in business. There are a large number of traditional state supported schools which now offer online degree programs in a wide variety of fields. I would recommend going to the websites of traditional "brick and morter" universities and looking for their Online, Distance Ed, Outreach or other non-traditional programs. You will find that the majority of them do offer online programs both at the bachelors and masters level often at considerably less expense than the "For Profit" online "Schools". Honestly which would you rather put on your resume, a school like Kansas State University (Just an Example of a traditional school that offers online programs) or an unrespected school like Phoenix, Capella, Walden, NCU or a host of others.

P.S. If you are looking for a PhD go to a traditional campus program. Online PhDs are just very expensive pieces of paper.

JAG

julia March 18, 2007 at 1:45 a.m.

RRFO, I'm considering Walden, and your question sums up my concerns. From what JAG says, it doesn't look too good. Does anyone have anything else to say about this topic? Is an online PhD really just a meaningless piece of paper? If so, why are so many people actually enrolled in places like Walden? Will I be able to practice with, say, a PhD in Psychology from Walden?

LA March 24, 2007 at 7:27 p.m.

Julia,

I would recommend you possibly contact alumni from Walden University in the program of your choice to see how their degree has faired in the job market. I think that would provide you with more solid evidence than anything else. I would recommend doing this for any institution you decide to go to whether it is an online institution or a bricks and mortar institution. There should be links to alumni e-mail addresses that should help you out.

just a guy March 26, 2007 at 6:28 a.m.

From all the research I have done, Walden rates as the best PURELY online school.

However, Thats like saying they are the best of the really, REALLY, sucky schools.

don't go here... Get your degree online from a tradional state supported school. You can't go wrong doing that.

Bo Bo Shan March 27, 2007 at 5:18 a.m.

Just a Guy's input is rooted totally in bias and he is in this and other forums to promote some agenda of "superior traditional online" but does not provide specific examples of how or why traditional campuses are superior. His logic in one of my prior exchanges with him was rooted in the concept that A) Online is basically an invalid form of education. B) Unless the online education comes from a traditional college. C) Because when someone sees a traditional college name on the degree, they would not think it was from an online college.

Just because a degree is from a state school does not make it better, his argument was that it just appears to be better because it is not from school known to be "online".

As you can see, this is a straw-man argument.

Walden is a great school and one of the online colleges trying to do it right.

Just a Guy March 27, 2007 at 5:58 p.m.

Bo Bo shan has an agenda. He is a paid by the online schools to promote them. Anything he says must be taken as suspect.

You can do better than Walden, NCU, Capella, Or UoP.

I have no agenda. No one is paying me. I'm just giving honest opinion.

Bo Bo lied. I never said online was an invalid form of education. What I said was that the four schools I have listed above are not well respected and are in my opinion a ripoff when compared to traditional school's online programs.

Duke University's online program seems to provide a better education than does it campus based program. I have acknowledged this. Does this sound like someone who is saying that online "is not valid"??

The four schools I have listed above are interested in one thing. Seperating you from your money. You can do better.

MBA Lite April 10, 2007 at 3:57 p.m.

I understand that for-profit online as well as ground Universities can be considered to deliver a less than top-notch degree. However, I may make the following claim since I am actually a MBA student at such a school and I have graduated, with honors, from a highly-respected state University with my Bachelor's degree (Western Connecticut State University)
My undergraduate degree molded me into a well-rounded intellectual person. I learned Italian and Spanish languages as well as history, humanities, etc. Yet, it is the MBA program that has helped me to evolve into a well-rounded business professional. I defeated my fear of public speaking with the presentations (I am a ground student), polished my writing skills, and I have a strong understanding of the basics of an MBA.
So while it may be considered MBA Lite, I know what it has accomplished for me-and around my busy full-time work schedule. I will simply be prepared to explain this to a future possible employer.... Good luck to everyone on their educational journey!

Green Ball April 15, 2007 at 4:24 a.m.

Look, if you are a good writer, you will continue to flourish whether you are attending a traditional or virtual university.

If you are a good student, researcher, author, artist, or whatever ...you will evolve as long as you put your craft into practice.

There are many traditional schools that have the reputation of allowing students to graduate based on how much they are willing to pay. I went to one for undergrad and graduate. I excelled but that was because I loved school.

I am now completing a PhD at an online university and have been required to write far more than any of the traditonal schools required of me....that makes me wonder a little bit.

I have read many peer reviewed and scholarly articles showing that students learn the most and retain the most information from active particpiation rather than through being a member of an audience. I was shocked buy this scientific fact.

Although the power and rigor of a commanding lecturer is definitely enjoyable, rote memorization has its' limits.

It's up to you, how you approach education. There are scholars and slackers on every level of education. There are great professors and lousy mentors and the vice versa.

You make your life happen!!! Read!!!

MTT April 25, 2007 at 1:40 a.m.

RRFO I am thinking about enrolling in the Masters program for counseling at Walden and wanted to know how has it been for you so far?

Tenured Business Professional April 27, 2007 at 5:07 p.m.

I am a senior manager with approximately 25+ years of experience. When I decided to pursue my master's, I enrolled at Capella, with some of the same concerns that many of you have about the credibility and acceptance of institutions offering only online degrees.

I've done a great deal of reasearch and support the view that many students are better served by attending established campus-based universities that offer online and distance learning degrees (and many of the top schools now do so.) I now study online at Indiana Wesleyan University and am delighted with my choice.

I eventually (post-retirement) intend to teach. My situation is probably unique, but it will require academic credentials from respected campus universities, even if I have chosen to study online. As well marketed as the online universities are, degrees conferred from them are not nearly as well respected in academia.

Johnny Action.. May 19, 2007 at 6:12 a.m.

I am about to graduate from walden's MBA program so I am biased. I will say that overall I feel I have to do more work online at walden than if I was attending a "real" class. A couple of classes were easy, but that's just because I have taken the subject matter before. A few classes were real ball-B***ers and overall I have a better understanding of how the different areas in business interact.

Jazzy Jeff May 29, 2007 at 10:30 p.m.

Hello,

I just wanted to state that I too am looking for an online program, and I too am considering Walden University. I express the same regards as those who say Walden University seems to be the best of online schools around. I am gathering this information from the fact that they are affiliated with Sylvan Learning Systems and the Laureate Network. From what I have heard, the courses are challenging and the faculty seems well accomplished.

My concerns is also regarding "traditional" universities and online schools. I graduated with my Bachelors degree from the University of Florida so I am a little skeptical about pursuing an online degree with Walden, unfortunately, I do not want to give up my full-time job to go back to school especially when i can evolve so much more by applying what I am going to learn to my current job for advancement.

I have spoken to various people and the "BOTTOM LINE" seems to be that if you study and during your interviews you stress why you took the route and exhibit qualifications, you will have no problems landing a job.

The main reason I cannot complete the degree I am seeking at Walden is because no other colleges offer it "strictly" online. However, for my MBA degree, I most likely will choose a Brick College rather than Walden due to the prestige and the plethora of "traditional brick" campuses that offer MBA's online.

Daniel May 30, 2007 at 5:33 p.m.

Here is the PHD program I was accepted to at Nova

http://www.scis.nova.edu/Doctoral/Direct...

Here is the Dsc Program I was accepted to at Dakota St.

http://www.departments.dsu.edu/gradoffic...

Could I get everyones input into which program is better?

Nova is a national 4th tier school, while Dakota St. is a regional 3rd tier. What does this indicate about which school is better?

Thanks everyone
-Dan

Current Walden Student June 2, 2007 at 10:09 a.m.

Here's the thing, if you have the option to give up your time and your life offers flexibility to go to a land based institution, then it is probably a better program. What you are missing at Walden is being around coined PhD's and doing the internship/teaching part of the program. HOWEVER, this is all changing and less people have the ability to pause three to four years of their life to do so on a stipend, therefore distance education is gaining momentum.

I would agree that Walden is profit oriented and accepts anyone, but as you go through the residencies and classes, the amount of students that actually make it through the end of the program are very few in number. You will be really frustrated in your first couple of classes, but after that your peers will have absolutely stepped up a few notches.

I have gotten a lot out of my Walden degree (just moving into Dissertation), but I'd be lying if I said there were certain "traditionally degreed" individuals at the academic institution I've been teaching at for 3 years that haven't tried to poo poo it. I wouldn't have given up my well over 6 figure salary early on in my life to go that route though as I wasn't pursuing academia back then. Basically, It comes down to what you do with it. If you go this route, choose a tough dissertation committee and publish the hell out of it when you get yourself degreed. I agree with one of the above posts in that there is much you can do to validate your doctorate for those who poo poo it with how you use and apply it.

Moral of the story, it is not an easy degree to achieve, and it is definitely inferior to land-based programs in reputation, BUT I'm going on tenure track in the fall at an AACSB institution with an ABD status from Walden.

On a related note, I have a peer that has a PhD from a FAR INFERIOR institution than Walden, but he was extremely well published, and just left our university to go to move to a state school. It just further stresses that it is less about the degree and more about your research and publications.

Couple of pieces of advice, if you choose Walden, use the self-paced structure to your advantage, you can get this done in 2 years without giving up a 6 figure salary...and be totally prepared and committed to backing up your degree with significant publications and contributions to your field.

Good luck.

Master Teacher June 14, 2007 at 3:44 a.m.

I have just completed my Master's Degree in Reading and Literacy and I can tell you WITHOUT A DOUBT it was not a cakewalk as a lot of people make it seem like when you get a degree online!!

In fact a lot of teachers in my district are pursuing their degrees at traditional brick schools and most of my classes match up or are even TOUGHER than theirs!

I pursued my Master's at Walden because first of all it was affordable, and it is a NATIONALLY ACCREDITED SCHOOL, that alone speaks volumes!! From my understanding if a school is accredited by one of the 6 national accreditation agencies that is what matters more than anything! Walden University is a great school if you are a teacher looking to use proven research-based strategies in your classroom, and the classes are not boring! I learned more in my two years here than I EVER did with my undergrad degree (which I did receive from a traditional school!)

Not to mention I am already DONE with my degree whereas a lot of my colleagues are still working on theirs! So..in my opinion it is a great school, and as so many have stated already..it is not where you received your degree that matters.. it's what you do with it!! ( I believe our bonehead President got his degree from an Ivy League school did he not????)

Correction June 14, 2007 at 5:26 a.m.

Walden is regionally accredited, not nationally and regional is the standard for most universitys as a whole but there can be other certificaitons and accredidations tha are important depending the school you are a part of and the industry you are interested in.

Pat June 18, 2007 at 8:30 a.m.

My concern with Walden's PhD in clinical psychology program (that's all I can talk about since it is my field)is the following:

Looking at their passing rates for the most important test psychologists have to take at the end of their program to get licensed, Walden's students totally SUCK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Most schools have a rate of at least 50% of their students passing the first time; Walden does not even appear on many EPPP test sheets, put forward every 6 month by the Board of Psychology. I would call that a total failure !

Pat June 18, 2007 at 5:59 p.m.

One concern that I have is, that I am looking to get my PhD in psychology and I am faced with 3 absolute over-the-top programs that are sought for nationwide (thus have an acceptance rate of about 1-3%)or online degrees. I am already pulling my hair, since I find myself in a true dilemma. Sure, traditional universities offer some distance programs, but stop short of doctoral programs (other than the EdD). They either simply don't know how to implement the necessary components or are still to snobby to arrive at the age of distance learning. I am seriously considering getting my degree from another country, due to idiotic GRE requirements (not done in 99% of foreign countries), program costs, and quality of such US degrees. In the UK one can get a doctorate with an honors degree and qualifying work, a pure research degree, highly respected worldwide (no, I am not a Brit), and they are mentoring students long distance. I will probably do that.
I think, if one is searching for a Masters degree to complete via distance , he or she will find some program in the US that is meaningful, and I , like just a guy, agree that it should come from a traditional university, so that, in the case you want to move on to the next level, you have at least traditional learning with attendance and access to all the resources needed. This is even more important when students want to stop at the Masters level. The best masters level is probably also one, that will give you a "terminal/professional" qualification, so you won't find yourself in "explanatory" situations afterwards, when people start questioning why you did not move further.
Good luck to you all in finding what you are looking for.

Todd June 22, 2007 at 10:50 p.m.

Walden's educational degrees are not guaranteed licensure! They claim accreditation but states do not honor the degree. They do not back their programs. Review the fine print, compare course work with someone from your state board of examiners before dropping one dime. Now I have to backtrack to complete the Educational Leadership degree through another state institution.

Pat June 24, 2007 at 6:43 a.m.

Hi Todd

I know, I actually decided already against this diploma mill. I will look further for something that's worth being paid for.

Ahmad June 24, 2007 at 9:59 p.m.

It's true that many brick and mortar universities are currently trying to implement "online learning" but they don't have the experience in that sense as Walden does. Why do you think traditional universities are trying to do so? Because they know it works.

If you're looking for something good on your resume, then perhaps a traditional brick and mortar university would suffice, even if the whole curricula is nothing short of boring classes and temperamental professors.

If you're looking for rigor, learning catered to your style and needs, convenience, and quality instruction, then I have to vouch for Walden. I'm finishing my MSc in Education right now and all my colleagues who graduated from traditional universities (with Masters) were impressed with the amount of knowledge, practice, and insight that I had gotten from Walden's curricula.

Look, for us educators, when was the last time a university that you went to designed its learning goals via Bloom's Taxonomy? I know that the university that my friend graduated from (a well known state university) doesn't do that.

At Walden expectations are clear and there are several ways that you can get help. You may ask your colleagues, professor, and the academic adviser. No 9-5 office hours to hinder you.

The ultimate test is to do a research on quality of performance of graduates of online and traditional universities. Nevertheless, there are so many variables involved.

Until then, unless those professors who simultaneously work for a brick and mortar university and Walden are just doing it for extra cash, Walden university is as good or better.

Pat June 24, 2007 at 11:35 p.m.

Ahmad

Walden is a sdiploma mill , accredited on the basis of ???

They had exactely 2 students taking the EPPP exam within 5 years; a joke ! Speaks for the quality of the program. When you look at the program, and you know your field, you know why they don't pass. Go with what you want, I for my part, think, I am made for a higher quality learning and would not consider this place anymore. You , as educators?? :):):)

Ahmad June 25, 2007 at 1:49 a.m.

Pat,

Walden would not have survived for more than 30 years if it were a diploma mill. No diploma mills have.

There are other resources that you can check whether it's accredited or not.

If it were, then the state that I'm in would not have accepted the credits that I had got for my professional teaching exam. Okay, please don't tell me that now the state's education department is all in cahoot with this mill? :-)

I sincerely think that if you were really honest about your "quality" education, you should just have taken your GRE and pass it like everyone else. After all, online learning is not for everyone, even though classes are offered by the Ivy Leagues and Oxford-Cambridge's.

Well, American students always rank lower than their Asian counterparts mainly Japan and South Korea, can we say that our education is not of high quality? If we use your logic, no wonder you find the GRE requirement idiotic. :-) So, please, keep your self-indulgence of your so-called "made for higher quality learning" at bay. We don't even know whether you even got to college for that matter.

Basically people, do your homework and go for it. If you're in academia, your mantra should be "either you publish or perish" regardless of where you graduated from.

Ahmad June 26, 2007 at 1:13 a.m.

You don't have to become all worked up about "your" school, the only thing I ask you to do is; look at their passing rates.

That's it for my part, I did not come in here to discuss this sort of thing in such length, just on the basis of honesty.

Ahmad June 28, 2007 at 4:35 p.m.

Pat,

Good for you. Honesty is when you can substantiate your claims that Walden is a diploma mill. The Oregon Students Commission of Degree Authorization has quite a list for you to inspect.

You may visit them here: http://www.osac.state.or.us/oda/unaccred...

I wish you the best of luck in your academic endeavors.

Iris July 2, 2007 at 6:30 a.m.

This blog has been very insightful. I've been asking a Walden advisor for references and have had absolutely no response. I will be finished with my MBA from Univ. of Redlands in November. I was considering the Ph.D. in Applied Management and Decision Sciences at Walden. I went to one of their information sessions at a local hotel here in San Diego. I was one of two people who attended that particular evening. I did get the sense that it was a sales pitch. The program seems like a lot of work and a lot of money. I'll be honest, I am mostly concerned with how I can increase my earnings with a Ph.D. Walden seems like a good choice because I am working full time. However, I am now somewhat skeptical based upon everyone's comments. There is another college in town, Alliant International Univ., that has a DBA program but I can't get a feel for how this degree is perceived by employers. Any suggestions or comments would be very much appreciated.

Pat July 2, 2007 at 8:52 a.m.

Hi Iris

I can't say much in regards to your field of study, but let me say this; both institutions are "businesses", in the run for making a lot of money.
If I would have to choose between Walden vs. Alliant, I would definitely go with Alliant, simply for the reason that they have accreditation that is not only regional, but additionally from the body that oversees the field, which in my case is psychology. Walden does not . The difference can be clearly seen in the very different curiculae and in the passing rates on the state exam. Walden is basically non-existent there.
You should find out, what your accreditation body is (Professional Accreditation for the field of business) and weigh your options carefully. Employers usually look for accreditation, since most would not understand, or have the time (or both) to explore if your degree had the appropriate curriculum.
Try this here, hope it helps: http://www.mbaworld.com/page/dbacriteria...

Pat July 2, 2007 at 9:02 a.m.

Iris, consider this one. UK degrees are highly respected; also in the US.

http://www.abs.aston.ac.uk/newweb/

Pat July 3, 2007 at 5:28 a.m.

Ahmad

Ref.

Todd June 22, 2007 at 10:50 p.m.

Walden's educational degrees are not guaranteed licensure! They claim accreditation but states do not honor the degree. They do not back their programs.

Academic July 6, 2007 at 3:45 p.m.

Walden is a good school and a good fit for some people. If you are interested in an academic career just know that there is a prestige hierarchy. The Ivy League grads look down on the state school grads that in turn look down on the on-line grads. Some of the posts here that suggest an online degree from a state school is better than an online degree from Walden are entitled to their opinion. But if they had gone to Walden (where I earned a Ph.D. in Applied Management) they would have learned something about critical thinking, clear writing, evidence-based argument, and citing your references rather than just offering opinions. I see a real lack of that in their comments, so I guess they must have spent their college days at football games and fraternity parties. It is true that those are things Walden University doesn't have.

Alim July 8, 2007 at 1:07 a.m.

I am thinking about attending Walden in the fall. However I keep changing my mind due to the fact that I 'm wondering how how employers will look at my degree once I have earned it. I just want to hear an honest opinion about the school. Another school I am considering is Fielding University. It is a DL school that offers a Ph.D in Clinical Psych. It is also APA acredited.

Eddie July 9, 2007 at 6:23 p.m.

A few months ago finished my Ph. D. in Applied Management and Decision Sciences at Walden. Was quite happy with the university, its faculty, and rigor of the process; I'll put my knowledge, research skills, and academic writing skills against any new graduate's. Had taught five years at community colleges with good reviews, wanted to change my full-time career to academia. Applied for 72 tenure-track faculty positions, for each of which I was fully qualified (except AACSB) January through July - got three phone interviews, no campus visits, nothing more. Then I read in a peer-reviewed management journal that there is a severe shortage of management Ph. D.'s for such positions!!

What's going on?

rachel July 10, 2007 at 4:15 a.m.

I am a current student at Walden University. They are accredited, but their programs may not be. I am a student for the Master's in Public Health, and I am having a hard time finding an internship because their program is not accrediated by the Council of Public Health ED. In fact I am stuck because I need to complete an internship, and I am not able to find a place that will take me because the program is not accredited. When I contacted the Vice President of the school, he had nothing to say, other than just keep looking. WHERE?? The agencies have turned me down because the program is not accrediated nor recognized. I am in 60,000 worth of debt, I can't finish my internship, and no one from the school will call me when I call them. I cannot graduate because of the degree mill..
They want money BIG time..
Don't go here.. your degree is worth nothing, you will be in debt, and you may not be able to finish their program because accredidation problems with their programs.

Ahmad July 17, 2007 at 2:58 p.m.

Pat,

Walden did not claim that its education degree leads to licensing. Every state has its own requirement how teachers should be evaluated and consequently licensed.

Walden specifically requests that MSc in Education candidates check with their state requirements before embarking a graduate degree at Walden. In fact, the MSc in Education programs are tailored for those who are already practicing teachers (licensed and certified). Those who seek alternate route of certification would have to find other ways.

Jon July 20, 2007 at 7:47 p.m.

For counseling psych students, that degree and $1.50 will get you a cup of coffee at MickeyD's in Indiana or Ohio. As for the debate on accreditation, it is what it is. For most employers and brick and mortar schools, it is the Gold Standard in college credits and degrees, fairly or unfairly. An education costs alot of money. Too much to take a chance on some of these schools. The curriculum may be tough and you may even learn something, but if you can't use it, it doesn't help you much.

Concerned student July 26, 2007 at 5:33 a.m.

I am a LMFT (Licensed Marriage Family therapist)located in California. I too am very concerned about furthing my education at Walden University. I do not want to get degree as licensed Psychologist because I am already a Licensed Therapist, but I was considering recieving my PHD in non-licensure Health Psychology. Does that make a difference in the job market whether or not Walden is APA accredited? Please advice....

Dr. B (ABD) July 26, 2007 at 10:32 p.m.

During a colloquia on Saturday, one of our recent graduates announced her new associate professor position at a large state university in Raleigh, NC.

The School of Psychology had one of its AYR where they do face to face for 2 weeks. PSYC AYR students must do 500 face to face clinical hours. In one of their cognitive sessions, they dismissed 20 out of 60 students (who had to leave campus) for not passing an assessment. And rigor is still questionable?

It was recently announced that Dr. S.R, a Walden 2000, Applied Management and Decison Science graduate recently received tenure at Penn State University and is a faculty chair over one of the master’s degree programs there. We all know how traditional Penn State is. I contacted Dr. Robinson and she told me point blank that her professional activities and publications spoke for her. Not once did Penn State question her Walden credentials. In fact, she sits on the committee to hire other members of faculty. She was also appointed editor in chief of a peer reviewed journal. join www.alliedacademies.org. Degree not accepted huh? lol

Another one of our alums (Ivo Janenka) was recently appointed to Harvard U’s faculty. Rigor? Accepted?

We also have a host of Harvard alums currently earning their master and doctoral degrees at Walden U.

If you look at our faculty, we are 98% Ph.D. covered in every program. In fact, we no longer higher people without Ph.D.'s

Unlike many insitutions, we have a face-to-face component that is required of all Ph.D. and Ed.D students.

Dr. B (ABD) July 26, 2007 at 10:33 p.m.

My dissertation chair has an earned Ph.D. from Harvard and he is on faculty there as well. I am also his Graduate TA, which has given me a ton of teaching experience online! Faculty Mentoring… rigor?

My content expert on my dissertation committee earned her BBA, MBA and PhD in PPA from a research intensive traditional university (fully accredited, professionally and regionally). Instead of working elsewhere, she is full-time faculty at Walden and continues to live in my home town of Jackson, Mississippi. She is also a Walden U Administrator, which keeps her working 60 hours a week and always traveling. Expert faculty?

My methodologist on my committee is a graduate of the Fielding Institute, which is another fully accredited distance learning institution. She’s really hard core and stays on me.

Walden University’s commencements are extremely traditional and are archived on the web for anyone who wants to experience what type of academic community we have. http://inside.waldenu.edu/c/Student_Facu...

Dr. B (ABD) July 26, 2007 at 10:33 p.m.

Unlike any other distance learning institution and most “dirt schools”, Walden University sponsors the publication of 3 peer reviewed journals and hosts 2 peered-professional conferences each year. The only thing we’re lacking is our own press, which I hear will be coming in the next few years…. watch out University of Chicago. Rigor? Besides Oxford and UoChicago… how many other institutions have this? lol

KAMs…. well… my first one took me a year to complete and was 133 pages. I guess that’s why they’re 14 credit hours each. APA…. had to learn it like the back of my hand. Rigor?

Accreditation: besides carrying some and seeking other professional accreditations for its degree programs, Walden U is accredited by the NCAHLC which is the same accrediting body of University of Chicago, Northwestern, and Notre Dame. Rigor still a question? lol

Walden University carries the Carnegie designation for being Doctoral Research Intensive. ALL Rigorous schools carry this designation….

I know a young lady who was excused from the university for not meeting adequate progress… .so be careful. work those kams out.

Someone above mentioned not being able to find an internship, well there are people from ivy league schools who cannot get an internship... and they're from accredited programs. One of my friends graduated a few years ago in the top of his class from Emory and cannot get a real job to save his life. He's an assistant manager at baskin robbins.

Someone else mentioned the shortage of PhD business faculty but cannot get a job and don't know what's wrong.... well... have you been published in a peer reviewed journal? presented at refereed conferences? PUBLISH OR PERISH!!! :-)

Walden is fully accredited by the NCAHLC (ncahlc.org). Its nursing program has specialized accreditation. It has also made application to the public health and counseling (cacrep) accrediting bodies for accreditation and are now in a period of self study. Please know that this take at least 3 years!

Just thought I’d add my few comments on this issue. Unlike many other institutions, traditional and non, the Walden degree is gaining ground! We’re bringing about social change through our research and it is showing.

In closing, Walden makes it easy for anyone to enter the University. That’s because we have a mission of broad access to higher education; one that most universities do not have. On the flip side, they make it hard as hell to stay in and graduate. lol

I love Walden University…. GO WALDEN!

I am not a paid representative for Walden…. I wish I were… that way I would not have to pay $4100 a quarter in tuition. lol If any of you would like to know more about Walden, check out www.waldenu.edu,

Dr. B (ABD) July 26, 2007 at 10:47 p.m.

And final.... If ANY of you have insecurities about attending Walden University or ANY institution (traditional or non)... don't go! Why waste your time and money?

I have earned degrees from AACSB and ACBSP accredited business schools... and did extremely well on the GMAT.... I could have gone anywhere... especially back to my alma mater for free. But I guarantee you that my level of writing and research would not have been as good as it is at Walden. Walden's dissertations are published in UMI... my alma mater's isn't.

I believe in Walden's mission and its product. It's been growing strong for 37 years and has never been denied accreditation!

I have already been offered an associate professorship at a private college.... and it's because of my work.. not the school name or brand.

Lets not let disgruntled hearts and ignorance interfere with our desires to earn an advanced degree.. check it out for yourself... the information is there!

also, you can look at publications from the sloan consortium where you will find that an online education is accepted and is believed to be equal to or better than traditional by most hiring organizations.

Concerned student July 27, 2007 at 5:57 p.m.

Aim, I was also considering Fielding University and Walden University. Did you ever make your mind up on which school you are going to attend? As anyone graduated from Walden University with a non-licensure PhD in Psychology that can give me advice.

anna August 4, 2007 at 2:49 a.m.

I just completed my Master's degree from Walden University on line. It was a very rigorous program. The further into the program I got, the more work was expected. I learned a lot. I was able to apply everything I learned from each course I was in, and apply it to my own classroom. It was very time consuming work. The instructors were knowledgable, and impressive. My fellow classmates were from all over the country, so I was able to get to know them and we were able to compare schools and ideas. Walden is great and I am proud to be a graduate of this university.

interested reader August 9, 2007 at 4:39 p.m.

To Dr B (ABD) You stated on July 26, 2007 @ 10:32 " In fact, we no longer higher people without Ph.D.'s" Umm... the word is HIRE. Your level of writing improved at Walden?

krysium August 12, 2007 at 3:48 a.m.

I earned an M.S. in psych from a state school, and was talked into the biology PhD program by a neurobiologist I did my Masters thesis with. The PhD program there required 1 course, thats it. The rest was research. I spent 3 years in that program and politics between the bio and psych departments got so bad a committee was impossible. I was so close to graduation I had already been offered a post doc position with William Timberlake, and awarded a post doc position with Sheppard Siegel. My dissertation faculty was instrumental in getting those positions. Then the department heads started vying for control of the new neuro department and it filtered down to my committee, thus ending an award winning graduate career.
My story is one of several that I know of where political concerns and pettiness from the faculty at U of IL, and IL state ended M.S. and PhD careers. Three in my department in the same year. And yet the schools allow it.
The almighty research dollar drives the University. Some institutions done even pay salaries, the professor depends on grants. With that kind of focus students are cast aside easily, now tell me about the dangers of "for profit" institutions where the professors are paid to teach and that is their focus.

Dr. B (ABD) August 12, 2007 at 9:48 p.m.

Interested Reader: thank you for correcting me. I suppose that it's possible to make a simple grammatical error in the defensive, yet factual, manner in which I typed my response. So thanks a bunch!

What is interesting to me is that out of all the TRUE and POSITIVE things I wrote about Walden University, you found time to knit-pick and try to embarrass me.... but it didn't work.

I'm just happy you took the time to elevate yourself and read my post.

Regards.

Dr. B

AMH August 16, 2007 at 9:06 p.m.

I'm glad most of my answers were answered by just reading what was posted. I really didn't want to get caught in the middle of the "tug-of-war" going on over "brick" vs "net". Honestly, people are going to say negative things about anything one does to better themselves. These are usually individuals lacking something in their lives and want you to join in their misery. Are there online schools that suck? Yes. Are there "traditional" universities that suck? Yes. It's all about doing what works for you. I know people who have gone to Brown, Yale (law), GT, etc... who have not accomplished a thing. There are people attending Walden who have done more than they have with their
"respected degrees". I went to Clemson University, University of South Carolina, and Webster University. It took me two BA degrees (Clemson and USC) to realize that school is what you make it. I have been accepted to two PhD programs, but will not go. In trying to start a business, who has four (4) years to sit at some University? Broke and unable to really focus on "your" career. I work with street kids all over the world, so that requires travel. With Walden I can be in Brazil, Haiti, Mexico, Africa, etc... and still work on my degree. So as of Dec. 2007 I will start Walden's Phd program in public policy. And I guarantee I can go toe to toe with anyone attending traditional programs.

Mar August 28, 2007 at 10:24 p.m.

I am starting my Walden Education Masters program in 1 week and would like to hear from someone that has completed it. They already lost my transcripts so I am a bit leery. It also seems strange that I sent my application to California, transcripts to Maryland, got my materials from Illinois, and they are centered in Minn. Not sure I like the rigorous words used on this website. I have a full teaching load, coaching and have 5 kids. I want quality over quantity. If anyone has info on Education Masters please let me know. I have one week to decide for sure.

Dr. B September 8, 2007 at 1:29 a.m.

Just wanted to follow up with you all!

Walden University is no longer a for-profit institution. Laureate Education, Inc. is now Laureate Foundation, Inc... a 501(c)(3) corporation. We are NON-PROFIT... which allows us to receive more research funding and strengthens our mission of student centeredness.... on top of that... more full time faculty... and an opportunity to get tenured faculty. We're definitely moving in the right direction!

Ahmad September 9, 2007 at 9:12 p.m.

Dr. B, thanks for the info. When exactly did Walden become non profit?

Dr. B. September 10, 2007 at 12:59 a.m.

Actually, Laureate was sold this summer and ceased to be traded August 27, 2007. Laureate Foundation was formed. This give a lot of flexibility in terms of focusing on academics instead of the almighty dollar and stockholders.

HLJ September 22, 2007 at 8:18 p.m.

Dr. B

Your point about Laureate Foundation may be right. However, I am in the middle of a Walden MBA right now, with AMDS under serious consideration. 4.0 GPA so far (knock on wood). While readings and assignments are rigorous enough, I am very disappointed in lack of professorial participation and feedback. Also, eCollege technical support is the pits and the bursar and financial aid staff seem semi-literate (in writing and basic arithmetic). Classroom access is on again-off again. Also, why on earth did they appoint a lawyer without a Ph.D as the next president? His resume is OK but nothing special.

Dr. B September 23, 2007 at 11:30 p.m.

Hey HLJ. Have all of your MBA professors been the same way? I ask because in the Ph.D. program, I have had absolutely no issues with their participation or feedback....they have 10 days...This is because our work is so extensive, the professors have no choice but to be thorough in their feedback. Sometimes they can be too thorough and BRUTAL in their feedback. One professor told a colleague of mine that she may not be Ph.D. material and that she should probably reconsider the program.

Also, I think you should make your concerns known in the surveys you take at the end of each course. Walden takes those very seriously. You can also do like I do and email Provost DeZolt directly. She'll get right on it and that's a promise.

Our new president.... as a research institution I was not too golden on the idea of hiring an attorney. But come to think of it... it really doesn't matter who the president is because the Chief Academic Officer, the Provost, Dr. Denise DeZolt, is the one who makes all of the academic decisions. The president only handles policy and is simply a figure-head. I think his experience in higher education and working with government policy will definitely keep us where we need to be as an institution.... but like I said... Dr. DeZolt is really the head huncho.

Dr. B September 23, 2007 at 11:34 p.m.

Hi Again, HLJ.

I forgot to mention this. The eCampus is going through transition right now and has been since early summer. Walden is switching to a new format that includes new student and faculty emails...etc. They have not been too effective in getting the change done... but it's not Walden's faulty.. it's eCollege's.

Also... I had a recent issue with the financial aid people... for some reason they had me taking a leave of absence..... never have I submitted nor seen such a form.... but this was cleard up quickly with a phone call. But of course the same things happened to me while in college at a huge traditional university. Maybe it's growing pains?

HLJ September 24, 2007 at 2:10 p.m.

Hi Dr. B:

Thank you for your timely and quality response. I think/hope your post reinforces the point that Walden is a quality institution

Professor feedback: if 10 days is the standard then I withdraw my complaint. I get mine in maybe a week. What irked me this time was that we were told we would get feedback by X date but it would't arrive as promised. But, as you said, eCollege tech issues were happening at the same time so that may have been a factor. I know my current professor was having some complicated tech problems not of his making. (Some of the technology, while functional, is a bit archaic. Text-only OAES, for example. We do lots of spreadsheets, graphs and statistics in the MBA program and text-only simply doesn't cut it.)

Points taken on lawyer and provost. Also on financial aid - although I've made a LOT of phone calls.:)

As for "brutality", no problem at all. Better the straight story than being strung out for no good reason.

Thanks again.

Dr. B September 25, 2007 at 2:08 p.m.

HLJ... hi. Today you should have received an email from Presiden Kaplan announcing an upcoming survey designed to get student input. The results will be shared to the student body once completed. Dr. Peinovich did one like this about 2 years ago. Be sure to take this survey. Every voice really does count.

B

HLJ September 26, 2007 at 5:54 p.m.

Dr. B:

I received the survey link and completed the survey. However, I did not state everything I wanted to state, as the survey was not confidential (it asked for email addresses used at Walden).

Perhaps a truly confidential survey would generate better results.

Dr. B September 27, 2007 at 1:49 a.m.

HLJ.... you still should have left candid statements. there was nothing to say you had to put in a working email address. plus... the survey would have moved on if you had not put in those email addies. lol

keep your head up man. did you get the email from the provost today regarding the new licensure master's program in the College of Education? i think that's a pretty big move. many distance learning programs in education won't even touch those necessary for licensure track.

intersting.

HLJ September 27, 2007 at 5:34 p.m.

Dr. B:

I did see that licensure email and, yes, that IS a big deal. Even though I am MBA and maybe AMDS, I also love teaching (I actually taught a graduate capstone course for two years even though I didn't have a masters degree - the University (a very well recognized one, BTW) thought my experience more than compensated).

As for the "working" email addresses...d'oh! I wasn't thinking...

HLJ September 27, 2007 at 11:01 p.m.

More Walden Administrative Incompetence - HUGE contrast with excellent academics.

I am posting this publicly because I am sick "going through channels" in Walden's bursar and financial operations and receiving nothing but confusion. I spent MONTHS on email and in phone calls this year trying to solve this mess. But here we go again:

This evening I logged on and saw a "bursar hold" on my account. This after (1) being told my financial aid was all set for 2007-2008, (2) after being told everything was fine, then being told my financial aid forms (FAFSA, etc.) hadn't been received and were needed by mid July, (3) looking at my online account in mid-July and seeing a statement that all forms had been received, and (4) receiving a sizable refund due to excess payments.

Obviously everything is NOT "fine". All I get is buck-passing. "You need to call Sallie Mae, not us" etc. etc. And then Sallie Mae bounces the ball back.

Can ANY reasonable person believe this makes any sense?

Moral - if you want to attend Walden (which academically is a very fine institution) AND avoid such chimp-like management, try not to need financial aid and pay everything up front. Admittedly not realistic for most people but at last you have none of this nonsense.

Dr. B September 28, 2007 at 1:13 a.m.

Oh I understand man. I think Walden is experiencing some big time growin pains. I had a hold placed on my account some time last year... it's because they charged me twice for tuition.... and I didn't catch the issue until I went back through my stacks of mail and saw the invoice that had been long sent to me. lol

Keep your head up, HLJ..... I've still seen worse situation than ours... and at traditional universities too.

HLJ September 28, 2007 at 3:13 p.m.

Oh I understand too. :)

I just wish the school's admin would quit "growing" and start functioning.

DWW October 2, 2007 at 2:17 p.m.

Looking to start the Phd program in finance in may of next year. Can anyone tell me how long the program takes to complete, assuming taking 2 courses per quarter. I am currently working on the completion of my MBA from the University of Phoenix (Ground Campus), which is a great program. I have also completed a B.S. in Finance from a brick and mortar university, so I am looking forward to the challenge of the Phd in Finance. All helpful advice and tips would be greatly appreciated.

HLJ October 3, 2007 at 1:23 a.m.

Dr B:

All's now well with my financial aid. Somehow, staff got the message and were very, very helpful. Astonishingly helpful when compared to the past.

DWW:

If you "come" to Walden's Ph.D/Finance program, I may be there with you...depends on how well I do in the MBA program - I'm in the home stretch - and sources of funds. But all indications are it's a superb program.

Dr. B October 4, 2007 at 2:52 a.m.

Including the dissertation.... taking two courses per quarter... the Ph.D. in the School of Management could take you (realistically) 3-5 years. I've known a few to do it in short of 3.... but they did absolutely nothing else but school work.

DWW October 4, 2007 at 10:16 p.m.

Thank you very much Dr. B for you input. I am definately looking forward to a profession where expertise in Finance is needed. According to research, the demand for Phd college professors is expected to boom over the next 5-10 years. My goals are to broaden my horizion in the Finance and Accounting field and then move into an tenure track position at the University level. Your insight will help aid me toward the accomplishment of my goals. I am greatly appreciative. Take care.

Respondants October 8, 2007 at 12:31 a.m.

Dr. B,
Some time ago you pointed out a Harvard grad that is now on faculty at Harvard. I would like to point out that he already had an MD, so his PhD from Walden was useless since it is actually an MD program he professes in. Second, Dr. Robinson is not at University Park, the main campus, which would likely never hire an online for-profit PhD.
How can you consider a school that has no admissions selection for an MS or PhD program to be high caliber? I think if a person’s background is good, then they may get hired in academics, but its tough in better schools. But you try to compare Ivy's and non-profits to Walden, it doesn't work. Even now that Walden is non-profit, it is going to take some time to get it back up to par. Open admissions and online only PhDs are not respected.

Dr. B October 8, 2007 at 1:27 a.m.

Dear Anonymous person.... I understand what you're saying. But the fact remains that Dr. Robinson is still employed by the Penn State system....the graduates of that system are more than likely not going to differentiate the campus...... And regardless of how you may feel, Dr. Robinson is an administrator in that system......

And If you speak with the Waldenite who now works for Harvard, as I have... you'll find that his Walden degree has played a major role in his success. Furthermore, having a strict admissions policy does not guarantee rigor nor success.... but more specifically a lack of funding for those who choose not to pay for their research degree and attend school full-time. Regardless of the institution, there is a certain amount set aside for these positions.... and they choose only the perceived top candidates to fill them. But if these programs were so top knotched....and successful....... why are so many academics from these schools dropping out and remaining ABD.... that's not progress. Where is the support?

I never stated that Walden was better than Ivy League schools. But I do believe that's it's product is just as good. I personally do not want to get a job based off of where I went to school, but rather off of my hard work..ie academic publications and teaching experience.... which has yielded a very nice income for me thus far.

I think that if you did your research, you'd find the Walden degree to be one that is respected and is steadily gaining ground. I cannot speak for other distance learning institutions..... and I think for an institution that has been conferring doctoral degrees for only 38 years.....Walden has made very impressive progress.

Respondants October 8, 2007 at 1:26 p.m.

Dr. B, the standard programs are successful because they are so rigorous. I do agree with you view on lack of support in some instances. There has been a paper written by a Dr. Kohun from Robert Morris University who started a new Doctor of Science program that has been highly successful. I do not believe any school can truly offer a PhD online. A PhD consists of sacrifices and working closely with advisors. You cannot get interaction with other students online like you can in real life. During my PhD, I would go out to bars and eat with some of my colleagues after classes. This is the time where I learned the most. Other than that, a PhD is mainly a dissertation which could be done online. I believe this is why Dr. Kohun's method is so successful. The students have classes and work with each other, but eventually depart to complete (after they have a great deal done) their dissertation.

As for Walden, I do not believe any For-Profit University should exist. Second, open enrollment to Bachelors, Masters, and especially Doctoral should not exist. Even if "they will drop out...." exists, in a for profit institution, they will do everything they can to keep the person enrolled to keep the money coming in.

I do agree with you that Walden will gain ground. Now that it is non-profit, I believe they will start to reinvest into the school and get more out of it.

Dr. B October 8, 2007 at 3:49 p.m.

Everything that you mentioned in terms of academic camaraderie...... I have done..... both while at residencies and with Walden students and faculty who reside in my area. Even in Mississippi, when it's residency time, all Waldenites leaving my area can fill half of an MD-88 jet.... when boarding it's like one big party because we all know each other. We wear our Walden paraphenalia and it's like traveling with a bunch of friends. No one is a stranger... even the new people.

I agree that the bachelor and Ph.D. degrees should not be wholly earned online. If you check with our accreditor (NCA/HLC), only 2 of the 7 Ph.D. degrees we produce are offered via internet. But students must still attend at least 20 days of residency. Most of our doctoral degrees are correspondence and are ALL heavily research based. I have only taken three internet courses..... the rest of it was conference calls, residencies, travel, email, and mailing hard copies of my research and assignments. It's very expensive but that's the price I pay to study with an elite faculty.

Mentoring and socialization are very important factors to student and graduate success. And as I have stated before, I can only speak on Walden. The socialization is there.... The student/faculty ratio is extremely small. Excellent doctoral faculty mentoring is why our doctoral students are successful. All faculty I've met since enrolling 4 years ago can call me by my first name.... which I sometimes wish never happend because it gets me involved in too much outside work with them. But this is all because I've taken advantage of my academic opportunity and networked my butt off...... not all students do that... traditional or non.

One major factor for me studying at Walden was the fact that I would not be studying with people who are "like" me. I love diversity.... each person has a different experience and can add to my overall body of knowledge. While at residencies we hit the library or computer lab, we hang out, share ideas, and even work up plans to collaborate on academic publications and research. We even hit the local bars.... of course all of this after class.

My doctoral mentor/dissertation chair is a graduate of Harvard where he still lectures. He also has a consulting firm and has taken me under his wing. I've done tons of research for him... and he's even cited my work in some of his work. One of my committee members live maybe 15 minutes from me. She and I meet all the time. My methodology expert is in Florida... she and I talk all the time. Even though this is my personal experience, it is very common at Walden.

As I have stated before... I agree with you... in many instances. But looking at the things you've mentioned.... a Walden education provides all of that.

Dr. B. October 8, 2007 at 3:55 p.m.

Walden's doctoral programs are extremely rigorous. APA is a must and everything that is researched must have a social change component that is workable and subjectable to peer review.

You mentioned sacrifice....... try working working full time, providing for a family, maintaining a household, and meeting demands from professors who sometimes don't care about your personal obligations. :-) To me... that's sacrifice.

Respondants October 8, 2007 at 5:52 p.m.

I didn't realize they had residencies, that does change my overall view. But I am still against open enrollment. Also, you mention several times about Harvard professors teaching at Walden. You are almost trying to make the argument that Walden is therefore a Harvard in itself. I am also curious to hear how many professors you have that are on Tenure at Walden.

Your view on APA is a must for any doctoral program along with peer reviews. I have also sacrificed while I had a family, full time job, etc. from a traditional college earning my MS and PhD. But the difference came down to the traditional college forcing me to put all the time I had in acadmics and not in work. I ended up leaving my job for an easier one so I could do the work for school (went from working as an engineer to a cashier because it made my life much easier and I knew I could always go back to being an engineer).

Dr. B October 8, 2007 at 7:23 p.m.

Respondants... hi again. :-)

Me mentioning Harvard or any other Ivy league school is not an implication that Walden is just like Harvard... I put that out there to show how we are being taught and mentored under highly qualified, well published faculty, and exemplify by the opportunities I've been opened to since I began my doctoral journey... that's all. Harvard will always be Harvard...Yale will always be Yale...etc. Heck... the shortest dissertation published at Yale was only 8 pages.... But it's Yale and I'm not going to dispute that.

Tenured Faculty: Walden has not had tenured faculty, but has had faculty employed there full-time for almost 30 years.... The tenure issue has come up amongst faculty governance meetings... but as a former for-profit institution... that was not going to happen. But now that things have changed.... from what I'm told, it's up for discussion again. Also, having well-published, non-tenured faculty can be a good thing.... it makes faculty really earn their money and keep their job. When I was in college, most of the tenured faculty did nothing but held class (sometimes), kept minimum office hours.... and bitched. lol At Walden, faculty has office/contact hours... but they're accessible when I need them.

Open enrollment: Walden has a mission of broad access to higher education.... which I think is a good stance. Everyone should have access....regardless of location... culture.. or race.... Even though there is no need for GMAT, GRE..etc, there is an individual criteria that must be met before getting into each program. Anyone can apply, but everybody's not getting in....I know two people who were denied admission because they did not have the preferred professional experience and did not do well on their admissions essay. Quite a few have also been admitted as CONDITIONAL where they must prove themselves worthy to stay in by exhibiting good scholarship and maintaing a B average.

Especially with minority populations (white women, blacks, hispanics, asians, indians, american indians...etc) Walden has bridged the gap to higher education access... Walden ranked 44 in the nation for producing doctoral degrees under the total minority category in all disciplines, 5 in business, and 19 in psychology. Nova was 1, Harvard 7, Rutgers 39, IU 57, Princeton 77, University of Tenn 95.

APA: You're absolutely right... APA should be a major part of any doctoral program... but I'm afraid it's not pushed like it should be. I have friends who are in traditional programs who's work has been submitted to professors and get a grade of A.... and after reading it.. I'd oftentimes wonder "how in the hell." But that's not for me to do.... you know.

I'm glad your perception about Walden is opening up a bit more.

Dr. B October 8, 2007 at 7:33 p.m.

One more thing. I read where you had to change jobs in order to pursue your doctoral degree. I'm sure that was quite an economic slide...... But just like a law degree, a Ph.D. does not have to be an esoteric experience that requires one to change their standard of living. What you did was commendable... but I have a lifestyle that would not have been easy to change (for less)...

Respondants October 9, 2007 at 6:31 p.m.

The changing of jobs is due to the school I was attending. I went to a tier 1 premier research institute. You are forced between giving up your life and graduating. Which brings me to point out that I am an academic snob. Most of us are from these types of schools (As you pointed out, Yale, Harvard, CMU, MIT, etc).

The open enrollment is still a big deal to me. I believe they should offer entrance exams for anything beyond a BS. If the student cannot pass the entrance exam, they are hurting other students in the class who are more advance.

The idea of advertising "minority populations" I have always been against. I don't believe separating people into groups is a good thing, it actually brings on more prejudice. All people should be treated equal regardless of gender, sexuality, nationality, and religion. These factors do not play a role in education (except for maybe private, special purpose religious schools). I feel the places that put emphasis on these areas (gender, sexuality, nationality, etc) are advertising to gain the same types of students to advertise more. This whole idea of diversity is a good one, but needs to be better thought out of how it is presented. I think the programs should not accept people based on any of these factors, but take the best candidate and ignore the rest. I understand my view on this stance is not well taken, but I feel the best candidate is the person who best meets the model they are looking for.

I have looked at Walden and researched it more. I disagree on not granting tenure. The idea of tenure is to allow faculty to openly research areas of high debate and publish results with no penalty. If, for example, a Walden professor published about For-Profit Universities as being a bad thing, they would have surely been fired (prior to the movement). However, you are right on the money with office hours. This holds true most when you are dealing with professors who teach at a doctorate level and below. They usually want nothing to do with anyone who isn't a doctoral candidate.

I am curious to see how switching from for-profit to non-profit is going to effect the school. It will be exciting to see results in all different areas from graduation rates, acceptance rates, programs, professors, structures, schools, and outcome of students (meaning the difference before and after). I bet the most changed areas are ones we believe wouldn't change at all.

Dr. B. October 9, 2007 at 9:17 p.m.

I agree.... lets wait and see. :-)

Dr. B October 9, 2007 at 9:27 p.m.

oh.... Respondants.... I don't mind you being an academic snob... i love academic snobs......my best friend is one.... it really keeps things going. :-)

what's ironic is that i consider myself to be an academic snob too...... not because of the schools i went too.... but because of my accomplishments: what i know, who i know, who knows me, my growing high-regard in the academic community, acceptance amongst my peers, my professional experience, and of course... just for being who i am. :-)

Respondants October 10, 2007 at 3:38 p.m.

Some of my best friends are executives in industry who are also snobs. Its funny to see that industry snobs don't respect academic snobs, and vice versa. Have you ever talked to someone on tenure? They tend to point out all the flaws in business and how slow businesses are to adapt to new, better ways discovered by academics. When you talk to executives in business, they are quick to point out that academics live in a dream world and don't understand how business work and have unreal templates to follow. It’s all quite humorous. I lived in both worlds, and just felt more comfortable in academia settings.

Dr. B, you have a good outlook and attitude towards your degree. This does make a big difference in how people view you. What is your area of study and what journals have you published in? I work in engineering and more specifically the scientific side of cognitive science and AI. Publications in the cognitive science (A Multidisciplinary Journal), ACM's crossroads, MAA's Mathematical Monthly Journal, and a few others. I don't work in tenure; I work in postdoc research positions.

Respondants October 10, 2007 at 7:57 p.m.

Oh, and that above comment is not derogatory in any way. I actually want to know the publications and areas Walden is outputting to see where they stand now. I just realized that the way I wrote the second paragraph sounds very snobbish and bad.

Dr. B. October 11, 2007 at 1:58 a.m.

Hi Respondants. I too have experienced both sides of the table in terms of industry and the academy. And honestly, I think that the industry is taking lead because they're the ones doing the hiring. Also, I think this is why so many institutions are aiming toward more practical and case based type of teaching..... not to ignore theory but to arm students with the tools they need to immediately apply to their true profession. As a former operations manager for a publicly traded company... I could care less what theories a new graduate I hired knew.... I wanted him/her to know what I trained him/her to do that extremely well. Most managers still feel that way. They just want to be confident that graduates have common sense and have some type of foundation that will allow them to learn the job.

Walden's masters and doctoral programs are all built on a scholar-practitioner model. This helps graduates address both the need of the academy and industry. Students are encouraged to take what they've learned and apply it in everyday life.... especially in their professions to help bring about positive social change. Our bachelor completion program is geared toward career advancement but more toward pushing students into graduate schools.

My area is applied management and decision sciences. My research interests are servant leadership, resilience, management, urban management, higher education, urban higher education, urban policy, and organizational leadership. Most of my work are part of collaboratives and peer conference proceedings. I am currently affiliated with allied academies, which oversees publication of 19 peer reviewed journals. I currently have 4 articles going through peer review. Walden also hosts 4 peer reviewed journals to which i recently submitted to one.. but the process takes about 120 days.

As for your last comment.... I did not take it negatively at all. After telling me you're an academic snob... I understand you much better now. lol Walden has a journal: The International Journal of Applied Management and Technology...... maybe you should consider submitting some of your engineering work to it. Or perhaps, applying to teach in Walden's engineering program.

Dr. B October 11, 2007 at 2:11 a.m.

Walden Publications

Dissertations: All published in Proquest Database.

Walden Alum Mag: alumnimag.waldenu.edu/

Journal of Social Change: www.journalofsocialchange.org/e/JournalH...

Journal of Social, Behavorial, and Health Sciences: www.jsbhs.org/

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology:
www.ijamt.org/IJAMT/IJAMT_home.htm

Journal of Educational Practice for Social Change
jepsc.org/

Student Organizations/Honor Societies:

Education: Phi Delta Kappa
Psychology: Psi Chi National Honor Society
Management: Sigma Iota Epsilon National Honorary and Professional Management Fraternity

COMMENCEMENT (a must see): streaming.waldenu.edu/Commencement_Summer07.wmv

Respondants October 11, 2007 at 12:17 p.m.

Thanks Dr. B. I will check some of those out. As for teaching, I have no desire to teach. I have full interest in Walden since they switched over to the non-profit sector. I am considering going there for another PhD to compare the curriculum there, to what I had experienced (I already have two PhD's, and one is not from a tier 1). If I do it, I can also watch how things change, meet graduates, and compare the subjects I described above. I don't know if I will do it, but the for-profit model of education has always been a topic of interest to me. Having a school go from for to non, well now that’s a research proposal. Thanks Dr. B.

PS - I have taken courses at Phoenix, Capella, Nova, and NCU in PhD to compare them (about a years worth of each). The Phoenix, Capella, and Nova were not very good at all. They might have been BS or MS level if that. NCU however, was pretty good in some areas.

Dr. B October 11, 2007 at 3:15 p.m.

Gosh Respondants...... two phd's and considering another. i just don't think i could do it... walden is 4.5 years for me... i have colleagues who are in their 5, 6, and 7th years. you're better than me. lol

As for your research proposal... i think it would be interesting.

Respondants October 11, 2007 at 3:45 p.m.

I never said I was going to go all the way through. I just said I wanted to go take some courses. Tuition exchange is a great thing and most of those schools will actually participate (well, they gave like 90% off tuition but employer covered other 10%). I have been gathering data on the for-profits for some time now. ITT and UoP are the driving forces on that (I can't stand the advertising they do, and I know people who have taught at those places who say they are very unethical).

And as for PhDs, the only real hard part is the dissertation. Once you've done one though, you know what to expect and learn how the game is played. You just have to find a good advisor and your set!

Dr. B. October 11, 2007 at 3:56 p.m.

Ok.. I understand now. If you did decided to take courses, what program would you be taking them under?

I agree about the dissertation... which mine is a phenomenological study.......but my statistics and research courses were hell for me. Walden had a face to face stats course that we took during our 2 week summer residency on campus at Indiana University, under Walden faculty, of course.... people cried. There was tons of group work, which only made the professors pile it on more. lol

I also agree.... a good advisor/mentor is key to your success as a doctoral student. They must take an interest in your work.

I just posted under the NCU blog to this guy who went to ITT but couldn't get into a program at Pace or RMU.... i'm not really sure what to say about him.... maybe you can hone in on what I told him. :-)

Respondants October 11, 2007 at 4:58 p.m.

What is the website for the NCU blog? I am familiar with RMU (Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh)? They have the Doctor of Science program in Information Systems and Communications (the interdisciplinary program). The guy who started that wrote tons of papers about it and just won a huge award for being educator of the year for the entire world. It has been very successful in lowering attrition rate and allowing the students to keep jobs. I think it’s successful though because they take in highly successful people to begin with, so of course the output is successful. I'm not saying its bad though; I met a few graduates from it that benefited greatly. I don't believe they do a dissertation there though, they have a choice of dissertation or field project (which I suppose the field projects, from the ones I read, are the same as a dissertation except it’s not purely theoretical, but now how many dissertations are these days?)

Sorry, I know RMU because I work a lot with CMU. I thought about the RMU program also and actually visited it. I would love to do it, but it’s very tightly guarded, classes are locked in, the work load is intense and cannot be modified, and it’s expensive (like $75K now). I don't think that program qualifies under tuition exchange either. You have me thinking about the program again though. The faculty on that board publishes in so many different areas, it would really open up new worlds.

At Walden, I would do a PhD in General Psych. Even though I work in research for Science, its Cognitive Science and I know a lot about Psych. It also pushes me outside of my comfort zone, forcing me to really evaluate the rigor of the program (since I cannot fairly evaluate an engineering program because that’s all I have done).

Dr. B October 11, 2007 at 5:15 p.m.

Hi Respondants.... i may have stated it wrong... it's the NCU page for this online degree review site. You've posted there before. Just go back up to the colleges page and choose NCU.

with the D.Sc degree... it's similar to the DBA and Ed.D. it's a pracitcal degree and is not really research focused... if i were in the program, i'd take the field project too.... lol

Btw.... i just submitted three more articles for peer review.... about 5 minutes ago. Wish me luck!

Respondants October 11, 2007 at 5:32 p.m.

I disagree on the non-research focus for D.Sc. The D.Sc is equivalent to a PhD and is considered a research degree also. Its more focused on application than theory, but research non-the-less.

Good luck on that and I will check out the other blog.

Dr. B. October 11, 2007 at 5:41 p.m.

OMG.... a moment in time. Respondant and I can agree to disagree. lol

Respondants October 11, 2007 at 7:47 p.m.

Yes. But my final argument on the Sc.D (or D.Sc if you don't like latin), is that the requirements for each are exactly the same. Look at MIT for any Sc.D offered. You will notice they tell you that you are able to choose Doctor of Science, OR Doctor of Philosophy. They are both research degrees and equivalent now. I did respond on the other blog. Thanks for pointing me there (I forgot I had been on there).

Dr. B October 11, 2007 at 10:53 p.m.

No problem, Respondants...... and thanks for the compliment!

DWW October 12, 2007 at 3:24 p.m.

Dr. B, when you said they did absolutely nothing but school , are you saying that they did not have a job, or they were so consumed with work and school that they did not have much time for anything else?

Dr. B October 12, 2007 at 9:26 p.m.

DWW....which post are you referring to? kinda preface me with a quote from my the post you're talking about.

thanks.

DWW October 12, 2007 at 9:51 p.m.

You said...........

"Including the dissertation.... taking two courses per quarter... the Ph.D. in the School of Management could take you (realistically) 3-5 years. I've known a few to do it in short of 3.... but they did absolutely nothing else but school work."

Dr. B October 13, 2007 at 2:52 a.m.

oh ok... now we're on the same page... to answer your question.... all three. lol it all depends on how you pace yourself and your courseload..... also on how many credits you're able to get transferred in... which is typically not very many.

The Heck October 16, 2007 at 4:25 p.m.

What the heck is Walden? Where did this school come from anyways? It just kind of appeared. This isn't really a school right? Its more of a professional training institute?

DWW October 16, 2007 at 10:23 p.m.

I have completed a four and half year degree in finance from a brick and mortar university. Now I attend the University of Phoenix, and I anticipate graduation with my MBA in February of 2008.Currently I attend the ground campus in Houston TX, and my experience has been very good. It’s all about your professor, not the school.

Some professors take time and teach you essential tools necessary to make it in competitive world today. Some just have neither passion nor desire to teach and therefore, the students suffer.

Given that I’m a ground campus student I cannot comment on the online experience. However, I do intend to attend Walden University for my PhD in Business Finance. I have asked my PhD professor’s about Walden, and it is very well respected in the business world.

There will always be comparisons in life, Mercedes VS BMW, Harvard VS Yale, or Online VS Ground Campus. Who’s to say which is better or worse? It’s all about your experience and what you do with your education. The masters of success learn to gather all of their personal experiences and focus them on what’s relative to accomplish their personal goals.

I don’t depend on my degree to get me into a career opportunity. I depend on my ability retain all my educational experiences and apply them to the best of my ability. If you are an exceptional candidate for employment you will get the job. Someone will value you and not so much the educational background.

In closing, you have to sell your self. I know a girl who graduated from Rice University with a 3.7 in Business Management who is selling cars on a small lot for a living. So, therefore, it’s not about where you get the education, but rather how you apply what you have learned in your life. Don’t depend on the degree, depend on the knowledge. That is the true power.

Kind Regards,

D. Williams

Dr. B October 17, 2007 at 2:47 a.m.

The Heck.... um.... Walden University has been conferring doctoral degrees for nearly 38 years. Fully accredited. You can't just "appear" after almost 38 successful years.

Dr. B. October 17, 2007 at 2:51 a.m.

DWW..... Awesome words! We look forward to having you in Minneapolis!

Save up for your books and residencies.... you're about to enter into a unique academic community.

DWW October 17, 2007 at 3:49 a.m.

Thanks Dr.B, I look forward to it.

The Heck October 17, 2007 at 7:37 p.m.

Well DWW, it figures you go to another school with no admissions from Phoenix since almost no respectable school would take you into a PhD with a UoP degree.

Dr. B October 17, 2007 at 8:25 p.m.

The Heck.... actually... I was admitted into 4 of 5 traditional programs I applied to. Plus... I recently got accepted to a master's program in higher education leadership... both at University of Nebraska and Mississippi College. Mississippi College's business programs are accredited by the same body as UoP.

Please do your research first..... it doesn't look too good on your part to ridicule people for their hard work and you not do your research first.

The Heck October 17, 2007 at 8:28 p.m.

Well at least you took the easy way out.

Dr. B? October 17, 2007 at 8:56 p.m.

Heck..... what are you talking about? i guess ignorance is bliss.

The Heck October 18, 2007 at 12:04 p.m.

Well you go to Walden, so you should know. Since ignorance is not understanding something, and you go to Walden who doesn't teach much, you are ignorant. I'm just telling you that Walden is no accomplishment. You get in as long as you have a credit card. They are out to make money. You said they are no longer for-profit, well show me some reference that states they are now a non-profit organization.

Dr. B October 18, 2007 at 1:22 p.m.

You're so smart.... find the info yourself. Trust me... the people who matter most know about the school.

DWW October 18, 2007 at 4:17 p.m.

Well I understand you very well. You seem to be one of the individuals who depend on what everyone thinks in order for you to feel confident in your self. Thats ok, there are many people who need acceptance from others to feel valuable. However, to be honest, my faith is in God, who created man, therefore, no matter where I go, God will be with me. His favor on my life has been in overflow. So, I guess you are right, we live by 2 different paths of life. In closing, take this bit of wisdom with you, when your trust is in man, they will always fail you, when your faith in God, he will never fail you. No matter how you feel, God, if he so chooses can even change your hearts towards the perception of individuals who gradutate from Phoenix or Walden. God is no respector of person, therefore, we should not be as well. We have no right to judge someone who God has created in his own image. You should be ashammed of yourself. I pray that God have mercy on you, for one day you will reap what you have sown in peoples life with your comments. Good Day.

Kind Regards,

D. Williams

The Heck October 18, 2007 at 4:48 p.m.

God is not scientific, therefore, your argument has no relevance and cannot be proven. All for profits believe in God, only they call it shareholder. You should be ashamed of yourself trying to push God on people and not respecting my opinions.

DWW October 18, 2007 at 5:45 p.m.

Are you saying, that for those who believe in God, who believe that he created the brain, mouth, tounge, ear, sight and smell, shouldnt believe that God is scientific?The begining of thought started with the brian for man. Tell me, can you think scientificly without your brain? Didnt think so. Well, thats your opinon, and I have mine. Rather to believe in God and be at peace with everyone, than to not believe and pass judgement, because when you judge people by your standards, and there is no higher power monitoring your hearts motives, then you therefore become your own God. I do respect your opinions, but you are no better than anyone, so who are you to judge. I dont respect how your negativity will affect peoples lives by reading your post. The love of money is the root of evil. However, dont think state schools are not trying to make money either, both need money in order to further the education of schools no matter where it is from. Do you agree with all the money spent in Irac, when all of our soilders are dying everyday over God knows what. I bet you arn't submitting letters to the president about it. So we pick our battles in life and this judgement made by you on educational preference reveals a lack of character in yourself. We can agree to disagree. That is fine by me, but can we at least agree that there is a more constructive approach that could be utilized when expressing one's opinon on their educational preferences? Education with no wisdom is foolishness. We should able to atleast agree with that. I am now finished casting my pearls amoung swine. Good Day Sir. May you have a Blessed Life!

Kind Regards,

D. Williams

The Heck October 18, 2007 at 6:02 p.m.

This is way off topic. Separation of church and state. We'll stick to that. There is another posting on the UoP part of this website. "Degree" put up a list that s/he got from some website. Those items pretty much sum of what I think too. Is education bad? No. I don't really judge people if they have a UoP degree if they have a good background. For entry level, I won't consider them if they have no experience. My dislike comes from the deceit in the recruiting practice that has come along and shown up in many articles and TV shows now about UoP and other for-profits. The Leroy S on another blog in Capella is pretty good at explaining stuff, Dr. B, Respondants, and Just Wondering... all have some good points.

DWW October 18, 2007 at 6:12 p.m.

I dont agree with the recruitng practices of some of the for profit universities, including the university of phoenix. It is a high pressured sales call from the start. Education should be a free choice, which is how I decided upon it. As long as we can respect each others decisions I believe we can all get along. Wouldn't you agree?

The Heck October 18, 2007 at 7:24 p.m.

Yes I agree. I think the schools should be open though. I have a lot of feelings about for profit. It bugs me they make money on people who truely want to make a better future for themselves. The heavy advertising makes them think it will happen. As in the post above, Pharamcy companies do the same. Yet they still disclose side effects, but advertising wins out. I don't like it.

Shala October 19, 2007 at 5:14 a.m.

Heck

If you look at the top of the page you will see that Walden is no longer a for-profit university.

The Heck October 19, 2007 at 11:55 a.m.

Well show me some proof. This site isn't right, it also says Capella is not for profit, which is a lie.

Dr. B October 19, 2007 at 12:42 p.m.

Heck is an MIT graduate.... i'm sure he/she can find it him/her self.

Btw October 19, 2007 at 12:47 p.m.

Capella didn't go public until 2006. I have contacted the site owners so that they can upgrade this.

Btw... October 19, 2007 at 12:51 p.m.

Walden's parent company was sold and operates under an education foundation. Laureate Education, which has 52 traditional universities worldwide, ceased to be publicly traded on August 17, 2007.

The Heck October 19, 2007 at 2:08 p.m.

I never said I was MIT.

And just because its not publically traded does not mean its not-for-profit.

Dr. B October 19, 2007 at 4:16 p.m.

You're right... but if it's operated under a 501-c3.... it does.

Dr. B October 19, 2007 at 4:27 p.m.

it amazes me how people get on here and make ignorant and extremely baseless comments.

what for-profit institution do you know offers the amount of student research, faculty research, fellowship and scholarship funding (federal and private) that walden does? some of these awards have topped $25,000... individually. walden funds student research. walden funds faculty research. student funds are merit and/or need based.walden now hosts 4 peer reviewed journals. we're all about social research.

you know nothing of which you speak.

you need to check your info.

Walden Pond October 19, 2007 at 4:30 p.m.

Walden University is committed to providing broad access to higher education. Our scholarships are an investment in the future of our students and the future of the communities they serve as advocates for positive social change.

Walden offers scholarships that are

Merit-Based: For academic and professional accomplishment
Need-Based: For demonstrated financial need

Leroy S. October 19, 2007 at 5:03 p.m.

Dr. B, just because the school is under a non-profit doesn't mean the subsidiary is non-profit. Drexel University is non-profit, but it has an online school "Drexel University Online" that is a wholly owned subsidiary called Drexel e-Learning Inc.

http://www.drexel.edu/univrel/drexelink/...

So Walden is not necessarily a non-profit school just because its parent is. However, it makes them more appealing in my mind because of this and I hope they will become non-profit as well if the reputation leads as you stated previously.

Dr. B October 19, 2007 at 5:46 p.m.

like i asked before.... what for-profit institution can you name that lists the amount and type of research funding for faculty and student research? fellowships? scholarships?

Leroy S. October 19, 2007 at 8:26 p.m.

There probably are some if I did some research. I just pointed out that just because the parent company is non-profit, it doesn't mean the child company is too. Walden University is still listed as a FOR-PROFIT institution according to HLC.

ht tp://www.ncahlc.org/index.php?option=com_directory&Itemid=192&Action=ShowBasic&instid=1574

Updated on 10/19/1007. Legal status is Private FP.

As for Laureate Corporation, they people that bought them are all for-profit too.

ht tp://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=91846&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1041789&highlight=

And the company that bought them is also for-profit.

ht tp://www.pillsburylaw.com/bv/bvisapi.dll/portal/ep/paPubDetail.do/pub/20077231714262/channelId/-8595/tabId/5/pageTypeId/9208

Please show me where Walden is now not-for-profit (this is not meant to sound sarcastic, I really can't locate anything that backs up your claim).

(Please note to follow the links, you have to condense the address I provided since the boards don't allow them. Remove the space between the ht and tp in the begining.

Dr. B October 19, 2007 at 10:58 p.m.

going back to the drexel scenerio..... if that's the case... then every university is for profit. without tuition none of them would last.

as for walden being operated by a non profit but still being for-profit... again the still scenario still exists. i too have seen the NCAHLC's site and have oftentimes checked back for updates. i am anxiously awaiting the change.

i have first-hand knowledge of the 501-c3 filings under the foundation's name. i have seen them with my own eyes........ but time will manifest these documents to the public....actually they are already public....i have forwarded them to approximately 226 walden students who shared the same concern...... and word has gotten around within the university.

which brings me back to this point.... which no one has been able to address just yet.... if what i has been shown to me (official documents) is all a lie...... and walden is a for profit institution............. why would it deduct from its bottom line and pay for people's free ride (merit and need based) to gain a higher degree? doesn't that push more toward the institution's mission versus bottom line? let's be rational.

Dr. B October 19, 2007 at 11:02 p.m.

one more thing.... the reference you show has come from the laureate-inc website. but if you notice no news has been updated since the august transition. the university has gone through many changes since then..... qualitative.. not quantitative. students are still awaiting the rollover of the new student portals...etc. it has been put off since the summer..... because the transition has been rough.

Honorary Member October 19, 2007 at 11:20 p.m.

Dr B that is a good question. Walden's offering funding to students and faculty might definitely be taking away from profits. This shows that in the spirit of education, Walden is investing in its faculty and student's success. This helps the university create a better brand name. And in spite of having a less rigorous (not open) admissions policy, offering funding helps recruit better students and faculty.

Leroy S. October 20, 2007 at 2:09 a.m.

I provided you direct links to valid websites to prove that as of right now, they are for-profit. You are giving me "inside information" you cannot validate. And in order for a school to allow students to receive financial aid, they have to provide scholorships. All schools do this including ITT. They advertise they provide aid and research because they have to. Its no different than Phillip Morris offering "quit smoking" plans for free, because they have to (not because they want to). Once I see it has changed, I will believe you. But the website I provided in the first link for HCL was updated August 17. That is pretty recent.

Not true October 20, 2007 at 3:14 p.m.

That is not true Leroy. For profit institutions are not required to offer scholarships, fellowships, or research funding for students or faculty.

Leroy S. October 20, 2007 at 8:57 p.m.

Not required, but if a certain percentage of students is recieving federal aid they are.

Not true October 21, 2007 at 6:44 p.m.

where can i find information to support this?

Respondants October 21, 2007 at 7:15 p.m.

Leroy S. is correct. Call the schools and ask. It would be difficult to locate a valid resource since not many people look to open or run colleges.

Not true October 21, 2007 at 10:24 p.m.

well i think he should be able to direct me to it, huh?

Leroy S. October 22, 2007 at 12:03 p.m.

Like Respondants said, call the school. What do I have to prove? I didn't go to one of these schools and I have nothing to lose or gain.

Not true October 22, 2007 at 12:36 p.m.

neither did or do i

Oh My October 22, 2007 at 12:43 p.m.

this page is not only full of baseless, biased comments that push nothing more but academic snobbery, academic elitism, academic racism, and academic classism.

Yes October 22, 2007 at 2:23 p.m.

Ya, its full of all of that because people think these schools give out real degrees.

Brian Williams October 22, 2007 at 3:22 p.m.

I came across this website when I was looking for an online school to go to. I want to do my MBA online since I have a family and don't have to time to go to a standard college with a bunch of young kids. I haven't been in college since 1988 at Yale. I have noticed that many people are against the "for profit" Universities. I guess my question is for people who have attended online schools. Would you go to an MBA program in class if you had the option over an online school? I can go to a few different schools, but I thought online would be my best choice. Now I'm rethinking the model of "you get out what you put in". If online schools that are "for profit" are easier and I won't learn anything, I don't want to go that route. Is this the case everyone has run into, or is it a select few trying to throw off the business?

Dr. B October 22, 2007 at 7:26 p.m.

If it's questionable, Brian Williams, I say don't go. You and only you must feel confident in the degree you earn and the institution you attend. There are tons of good online masters programs out there, traditional and non-traditional. Drexel has one, but, as someone stated on another site,.... because it's earned from an incorporated, for profit, arm of the university... it's garbage. I do not agree because your degree will read Drexel just like those attending campus.

I say that to say this. Whether it's Walden, Drexel, Duke, or anywhere else, your degree is what you put into it and earn from it. The value of your degree is based on what you financially earn anyway.

Online is not easier... the Sloan consortium shows that in their years of research. Do not let strangers discourage you from realizing your dreams and achieving your goals.

I personally have not had any issues with my credentials. Many doors have been opened to me because of my degrees. I have never been denied a job or client to this day!

What most important is that you realize that the degrees are paper.... some people get by on flaunting a school name/brand. I can honestly say I got by because of what I learned in the process and how I applied that knowledge to my profession(s). I am very proud of my accomplishments.

Anyway... you'll have to do some soulsearching and figure out if online learning is right for you.

Respondants October 22, 2007 at 7:40 p.m.

Dr. B the philosopher... Brian, if you went to Yale and haven't been to college since 1988, I imagine you have a pretty solid background in whatever you do. Chances are, the school you go to is more a formality to have credentials than anything. Honestly, unless you are going outside your area of expertise to a Master program, you probably won't learn much if anything since you have experienced it. But if you’re worried, I pointed out before Penn State has an online program that is an MBA, and even Drexel is AACSB accredited. So despite its "for profit" status, it’s not bad by any means since it has to have standards to be AACSB accredited. All Drexel did is find a way for the University to make more money to reinvest. After investors are paid their share, the University has no choice but to reinvest the profits anyways. Pretty smart if you ask me.

Dr. B October 22, 2007 at 8:26 p.m.

thanks for referring to me as a philosopher. i also like the terms: scholar, scholar-practitioner, and social change agent.... :-)

i think we're moving to a double standard here. on one end, you all are saying that for-profit schools are bad. now, as long as they belong to traditional universities... they're good? and as stated earlier... someone in the NCU room wrote that going to school online, whether for profit or at a traditional university... the degree is garabage..... and people attending them are morons.....there is a double standard here.

my career has been very good thus far. and i'm proud i earned what i have based off of my hard work and determination. my schools didn't make a name for me... but i am making a name for my schools..... and I'm still an academic snob.... and only shy of 30 years old!

I have AACSB accredited degrees... I have ACBSP degrees.....and I can attest that I learned much less at the traditional universities... sitting in class listening to a bunch of rhetoric just simply didn't cut it for me. I needed to learn what I needed to learn, be able to immediately apply it to my profession, and get my a$$ back to work.

My career has not gotten any further because of AACSB.... but because of what I know, what I've done, who I know... and who knows me.

Mike October 23, 2007 at 3:50 p.m.

I am interested in going to Walden but very hesistant because of the for Profit talk. I dont want my degree to be garbage. Can anyone enlighten me to not think this way

Dr. B October 23, 2007 at 4:18 p.m.

Only you can address your own insecurities about distance learning. Most of the comments on this site are baseless..... full of opinions. You will have to do what you think is right for you.

Talk to some schools..... traditional and non..... gather as much information as you can. also... read research presented by the sloan consortium on distance learning.

jobs.aol.com/article/onlinecampus/_a/will-your-degree-have-value/20061006151609990002

jobs.aol.com/article/onlinecampus/_a/is-online-learning-for-you/20061006151609990001

www.sloan-c.org/publications/index.asp

Good luck with your homework! :-)

Respondants October 23, 2007 at 7:15 p.m.

Sorry Dr. B, I wont accept the first two articles since they are published by AOL, owned by Time Warner, who has a stake in online education. But also, the people who commented, were from FOR-PROFIT online institutions. The Sloan is a good point though. The fact that they have a journal dedicated to online quality education is a sign of the times changing. As for my twisted views, I am against For-Profits as I stated before. My idea of Drexel being for profit and being smart doesn't mean I like them. I just think it was a pretty slick way of raising some extra money for the University. Drexel is a for-profit that is AACSB accredited also. So they have to have some admissions standards for at least the MBA.

But as pointed out before, too many people compare For-Profits to Ivy's to say they are invalid. I'm not saying that, I just don't agree with their ethics.

Respondants October 23, 2007 at 8:20 p.m.

Old friend... these articles were not for you; you accepting them does not bother me.... but please don't take it the wrong way....... I simply posted them to present various arguments. There are tons of articles out there.

The individual showed signs of insecurity.. I gave them homework. That's all.

Dr. B October 23, 2007 at 8:21 p.m.

I made a mistake and put Respondants name in the "your name" box.... it should have read Dr. B. Please excuse the error.

Respondants October 23, 2007 at 11:09 p.m.

I dont' take it the wrong way. I just like to argue too so I do things like that. Something to note about all online schools for everyone, is the idea of work experience. If you already have a lot, you will probably not have to worry about this so-called "stigma" of online (and for-profit) schools. I think the online stigma is not strong at all anymore. The for-profit one is, but can easily be helped by simply adding in some admissions standards.

Dr. B October 24, 2007 at 2:46 a.m.

My word, old friend.... are you softening up on me? lol

Respondants October 24, 2007 at 6:11 p.m.

No, I just like arguing and you’re good at it too. I did read some of your posts on UoP. I would not dare to put UoP in the same category as NCU or Walden. These two for-profits have had some success in their doctoral graduates. UoP, I'm sorry, but I cannot accept that school. I dislike them very much. The graduates might be good, but the school name deters me from seriously considering the person as a true scholar.

IA Guy October 25, 2007 at 11:36 a.m.

Now I am a product of distance education, and I am more useful in my career because of it. I will also state that there are good for-profit online schools, and there are bad for-profit online schools. I will also contend that there are good traditional brick and mortar, and not so good brick and mortar. The issue I have is the retards who lump all distance learning into one pull, then stereotype against it, then use the for-profit argument in order to back it up.

The bottom line is that all schools are for profit; the only difference is that, either the profits are disbursed to share holders, or they are disbursed in other ways back into the school. For you to better get an idea of how here is a good article about money, and the University of Maryland System, and how some of the numbers play into it.

http://www.examiner.com/a-940891~Living_...

The funny thing I see on these forums, is people defending their obviously biased stances on very little research based substance. Which is ironic since them seem to consider them the “academic elite”, which makes me think that they are the dumbest smart people out there.

If you look at the big picture, the for-profits, who are more accountable to their financial more so then any non-profit colleges. If any of them are publicly traded then they are even more so accountable due to Sarbanes-Oxley requirements, and they must also innovate their technology, and lean out their processes. They must also do this, keeping tuition in reach of more students, because if they don’t they loose consumers.

All of the “academic elite” are watching what these for-profits are doing, and are now realizing that they better get on the band wagon in order to keep their consumers as well. So for all of you “academic elite”, any one who has any street business experience can see this a mile away.

Now this argument is based solely on the comments made by the stereotype’s, regarding for-profit status, I am not including academic quality in the is argument, as based on my research its too early to tell, since total online degree holders need time in order to contribute completely into the academic community.

Respondants October 25, 2007 at 2:02 p.m.

Okay IA Guy, copy and paste what you wrote on every site. The examiner is not a valid resource either.

Your idea about all schools being for-profit is wrong. For-profit means you put money into the pockets of shareholders. Not-For-Profit means the money must be reinvested back into the organization. Even if that means paying employees more. There is a reason Harvard professors are paid so high, they are worth it.

I am not against online schools, only in PhD programs. I am against for-profit schools. Nobody should make money on a person's education when my tax money is paying for them to attend school.

IA Guy October 25, 2007 at 7:02 p.m.

Respondants,

Its obvious that no resource will satisfy your opinion, please re-read my comment

“The issue I have is the retards who lump all distance learning into one pool, then stereotype against it, then use the for-profit argument in order to back it up.”

I then only highlight the business fact that for-profit universities contribute to the education community, in a certain way. If you re-re- read my post you will also notice that I said I am a product of Distance Education at no time did I say I support for-Profit 100%

I do not care if you have a PhD from MIT, I do not care if you work in Arlington, I worked there as well. My opinion is based on business economics and facts; do you even know what SOX is? But you are sure quick to comment on it. I don’t comment on the Photon Torpedoes that you build.

As I have said in the past you must be one of those stupid smart guys. You could be locked away in a room, and invent space ships, but you walk around your wedge at the P-Gon with your shoelace untied.

Respondants October 25, 2007 at 7:56 p.m.

Well said. I don't work in Arlington. I am one of those acadmic snobs and I don't try to hide this. I am not against online learning, except at the PhD level UNLESS there is residency requirements. I am against For-Profits though. Adding the factor of profit into education gives the organizations that "sell education" a reason to be unethical. On the flip side, it COULD also mean they need to be better than other schools since they charge more. I do lump them up, but I do not mind (somewhat) Walden and NCU as I stated before. I dislike UoP, Phoenix, and Devry very much though.

Law/Geek October 26, 2007 at 3:40 a.m.

Outside of the very highest ends of the academic and professional elites, where anyone gets their degree matters far, far less than people think. And even among those elites, family connections and wealth matter far more than your school.

I overpaid, big-time, for my law degree. I wanted to go to a top-tier "name" school - and I did - because I thought it would matter. Maybe it would have, were I one of the top five-percent elite, by family, wealth, or academic standing. But, I was just a "top-third of my class" lamer, so the name of my school hardly mattered at all, beyond a brief and meaningless conversation point in the interviews, once I hit the pavement. The only value in my degree was the education, and I could have found a largely comparable education far more cheaply many places elsewhere, and followed it with the same real-world education (the one that matters) that I got after completing my expensive "name" degree.

The law career sucked (it's horrible work, and virtually every former classmate I run into asks me how I escaped). So I've spent the last ten years successfully re-tooling myself in the software industry, and now need the education that comes with a Masters in Software Engineering. I'm sure there are qualitative differences between programs, but the honest truth is that core engineering principles (like the core of any discipline) are commonly known, and will be taught more or less the same general way no matter where I get the education. How I apply those core principles on the job is what will actually matter to my career path. So why not get the degree online, so I can fit the studies around my job? Frankly, trying to get to a bricks'n'mortar classroom on a regular basis would be a thorough pain, and decrease my chances of completing the degree.

Those obsessing on the reputation of online vs. offline degrees are betraying their naivete of how the world actually works. Sorry kids, but it's true.

Dr. B October 26, 2007 at 5:08 p.m.

Well stated point! I find my own experiences to be very in-line with what you stated.

Thanks.

Respondants October 26, 2007 at 9:59 p.m.

Law/Geek, again, its not about online versus offline in many arguments. Its about for-profit versus not-for-profit. And school names do matter. If your in software, you should know that.

Dr. B October 26, 2007 at 10:38 p.m.

Respondants.... school names really don't matter. As I have stated before... I have never been given or passed on a position or client because of the schools I have attended. My work speaks for it self.

Respondants October 27, 2007 at 3:18 p.m.

At a PhD level, school name matters a lot. In your field, you need to choose the school with the best reputation because that is the school that is respected in the field. This is whole heartedly true in acadmics and R&D.

Me Too October 29, 2007 at 7:41 p.m.

I am dean of a college at a well known university. I work a lot with other colleges and can assure you, none of us would hire a PhD (or doctorate of whatever) from Walden, Northcentral, Nova, Phoenix, Capella, or ANY for-profit in a professor position. The only circumstance is if that person already has a PhD from an accepted school that is not-for-profit. This is true for tons of respected colleges. The ones that are changing, you will find their staff all coming from those schools because other faculty will leave upon hearing they are mixed with these profit-driven doctorates.

Oh, and Respondants is 100% correct on his/her previous statement

Dr. B October 29, 2007 at 10:57 p.m.

Thank you for your opinion.

Walden already has graduates who are well respected practitioners, publishers, and authors. The university also has graduates who are well respected researchers, faculty, administrators and academic deans at well respected traditional institutions. To add, Walden's well respected and highly regarded faculty members are working closely one-on-one to mentor doctoral students and are also helping to pave a way for graduates to get tenured track positions at these institutions...... that's why they push for all ph.d. student to publish, present, and publish some more.

you have your experiences... i have mine. the university also has real data to prove this.

IA Guy October 30, 2007 at 12:09 p.m.

I will go ahead and jump on the bandwagon, and I see that the same people, (I am guilty of it too) copy their post to particular online schools, so their motivations are obvious. However, my comment is this, all of the naysayer’s that bash online learning, who use the for-profit as a defense always seem to argue the same point. All I have been reading over and over and over and over is how all of these Tier 123 schools won’t hire for-profit/online graduates.

I once again make my statement that you people are the dumbest smart people there are (if your I’m a PhD in knowing everything, or I’m dean of the world comments are true) every point and counter point in theses boards revolves around teaching positions. Teaching positions are not the only sources of employment in this country. Online schools are designed for, and marketed to working professionals, people who are out there solving problems everyday. No reasonable person expects to go teach at some big name school with these degrees, they are using them to advance in their current field.

Every college course I have ever taken has been for the pure purpose of getting a piece of paper, everyone knows that typical academics are at least 3-4 years behind the real world. Since us workers bees are out here solving problems, and not giving the same lecture over and over again. In the IT field, which I am in this field, look at the books used by most institutions, the majority of the authors are not academics, they are working professionals, practitioners, and experts in their field, and not by PhD’s.

The only time PhD’s come into play is generally in the advanced engineering fields, and that’s about it. The other 99% of us working people realize that you academics arguing on this board, so far produce relatively no substance, or even have made a coherent argument in any way shape or form.

Dr. B October 30, 2007 at 12:26 p.m.

Point well made, IA Guy! If you look at some of my previous posts, you'll see that we share the same sentiments.

Panem et Circanses October 30, 2007 at 1:06 p.m.

Dean Me Too, that's very enlightening! Can you tell us why you and others feel that way about people with for-profit doctorates?

IA Guy October 30, 2007 at 2:23 p.m.

Dr. B your the only guy on here I agree with. The hardcore academic elites that are on here just dont get it. If I need the services of a PhD, I will hire one to work for me, not the other way around.

Me Too October 30, 2007 at 4:38 p.m.

For profits have no admissions criteria and have every reason to keep their students passing courses. Along side of non-traditional methods, they did not sacrifice 4-6 years of their lives to study a particular subject. The point of a PhD is to sacrifice and give 100% of your attention to the subject you are studying. Obviously you can't do that if you are doing it online, with a job, and with a family. This is why other schools, that are traditional, are superior. The students concentrate 100% on the subject. That’s why they are doctors. Posed with the question of Medical Doctors, would you want an MD from an online school that worked and had a family throughout med school performing surgery on you? I am an acadmic elite for everyone here wondering. So my opinion is more valid than the people from these schools graduating and defending them. No, your degree is not a "doctorate" level degree! Its worthless and I will never put you on the same level as myself. I will never respect your papers at any conference or accept them as doctoral work.

IA Guy October 30, 2007 at 5:05 p.m.

Me Too,

Quote "The point of a PhD is to sacrifice and give 100% of your attention to the subject you are studying."

That’s funny I'm pretty sure I devote 100% of my day to my field of study, everyday.

Quote "No, your degree is not a "doctorate" level degree! Its worthless and I will never put you on the same level as myself"

Yes you are correct; I would never put you at the same level as myself. Apparently you are under the impression that you are somehow special, which in fact is not the case. Once again you feel as though the word revolves around a PhD, and their “ Papers”, when in fact, the world does not.

Quote “Posed with the question of Medical Doctors, would you want an MD from an online school that worked and had a family throughout med school performing surgery on you?”

Again I will restate that the entire purpose of the online degree is to help people who are already professionals in their field advance further, are you retarded or something? What don’t you elites understand? Is this the part where you prove that you can build a rocket ship, but can’t boil water properly?

You academics are like engineer's, who hate the term “ Network Engineer” because they don’t have a P.E license. Get over it, you can whine all day, consumer demand wins at the end of the day.

IA Guy October 30, 2007 at 5:26 p.m.

You know as I take on the battle of trying to teach theses academics some common sense, I have a question for anyone who has an answer. I think that the research based PhD types don’t like that I as a practitioner, could hang at the same academic level as they could.

I think they feel that education availability is making a PhD more of an academic milestone rather then a title that signifies academic elite, and so they are threatened. If the market is flooded with the title PhD then their credentials to the average person are weighted less. Riddle me this however, I find it an interesting thought, who is more prepared in their field, a practitioner who has been on the frontlines of where rubber meet the road, solving operational problems for 10 years, or an academic who sits in a lab? Or studies under ONE person or a small group of people for the same period of time?

Granted everyone needs the research guys, sitting in a room thinking stuff up all day, then when it is ready to be delivered, it can be handed over to us practitioners, who apply it to real life, then comment back about its deficiencies.

Its all follows the same old rule, the best engineers where technicians first, the best doctors where medics first, the best PhD’s where practitioners first.

Me Too October 30, 2007 at 5:50 p.m.

It still defeats the purpose of a Phd. A Phd signifies you have contributed a significant piece to a body of knowledge. And a Phd is held at a higher standard than an MD. An MD has only five stripes of acadmic excellence because of lack of dissertation. Phd is six stripes. Am I threatened? Yes. I do not think these Phds deserve the name they have. They should be called "lite Phd" just like Phoenix has a "lite MBA". Academics and Industry are seperate. Schools like MIT, CMU, and a few others who integrate the two, are the most successful. Yet, you will see, that the real Phds still maintain the acadmics, and do not let "Phd practitioners" in to teach.

IA Guy October 30, 2007 at 6:17 p.m.

Interesting so let’s say I write a book about building secure networks, because I am a practitioner. The book is published, and is then used in academia, as a student reference. What you are telling me is that I am allowed to write the book, but not teach it, because you are at a higher level then I?

Me Too October 30, 2007 at 6:23 p.m.

Chances are your book came from a theory written by an acadmic. Hands on does have some area in acadmics, but not in a tenure research position. Thats not theoretical and will only hold for a short time. Write one on the cognitive aspects of security, then your talking.

Respondants October 30, 2007 at 6:26 p.m.

And the acadmic elite appear! I am on Me Too's side for all of this. I'm an academic snob. But, Me Too, what about people in Research positions at Universities? I am against for-profits as you, and I can say I would never hire a for-profit PhD either, IN MY AREA though. Outside of my area, I probably would. R&D, no. But your "cognitive" aspects caught my eye because I work in Cognitive Science. I would never hire anyone from an online PhD because they don't get the experience of traditional acadmics and the hands on, in lab experience. And no, there is nothing in industry comparable to what I work on. Someone coming from industry to R&D here would be in a culture shock and would not fit in. We are not taking the chance at risking our culture because someone is always a "close fit" and I have never found an online PhD to be in competition for our positions.

IA Guy October 30, 2007 at 6:37 p.m.

Interestingly that you put it that way, May I inquire as to your field of study? Because I assure you, in my field, a very large amount of "Theory" does begin in acadamia. Acadamia is not the sole source of all knowledge.

IA Guy October 30, 2007 at 6:39 p.m.

Correction to my privious post***

Interestingly that you put it that way, May I inquire as to your field of study? Because I assure you, in my field, a very large amount of "Theory" does NOT begin in acadamia. Acadamia is not the sole source of all knowledge

Respondants October 30, 2007 at 7:28 p.m.

I work in Cognitive Science in the direct field of AI, specifically now emotional intelligence and Affective Computing (yes affective and not effective).

Dr. B October 30, 2007 at 7:29 p.m.

Boy boy boy.... I'm away from the computer lecturing for 3 classes and come back to one hell of a discussion.

I too am an academic snob. However, I tend to side with IA Guy because he presents a more realistic perspective. I don't care much for for-profit institutions, but they do have a place in our society. In terms of online Ph.D. degrees, if you look at all the institutions offering them, most, if not all, of the doctorates offered online are PRACTICAL in approach and are based soley on Breadty, Depth, and Application. That would explain why you won't find a distant Ph.D. program in engineering, Chemistry, Biology...etc. Most distance doctorates deal with business, education, psychology, health administration, and social services. That is because the coursework, pedagogy, and individualized research allow for immediate application to students' current work situations. Cognitive and clinical psychologies have a majorally face to face component where students must work hands on with faculty and pass standardized assessments.

As for IA Guy.... I cannot remember his academic level, but I am very sure that if he earned his degree at Walden, he would be armed with the knowledge necessary to investigate a phenomena that lacks a theoretical underpinning using a grounded theory methodology. That way, he can try to derive his own damn theory. There is a research intensive series of courses that he must PASS in order to get his prospectus out to prospective committee members.

I understand the for-profit/not-for-profit argument. However we must understand that a school's business status is not and should not be stereotypical. I cannot speak on behalf of all distance learning institutions... however, I can say that from reading numerous dissertations in the UMI index, and looking at those obtaining faculty and research positions, and those obtaining higher ed administrative positions, and those publishing and presenting at conferences...... these schools are turning out some really good scholar-practitioners.

As for what the Ph.D. should be.... whatever the case might be... it should never be an esoteric experience. Yes you should sacrifice.... but there is nothing to state that you should sacrifice your entire personal connection with God, your family, or your self. I have had TA's working under me who have been in school sooooooo long....... and have the common sense of a pubic hair..... and can't walk across the street by themselves. I need someone with work experience and who knows how to get what I want done.... and present my material and research in an applicable fashion.

IA Guy... I have to agree with you on this one:......It all follows the same old rule, the best engineers where technicians first, the best doctors where medics first, the best PhD’s where practitioners first.

Dr. B October 30, 2007 at 8:13 p.m.

This is just an example of how Walden works: the university has memberships with American Society of Public Administration and maintains students' membership at no cost to the student. Ph.D. residencies for PPA doctoral students are also held in conjunction with ASPA conference proceedings.

The College of Graduate Management and Technology is affiliated with the Society of Human Resource Management. Graduate business students participate and present research at professional conferences as well.

Many Psychology Ph.D. students and alumni are members of APA and present research at annual conferences.

College of Education: Walden has affiliations and is endorsed by Association of Washington School Principals, California County Superintendents Educational Services Association, Education Service Center, Region 2 (ESC-2) in Corpus Christi, Texas, Florida Association of School Administrators, New Jersey Association of School Administrators, New York City Elementary School Principals Association, New York City Middle School Principal Association, SERRC—Alaska’s Educational Resource Center

Public Health: Walden is affiliated with APHA and pays for students to have membership for one year. Public health residencies are also held in conjunction with APHA Conference proceedings.

Engineering: Walden is affiliated with Boeing, Hewlett-Packard, Lockheed Martin, Motorola, and Raytheon.

All students in the College of Management and Technology are affiliated with the Gartner Group, gives masters and doctoral students access to leading research from one of the country’s foremost technology research and consulting firms. Gartner research is regularly read by senior executives in large corporations, government agencies, and technology companies, as well as the investment community.

Respondants October 30, 2007 at 8:41 p.m.

But why is Walden lacking so many necessary accreditation? Like APA in Psyc? That is the single most important component to any Psyc program (not affiliation, accreditation).

Dr. B October 31, 2007 at 1:37 a.m.

Having APA is a good move, but not very necessary. Accreditation does not guarantee licensure. Most psychology graduates are still able to go on and practice in their state after passing state exams. There is a big issue in some states (GA) because their legislation won't allow students from non APA accredited schools sit for exams... but there are loopholes around that too and many still go on to practice. But I read an article on yesterday on how the APA's membership is dropping drastically.... and they're now beginning to look at alternative ways to train doctorally trained faculty.

Upon entering their program, Walden psychology students fully understand the obstacles they may face with licensure. Now..... Fielding Graduate University is the only APA accredited distance institution. And they had to sue for that.

If you look at Walden's clinical psychology program, you will find that the curricula in many ways exceeds what the APA mandates. However, gaining accreditation through this body will carry many stipulations that go against the university's mission of broad access to education. Just like Fielding, students will have to go through lengthy interview processes and tuition costs will skyrocket. There will be little funding for scholarships, fellowships, and faculty funding.

The accreditations that Walden sees as a necessary component to its curricula is public health (in self study), mental health counseling (in self study), and nursing (already acquired). Business, psychology, and social sciences are not exactly necessary because stipulations on licensing in all states is not required at this point in time.

As for business accreditation, Walden does not offer BBA degrees, per se. The university produces a completion bachelor of science in business, MBAs in specialized fields, and doctorates in applied management and decision science.... .none of these degrees are BBA or BA affiliated, which is what the AACSB accredits. The MBA was ranked in the top 10 distance learning programs in the nation and is linked to an international network of 58 traditional universities...... solid world-wide business schools. There is really no need there. The doctorate is in Applied Management and Decision Sciences.... not Business Administration. It allows for a broader, and more socially grounded focus.

Education: NCATE, again is not necessary because there is no bachelors program in education. Until recently, Walden's graduate programs in education were for teachers who were already practicing. A couple of months ago, Walden launched a new MAT program that allows aspiring teachers to gain licensure in MN.... this is transferrable throughout the nation.

Dr. B October 31, 2007 at 1:39 a.m.

Continued!!!

To some, having these accreditations may seem necessary... but they're really not in many instances. Walden takes pride in knowing that its curricula meets, and in many cases, exceeds what's being required from these accreditation bodies. I had a conversation with Walden's past president, Paula Peinovich, Ph.D. about accreditation and why Walden doesn't seek these accreditations. I even mentioned IACBE, ACBSP, the alternative Psych Accreditor and a few other bodies to her. She was very candid and simply stated to me that these accreditations are not really necessary right now. If/When the time comes, the university is positioned to apply for them. She ended our conversation by telling me that she believes that the time will come for us to go after them.... but the university will never apply for accreditation from 2nd or 3rd tier bodies.

Those are her exact words! She's an academic snob too! I loved her.

Respondants October 31, 2007 at 12:53 p.m.

ABET is a highly necessary accreditation for Engineering and Information Technology. Schools without it, are seen as second class.

Nursing they do have accredited.

APA is extremely important. If a Phd program does not have it, its not worth it. And driving up the cost? Lets compare here quickly:

Walden Psyc 159 credits at $420 per credit - TOTAL $66,780 (NOT APA Accredited)

University of Pittsburgh Psyc 72 credits at $604 per credit - TOTAL $43,488 (APA Accredited, plus if you pay for semester, it costs less)

Penn State University Psyc 72 credits at $614 per credit - TOTAL $44208 (APA Accredited, plus they state 100% of their Phd students get 100% tuition remission)

Carlow University (Pittsburgh) Psy.D 78 credits at $660 per credit - TOTAL $51480 (Not APA Accredited, but in application for it, has not yet graduated first students, upon accreditation, tuition will not change as stated in their bylaws because they are charging for the accreditation rate already so graduating students have retro accreditation).

So they don't want to pass the amount to their students? Carlow is extremely well known and is expensive, for working adults, is accredited, and cost much less! Accreditation will cost Walden money, thats why they don't do it.

And their MBA isn't even accredited by ACBSP, let alone AACSB.

Accreditation is what sets apart schools. Walden has no admissions criteria, which again, means many accrediting bodies will not consider them.

Dr. B October 31, 2007 at 2:30 p.m.

Respondants, I think it would be wise to revisit what I stated. Also your calculations for the Ph.D. in psychology are totally off. Tuition is based per quarter not really per credit hour... so you can take as many courses as your personal life can allow. Walden's program is not 66K.

ABET is a good thing to have, but again... it is not necessary! People who are already working in their fields do not need ABET. ABET comes in handy when students are learning at the bachelors level... not a practitioner who has been doing the same thing for 10 years.

MBA accreditation: revisit what I said about Dr. Peinovich. Business accreditation is not necessary... especially when you have a student who is in mid-career. If you're a working professional returning to school.... an employer could care less about you having a certain accreditation attatched to your degree other than regional. What they want to know is whether or not you can immediately apply what you learned in class..... they want results..

Walden does have admissions criteria. I have explained this to you before. The general university has its own set of criteria and each College has additional criteria that must be met before accepting students. The only thing is that there are not admissions exams (GMAT or GRE)for American students.... international students must take an English proficiency exam...... GMAT and GRE exams are soley intended for choosing perceivingly the best applicant with regard to a minimum number of seats available in a class. There are no minimum seats available in a class at Walden. Applicants must have a certain amount of work experience in their field, must write an admissions essay, give references, and have earned degrees from regionally accredited institutions. GMAT and GRE scores are not indicative of a person's performance or likleyhood to complete their degree program.

What you stated about accrediting bodies not accepting Walden is absolutely false. As I have stated before, the accreditations that Walden want... it gets. The institution is not going to go after an accreditation for the sake of having it.... especially when it knows it has a solid product.

APA is not the panecia to the academic psychology situation.... lets not forget... many people are understanding this.... that's why their membership is dropping.

Walden is a graduate institution for WORKING adults... not sole academics. The university takes successful working people and groom them into successful scholar pracitioners.

IA Guy October 31, 2007 at 3:10 p.m.

I would also like to add that ABET, is only relevant in the real world if you want a PE license. You stated that:

“ABET is a highly necessary accreditation for Engineering and Information Technology. Schools without it, are seen as second class.”

I agree with you 100% that a degree that is for Professional Engineering should have ABET accreditation, however I disagree with your statement in regards to Information Technology

Respondants October 31, 2007 at 3:31 p.m.

I looked at Walden and the others and compared credit by credit, not semester total because otherwise all of them would be lower in price. I was pointing out, the rise of tuition to have the accreditation is bogus and the price is already pretty high.

I did miss the argument of professionals working and getting a degree, but I come from an acadmic world where your degree is everything even with 50 years of experience. Literally we had someone with 45 years of experience apply for a research position with a degree from NCU (a PhD). He had all this experience and a Phd in the field we were hiring for, but refused to take him because of the school.

What I am getting at, is sometimes the school's reputation is an easy way to filter out hundreds of applications for any level position. School name comes into play. When a school isn't known nationally, many people go to websites and check on what accreditations the school has.

And I will stick by APA being important in psyc. Many government positions require an APA accredited PhD and most practices that hire will do the same (unless it was started by a non accredited person).

Respondants October 31, 2007 at 3:36 p.m.

Also, please point out where Walden's "MBA was ranked in the top 10 distance learning programs in the nation and is linked to an international network of 58 traditional universities...... solid world-wide business schools".

Make sure this is not saying the graduated more people or graduated more under-represented population also, because this does not reflect quality or rank.

Dr. B October 31, 2007 at 3:56 p.m.

In the rankings, there is much more to it than numbers. You're smart enough to know that.

As for your organization denying employment to an individual simply because of bias that the hiring personnel has toward his/her school...... that's grounds for discrimination. And with 45 years of work experience... it would be rational to say that age played a major factor in this person not being hired.

If the person has the necessary practical experience and the accredited degree behind their name.... they should be considered just as equally. Not because he/she doesn't fall within the "club" of elite academics.

As for the academic world... the fastly changing demographic is also changing the stage of academics. Soon we will all see. Academics don't live forever. As as they retire, die out, or simply move around from institution to institution...... scholar-practitioners will take place..... these are the only ones who can bring real world experience into the classroom.

Dr. B October 31, 2007 at 3:57 p.m.

check US News and Reports

Dr. B October 31, 2007 at 3:59 p.m.

www.waldenu.edu/c/Slideshows/10400.htm

Respondants October 31, 2007 at 4:03 p.m.

What I was saying about ranking is that US News has reports on how many people a school graduates, but they are not qualitative data rankings. The Walden link you provided is from all of their own schools and I don't see any non-profit traditional schools.

Discrimination is not the case. The position is for a 3 year grant with no possibilities of extension. The guy wanted to try to get into a University environment. He was denied and a PhD CMU graduate was hired who had about 5 years of research experience in a post-doc position. It is not discrimination if you don't hire based on school, this is reality and its how people are usually hired. There is a reason MIT, CMU, Harvard, etc. have a huge career placement advantage, they are the best schools and the best students come out of them.

Dr. B October 31, 2007 at 4:15 p.m.

You talk about quality rankings, but can you present viable data that speaks against Walden's quality of instruction and success of its graduates?

I don't care what you say about hiring that CMU applicant.... hiring the younger person further supports my premise.... that guy with 45 years of work experience was most likely descriminated against because of his age, the school he went to, and the fact that he simply knew too damn much. Any time you have an academic snob turning down a highly qualified applicant based on his/her school AND/OR their age.... it's descrimination. And I won't believe otherwise unless you can present where the CMU person was more qualified..... publications, research record, presentations...etc. And you are entirely disillusioned if you think that the better "practitioners" come from ivy league institutions. Unless they have strong experience under their belt, there is little chance they'll know much about anything anyway other than their dissertation research.

One more thing.....unless you're familiar with international institutions, you have little capacity to argue against my point.

Respondants October 31, 2007 at 5:53 p.m.

I simply asked you for data to back up the claim about Walden being a "top MBA program". And the CMU graduate had more research experience and thats what was wanted. While the NCU graduate was good, he would have been turned down regardless simply due to the degree. The age, again, was not a factor because it was a three year program and he knew that. He told us specifically he wanted to work at the research center to be affiliated with the top schools because his NCU Phd is not taken seriously in acadmics. And being familiar with international institutions depends on the institute. If its academics, yes, I work with China, Japan, UK, Nigeria, and Banglesh.

I am not speaking against Walden either, I am asking you to compare the quality of Walden without accreditation to a school with accreditation. Accreditation at professional levels indicates quality, otherwise they can't be accredited. That is my proof ABET and AACSB schools are quality. I want to see how Walden is better than these schools and prove that they want the bottom line, to make more money. So why go after accreditation that cost them more to increase the perception of the organization if they are already making money?

Dr. B October 31, 2007 at 6:45 p.m.

True... abet and aacsb schools are suppose to be top quality. but there is no data to show that all schools, more specifically Walden is not simply because it does not carry those two accreditations. You will have to carefully examine the university's curricula and do a comparison. I have degrees from both types of institutions, and I can honestly say that I learned more from the non aacsb school. I can make a comparison in this case... but only between these institutions. You will have to analyze Walden's pedagogy, delivery and mentoring methods to make a true comparison.

I never said that Walden is better than the aacsb schools... but the university is just as good, if not better, in many instances.

With the NCU graduate... I find it hard to believe that he would sit in an interview and make such a claim against his own degree. If that is the case, the insecure dumb ass deserved not to be chosen for the position. He made his own institution look bad.

But I thank you for setting aside that the CMU graduate had more research experience than the NCU graduate. I can understand that. Otherwise..... it would definitely be descrimination.

Also... you're planning research on for profits and it sounds like you're headed into the investigation with bias. This attacks the value, and reliabilty of your project. You don't know what you will find until you actually get in there and investigate the phenomenon. You're an MIT grad... and I'm sure you know that. You can't prove anything until you actually get in there and find out what's going on.

Respondants October 31, 2007 at 7:31 p.m.

I am no longer doing the research because the funding was not approved. Ironically, Walden's parent company at one time had solicited proposals to fund a study on the two and intended to use the study to modify their schools if necessary. I don't know what came out of that.

But I have two arguments more for you. First, you say that experience matters and most Walden students have plenty of experience. So if they have experience, why go back to school? Traditional schools teach so students can enter the industry with knowledge. Your saying the opposite of what Walden does. So why even go to Walden if you have the experience?

Second, I have made this argument before to many people and only a few have answered it with good reason. The students entering Walden are already successful by career standards. So the school isn't outputting successful students, just students who were already successful and used the name. Its easy to have a program that looks successful if your intake is good. But Walden also has open admissions, so what happens to the students who don't make it? I can say Walden isn't known for passing students for sake of profit like Capella, Phoenix, and ITT though. But take into consideration those schools.

Dr. B October 31, 2007 at 7:58 p.m.

Question 1: Walden educates students who have a desire to learn, desire to perhaps advance their career, and/or fulfill a life's goal. To concretely state why an individual would return to school would be very presumptuous..... a good phenomenological study to assess a student's life experiences would be good in this case.... but overall... this is a question for all students at all universities. Why someone would return to school is their personal decision. If they just want a degree for the hell of it, they can call those 1-977 numbers and buy one for a few hundred bucks from a diploma mill. And No... I am not saying the opposite of what Walden does. How do you know what Walden does? lol Walden teaches students with the expectation that they will take what they learn and make a difference in their fields through theory and practice. Our aims are similar to those at traditional universities.... except we have a broader prospective and a mission to bring about positive social change through our research and practice.

Question 2: I cannot take those other schools into consideration. I only know what Walden does. Walden does not have open admissions. There is criteria that needs to be met. Not requiring an GRE or GMAT does not imply open. Not everyone who applies will be accepted. Walden's attrition rate is high... but that is the case in all institutions and there is tons of research out there to prove it. Those students who do not make it out.... they just don't make it out. Tuition still get paid for the time they're enrolled. We don't like to see people go... but everyone is not cut out for distance learning, or school for that matter. But we do believe that the opportunity for one to prove them self should be there..... broad access to higher education.

Respondants October 31, 2007 at 8:36 p.m.

Good enough. I think most student return to school with either the desire to learn something new, or just to further their career with a degree (could be both). Sometimes, its useless to return to school for a degree unless its for credentials. For example, if I wanted a job that required a BS in Electrical Engineering, I would have to go back and get that. But I know Phd level EE work even though I have never had the formal training. I think Phoenix is used for this sometimes.

As for Walden, I am torn on them specifically because I have seen some good output, but its the for-profit status that still bugs me. There is too much a chance when an educational institution goes on the public market they will try to simply maximize profit and forget out its goal. This is the case with many organizations in business, like Sears. They started with the idea of selling high quality items and taking care of customers. But the market changes and they need to combat Walmart and others. Then they start to sell extended warranties and realize they can maximize profit. Then they forget about customers. Prices aren't competitive and quality is decreasing. We can thank the Walmart motto for that.

Anyways, off the tangent. If Walden offers residencies, chances are they spend as much time in class as a traditional school. The idea of distance learning purely online, I am totally against at the MS and Phd level. I am volunteering to do accreditation for a local college to see the process and find the areas in ABET that are easy to cover up. ABET is looking to tighten restrictions and make their name higher quality. This is why I like professional accreditations. It might not mean a student coming out is high quality, but the barriers set up make it more unlikely than those without.

Dr. B October 31, 2007 at 9:23 p.m.

Great points! One thing to remember is that Walden is no longer publicly traded (8/17/2007)... this was a strategic move because there was definitely a clash between the business and academic sides of the university. I ADMIT THAT.. lol Shareholders made it difficult for our then president, Dr. Peinovich, and her cabinet as well as our network institutions to operate as they should.

Walden is student centered... students have a voice. And there is faculty governance... the faculty actually has a voice too. There are no shareholders to have to answer to..... and of course there is going to be revenue. Tuition increases just the same as it does with traditional universities.... and opportunities for merit and need-based funding are abundant. I think this is what sets Walden apart from other institutions... traditional and non. Instead of investing revenue back into office equipment and sports, we invest it back into the student and faculty success.

Lets make this clear.... Unlike Capella(1996), and NCU (1996), Walden has been going strong for almost 38 years. Walden's mission has allowed it to grow financially while meeting a huge academic gap that existed around the world. The network took institutions that were experiencing hardship and made them into premier international academic and cultural centers.

As for returning to school, I have been accepted to two master's programs... one at the university of nebraska and the other at mississippi college. The program is in higher education administration. Both are online and both require a practicum. My decision to go back is to gain this expertise in addition to the bba, mba, and ph.d. This will give me a solid credential that will better position me to be a university administrator... which is my overall goal. So as we can see.... everyone's decision is based on their life's goal and personal circumstances.

He he November 1, 2007 at 6:51 p.m.

Walden students really think they are doctors when they graduate with a Phd. Hehe! I would never call you doctor or acknowledge any of your so called "accomplishments". Too bad schools like Arizona State don't just take tuition and pass you to make more money.

Losers!

Dr. B November 1, 2007 at 11:53 p.m.

It's a shame people make such ignorant, unwarranted, and extremely baseless comments.

I cannot speak for other institutions.... but Walden University's Ph.D. and Master students are going places.

Regardless of what people think, the Walden degree is a respected degree.

College of Eduation:

www.waldenu.edu/c/Files/DocsGeneral/acco...

College of Management and Technology:

www.waldenu.edu/c/Files/DocsGeneral/acco...

College of Social and Behavorial Sciences: School of Psychology

www.waldenu.edu/c/Files/DocsGeneral/acco...

College of Health Sciences

www.waldenu.edu/c/Files/DocsGeneral/acco...

This is recent news!

Skyy November 2, 2007 at 12:41 a.m.

These "losers" have quite an impressive resume'!

Dr. B November 2, 2007 at 1:01 a.m.

as long as you said it's impressive.

Skyy November 2, 2007 at 1:18 a.m.

I know they are impressive..I was just humoring He he. For all of these Walden graduates to be so called "losers" they have certainly compiled a list of accomplishments! Next thing these people will be saying are those are "fake accomplishments" to go along with the "fake degrees!" Unless they have actually taken an online course or obtained an online degree their opinions are "null and void" anyway!

By the way I have my Master's in Education from Walden and it DEFINITELY has paid off for me! :)

Dr. B November 2, 2007 at 1:22 a.m.

okay Skyy... i take back the spirit in which my comment was given. lol welcome fellow waldenite. :-)

Panem et Circanses November 2, 2007 at 1:11 p.m.

Mr./Ms. "He he" : Completed a Walden Ph.D. with solid incoming qualifications including an MBA with a 3.85 gradepoint, full accreditation, 135 credits of coursework (independent study and in 250 hours of residency as well as online, the latter of which typically had 40+ deliverables per 12-week course), a 50% attrition rate, professors with consistently long careers at more conventional universities, over a year and dozens of iterations and two oral defenses of a 182-page dissertation with 200 scholarly references held to high academic and APA-format standards that ultimately compared favorably to others in the international database. Why is this not worth "doctor" to you?

He he November 2, 2007 at 1:29 p.m.

Because you paid for it and you have defend your doctorate everywhere including bogus websites like this one. Dr. B spends so much time defending what he "earned" it shows nobody takes it seriously and you have to keep trying to prove yourself. Doesn't happen to any other schools except these ones that make money on you. Everyone knows you paid for your degree and didn't really earn it. Your giving us resumes of people at Walden for Walden. Lets look at Capella too, or ITT, or Phoenix. Your all losers.

Dr. B November 2, 2007 at 1:59 p.m.

The time i spend on here is not spent defending anything that I did... but rather giving some truth to your dumb ass remarks. My CV speaks for itself. And just to make sure I do my part, I fail dumb asses like you who take my courses.

Panem et Circanses November 2, 2007 at 2:37 p.m.

Per the above I earned it - I haven't yet had to defend it to anyone. It's easy to put Walden in with the diploma mills, and also per the above it's uninformed. And who says people don't need to pay for doctorates at other universities?

People who become truly educated may not change their worldviews, but their understandings do become more detailed. When you get in that category, you will see there's more to Walden degrees, and probably those from other universities, than you now think.

Dr. B November 2, 2007 at 2:54 p.m.

well stated Panem..

He he November 2, 2007 at 3:32 p.m.

Well you could never fail me, I would never take a class at Walden. And if I did, you can't fail me because I am paying and would just tell them I can't pass so I had to leave, then they would be like "NO, STAY, YOU WILL PASS, PLEASE, YOU PAID, WE WANT YOUR MONEY!"

Your not even a Doctor, I can't believe you use that title when you have your degree from Walden. They aren't even a real school. They are a sales company. What a joke.

Respondants November 2, 2007 at 3:36 p.m.

Man these pages have a tendency to either have nothing or everything. Anyways, Dr. B, I'm still waiting for you to show your claim about Walden being in the top 10 MBA programs in the US. I was just looking at some websites and didn't see them mentioned. I forgot about it until a buddy sent me this link:

http://www.forbes.com/home/careers/2007/...

Then I remembered about it.

He he November 2, 2007 at 3:53 p.m.

I am a real Doctor, I recieved my Phd for Warren National U, and I payed hard earned money for it to. My dissertation topic was " Men in tights the KY connection"

Dr. B November 2, 2007 at 4:13 p.m.

Hi Respondants!

Point of clarification: top ten meant (largest) category sir/ma'am. Also I think you should go back and re-read certain posts..... I wrote top 10 distance learning mba programs.

All of the schools on the forbe's list are from your older research institutions. Plus, this is not a wholistic picture: look at the criteria.

1. 5-Yr total compensation after graduation, minus the sum of tuition and forgone compensation
2. M.B.A. profit divided by sum of tuition and forgone compensation
3. Total tuition for out-of-state students
4. 5-Yr figures before taxes and adjusted for time value of money.

"Our survey ranks schools based on return on investment--meaning compensation five years after graduation minus tuition and the forgone salary during school."

Clearly this is all about output (graduates), profit (tuition), and graduate salary (which could be a lie because people tend to do that in surveys)

This says nothing about quality of instruction or research but rather who quit working to go to school and who got a good paying job after graduation. These are all big name schools, which mean they could have been selected and not openly participatory. Where are the other schools? I do not see where all business schools were able to participate in the survey. This is clearly a purposive sample... which doesn't tell much of anything with this type of data. It's invalid.

Also, it's no secret that Forbes is a major partner with AACSB International.

I expected better of you, Respondants. Give me something that is not bias.

Respondants November 2, 2007 at 4:19 p.m.

Again, I'm an acadmic snob so I stick with my kind. But I keep showing you links that prove AACSB is highly valuable and prove, at even a small rate, that these schools are ranked. You have not given any data to back up your claim that Walden is one of the best "distance" programs either. And again, I don't mean show me where it says they graduated the most either, I have seen those studies but they do not prove quality. As for forbes and their study, I beleive it does prove quality since the students are finding high paying high respected jobs.

Dr. B November 2, 2007 at 4:23 p.m.

you have not proven where Walden graduates are not finding high pay jobs... or even have them upon entering the institution. my academic snobbery matches yours... so to keep saying that doesn't mean a thing to me. the same challenge you're placing on me.... you're failing at yourself.

Respondants November 2, 2007 at 4:29 p.m.

I'm asking you to prove your statement about Walden being one of the top distance MBA programs. You haven't provided any links for evidence of such. It’s a hollow claim. All I have to do is mention the schools in that article and anybody would accept they are top schools. You say MIT and people know the name. You say Walden, there is obviously some controversy (based off of just this site alone), so you need some proof. The article I sent had the proof.

Dr. B November 2, 2007 at 4:34 p.m.

ok.. maybe we're having a reading issue here..... i clarified my point a short while ago. go back and reread.... then go to usnews.com go to e-learning.. and pull up the ranking under largest..... students enrolled.

your evidentiary support proves nothing.... not a thing. the criteria screams bias. you're smart enough to know that... but as you said... you stick with your own kind. just know that i'm sticking with your kind too... but i'm not bias.

i'm not going to do your homework for you... or is this how it was done at mit? lol

Respondants November 2, 2007 at 4:36 p.m.

"It is virtually impossible to fail a course at Walden U. At worst, the student stops working on a given class for a time and picks it up again, with suitable review, when circumstances permit. Students are not permitted to proceed to advanced coursework until foundation content is successfully completed. When a given course is completed, the student receives a grade of "A." After their first semester of work is completed, all Walden U students are on the Dean's List and all graduate summa cum laude! Tuition is based upon a student's enrollment in each course. We are experimenting with offering students a modest tuition rebate in return for completing a given course ahead of schedule or if they make fewer than a certain percentage of errors while completing a CAI program."

http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~allanr/thyer.h...

Not something to brag about.

Respondants November 2, 2007 at 4:40 p.m.

Sure, USA News says they enroll more people and graduate more, its not to say they are quality in any way. Again, its like the argument made that Walmart sells more than anyone, thus, Walmart is quality. There is a reason I can be bias with these schools, they are known well and highly respected. Take ANY Walden student graduate with a Phd (a lone Phd from them, no other doctorate level) and a Phd student from anyone on that list from the forbes link (again, a lone Phd from them, no other doctorate level). Put in any experience you want, I will bet on the non-Walden to get more interviews and offers based on the school name alone. Do we rely on our school name? Yes, because it is solid and we had to go through hell to get it. So we deserve to rely on it. Thats the network. Walden students do not have that luxery.

Dr. B November 2, 2007 at 4:41 p.m.

Ok.. respondants... you're so smart.. have you even read the paper? It talks about Walden College of GEORIGA... not the real walden university.

ok... you're not the person i thought you were.

oh mit... oh bright one.

Respondants November 2, 2007 at 5:35 p.m.

Oh well. I still say MIT is more respected than Walden by name alone.

IA Guy November 2, 2007 at 5:56 p.m.

This is beginning to get to the " My dad beat up your dad" level of stupidness.

DR B continue doing what your doing, I will continue doing what I'm doing and Respondants keep building space ships, and dont forget to tie your shoes.

Respondants, your degree name only matters to a very minute amount of people. The real working world does not care.

THEY DO NOT CARE

Respondants November 2, 2007 at 6:15 p.m.

All that matters is my world does care. And whether or not you think so, if I sent a resume into your company, the MIT name alone would get me looked at closer than others.

Look, I'm not caring about names of schools or anything. In my world, they are a huge deal, in yours, they are not. What I still want to see is data to back up Dr. B's claim about the Walden MBA being number 3 for online education. The topic gets side tracked and never answered. I have links to show Phoenix is the "top graduating MBA offering" for "under represented people", but that in no way implies quality. I know the Walden study shows the same thing, which I'm trying to show, its not one of the top three MBA programs.

And is MIT a better school? In reality, that stupid old saying "you get in what you put out" is true. I graduated with people who really live off of the MIT name. Going from job to job not producing because they want to supervise instead of work since MIT is better than all else. Yes, that is bad. I have seriously never met an ACADEMICALLY stupid person at MIT in the Phd programs. But some of them lack human interaction (and the ironic part is that is what they are studying HCID). To be truthful, working as an engineer and scientist for quite some time doesn't exactly do wonders for my social life either. But the name of MIT, CMU, Harvard, etc carry weight for a reason. These people are ACADEMICALLY ELITE. Does academics always translate to industry? We all know the answer to that.

So again Dr. B, I am looking at Walden objectively, hoping they go non-profit because they have a good outline setup that far outweighs UoP and Capella (who claim to be the competitors but suck). My bias comes in when I see the profit word.

Back to the point, I would still like to see where you find the claim Walden is number 3.

Dr. B November 2, 2007 at 6:37 p.m.

I have directed you exactly to the source. Do a little work... the ranking is there. And please stop misquoting me... I never said number 3.

Respondants November 2, 2007 at 6:50 p.m.

Okay, I did misquote that, but you did say "The MBA was ranked in the top 10 distance learning programs in the nation and is linked to an international network of 58 traditional universities...... solid world-wide business schools".

I went to your source, still can't find anything on Walden being in the top 10 for quality.

Dr. B November 2, 2007 at 7:17 p.m.

ok.. i feel like i'm teaching special ed now.... reread my clarification on quality and size.

Respondants November 2, 2007 at 8:24 p.m.

Well, being the top 10 in graduation rates is nothing to be proud of, it just means you take in more people and pass more people.

Dr. B November 2, 2007 at 10:20 p.m.

ok respondants... if you say so... whatever.

Respondants November 3, 2007 at 2:45 p.m.

You must shop at Walmart since they sell the most, they sell the best quality too.

Dr. B November 3, 2007 at 2:56 p.m.

Actually I am against WalMart.

Dr. B November 3, 2007 at 8:12 p.m.

Respondants... I hope you go back and truly read that article you posted against Walden University of MN. It's preface reads:

From: Behavior and Social Issues, Fall/Winter 1992, Vol. 2, Number 2, pages 145-154.
Copyright by the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies
Presented on this Web site with the permission of Dr. Bruce A. Thyer; The work that follows is fictional, but the principles must be considered - what is portrayed here is certainly feasible.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Walden "U": First Report of a Behaviorally-Based College

Respondants November 4, 2007 at 10:48 p.m.

I never read it, I just looked it over and saw that. Either way, I would love to see some comparisons of standardized tests (oral and written) to compare Walden and MIT in the same subject material, made by professionals, to compare the calibur of the outcoming students.

Dr. B November 5, 2007 at 4:17 a.m.

use your elite education...... write the proposal.. get it funded... do the investigation.... present your UNBIASED findings.

Searching November 5, 2007 at 9:13 p.m.

There's a need that Walden seems to be filling. [good people with family obligations just can not advance their education and attend the "brand name" brick and mortar schools] A major setback is that the degree choice is limited. I'd like to see them expand thier choices, or see the brick-and-mortar colleges expand their online offerings. More people and money will continue to go to Walden until the brand name schools branch out into the 21st century.

Respondants November 7, 2007 at 3:18 a.m.

Well I said it before I don't like for-profits, but I do believe if Dr. B wrote a dissertation, s/he does deserve recognition as a doctor for a significant contribution to the field of study. Also, its likely heavy APA documented if its in a public database, which proves a bit more of the impact of the study (not saying APA is point of heavy impact, but if its in a public database it is and it has to be APA or another style to be so).

Dr. B November 7, 2007 at 4:13 p.m.

Thank you for the kind words, Respondants. All of Walden's dissertations can be found in the UMI Proquest database. Readers will find them to be quite exemplary and see that they do add to an existing body of knowledge. One twist to all Walden dissertations and research is that there must be a social change component that address a complex issue that helped frame the study in the first place. This is what helps academics know and understand that Walden does not produce garbage and that the university holds true to its mission.

I just checked and as of today, there are 1694 Walden dissertations in the database dating back to the 1980s. This is across all disciplines produced at Walden University. The largest one I've been able to find was Dr. Ronald Paige, which was 589 pages. It took him 3 years to complete.

Dr. B November 7, 2007 at 7:31 p.m.

um... you cannot invest in Walden.

He he November 7, 2007 at 9:07 p.m.

Exactly, not even if you go there for an education, your investing in nothing because you won't get anything out of it.

Respondants November 7, 2007 at 10:17 p.m.

He he you are not helping your case by posting blindly. At very least find online stories from people who went here or evaluated it. Even at that it is unlikely a scholarly resource, but at least it is a start.

Mystery November 8, 2007 at 1:14 a.m.

Why do you even bother to respond to He He? It's obvious from his posts he hasn't graduated from the 8th grade let alone have a college degree!!!!!

He he November 8, 2007 at 12:55 p.m.

I just wanted everyone to know that the reason I post such negative comments is becuase this website allows me to post with any name I choose. This allows me to appear as though my comments are important, when in reality is masks the fact that I paid large sums of money, by going to a B&M school, and I still cant find a job. Deep down I am really just jelous becuase you people are getting experiance and education on your resume, and it is locking out people like me from walking into a high paying job strait out of the classroom as though I am special.

He he November 8, 2007 at 1:06 p.m.

I also found out that I can’t work for the federal government either because so many people in this federal government have more professional type degrees, and they don’t respond well to my elitist comments. Recently since I have not been able to find a good job, I took an unpaid internship at a DOD facility. On my first day I met some Sergeant Major guy, while getting introduced to everyone. He asked me where I was educated and I said this ultra expensive liberal arts college, where it had a nice place to read my books under a tree in the sun so that I can concentrate. I then asked the Sergeant Major where he received his education, and he said he earned his education by being a practitioner all over the world, then transferred those credits to an online college, where he was able to roll it all up into a degree. I then asked him why he was not working for me instead, since he was just some stupid online degree person, and I went to an elite school and learned sitting under a tree. He then yelled at me, and made me cry during my whole lunch hour, he then told me to make sure the coffee is fresh for the whole day because he had to brief decision makers on national security issues. I asked if he needed help because I did take this really cool intro to political science class once and got an A, so I could critic his work if he wanted some pointers. He then told me I had to make coffee and get donuts. I don’t get it; I should be in charge by now.

He he November 8, 2007 at 1:44 p.m.

I didn't go to a fancy liberal arts college. I went to a state college and found a job pretty quick. Now I look at people who get their degrees from the FOR PROFITS and laugh at them for buying their degree. I never said ONLINE DEGREES are bad you moron. I said for-profit schools are bad. Learn to read.

Respondants November 8, 2007 at 2:55 p.m.

So these threads no longer attempt to engage in reasonable arguments. Good Luck on your quest for debunking the for profit status schools He he, but maybe a better tact is inline.

He he November 8, 2007 at 4:07 p.m.

Whatever Respondants. I'm sure someone with an MIT degree would be browsing these boards anyways. If so, I think so much less of MIT. Why would an MIT person even try to argue with someone from one of these FOR-PROFIT schools? It doesn't make sense. All of these people from the FOR-PROFITS are losers who couldn't make it anywhere else, so they come here. Then they try to BS with it fitting into their life style and already have experience BLAH BLAH BLAH. There is a reason Universities do not offer classes towards adults at the BS of Phd level, its not for them and they don't deserve the degree unless they do it right (not half way like the FOR-PROFITS make it).

Your all losers.

Dr. B November 8, 2007 at 4:30 p.m.

Respondants... i'm with you on this one. I would give you my personal email so that we can continue our debate..... but you know how it is. lol

It becomes pretty low when people start impersonating others and making false claims.

ATTENTION November 8, 2007 at 5:12 p.m.

ATTENTION, Dr. B is a fake! He stated in one of his first posts that "My dissertation chair has an earned Ph.D. from Harvard and he is on faculty there as well. I am also his Graduate TA, which has given me a ton of teaching experience online! Faculty Mentoring… rigor?" meaning he goes to Walden! That's a degree mill and nobody who graduates from there is a real doctor!

Dr. B November 8, 2007 at 5:49 p.m.

what information do you have to show that i am a fake? all you have to do is go through each college's faculty listing and you can see the information for your damn self.

ATTENTION November 8, 2007 at 7:56 p.m.

I am just letting everyone know you went to Walden so your not a real doctor since they are a diploma mill! You really shouldn't use Dr as a title unless you have earned it. And I have no need to go through a college's faculty list since they have valid degrees and Walden is not a real University or College. They are a Walmart that sells education diplomas.

Dr. B November 9, 2007 at 7:47 p.m.

Hey Respondants... check this out.

www.latintrade.com/resources/MBA%20Ratin...

Dr. B November 9, 2007 at 8:15 p.m.

November Alumni Accolades

ponder.waldenu.edu/c/11468_24270.htm

Dr. B November 9, 2007 at 8:56 p.m.

Dr. Peter A. Maresco (1998), who earned a Ph.D. in Education from Walden University, will present “Product Integration in Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic Series” at the 2008 Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association National Conference in San Francisco. He also had a proposal accepted by McFarland Publishers for a book titled The Business of Christianity. He is a clinical assistant professor in the John F. Welch College of Business at Sacred Heart University

Dr. Charles R. Minnick (2006), who earned a Ph.D. in Applied Management and Decision Sciences with a specialization in Leadership and Organizational Change from Walden University, was named dean of the College of Business and Professional Studies at Ashford University in Clinton, Iowa.

Respondants November 9, 2007 at 9:01 p.m.

To argue two points and then add in something:

1) Latin Trade is a magazine for Latin America. It has no real bearings on the rates either because it did not explain its rating system other than how many people responded. It didn't really say who responded either. If its alumni, sure they will say it was a good education.

2) The accolades are a good indication of how a school is doing. This is a double edged sword for everyone. As many people as Walden graduates every year, I would hope some are doing thing in their field. The same holds true for Penn State. Sure tons of their alumni do great things, but look at how many they graduate. For a school like UoP though, showing not much for as many as they graduate, thats when it looks really bad.

Add comment - I like Walden and what they stand for. I am worried they will fall into the trap of heavy advertising and making a quick buck. Devry fell into this and now their name no longer holds value like it used to. Same thing with ITT. I also like NCU, but I think they may be headed down that path also. Since Walden is now private, I think they are one step closer.

Another website to check out is the Chronicle forums to see what people think, and phinished.org.

Dr. B November 9, 2007 at 9:16 p.m.

I was hoping you didn't leave this site. lol

I understand what you're saying... but I only listed a few who were making strives in academics... which is mostly what discuss on this board. There are tons of graduates who have similar success stories, but are working in their fields.

Latin Trade, is similar to that of US News and Reports. The criteria is there... 7,117 people responded to this survey. The variables used in the survey are highly parallel with the surveys you brought attention to:

The schools described on the following pages
met several criteria:

a minimum number of respondents had to select the school to rate, and

had to rate it highly on seven key questions relating to academic experience,

relevance to their career and

the value they have seen in completing an MBA from that institution. value is determined by salary after the degree.

Let's not knock this survey.

Respondants November 10, 2007 at 1:12 p.m.

That’s another measure I don't like, salary after the degree. Executive MBA's tend to be high ranking people who just need a piece of paper for credentials. So yes, they will have high salary after the degree since they had high salary before the degree.

I think one of the best measures (although this is a cliché) is to ask simply if the person is happy with their life after the degree, and if the degree contributed to any changes (positive/negative) post graduation. I have a friend who spent over $75K at on his Phd from a school I have never heard of. He didn't change jobs afterwards nor got a pay increase. Sure he's called Dr. now, but I figured he doesn't use his degree for anything, so he wasted $75K. But if you ask him, he will tell you it is the best thing he ever did. He learned to think, organize his thoughts, write, research, and truly problem solve (not just medicate symptoms). I would have to agree. Plus there are many new opportunities open once you are finished (and many more that close as you should know since you are over qualified).

All of my arguments over schools have nothing to do with quality really. What I fear is for-profits taking in and passing anybody who will pay simply to meet Wall Street expectations. This causes a saturation of degrees and makes other institutions graduates less appealing overall because of it (ie MBA from Phoenix). Luckily, the schools that do this are known for it by now. It happened to Phoenix, ITT, and Devry (although Devry is pulling out again of heavy advertising due to bad publicity and reputation it has received in the last five years). Like I said before, Walden is one step ahead because they are now private. They also don't fully stock up on adjuncts as I have learned recently (like a few hours ago at a conference) they are planning to pull off reliance on adjuncts and hire more full time professors, hopefully offer tenure, and go after accreditations. I also did find out they want to go non-profit and offer their parent company and its partners courses online at a discounted rate that would be a for-profit counterpart (like Drexel). All of this came from a man I met who is working as a consultant for Walden’s parents company (although I cannot confirm he was, he knew a lot about them and is well respected).

Dr. B November 10, 2007 at 1:41 p.m.

Sounds like you've learned alot Respondants. I've been trying to sing that same song to you since day one! lol I know you've been looking for me to "prove" what I know to you.... but it's difficult to do this in such a venue..... plus... neither of us are willing to put personal email addresses on this site..... and we both know why. lol I am so glad you ran into that "consultant".

As for the MBA ranking variables.... I think you have a very strong point. But the MBA is a practitioner's degree..... the businessman's degree.......unless it's raking in big bucks.... it's worthless. That's pretty much the only way to measure the value of a business degree.... as so I've been taught. That's why Latin Trade used the same type of criteria as US News and Forbes to rate MBA programs.

Without mention of the cheap ads on the internet.....which comes from poor negotiations with a PR firm...... lol..... Walden's NEW advertisements are very tasteful. The university has and continues to change it's image for the better.......

The university's commercials are aired on selected channels to attract a certain type of student: The History Channel, Fox News, and CNN. www.waldenu.edu/c/media/11741.htm .....this commercial is UNSCRIPTED.

Walden's commercials are filmed during residencies. They bomb-rush students, basically drafting them before they have a chance to think..... run them through hair and makeup.... and then stick them in front of a camera or filming crew.... so you're getting REAL talk here. In the commercials... these are real students.. not models or paid spokespeople. I can call several of them by name.... we've met while in UMN's library or in class at a residency.

Even though Walden is distant... its academic community is very close.

Respondants November 10, 2007 at 3:02 p.m.

Walden requires residencies which I personally feel are wonderful alternatives to traditional doctorates. I do not think all online (with no residencies) are a valid alternative. Even though I feel residencies are alternatives, it depends on the subject. For example, I don't think its a good alternative for Psychology because that requires too mcuh interaction with people after graduation, but its also not my field, so I don't know much about it. I do know engineering and mathematics would not be good alternatives at all since they are very theoretical and likely cannot be learned by distance.

As for the MBA rating criteria, schools serve different purposes. I don't think its fair to rate an executive MBA against a traditional MBA (AACSB versus ACBSP) because they have different missions. AACSB is more for leaders who don't have to have any experience. The purpose is that they have not been exposed to business, which is sometimes a good thing becuase they are not bias. AACSP is for executives who wish to learn new techniques for leading. AACSB is said to be the gold standard because the students tend to take on more leadership positions and usually get their degree with AACSB early in a career and carry it on.

My opposition to schools comes at the for profit stage and the more I research, the more I strongly dislike the publically traded schools. These schools recruit and do not put money back into the education. I visited over 30 ITT Tech schools. Their "library" had book on Windows 95 for their software people. Computer labs were horrible, network issues, and unqualified faculty taught there (people with AS teaching). Phoenix was similar for the campuses I visited. I understand the schools have a "virtual library", but thats not an alternative for a school that claims a ground campus. Capella was a bit more organized, but nevertheless, the students they had in their Phd program were not very intelligent at all. I read over some of their work, and its amazing how they even got an MS. My fear in these schools really boils down to acadmic snobbery and fear I have. I don't want Phds from those schools being seen as my equal colleauges. Phoenix dissertations are horrible, students in the Phd I have met are dumb, and ITT's MBA is no different, along with Capella's Phd. BUT, I have met some who are intelligent, so I am not saying in any way they are bad. But majority rules. If you are hiring for a position, you know 1/100 students from UoP are good, your probably not going to waste time interviewing them because the chances of getting a good one are too small.

These thoughts come from an acadmic who goes to conferences and drinks. From drinking, thinking and talking ensue. They aren't normal conversations either, we fight over what had more of an impact on mathematics and what data structures are the most efficient, what students should be taught, and what writings styles are the best (ah, the life of nerds).

Dr. B November 10, 2007 at 8:02 p.m.

Well said, Respondants. I agree with much of what you said.

For years, Walden's library system has been operated in conjunction with IU's libraries. About two years ago, Walden got its own in house librarian and she and her staff still collaborate with IU and UMN to make sure that Walden students are getting the best research available. Even on its own, Walden's library is strong because of the paid memberships to research journals, article databases...etc. To add, Walden students can work closely with librarians to get access to research and even get book loans from all three universities.

I think I've stated this before.... but.... what sets Walden apart is 1. the level of student and faculty research funding available, 2. fellowships and scholarships offered, and 3. Walden dissertations are published with UMI/Proquest.... where all of your research institutions publish their dissertations. Walden is even hosting a research symposium in January.... this is in addition to the peer/professional conferences, peer academic journals, and residencies it already host.

As for Phoenix.... I am not surprised. I think that if it spent a little more time getting full time doctoral faculty to guide its doctoral students... it would produce better material. Phoenix has residencies.... but from what I hear, they're not that extensive.... maybe that's why they offer the practical doctorates (Ed.D., DBA, DM)instead of the Ph.D.

ITT... we're not going to discuss them. That's a horse that won't even shoot for regional accreditation. I have worked with people who graduated from there and can't move beyond working in bingo halls. They've even expressed their regrets.

Mystery November 14, 2007 at 6:12 p.m.

Why are so many people against online education? Just embrace it, its the way of the future. Proprietary schools are also here to stay. They make money on education sure, but in order to make money, you have to provide a quality product. If these schools are so bad, they would go out of business. Think about KMart. Prices were high and selection was low. They are gone. This education would be the same way if the selection (or quality) is low because the prices are higher than other colleges. So obviously they provide higher quality.

He he November 14, 2007 at 8:36 p.m.

I'm so waiting to hear Dr. B's remarks on the Mystery comment.

Academic Snob (Dr. B) November 17, 2007 at 12:28 a.m.

He he et al....

I really don't have anything else to say OTHER THAN.............a little over 120 days ago I submitted a total of 10 articles for peer review......different peer reviewed journals, of course...... As of TODAY.....all 10 of my articles submitted for peer review have been ACCEPTED for publication. That is the highest form of scholarship available in the academy. To add, that is 100% progress! So all the negative things you have to say about Walden University mean nothing to me.

Be Blessed!

Leroy S. December 3, 2007 at 7:44 p.m.

Is Walden ranked in the four tiers of research?

Dr. B December 4, 2007 at 5:31 p.m.

Clarify what you specifically mean by four tiers of research Leroy.

Dr. B December 4, 2007 at 5:37 p.m.

I would just like to also announce that I've just received a financial honorarium from Walden University for my research. This is available to all faculty and students who publish and/or present research in peer reviewed journals/proceedings.

Dr. B December 4, 2007 at 10:37 p.m.

LEROY et al... I did some research and found a solid answer for your question.

According to the American Psychological Society... .there are 5 research tiers. librarians.aps.org/tier2004.html

To answer your Question: Walden University has a Carnegie Foundation designation as being a Doctoral Research Intensive University since 2000. www.waldenu.edu/c/About/About_221.htmTha... would yield Walden University being a Tier 2 research university, which is where Most universities stand. www.carnegiefoundation.org/classificatio...

Of course... the classifications have changed recently but the criteria is the same. What happened to Research I, Research II, etc.? Has the Carnegie Foundation abandoned its traditional classification framework?

The Research I & II and Doctoral I & II categories of doctorate-granting institutions last appeared in the 1994 edition. The use of Roman numerals was discontinued to avoid the inference that the categories signify quality differences. The traditional classification framework has been updated and is now identified as the Basic Classification. Many of the category definitions and labels have changed with this revision.

Who are the classifications for? www.carnegiefoundation.org/about/sub.asp...

From its inception, the Carnegie Classification’s purpose has been to assist those conducting research on higher education. Researchers need a way to deal with the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and classifications enable them to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions. The primary audience is the research community, including academic researchers and institutional research staff as well as other education analysts. By providing a set of distinct classifications, as well as a set of online tools for creating custom listings (combining categories within classifications, identifying institutions in similar categories across classifications, or filtering listings by selected criteria), researchers now have much greater analytic flexibility, allowing them to match classification tools to their analytic needs.

Hope this helps.

Dr. B

stuntman December 7, 2007 at 7:30 a.m.

I earned a BS in management through UOP. I attended the classes at a Southern California campus. You hear a lot of trash talk from people who have no idea what the program requires. In each 5-week course, you are expected to do a 1200-1500 word individual paper; a 3500-word final paper, and a 5000-word group paper, along with a PowerPoint presentation to go along with it. All papers are required to be in the APA format.

I am currently finishing my MBA at California Lutheran University's graduate school of business. My UOP degree was not only recognized at admission, but they waived the GMAT because I had a GPA above 3.9

UOP prepared me well for my MBA studies, with much of the information being very familiar. Anyone who talks trash about the UOP curriculum has clearly no idea about what it is they ridicule. My wife, an MD, has geat respect for that degree after she saw the load I had to complete. They may accept anyone, but that certainly doesn't mean that EVERYONE graduates - in fact, it's far from it.

Real Dr. B December 7, 2007 at 3:08 p.m.

stuntman... well stated.

wairimu December 10, 2007 at 3:43 p.m.

Having read all above i think ill will go ahead and apply for the course...Dr B thanks alot.In the whole profile you were most encouraging

Dr. B December 10, 2007 at 9:04 p.m.

Hi Wairimu! Glad I could be of help. It makes little sense to to opine on these boards with little or no support to back up the claim.

Good luck in your studies!

JAG December 11, 2007 at 11:33 p.m.

B, (if you are a graduate of Walden I am not designating you a Doctor)

There is NO WAY Walden is a Teir 2 research university. Try teir 4.

JAG

Leroy S. December 12, 2007 at 12:21 a.m.

I don't think Walden can be Tier 2 either. Open enrollment is actually one reason. Another is the output and patent ability per year. Walden may have a good education, but to be put on tier 2 and being online, its not likely, at least not in the near future (eventually the online will be accepted). But Walden is a for profit entity also, this means they are not allowed to be ranked. I had to do some research on this. The link below provides some information on tiers.

http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/stora...

Dr. B December 12, 2007 at 1:05 a.m.

JAG.... I honestly do not care what you call me. You don't know me and I don't know you. I could really care less about you or what you think.

The level of my research, my publications, my career, and all the things that matter most in this world say I am Doctor!

Best.

Leroy S. December 12, 2007 at 1:13 a.m.

Leroy S.....

I'm not sure what measurement criteria you used, but I clearly stated where my source came from. The source you cited is not reliable. The criteria I spoke of came from a reliable source and it was paired with Walden's Carnegie designation. There is proof of all of this.

I think you may be speaking of R1 and R2 type universities. I currently do not have any information on that right now.

Walden does its part in contributing to academe. Feel free to browse through the recent newsletter.

ponder.waldenu.edu/c/ponder.htm

ponder.waldenu.edu/c/11468_24430.htm

Dr. B December 12, 2007 at 1:14 a.m.

The previous comment was posted by me..... I errored and placed Leroy S in the author slot.

Dr. B

Dr. B December 12, 2007 at 3:28 p.m.

I read in the Chronicle today that Texas Tech was placed on probation by SACS for failing to show that its curriculum met college-level competencies. The federal government is putting new emphasis on student-learning outcomes, she said, and colleges must show what students are getting out of their classes. Somewhere along the line, they failed to demonstrate that.

Texas Tech offers a Ph.D. in Rhetoric and communications (online). This is very interesting.

Leroy S. December 13, 2007 at 12:16 a.m.

Many universities advertise tier rankings to recruit students. Schools like Harvard, MIT, etc are tier 1 research institutes. Tier 2 are research mixed with education (Ohio State, Michigan U). Tier 3 have doctoral programs with research, but claim more teaching. Tier 4 have research, but are not high in teaching or research. These are quick overviews. But also take into consideration entrance exam criteria, admissions, and output. The reason Walden isn't ranked is open admission. I beleive this is not a bad thing. If they decided to add some, they could be ranked probably tier 3 (they could move to tier 2, but it would take some time and more graduates). Tier 1 is almost unreachable except by a select few, and if your in acadmics, you know how reputations stick for a long time and don't move often (some tier 1's no longer hold what they did years ago, but nobody says anything).

Dr. B December 13, 2007 at 2:52 a.m.

Where can I find this criteria? Can you provide me with a link? I am interested.

Dr. B December 13, 2007 at 9:02 p.m.

Nursing-Education Journal Gives Thumbs Up to Online Doctorates

An article in the latest issue of Nursing Education Perspectives paints a promising picture of online doctoral programs in nursing.

The authors of “Twenty-First Century Doctoral Education: Online With a Focus on Nursing Education” used a matrix of learning benchmarks established by the Higher Learning Commission and the Institute for Higher Education Policy to evaluate the online doctoral program at the University of Northern Colorado.

They found that Ph.D. students in the online program felt their studies were rigorous and academically challenging, had ample opportunity to collaborate with other students on research and form meaningful mentor relationships with faculty members through frequent e-mail and chat-room contact, and were inspired to incorporate new learning concepts into their workplaces.

Online doctoral-degree programs, which broaden access to high-quality Ph.D. programs and allow nursing instructors to pursue further study alongside full- or part-time employment, may be instrumental in stemming the shortage of Ph.D.-prepared nurse educators, the authors suggest. —Paula Wasley

chronicle.com/news/article/3629/nursing-education-journal-gives-thumbs-up-to-online-doctorates

nln.allenpress.com/pdfserv/i1536-5026-028-06-0332.pdf ORIGINAL ARTICLE FROM JOURNAL

Just Wondering... December 14, 2007 at 2:46 p.m.

It appears the real conversation is here versus "Capella" and "UoP."

Hello Leroy and Dr. B.

So, if you had to choose, which is better, Capella or Walden?

Dr. B December 14, 2007 at 4:29 p.m.

I think you already know which one I would choose and why (Walden). The evidence is there. Capella has only been around since the late 1990s. Walden has been conferring doctorates for almost 40 years. Journals, Peer conferences, research symposia, research funding, well published students and faculty... I thin this is a closed case. I have a colleague who refers to Capella as Acapella. lol

Just Wondering... December 14, 2007 at 6:51 p.m.

This is not my regular e-mail address (for obvious reasons on these boards) so label it clearly in the subject line, but I would like to ask you a couple of questions offline Dr. B.

scot1@jjcomp.com

Leroy S. December 15, 2007 at 7:23 p.m.

I will look for the information and provide a link. As for choosing one or the other, it really depends on your field of study. Going for a phd you should choose a school that you can be admitted to with the highest repuation possible in your field. Education is changing its landscape right now. Online degrees are really part of that landscape now. I beleive they will never be perfectly equal to B&M schools, but will be seen as seamless. What I mean, nobody will know if your degree was online or not. But if you tell people it is online, most will likely place that a peg below B&M. My arguments are never for the online component, its usually about the for-profit component. Phoenix and ITT are a large reason for my stand against the profit sector of education. I think the profit sector, however, might have a good place in elementary education (I know plenty of people who send their kids to private schools since public ones just don't cut it anymore).

kcw December 16, 2007 at 1:38 a.m.

I'm just curious, I'm sold on Walden but does anyone know of another PhD online that offers public policy?

Dr. B December 16, 2007 at 8:43 p.m.

I just did a Peterson's search and Walden is the only institution. You can try Union Institute. It's in interdisciplinary studies but you can study whatever you want. Also, Regent university has one in leadership... you can push it toward PPA.

Leroy S. December 18, 2007 at 12:50 a.m.

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreview...

Leroy S. December 18, 2007 at 12:53 a.m.

That is not what I really wanted to post, because it goes against what I beleive rankings need to really show. It also combines all level of education. I wish there was a seperate one that researched percantage of students published, conference journals acceptance, difficulty of journals in the weight, etc for a doctoral level study. That would be very helpful and may help out many schools who have no big (or bad) repuation, and weed out schools living off of a name.

Dr. B December 18, 2007 at 2:09 a.m.

thanks for the post though. and i agree with you regarding the type of criteria that should be shown.... and not be ranked according to freshman retention.... which walden does not have.

i think that these rankings are not really true. meaning according to the washington post, jackson state university, my alma mater outranked princeton in the top 50 institutions in the country.

i think a neutral party such as chea should do a ranking. i would be willing to put more weight there.

i still can't find anything on r1 and r2 institutions.

Leroy S. December 19, 2007 at 2:32 a.m.

Certain schools have reputations for a reason (Harvard, Columbia, etc). They use standardized tests and rigored admissions to make sure they only take the top. In the process, they do miss some good people. Academic ranks are always going to be bias in some way. I'm a scientific person, so I would choose Penn State over Princeton. This would not be true in other fields or by others. It sounds like an annoying statement, but a school should be ranked on how well it fits an individual student and what ROI the student feels s/he recieves.

Just a Guy December 19, 2007 at 5:43 a.m.

What potential students need to understand is that no one is calling schools like Kansas State, University of Oklahoma, Indiana State, University of Minnisota, etc.. sub-standard.

However, there are a large number of former students and professors that ARE calling Walden, Capella, NCU, and UoP a joke from an academic standpoint.

So as a potential student, you need to ask yourself the following question. Why would I want to spend my time/money on a program that so many others think is sub-standard at best and that many simply call a JOKE?

Do not waste your time and money on schools like Walden, Capella ot the other UoP clones. There are better/less expensive options in the state chartered universities.

JAG

Just Wondering... December 19, 2007 at 2:26 p.m.

JAG,

Simply put, you are just another guy who serves as a roadblock to others. You refuse to be objective about these schools and it is as simple as that good sir. You mentioned earlier, perhaps on another school blog, that the students of these schools have to publish and make a name for themselves in order to change the reputation. How do you propose this happens if people like you slam the door, lock it, and throw away the key so that these folks cannot get in to academics?

Academics may be snobbish, but the thinkers in academics are mostly made up of the subjective variety, not the objective variety. They fiercely protect their "empire" and guard the gates of stupidity well. You are right about one thing, Capella, Walden, NCU, and UoP are a joke, they are a joke though because of people like you who perpetuate this problem by continually reassuring people those students of these schools are either stupid, cannot hack it, or wasted their time on futility. You do this while also saying things like, "Oh, we will listen, trust us. If you make an attempt and can prove you are an academic mind, we will open the doors to our kingdom for you." This is all said while you are laughing under your breathe knowing full well you will make it as difficult as possible.

JAG, you are a joke, as with all those who serve as a roadblock for those who choose an alternative method. However, as these graduates enter the business world, the joke is on you; because these very people will be the one's you need to deal with in practical application. In addition, as society advances through the next two decades I feel sorry for you, especially if these graduates begin to teach at some of the Tier II schools on a regular basis and start entering Tier I on occasion. You should consider this, you know, because you are so smart and all, anything is possible and saying this will never happen is the cry of the moron (go review some business case literature, you should be able to dissect this much).

Just a Guy December 20, 2007 at 7:49 a.m.

First of all, are you trying to say that you have to be associated with an academic institution to publish? ("you slam the door, lock it, and throw away the key so that these folks cannot get in to academics?") News flash you do not have to be associated with an academic institution to publish. And, as was pointed out earlier, Walden has been producing "doctorates" for 40 years. However, the publishing record of these graduates is virtually non-existant when compared to traditional PhD programs.

I have never been formally associated with any academic institution in a research capacity. I have taught for several B&M universities in an adjunct capacity. I have also taught in the graduate program for UoP and Nova.

I work for a government agency and have published in 7 peer reviewed academic journals. (I reiterate, YOU DON'T NEED TO WORK IN ACADEMIA TO SUCCESSFULLY PUBLISH.)

I am all for advances in academia including online programs. I think these programs serve a valuable funtion for working adults. However, these programs have to prove their value by the contributions of their graduates to each particular school of knowledge. For the number of graduates that Walden has produced on the PhD level, They have failed miserably. There are exceptions to this rule. However, arguing from extremes is the worst form of argument.

I am not even commenting on the academic rigor of bachelors or even masters programs. But, on the PhD level the average Walden graduate has yet to prove themselves; and, until they do their education will not be respected in academia. I sincerely hope that changes in the future and that Walden graduates will show that they can indeed perform to the same level as their B&M PhD counter-parts. However, that has yet to happen.

Driving myself crazy December 22, 2007 at 4:33 a.m.

I currently work as an instructor at a regional university. I am considering starting my doctorate, probably an Ed.D., and I have been considering Walden. Are there very many college professors currently working in academia that received their doctoral degrees from Walden? I have been driving myself crazy looking for a good on-line institution and Walden seems to be the best I have found. The reason I am looking for an online degree is because the nearest university to where I live, where I can get a doctoral degree, is 3 hours away.

Just a Guy December 22, 2007 at 10:10 p.m.

Driving myself crazy,

Have you concidered Indiana State's Program in HRD?

http://www.indstate.edu/consortphd/sched...

JAG

Walden vs. Goden Gate December 23, 2007 at 2:19 a.m.

Just As Guy,

I liked your comments "For the number of graduates that Walden has produced on the PhD level..."

How would you compare Walden University to school like Golden Gate University-DBA in terms of graduate publishing?

Thanks for your opinion/comments.

Attention Fools December 24, 2007 at 2:59 a.m.

(1) Surrender their children if they have any
(2) Lose their home and car
(3) Lose their spouse
(4) Be fired from their job
(5) Be homeless
(6) Be treated like a drug dealer, forfeiting their rights to any further student loan money and thrown into a prison for the stupid and inept
(7) Ridiculed openly in society for being the stupidest humans to EVER walk the face of the earth

These things need to happen to for profit online learners.

Attention Fools December 24, 2007 at 3:02 a.m.

One other thing:

A very unhappy Christmas to all for profit online learners.

Newbie December 24, 2007 at 9:20 a.m.

Hi all,
just want to ask some question about Walden's Msc Psy course.
im new to the online education, and has had my doubts (still do, partly) due to various posts etc. - ,
I've graduated from Master degree from a brick&M school from a university of london. As i am a marketer by profession, i would love to be able to incroporate psychology into my work.... will walden be a good place for this?, the online vs non-online doesnt bother me too much, but im more concern about the curiculum of the actual course. . . . - anyone has experienced or going through walden's psy course before?,
kind reagrds n a merry xmas

Just a Guy December 26, 2007 at 10:29 p.m.

Walden vs. Golden Gate,

Golden Gate's DBA program is not an online program. It is offered at their San Francisco, CA campus. In addition, the DBA program is a professional degree designed for those interested in working for industry/government not in academia. Its like trying to compare apples to brocolli.

v/r

JAG

Dave December 28, 2007 at 6:25 p.m.

Hi all

In South Africa one can still register as a psychologist after completing a master's degree and doing a 12 month internship. I wish to do a Walden master's degree in psychology. Does anyone know how Walden psychology degrees are accepted by the psychology councils in South Africa? Will I be able to do an internship there and register after finishing the degree. (I am South African).

Dr. B December 28, 2007 at 10:23 p.m.

Hi Dave. Walden has thousands of international students in all disciplines. You may want to contact Walden U directly AND contact the psychological authority in South Africa. Those are the only bodies that can truly help you.

Good luck in your endeavors!

Attention December 29, 2007 at 6:52 p.m.

Reviewing the postings I can only conclude one thing for sure: online learning is not for everyone who needs constant follow up and for those who can not study independently.

Simple Truth December 30, 2007 at 8:07 p.m.

What it all boils down to is making an informed decision for YOURSELF when it comes to online learning. A lot of the negative, biased comments are from people who have NEVER taken an online course, obtained an online degree, done anything online other than SURF THE NET and they have the authority and knowledge to offer an opinion about online degrees!!!! Yea right...and I have a bridge in Brooklyn I want to sell you too!!

All one has to do is look at the reputation of the school and the accomplishments of people who have obtained a degree from that school i.e. Walden. Professionals who have been published, educators who have been chosen as teacher of the year, all kinds of awards and accolades given to the people who have obtained Walden degrees... people who I am sure heard all the ignorant, biased comments like those on this board..and still used their own minds and intelligence and went for it!

NONE of these people will be paying for your education anyway so WHY even bother to listen??? Just use your own mind and intelligence and don't let anyone's biased ignorance influence you!! That's what wrong with the world today!

The simple truth (in reality) December 31, 2007 at 3:24 a.m.

It all depends on what you want to do with your degree.

You can get a quality education online and learn a great deal. (You can do the same thing at your local library)

If you are trying to get a bachelors or even a masters, Walden etc...are probably ok choices.

However, If you want to get a PhD and work in academia you should look elsewhere.

I have never taken on online class (as if that makes any difference) I have however TAUGHT online classes for UoP and 2 B&M Universities in an adjucnt capacity.

Just me December 31, 2007 at 11:25 a.m.

I never post in disucssions like these but I felt my input would benefit some people of not all.

Recently I tried to take admission to Walden U. The staff were friendly, the process was same pretty much like applying to any brick and mortar U. In fact I got a follow up call from someone from admissions on a Saturday, which worked out great for me because I work rest 5 of the days and office environment is the not the best place to discuss detailed admissions procedure.

Anyways, in the end I didnt go forward with Walden because I was more interested in getting my masters in Network Security which currently is only offered by Nova online and thats the only reason I didnt go with Walden.

Now getting back to the topic. Online college is not for everyone. It will work for me because my work is something I do not want to leave. Not at least while I am doing my masters. Yes a brick and mortar might be all the hype but then an online university is providing me flexibility. I have great grades and a kick ass senior thesis to get into many conventional colleges, however who else will give me the opportunity to come back from work, have my dinner, take a nap or something and watch some TV and when my mind is settled, go and look at the video lectures? To me just this one reason is enough to go for an online U.

As far as employers are concerned. I do not make a 6 figured salary. However I am not doing too bad. My employer never asked me during my interviews (I had total of 4 including a written) which college I had attended. The reason I was hired later told my the HR staffd was due to my experience I carried. But then you do have employers like IBM and Google who ask you to send them an official academic transcript. The point I am trying to get across is, should I really be worried about my academics and which college I came from, just because I happen to know about a few employers who think, it is necessary to show them my academic accomplishments to hire me?

We all think of the best for us but also take into consideration of your possibilities. Depending on the degree you have or want, many things are same as the Brick and Mortar schools.

I will probably not take my PhD from an online university. Not because I do not have faith in them, but because I believe a PhD should be in a more traditional setting with a lot , a lot of face to face intercations. But that might not hold true for every PhD.

Just Me December 31, 2007 at 11:25 a.m.

Mr. Me Too, Every school has their own way of determining their faculty. So if you are hesitant about not hiring any online PhDs, there are another 1000s school in USA which might give it a shot and recently they are giving a shot at it. However, this might not be true for every department though. So please dont discourage people here. There are people like me here who faired well in academics but going for online option because of everything else in life.

IA Guy I have a cool story for you about the whole profs being behind by ages as far as IT goes. We had a course in soph year where PHP was extremely used in teaching the course. Among many books for the course there was a book for PHP book the prof really wanted us to have because it was excellent, published by a very well known publisher and the reviews were excellent by the php community. Guess what? the author was a very young guy who took the course same semester as I :). He authored it before even he was a college student.

Just me December 31, 2007 at 11:27 a.m.

Lastly Dr B. I have never seen someone so persistent in making their school look good. Kudos to you. I personally think every Walden student should try hard like you or in that matter any student from any online school. Its a new thing and like everything else this will take time.

Dr B here are my very important suggestions to you. These are the things I never found out while I was jumping around Walden webpages. These are the very common things every prospective graduate student is looking for.

As far as Websites. Its higly un-interactive. Where is my Deaprtment of Computer Science homepage? or any department webpage for the visitors? Also where is the list of publications that came out of this university? Where is the list of researches this University has done and is funding and students are working on?

Also since this is an online school, there should be a way for students to connect to alumnis for details and information which only an alumni could give.

Above are the very few things every student looks for in a traditional school website. I did a bit of usability testing for websites as a student. If you are interested I can do a very small study on Walden U webpage in my free time and own interest and let you know where it lacks.

Being an online university, the webpage is its first impression and definitely a forefront. I personally thought Walden lacked a great deal in this.

Dr. B January 2, 2008 at 12:28 a.m.

Hi Just Me! I agree with what you're saying. With Walden focusing on distance learning, you'd think that the website would be easier to navigate. I still have problems with it.

As for department pages... Walden does not have departments. But each school has a page and lists deans, chairs, faculty, and academic advisors. To me, the only thing they should do is add more pictures.

Alumni: the alumni association makes it possible to contact alumni. Even though every alum's contact info is not listed, those who actively participate with the university make it easy to contact them. I have done this as a student.... even before applying to Walden.

Publications that came out of this university..... this is a unique scenario. Walden does not participate in institutional research per se. The university empowers faculty and students to embark upon their own research agendas, but do it safely through Walden's IRB. When I had a paper published, it had my name on it.. and not my advisor's. Unlike traditional institutions, Walden's doctoral students do not perform research for their advisor. Instead, they are guided by their advisor and oftentimes collaborate with their advisor. There is no hierarchy.

As for the list of research the university is funding: Well that's a privacy issue. Student awards are mentioned in the accolades section under each School/College or in the alumni magazine. Scholarships tend to be a private matter because it is financial aid. Many of them are need based. The merit based awards are publicly released in the Ponder, which is also open to the public.

Just a Guy January 2, 2008 at 3:52 a.m.

I challenge anyone on this board to bring me a rich and well developed study that indicates that Walden, UoP, Capella, etc. can provide an education that others will respect without any hesitation at all! If you can provide me with this evidence, I will support online schools. However, until then, I win and you lose!

JAG

This is the masked man! January 2, 2008 at 3:56 a.m.

This is the alter ego of those jokers on this board who believe they know all and anyone who attends an online for profit school is either worthless or subpar to other students. I will continue to mock in you oh so many ways until you leave the board, making you feel like half a man or woman.

Dr. B January 2, 2008 at 5:15 a.m.

Just A Guy... your opinion does not matter to me. No one has been able to show data to support their negative claim thus far. It has all been opinion!

My success and the success of my Walden colleagues proves that the Walden degree is accepted: both in industry and academe. I have provided proof of these things. So I could really care less what you or anyone else on your level may think. Your name is not on my publications. Your name is not on any of the degrees that hang on my wall. Your name is not attached to my six figure salary. Your name is not on my mortgage nor the wall outside my subdivision.

You don't matter! You have no purpose!

Either show objective data to support your claim or shut up! Better yet, why don't you do the research yourself? I'll even help you with the research design!

Be Blessed!

Skyy January 3, 2008 at 4:59 a.m.

Amen to that Dr. B!! It's so sad when people are blinded by their own ignorance! And who's the "loser" yet again??? LOL!

Joe January 3, 2008 at 5:46 p.m.

I did not attend walden.

I attended Kansas State University's online program in financial planning.

I passed the CFP exam on my first attempt.

I have no experience with any other online program other thatn K-State, but I feel that my education was first quality and would be willing to put it up against any education received at a traditional B&M University.

I see absolutely no reason why an individual could not get a first quality education at an institution such as Walden.

You will get out of an education what you as a student put into it.

Rick January 6, 2008 at 1:10 a.m.

Joe,

Kansas States program is worth while because it it a traditional school with standards.

Walden has no standards and is therefore a waste of time/money.

Rick

Shala January 6, 2008 at 6:53 p.m.

I refuse to get into a stupid argument regarding who's education is better but for those of you who do not think Walden has standards-you speak out of ignorance. I have just returned from a residency (which is a standard required) where I had several meetings with Walden's professors. Most of the professors graduated from traditional universities and are now teaching all over the world and at Walden (rich and impressive experience). I asked two of my professors (who graduated from a traditional university) to compare the quality of dissertation to those from a traditional university. They both stated that Walden's dissertations are superior as the internal reviews and standards set by Walden are far more intense than a at traditional university. Walden is producing more qualitative studies which are not as popular or published, but important to the social change ideology Walden holds dear. If you have ever conducted a qualitative study then you know the genius that it requires. My guess is many of you do not know the difference. They also stated that open enrollment does NOT infer lack of quality and stringent standards. There are many, many requirements students need to full fill in order to graduate. For those of you who are making incredibly stupid remarks, get a hobby. And don't bother to respond to me I won't reply, your not worth my time as I have a dissertation to work on. If you have something INTELLIGENT and informed to say-great!

In Peace- Shala

Dr. B January 6, 2008 at 9:43 p.m.

Hi Shala... my dissertation is a qualitative study.... I couldn't purchase my data like many at traditional institutions do....

Most people who make negative comments about Walden have 1. never enrolled, 2. never taken an advanced course and/or 3. have never taken an online class. They sure as hell haven't attended a Walden residency.

Don't let ignorant remarks from ignorant people get you ruffled. Keep pressing on with your education.

Best,

Dr. B

Joe January 6, 2008 at 10 p.m.

Dr. B

As I said above, I graduated from K-State's online program in financial planning (Masters level). I am looking for an online PhD in finance or a financial discipline. I am considering 3 schools: Walden, Northcentral, and Nova.

Can you give me an Idea of the strengths/weaknesses of each?

Like I said education is what each student puts into it. Anyone can get a quality education at an online school. Just find a school that is at least regionally accredited and you will be fine.

BTW, Rick your an idiot!

Joe

Mike B. January 7, 2008 at 1:06 a.m.

After reading all the comments on here, I have come to the following conclusion.

You people all have way to much time on your hands. I am considering an online graduate degree because I am way too busy to complete a masters traditionally.

Bottom line... if you want to get an online degree, one accredited school is probably just as good as any other.

And... If you don't respect online degrees, then don't get one...either way who the hell cares!!!

Jack T. January 7, 2008 at 1:10 a.m.

I am the original (and real) JAG. I changed my ID because some clown thinks its funny to say really stupid things and attribute them to me. I accually support advances in online education.

Dr. B January 7, 2008 at 1:33 p.m.

Hi Joe. I can only truly comment on Walden. However, from speaking with colleagues who have attended the other two institutions, I think that if you desire structure, Walden may the way to go. Nova only offers the DBA online (I think) whereas Walden offers a Ph.D. in finance. You will be required to attend face to face residencies (which are a great benefit) and complete a few kams.... which are pure hell...... I had one to be 142 pages!

If you're looking at a focus on research and publication... Walden may be the way to go. This is what helps you get faculty positions.

If you're looking for an institution with a social change mission... Walden is the only way to go (traditional or non-traditional).

This is what I would do: contact each institution. Ask to speak with alumni from each school. Walden has a newsletter (Ponder) and alumni magazine you can use to see where our graduates and students are going in industry and academe. Contact some of them. One good person to speak with is the Dean of the school of business at Oral Roberts University.

Also... over the past few months, I have posted some very objective information on this site... scroll back and take a look at them. There are links provided.

Best of luck,

Dr. B

--- January 13, 2008 at 5:20 p.m.

If this exchange is any evidence of the level of maturity that online "students" have than online education is truly worthless.

Blue Blood January 13, 2008 at 11:50 p.m.

Hi Sally. There have been imposters posting their stupidity on this site for quite some time. These are not online students. You should be able to read through the posts and discern what is fact, opinion, and uttered ignorance.

--- January 14, 2008 at 3:15 a.m.

Of course, it is worth noting that traditional B&M students found on a street corner puking their guts out after a great Friday night are mature too. You know, the real leadership types. Nothing like a good fraternity hazing or sorority mud wrestling event. How about those students who skip class because the pool hall was to inviting or maybe the next update of SportsCenter. I also like those mature guys who show their brute force on the street corner screaming, "Me Thor, you my girl, you stay with me" or "Me Thor, you touch woman, I beat you and prove my manliness" or maybe even, "Me Thor, uga, uga, uga, I dominate male." How about a good fire alarm pulling at 1:00 AM, "Look guys, the firemen are here, this is soooo cool!"

Yep, those B&M campuses and their 101 laughs, so mature.

... January 14, 2008 at 7:04 p.m.

I have seen valid concerns about the quality of online education expressed on this site, only to see the poster of these concern belittled by online supporters.

If you have to stoop to this level you have lost your arguement and proved that online is worthless.

Dr. B January 14, 2008 at 8:33 p.m.

Dear ----,

I think it would be best to go through each post and really look at the arguments. People have used others' screennames and posted immature comments... playing games...etc. My name has been misused several times in this forum, for instance. But people who really read my posts know what I am about and know that I did not make those posts.

People who are in favor of online education is not making those posts....

Please go back and read.

Dr. Dan 2007 January 15, 2008 at 5:18 a.m.

Wow, half the people making comments on this forum can't spell, nor are they able to punctuate correctly.

I am a Walden graduate. It is my 4th degree (1 Bachelors, 2 Master's). My 2nd Master's introduced me to professors who approached education from the European model. I got to know my professors personally. They challenged me to think critically, not just memorize. Walden was a similar experience. For myself, Walden was a positive experience where I built relationships with both peers and faculty mentors. I was able to directly apply my studies to my real life work. I can tell you that I was better prepared to do my job as a result of my Walden studies than I would have been had I been required to conform to the packaged lectures and classes of the brick and mortar institutions.

Dr. Dan 2007

--- January 15, 2008 at 3:34 p.m.

See, that is what I am talking about Dr. B. You are no better than the rest of them.

Dr. B January 20, 2008 at 1:22 p.m.

Just A Guy... this was posted before... and apparently you didn't read it. I hope you understand it this time. So here goes again.

Dr. B January 2, 2008 at 5:15 a.m.

Just A Guy... your opinion does not matter to me. No one has been able to show data to support their negative claim thus far. It has all been opinion!

My success and the success of my Walden colleagues proves that the Walden degree is accepted: both in industry and academe. I have provided proof of these things. So I could really care less what you or anyone else on your level may think.

Your name is NOT on my publications. Your name is NOT on any of the degrees that hang on my wall. Your name is NOT attached to my six figure salary. Your name is NOT on my mortgage NOR the wall outside my subdivision.

You DON'T matter! You have NO purpose!

Either show objective data to support your claim or shut up! Better yet, why don't you do the research yourself? I'll even help you with the research design!

Be Blessed!

Observant1 January 20, 2008 at 9:28 p.m.

It seems the only one Just A Guy is convincing is HIMSELF...I wouldn't even bother to respond to his idiotic ravings! He's probably sitting in front of his computer trying to think of another way to convince "HIMSELF" that Walden doesn't matter. "Since I can't provide any other proof let me just keep saying "fake degrees" over and over and maybe someone will actually believe me!!! LOL) Sounds like a plain case of JEALOUSY Dr. B, since he's too busy thinking of ways to discredit Walden instead of doing something positive and constructive with his own life. Based on all of his MILLIONS of postings one can see where he spends most of his time! And who's the pathetic loser again????? LOL!!

Jack T. January 21, 2008 at 6:09 p.m.

I am the original just a guy....

The posts that claim that I said that Walden is a fake school were posted by an imposter. He also posts fake comments unter my title Jack T.

I never said Walden degrees were fake. The Imposter did.
This individual is childish.

This forum could be used to promote both the strengths and weaknesses of online education as well as B&M schools. Instead it has devolved into a worthless site due to childishness on the part of one or more people. If you will look at the earlier posts on the Northcentral site you will realize that I am not anti-online. On the contrary I want online to succeed. (As a part-time online professor, It makes me money).

My biggest contention is this...and simpley this....

The online schools of Walden, Capella, NCU, and UoP are too costly when compared to the quality and respect of traditional B&M school's online programs.

Is this a matter of opinion?? YES, I NEVER SAID ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY. But yet inevitably people who graduated from or are attending one of the schools mentioned above will try to say that I am ANTI-ONLINE and that I said "online degrees are fake" The truth is I have been defamed by an imposter who has hijacked this site with trivial non-sence.

Fact is I am not 60-65... I am 34. I am technichally literate and believe that online education is here to stay.
I simply think there is better value to be had in the traditional school's online programs. That said make your own decision as to where you want to go to school. I really couldn't care less.

Jack (JAG)

Jack T. January 21, 2008 at 6:10 p.m.

Pardon the typos above

Jack T. January 21, 2008 at 7:44 p.m.

I am anti for profit when considering online schools. I see another imposter just posed as me again. Frankly, this is tiresome. I wish people would post under their own name, but then I suppose I am on a for profit college review board, which means I am dealing with people to inept to learn and struggle with even the basics of commonsense. With that said, I believe online classes are great, but for profit schools have no business making money off students.

I propensity on this site is to spin it that I do not support online education, which is not true. I just do not support for profit online education and I don't support the students who make the choice to go to those schools. However, do what you want imminent failure is upon you.

I would also like to address "Dr." B. Your continued drivel on this board further supports my earlier salient points that you are nothing more than a "fake Dr." "Dr." B claims to be this insightful and intellectual "Dr." who is superior to others with his title, but in reality, he is a failure in life and happened upon Walden in hopes of turning his fortunes around. I wish you well "Dr." B, but do not come crying to mean when you fail and fall into miserable debt because Walden put their hands in your pocketbook.

“Just Wondering…” has a name that sums it all up. He “wonders” about many things, but does not have the thinking capacity to say any more than, “do research,” “Capella is good,” “Walden is good,” “I am not a monkey learning.” If you put faith into “Dr.” B or Just Wondering…, you have failed.

Dr. B January 23, 2008 at 1:03 a.m.

Hey Just Wondering! I thought you'd like it. lol Just think... out of all the negativity posted on this board... 15,000 students and 17,000 alumni... hmmmmmmm .... plus the College of Education and Leadership has its own peer reviewed journal too.... hmmmmmmm.

Be Blessed!

DWW January 23, 2008 at 1:53 p.m.

Dr. B,

We spoke about 3-4 months ago in regard to the PhD in Finance. Can you send me your contact info to this dummy email address. darrylthenupe@gmail.com. I know people will will misuse it, however I would like to ask you some more questions about the program. Thanks in advance.

Kind Regards,

DWW

--- January 25, 2008 at 4:23 p.m.

Walden MBA Cost = $24,000+

Kansas States Online MBA Cost = $17,400

Does anyone here seriously think that a Walden MBA is worth 41% more than a MBA from K-State?

K-State is respected much more and costs significantly less. You people that are attending Walden are seriously wasting your money.

--- January 25, 2008 at 4:52 p.m.

You can get a quality education regardless of where you get your degree from but why waste your money

Dr. B January 25, 2008 at 5:21 p.m.

I have degrees from AACSB and ACBSP accredited institutions. In fact, according to the Washington Post, my AACSB institution outranked Princeton. I could have easily gone back there for my doctorate. However.... I would not have been able to network with the caliber of people that attend that institution because traditional institutions tend to recruit their own type.

Many doors have been opened to me because of Walden. We take care of our own... just like traditional universities do.

If I had to choose between a job candidate that went to Walden and one from Harvard... there is no doubt that I will choose the Walden candidate. That's because I know for a fact, they have the education and work experience behind them that I need to get the job done.

--- January 25, 2008 at 8:47 p.m.

All other things being equal???

Naturally if you have two candidates one of whom has significant field experience and a degree from Walden while the other has only a degree from Harvard with no experience you have to give the experienced candidate their just due.

But if you have two candidates with equal experiance levels one from Walden and one from Harvard, and you still choose the candidate from Walden (Because of where he/she attended school) then you are truly delusional.

Dr. B January 25, 2008 at 10:49 p.m.

I'm not delusional.... i'm simply doing what traditionalists have done for 100s of years...... which is my prerogative to carry on the tradition.

If I had a chance to hire someone from my undergraduate university (AACSB) and they had common sense with a desire to learn.... I would hire them over other candidates. If I have a chance to hire someone from my master's university (ACBSP)... I would hire them over other candidates. If I had a chance to hire someone from Walden.... I would hire them over other candidates.... If i had the chance to hire someone in my fraternity..... I would definitely hire them over other candidates.

And yes I would show favoritism....not just because of a common bond.... but mostly because I would be able to reside with the fact that....

1. we take care of our own,

2. the level of education they earned is solid, and

3. i can simply trust them a little bit better.

This happens all the time. Is it right? No. Do I participate in it? Hell yes! Will I stop? Hell no because I've benefited from it and am gonna keep the train going. I got my first intern position because I went to the same university as the gentleman who hired me.... oh well! lol

People have been doing this for years... how do you think the "good ole boy" network began? Why do you think Harvard, until about 5 years ago, had a rule where no one could earn less than a -B? Why do you think Harvard and all the other top schools are not filled with the world's best and brightest anymore? People take care of their own pedigree!

Systemic... yes...

Am I to blame... no.

--- January 26, 2008 at 1:41 a.m.

Me thinks thou doest protest too much

Dr. B January 26, 2008 at 2:21 a.m.

Say what??????

--- January 26, 2008 at 3:42 a.m.

This is a pointless argument. If someone came to me with a Walden degree I would hire them if I thought they were qualified. Same for Harvard.

Harvard, is turning out less qualified candidates in my opinion because they have bowed to pressure to be politically correct. (If you are a minority, you have a better chance of getting into Harvard than a better qualified anglo-saxon)

The point is (all else being equal) I would hire someone who received their degree from a reputable state supported school before WALDEN OR HARVARD. Because I know I'm getting an employee who understands the value of a dollar and won't waste it when they don't have too.($17400 vs $24000+ for the same degree...Pure stupidity)

8765 January 29, 2008 at 1:19 a.m.

Real classy online "degree holder" real classy...

January 29, 2008 at 7:54 p.m.

As is evidenced by this site anyone who attends over priced for profit online schools are complete idiots.

Transparent January 31, 2008 at 4:51 p.m.

I have been reading this site for quite some time. If you read back a little bit, Dr. B. DID say that he/she was not to respond to you anymore.

Dr. B January 31, 2008 at 11:29 p.m.

Okay, so Walden is for second class citizens who cannot make it anywhere else so they pay to get in so the school can make profit. It also wants to keep you enrolled, so no homework necessary. But we are taking a page from ITT to become better.

Just Observing February 1, 2008 at 12:41 a.m.

(Just a Guy) What are your credentials? I know many individuals such as yourself who derive the greatest gratification from creating controversy. I would love to meet you in person. You hide behind the protection of a chat room and criticize decisions that individual make regarding their educational choices. Reveal who you are and stop hiding your identity.

Dr. B February 1, 2008 at 3:41 a.m.

The real one.......

I hope you all know that the 11:29pm posting was not me. I guess that's the problem with no required login information. Anyone can use other's alias.

Dr. B February 1, 2008 at 6:12 p.m.

The real one......

I agree with the 11:29pm posting though. These schools give the illusion of having an education. Like Kia cars that offer a 10 year warranty to make it look like a quality car.

Just A Guy February 1, 2008 at 10:47 p.m.

UHHHH posting to message boards.... UHHHH surfing the net.....UHHH posting to message boards...UHHHH...tipping over cows...UHHH surfing the net....UHHH... did I say posting to message boards...oh ok...surfing the net...LOL!!

Just A Guy February 1, 2008 at 10:51 p.m.

By the way...those are my credentials! Not my extracurricular activities!

Dr. B. February 2, 2008 at 8:37 p.m.

Here is an awesome article:

alumnimag.waldenu.edu/24688_24733.htm

Dr. B. February 2, 2008 at 8:46 p.m.

With Alumni Accolades like these.... there is absolutely no reason for me to argue with people about Walden.... especially ignorant ones like Just A Guy......

Notice any traditional academic positions listed?

alumnimag.waldenu.edu/24685_24832.htm

Renee February 3, 2008 at 8:13 p.m.

I am a current student in the Ph.D. Clinical Psychology program at Walden University. For those of you who think Walden is a diploma mill, you could not be further from the truth. It is totally obvious when you post remarks about the school and it's programs that you have no idea of just how rigorous their programs are. I have a B.A. and my M.A. from a traditional brick and mortar school and probably would have gotten my Ph.D. at the same location but they do not have a Ph.D. program. Because the only brick and mortar schools are located in other towns and because I have family obligations and responsibilities, the only alternative was to attend school online. I am accustomed to receiving a top quality education (my Masters was completed at Mercer University School of Medicine!) and I have not been disappointed with the education that I have received here at Walden. Dr. B is correct in that it does no good to argue with those who express ignornant opinions like Just a Guy when they have nothing to base their comments on....... One thing Walden teaches us is not to express your opinion without empricial evidence. Ummm.....maybe they don't teach that in traditional Ph.D. programs. Ummm??

kb February 4, 2008 at 2:07 p.m.

I will be starting in March 08 in the Ph.D General Psychology program. I have read the good, bad and ugly. I have undergraduat and graduate in social work from 2 higly regarded institutions from SC. I want to teach in the college setting. Will my degree by valued by academia. Please respond those that are in academia or received degrees from Walden

So How February 4, 2008 at 2:13 p.m.

Can you really be proud to go to a school that accepts everyone? On top of that, they have every reason to keep you in classes and make sure you pass. If you fail out, they lose money. They pay high dividends to stock holders and do not reinvest in the school like they should. The professors come from other for-profits like Capella, Phoenix, NCU, etc. Have you noticed most for-profits have their own little world? Each one will hire from the rest. But non-profits rarely hire from these graduates. Maybe it's "academic profiling", but its also common sense.

Dr. B February 4, 2008 at 4:41 p.m.

KB... if you're aspiring to work in academe, it's important that you fully understand that no matter where you earn your doctorate, if you do not publish, you will definitely perish. There are critics of Harvard, just like there are some of Walden. But if you'd rather hide behind a school's name versus your own hard work, perhaps another institution will be best for you.

People like "So How" who have absolutely no idea what they're talking about will try to hold you down. But I can honestly attest that my Walden credentials have yet to hinder me......

Walden University is not publicly traded. A little research will prove that. It is student centered, but has no need to keep anyone in their program for money. Walden has endowments and tons of research funding available to recruit the academic candidates it wants in its programs. GRE and GMAT do not imply or guarantee student success in graduate programs. In fact, attrition is high everywhere! The Carnegie Foundation recently published research that looks at how doctoral programs can do a better job keeping doctoral students in their programs.

In final.... anyone who does not want to work hard.... they definitely do not need to apply to Walden.

kb February 4, 2008 at 6:26 p.m.

Thanks so much! Dr. B. I found another alumni who is teaching who graduated from Walden and she is willing to share her experiences. Thanks

Dr. B February 4, 2008 at 6:42 p.m.

You're welcome KB. You may also try contacting Walden's alumni association to speak with alumni. Also read the alumni magazine (link posted above)..... look at the community news and alumni accolades. Also... take a look at the Walden Ponder, you'll find all the academic/scholarly activities current students, faculty, and alumni are participating in. Many of them are very active with APA, which is why Walden is in the process of revamping its clinical psychology program......

So How February 5, 2008 at 2:29 a.m.

Dr. B, please show me where the majority of doctoral students from Walden teach. I bet most are in the for profit education area. Second, Walden is no longer publically traded since they were bought out, but they still respond to shareholders, the same ones who run a bank.

None February 5, 2008 at 2:44 a.m.

I think Just a Guy (So How) just reinvented himself...poor soul!! Must really live a lonely life....all those multiple personalities! Next alias he should post under should be Sybil!

Dr. B February 5, 2008 at 4:13 a.m.

So How.... show me where the majority of any institution's doctoral students teach. Hell I have friends who have a Ph.D. from Rutgers and one from Emory..... both of them have been unemployed going on a year now.

You and many others fail to understand that Walden has a scholar-practitioner curriculum. The university not only prepares its students to teach, but also lead organizations and perform research. Walden is not an academic institution for pure academics and lab rats. It's an institution for social change agents, leaders, and scholar-practitioners. There is a difference.

Ignorance and a closed mind is what makes people think that earning a doctorate is just to teach at the college level. A doctorate allows one to do whatever the hell he/she wants to do. I have a colleague who earned his Ph.D. from UoChicago and has told me that he never ever wants to go into the classroom. Instead, he works in student affairs.... because that is where his passion is. I earned my doctorate and went directly into the classroom... and at a 125 year old liberal arts college. I also do consulting. I'm published. I present at conferences.... I do exactly what I want to do.

You keep making claims about the individual(s) who own Walden. No one really gives a damn because Walden is operated just like any other non-profit institution. It has a provost and a president who call all the shots. There is faculty governance and tons of accountability. Just because Walden doesn't pipe its net profits back into athletics just like B&M schools...... there is no difference. Just like traditional schools, Walden has Accreditations, Peer Reviewed Journals, professional conferences, aggressive research agenda, scholarships, fellowships, professionally and academically qualified faculty, full-time faculty, part-time faculty, and plenty of opportunities.

Walden has been given high marks by US News and Reports and the Washington Post. And not once has it criticized who owned the University. The fact is, Walden is networked with 25 solid international universities. Tons of diversity. Tons of opportunities.

Everything you're saying is BASELESS. Put an end to your antiquated views about Walden and let it go.

kb February 5, 2008 at 1:48 p.m.

I have done research for the past 6 months on Walden and have spoken to several graduate in the Ph.D that are teaching in Universities such as Winthrop, University of Colorado and Nevada.

Dr. B February 5, 2008 at 2:25 p.m.

So How.... since you want to be so matter of fact about things..... Walden's Richard Riley College of Education and Leadership has 15,000 students and 17,000 alumni..... ALL of them teach in some arm of education.... private and state. I know this for a fact because they have to in order to enter the College.

So How February 5, 2008 at 3:13 p.m.

Still didn't answer my question. With so many students enrolled, its like a UoP degree. Brag about over 300K+ enrolled, but your just a number that not many respect. I work in academics as an adjunct and when the faculty review CV for tenure, they won't even consider an online phd or any for-profit one. It doesn't show acadmic rigor. To prove a point, why is it so many for-profits have a deep need to defend their degree? This should tell you something about the thoughts and opinions of people, even the ones who have the degree who are defending it.

Dr. B February 5, 2008 at 3:51 p.m.

So How......I see I'm going to have to do you like I did JAG......

This is my last response to you.... you're stuck in a very minimalist and antiquated frame of mind. You're not worth the time in discussion.

I have never had to defend my degree to anyone. I have been offered faculty positions... and never have I had to serve as an adjunct. My question to you is how can you judge something you've never been a part of? How can you question Walden's rigor and you've never set foot into a residency or taken a class? That's ignorance!

You're a little adjuct. I'm full time. I have publications and presentations on my CV.... do you? I don't hide behind a school's brand..... My work speaks for me. You claim that search committees won't consider a Walden Ph.D. (I can't speak for other institutions).... but that's a lie. I have provided plenty of examples on this board and KB has backed me with a few others....

Achieving tenure at any university is a difficult task. Why do you have faculty at universities staging hunger strikes to get it.... read the Chronicle.. You have people from Harvard to never reach tenure. There is a major weakness in your argument. Walden has a very impressive amount of doctoral alumni who are college administrators, deans, and tenure/tenure track faculty.

You're looking at admissions numbers... and not graduation numbers or graduate success...... which is stupid and ignorant on your part! But I say to you again, not every student goes into Walden with the hopes of teaching! Stop being a minimal thinker.

Skyy February 5, 2008 at 6:57 p.m.

I have a question for So How/Jag...why didn't he answer the question that was asked awhile back of posting his credentials? Is there something for him to hide or be ashamed of? Dr. B and many others have not hidden the fact of what their credentials are. What else has he done besides post meaningless comments on message boards...which in his case he's fabulous at!! One thing that's for certain is that people who have little/nothing to offer in life want to degrade or belittle people who do. So, So How/JAG (and it's totally obvious that it's the same person...because it's the same argument!) let's see your "impressive" list of accomplishments/publications/accolades. We're waiting..............

kb February 5, 2008 at 8:34 p.m.

I have a question what is the difference between Regional and National Accreditation

Dr. B February 5, 2008 at 9:17 p.m.

These are some very good, valid sites to answer your question, KB.

www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.ht...

www.elearners.com/guide-to-online-educat...

Dr. B February 5, 2008 at 10:46 p.m.

KB..... in addition to the list you gave... you can also add tenured faculty at the University of North Colorado too.... aacsb accredited.

Raynman February 6, 2008 at 2:37 a.m.

I am considering a Masters of Public Administration through Walden. My other consideration is Indiana State via distance learning.

Has anyone received their MPA through Walden? How did this work out?

Please let me know.

thanks

DWW February 6, 2008 at 7:40 p.m.

Dr.B,

The is Darryl, check your email so that I can get your correct phone number. (it was missing the last digit)

kb February 7, 2008 at 1:29 p.m.

Not the whole truth
By: Anonymous (In Progress) on February 1, 2008

Materials: Teachers:
Institution: Support:
Value: Technology:

Review:

I was enrolled in Walden's clinical psychology PhD program. First of all the so called admissions advisors constantly call you to get you to enroll. They casually tell you that you have three residencies to attend within a 13 month span.(That is if you are going for licensure. What they fail to mention is that these three residencies are two weeks long. That means you have to take of 6 weeks in a year, in addition to that you must attend two conferences that are at least 3-4 days in length. Like Northcentral University the instructors rarely get back to you if you have a question. Though they have a grading system like anyother school it can be arbitrary. I left Walden because a teacher wanted me to have citations after everyother sentence, giving me a very low grade. We tried to resolve the issue but I felt it was useless. I felt is was basically busy work and though I received all A's in my courses I felt as if I wasn't learning anything. What is most time consuming are the posts. In some classes you have to post papers, projects 2-3 times in a week. The interaction with the other students in the online classroom was interesting, yet I felt it didn't offer anything extra.

I am hearing varios comments and concerns from many people concerning online education. Hopefully, when people write more of these reviews the colleges will get the message and try to change.

Dr. B how do u respond to something like this. It just concerns me since i am pursuing my Ph.d in Pyschology.

Dr. B February 7, 2008 at 5:18 p.m.

I can take this from different facets.... but basically it is all common sense, KB.

www.waldenu.edu/c/Schools/Schools_7319.h... read this page too: www.waldenu.edu/c/Schools/Schools_9609.h... so you tell me why this person didn't know? i do not feel sorry for him/her. everything is spelled out!

This person obviously cannot spell or read. For clinical psychology (which is one of Walden's toughest programs), all residency information is published in the University catalog with curricula, in university brochures, and in each student's school. It is not the admission's counselor or recruiter's job to hold a student's hand. There are no secrets. Clinical Psych is a licensure program. Students have 120 plus 500 plus another 1200 or so hours they must put in face to face, clinicals, and test-outs. They must complete a practicum, they must complete an internship. Would you want an ill-prepared psychologist treating you? Hell no! lol

The person also mentioned a two conference requirement.... is that a bad thing? Give me a break. lol

The Clinical Psych program lasts on average 6 years at Walden. This "poster" is obviously pissed because they didn't make the cut and they were probably dismissed. Oh well.. screw them.

Professors are required to respond to students' work within 10 business days... that's major assignments. They are more active in the online courseroom. Faculty also post their home/office/cell numbers for students to call them if there is an issue.

This person stated that they received all A's, but right before that they stated that they received a low grade for not referencing their work..... duh? Like all rigorous doctoral programs, Walden requires a deep knowledge and proper usage of APA. If a student doesn't know it... they're not going to make it... plain and simple. APA is addressed in the very first class and the APA manual is the first book a Walden student is required to purchase.

This person obviously took Walden's open admission policy for a joke.... which is funny as hell to me because it came back and bit him/her in the ass. But I think it's a good thing because it shows that even though Walden will let you in.... only the fittest will survive (Darwinian Theory).

Walden is a solid institution with rigorous curricula that WILL NOT graduate garbage or the weak!

So How February 7, 2008 at 9:21 p.m.

Walden is a ripoff who wants to make money. You doctoral degree is worthless and no better than a piece of paper I can make with contruction paper and crayon to say the same thing.

Newk February 7, 2008 at 10:07 p.m.

So How is obviously another disgruntled drop out.

February 8, 2008 at 1:21 p.m.

This whole site is completely useless. There is no sign in so anyone can post anythis no valid discussion of the strengths/weaknesses of online programs can be made.

Why bother???

So How February 8, 2008 at 3:35 p.m.

What makes it so much more funny is the idea that Dr. B claims to be a doctor from Walden, but spends so much time on this website defending and hyping up Walden. Its so funny he thinks this is a real college and people respect it! HA HA! So Dr. this is what Walden grads do with their time, try to explain their "valid" degree!?!?!? HA HA HA!

Dr. B February 8, 2008 at 5:01 p.m.

One thing about it all, So How, is that you really don't matter! I teach 3 classes a day, have a grad assistant to grade all of my work, and a secretary to take calls and type memorandums. My office hours are minimal and I have met my quota for publications this year.

So you can say whatever the hell you want..... you still don't matter.

Be Blessed!

kb February 8, 2008 at 5:45 p.m.

I like you Dr. B!

Here's the thing February 8, 2008 at 6:54 p.m.

This site claims to provide un-biased degree reviews LOL

I've never seen a more biased forum (both for and against)

The site is completely useless for anyone attempting to make a rational decision as to attend (or not attend) a particular online school.

Walden alum (Thats you Dr. B) are naturally going to tell you that Walden is a great school. If they said anything otherwise, they would be idiots for continuing to attend.

I would not recommend using this site to determine if you want to attend Walden or any of the other UoP clones.

I personally would not attend walden because I think there are MUCH better online options available...But, thats not saying that you can't get a good education at Walden (You can, because its all what you, as a student, put into it.)

Walden grads have made in-roads in academia and have had very successful careers. The question is... Is this the best choice available...The answer in my mind is a clear NO.

Dr. B February 8, 2008 at 10:12 p.m.

Thanks for your input. Of course I'm going to naturally tell people what a WONDERFUL university Walden is. But one thing you may have missed is that I back it up with OBJECTIVE support. This support is more than enough for anyone to make an informed decision about applying and/or perhaps attending Walden. So you betcha!

I hate to be braggadocios. However I use my success as an example that Walden degrees are accepted in both industry and academe. It all comes down to how the student applies his/her education. YES.... you can attend Walden and not get a job but you can also attend Rutgers and Emory, and Chicago and not get one either.....

I just want people to stop passing ignorant judgement on Walden. If there is something bad published about Walden... please feel free to post a link. I would love to see it. Otherwise..... these personal opinions mean absolutely nothing. That's why I provide plenty of OBJECTIVE support.

Here's the Thing February 9, 2008 at 1:06 a.m.

I never said Walden was bad...What I asked was...Is Walden the best online school available?

When you consider Cost, Reputation, technology etc...

I feel that there are better options...Is that just personal opinion? Absolutely.

All I recommend is that folks who are considering completing their education online. Do some serious research on all the available online programs in their respective field...When considering cost, reputation, etc... Could Walden be the best option? Possibly but doubtful.

This is especially true at the undergraduate/masters level.

At the doctoral level there are not too many other games in town, But that is likely to change in the future as traditional B&Ms realize that developing online doctoral programs is a good Idea (Which, in my OPINION, is bound to happen.) There are already several out there. (Indiana State, University of Maryland and South Dakota State, come to mind with Kansas State in the process of developing an online doctorate)

For now I do agree that Walden has the best online DOCTORATE programs available when compared to the big four. (Walden, Capella, NCU, and UoP)

However, at the undergrad/masters level there are much better options available. I'm not pushing any particular school. Just perform due diligence and you will find the right online school for you.

So How February 12, 2008 at 12:24 a.m.

Walden is still for those who cannot make it anywhere else. Plain and simple. I would be willing to place a nice wager that well over 90% of Walden applicants could not get into a traditional phd program.

Mr. Telephone Man February 13, 2008 at 1:47 a.m.

Hi So How. Have you acquired the data necessary to support your bet? If so, what is its source?

Confused February 14, 2008 at 5:50 p.m.

Walden has helped me enhance my career and move in directions that would have not been possible prior to graduation. I have an MBA with concentration in HRM. There are skeptics out there for the degree. Anyone who claims Walden is just as accepted in the world as Harvard or any other B&M is wrong. I have been told before Walden is not an acceptable MBA because it’s not a real degree. This is going to be the case for a while until online is full integrated into society. The case against the so called "for-profits" I understand. I don't think it is fair however, to compare Walden to Phoenix, Capella, or ITT. Walden has a history that proves itself. The idea that "they might go the way of Phoenix" is not fair, given the history. Just as it’s not fair to compare Penn State to Harvard. If Walden was out for money, they have had a long time to become greedy and start taking and graduating an outrageous number of people.

So, in conclusion, yes, Walden is not on the same playing field as a traditional school to some people and places. But it takes the individual to be able to overcome this small inconvenience and prove themselves. The degree is just a qualification that says "I have this credential". Your history is what says "I am the best candidate for this job, not my degree".

HC February 14, 2008 at 7:37 p.m.

I completed the MPH (Public Health)program at Walden, and although Walden is accredited by the North Central Association, it is NOT accredited by the Council on Education of Public Health (CEPH) which is a deal breaker if you're ever wanting to get a public health career. So basically, I wasted $22,000 in student loans for a degree that won't help me get a job...I would not recommend Walden for their MPH program.

OMG February 15, 2008 at 12:36 a.m.

Any student who attends Walden is adult enough to make an informed decision about their career and education. HC has no one to blame but him or her self. If I knew that CEPH was necessary for my career goals as a public health official, I would not have gone into the program. But you must keep in mind that no institution begins accredited and they must graduate a certain amount of students in order to even get to the self-study/application phase of accreditation.

Walden has publically made its intent to apply for CEPH in the near future known. It is a member of APHA. The programs are three track, ones for a bachelors and no masters degree, one for CEPH accredited master's degree holders, and one with non-CEPH master's degree holders. Accreditation is a process!

Walden emphasizes participation in professional communities for programs and careers. When students enroll at Walden, they'll get a free one-year membership to the American Public Health Association. Walden has also held face-to-face Ph.D. in Public Health residencies at APHA conventions, where students have made presentations based on their coursework and research.

Walden's public health program is extremely new. The university did not graduate its first set of graduates until 2005. Let's be real! It takes time!

punxy_girl February 15, 2008 at 7:56 p.m.

Dr. B,
I just finished my M.S. in Psychology at Walden. I'd like to go on for my PhD in Counseling Psychology by licensure is a HUGE issue. You stated previously that "there were ways around this". These are? Brick and mortars are not an alternative as the nearest are 2 1/2 hours away, and while I do not currently work, I am a full time wife and mother of 4, and live in an area of brutal winters.

Dr. B February 15, 2008 at 10:31 p.m.

Punxy_girl.... hi. Do you have any other licenses? What state are you in?

Here's the Thing February 16, 2008 at 1:34 p.m.

Based on the last several comments I reitterate my contention that Walden is definately NOT the best option available.

Robert Thomas February 16, 2008 at 6:46 p.m.

I had been attending New Mexico State University's B&M campus but had to drop back to part-time due to work obligations.

I decided to enroll with Walden inorder to continue my college education on a full time basis.

I enrolled in two undergraduate online classes at Walden. I was shocked by the lack of quality in both of these classes. Speaking from personal experience....WALDEN SUCKS.

I'm going back to NMSU's ground campus program. if it takes me a little longer to finish it will still be worth it.

Robert Thomas

Nicole M. February 16, 2008 at 8 p.m.

If Walden is not accredited by the Council on Education of Public Health (CEPH), why would anyone in their right mind would want to enroll in the Masters of Public Health (MPH) program in the first place? The Degree would be useless as far as getting a job. That would mean throwing $22,000 down the drain.

punxy_girl February 17, 2008 at 6:38 p.m.

Dr. B, I am in Pennsylvania and hold no other licenses.

punxy_girl February 17, 2008 at 6:46 p.m.

Walden may not be the BEST, but it may be the ONLY for some of us. Like I stated, it is a two and one half hour drive to the nearest APA accredited university for me (one way). Factor in gas prices, brutal winters, and 4 children. It is either Walden or no degree. As I look around my region, there are very few psychologists, maybe 1-2 per county in an 8 county area. It's a poor, very rural area of the state. It's like they think PA is only Philly, Pittsburgh, and that little mess of Harrisburgh/St. College/Johnstown and forget about the rest of us. It's not even like I'd make much money for all it would cost me. I'd be better off working at the factory at this point. Gack.

Dr. B February 17, 2008 at 11:52 p.m.

punxy_girl..... you may want to call the PA psycology licensure department and check. because you are not currently practicing under a license... you may be at a disadvantage in PA. i just checked the licensure application and it states apa or cpa accredited institutions. but you may be good if you were to do an online at fielding, which is apa accredited.

but for now... your best bet is to contact them directly.

punxy_girl February 18, 2008 at 2:29 p.m.

Thanks, Dr. B. I am looking at Fielding. But they have a 25% acceptance rate into their psych program. Scary. I did call the PA board--they've never allowed a Walden graduate to take the exam.

Dr. B February 18, 2008 at 4:02 p.m.

Fielding is a good school. One of the Walden faculty on my dissertation committee earned her Ph.D. there. Fielding had to sue to get apa accreditation. I think they require interviews too.

Dr. B February 18, 2008 at 5:03 p.m.

One more thing..... only Fielding's Clinical Psych program is accredited by APA. So if you're not trying to go into clinical psych... this won't do you any good either. That's why it may be good to only do a post doc there. Most of Walden's Ph.D. students are already eligible to practice under LMFT or some other type of license. If you're open relocating to the great state of Texas, or California.... you're more than welcome to apply for licensure there. :-)

he he February 18, 2008 at 9:09 p.m.

Basically, Walden is useless.

kb February 19, 2008 at 3:29 p.m.

Dr. B

I spoke with you before i am pursuing my Ph.D at Walden in General Psychology i dont want to go into private practice but teach at a University. Will that be an obstacle because the program is not APA accredited or does it only matter if you want to become licensed.

Dr. B February 19, 2008 at 8:09 p.m.

APA may definitely be an issue.... especially if you go try to go into an APA accredited program. You may, however, try teaching at smaller liberal arts colleges. APA also has ways for you to get APA accredited interships that will help solidify your credentials. Of course, it is of most importance that you join APAGS and APA after graduation. You need to actively participate and you must publish, present, publish, and present some more.

Even though getting a faculty position is difficult at apa schools, it's not the end all. While attending a colloquium this summer at the Univ of MN, one of the presenters was a recent Walden graduate and had secured a tenure track position at a large university in South Carolina.... but she worked her A$$ off!

He He February 19, 2008 at 8:48 p.m.

I am He He, Commander of the universe....Walden Degrees are worthless

Walden Wannabe February 20, 2008 at 6:14 a.m.

Im interested in the MPA degree ( Masters of Public Administration with an emphasis in public policy)...I am Canadian...has anyone had any luck with this degree?

Walden Wannabe February 20, 2008 at 6:48 p.m.

Has anyone attended A.T Still University for their ONLINE programs? Your thoughts?

Worried February 22, 2008 at 2:53 a.m.

Did I just spend the last two years earning a masters degree nobody is going to respect? I will review this question later, but how valid is this website? Since its not a dot-com, it may be a bit more valid, but this no-logon post thing makes everyone a bit more decietful.

Blue Blood February 22, 2008 at 3:43 a.m.

Why be insecure about your educational investment? If you learned something, put it to work. Make it work.

For Profit School Groupie February 24, 2008 at 6:34 p.m.

I hear Walden is under a major re-org. One of the new execs is a Susan Saxton (who was formerly at Kaplan & Cappela & maybe others). Is this a good thing that Walden is recruiting in people like this? Does anyone have a good read on how solvent Walden is and its future? Seems like a very competitive industry. I also heard rumor that Walden is buying some B&M schools in the states. What do people know?

CA Walden Student February 28, 2008 at 7:03 a.m.

Dr. B.,

I have been reading over many of these post and find them interesting to say the least; however, you mentioned in your 18 February 2008 post that relocation to California would work. Of course since I live in the state I know a little about what CA desires, but do you have any additional information about CA and Ph.D. in Clinical Psych acceptance. As I read through alot of these post, I never felt concerned about acceptance or my future because I live in CA and (I have to laugh when I say this), but I think I am in a better situation than perhaps other Walden students because CA State doesn't really present themselves with strict licensing requirements. Mental Health workers and Lawyers seem to walk off the stage and into a job (good paying ones too).

As you seem to have alot of information, could you enlighten me into Internship possibilities in CA? I am still about 18 months from starting that journey, but thought I would get in some networking. Thanks.

Dr. B February 28, 2008 at 5:20 p.m.

Hi Ca.

There are plenty of Walden students who plan to seek licensure in CA. If you're not a member of APAGS, it would be in your better interest to become one and get active asap.

APA accreditation does not guarantee licensure. But California will allow non APA graduates to sit for the exam. To that end, it would be in your best interest to make sure that you've done everything necessary to prepare... especially if you're not currently practicing with your master's credentials.

Most institutions/states require for internships to be from APA accredited institutions. A membership in APAGS will subject you to those possibilities. Also, you can go back to your old institutions and try to work with faculty you may have something in common with. You're going to have to network and perhaps use all of the resources available to you.

You also need to contact CA's psychology board for licensing information. They do allow Walden graduates to sit for the exams. You also need to start building a portfolio of transcripts, test-out analysis...etc so that you can show evidence that your educational experience has truly prepared you for the intership position.

Hope this helps.

CA Walden Student February 28, 2008 at 7:34 p.m.

Dr. B.,

Thanks for the information and very fast response. Much of what you had indicated I have already planned on addressing, which also means working hard as you mentioned. I think that alot of the negative postings on here about online schools in general (not just Walden) are due to the requirement of having to put in a little more work to get what someone else may be able to get without as much effort. Since I am not affraid of a little work I am just glad there is opportunity. I did notice that Walden shows up on the CA licensing results from past years, but like one other post had mentioned I believe it only shows up once, which is to say not very good statistics. lol. However, what does that say about others? Well, perhaps they didn't study hard enough, I don't know. But, what I do know is if you are afforded an oppotuntiy to sit for an exam and you blow it, I think a majority of the responsibility falls on the tester and not some foundation of education to which you were subject.

Either way thanks for the information. I am going into my third year and do not practice under my master's credentials, due to military committments. However, I plan on working towards MFT licensing in the interim. As you mentioned I believe that will serve as a good indicator that I am willing and able to provide sound services to possible internship opportunities. I also plan on joining a variety of organizations. Besides the APAGS do you recommend any others? I want to avoid being "that student" that just joins everything to say he has, if you know what I mean? Thanks once again.

Dr. B February 28, 2008 at 10:32 p.m.

Hi CA..... I try to check the board in between classes and meetings... lol So you got lucky today. :=)

One thing to note is that Walden's School of Psychology is still pretty new. Also, while Walden graduates a representative amount of doctorates in psychology.... many of them are not in clinical psych.... the program is just plain hard and takes a long time to complete. I have a colleague who is headed into her 5th year... and she's actively done residencies and testing hours. It's just a hard program. And from what I've been told, the clinical psych program is being revamped; adding more full time faculty and more rigorous. So good luck to you! lol

As for licensing... Walden is more representative in other states. MN accepts Walden's clinical psych doctorate and quite a few others.

Just remember this: work hard... publish... present at APA conferences.... and network. But most of all... publish, publish, publish.

Dr. B February 29, 2008 at 5:10 a.m.

Walden University 2008 Winter Commencement: www.waldenu.edu/c/about/commencementwint...

President Kaplan was officially installed as the 8th President. His investiture address sums all that Walden stands for.

Enjoy!

CA February 29, 2008 at 7:39 p.m.

LOL,

I definitely hear what you are saying. I have to appreciate you for your sense of humor, lol, and the fact is you get what you put in. I have already felt some of the effects of Walden's academic requirements. Not pretty, way difficult, but difficult is good. I am standing my ground and I approach each class with a new sense of motivation and desire to master the material.

Of course, being active duty in the Navy and having deployed to war twice already provides for additional stressors. Working as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician, which is a hard program, gave me the confidence to accomplish many things, but leave it to me that out of all the programs to pick, I pick the one that is "just plan hard." lol. The good thing is that I have enjoyed the adventure so far and I think that alone is a good enough reason to continue my pursuit.

Thanks for all of your assistance and I look forward to chatting with you periodically throughout my studies.

Cheers.

Dr. B February 29, 2008 at 8:07 p.m.

CA... have you taken a look at the Winter commencement? Out of 3000 graduates, only 3 doctorates in psychology marched. lol Most of the doctorates were in Education... not many in other areas. That goes to show that you're in a good place. Yes Walden has open admissions... but only the strongest will survive.... Social Darwinism. :-)

Keep your head up..!!!

BTW.... be sure to read this month's Ponder.
ponder.waldenu.edu/c/ponder.htm

CA March 1, 2008 at 12:38 a.m.

ahhh, that is awesome. Thanks for the laugh, although truth be none it is not funny at all, it is scary as hell. :) I will keep marching forward. This quarter I have two pretty easy classes, Statistics, which I love and have already taken (as it relates to MBA), and Biopsychology, which just straight up sounds cool. So, I am sitting pretty good for the next 12 weeks. Once again thanks for the nice emails. I will stay in touch. Oh, and yes, I read those ponders like they are research papers. Alot of great information. Thanks.

This is Why March 3, 2008 at 6:38 p.m.

This helps explain why Walden University is successful!!!!

www.waldenu.edu/c/about/PhDResidencyDocu...

Norman March 5, 2008 at 9:09 p.m.

The residency is a 100% necessity for phd level students. Walden is one of the better for-profits in this arena. Maybe UoP can take a page from that.

Dr. B March 5, 2008 at 10:03 p.m.

UoP has required residencies as well.

lucky March 11, 2008 at 9:33 p.m.

Hey all, I think some of you have can not see the trees for the forest. These types of programs (on-line) are mostly for "ADULTS" seeking to get more education to imporve their lives in some way. I think it is sad that some of you think you are smarter than others because you got your education at a B&M school as opposed to on line. I am 40 years old, have a family, a very good job, two BA's and a MA from B&M schools. I am looking at "on-line" schools to get a Phd as it is something I have always wanted to do, but life got in the way.What is funny is that if I get this on-line Phd some of you will think you are smarter than me because you got a Phd at a B&M school. I say get over yourself, I have met smarter people than me who have never gone to college. If you are a "Smart" person you will be able to say the same thing about people you know. Some of you say you will not hire me, this is the funniest part of all, as people come to me for jobs. So all of you "ADULTS" out there get your education the best way you can. If a mature adult comes to me and shows me they compleated an accredited on line degree while holding down a family and a carrer I will be impressed.

Does anyone really think in a few years this on-line/B&M debate will even matter?

CA Walden Student March 13, 2008 at 10:34 a.m.

Dr. B. is nothing but a fraud. Getting into interviews I found that I can't become liscenced in CA despite his advise... fake

Dr. B March 13, 2008 at 1:29 p.m.

I am is not a fraud. It just turns out that you're a complete failure. If you go back and read, you made known that you were not already licensed and you were not practicing. This closed the existing loop hole for you.

Then I told you that you could possibly sit for the exam in the state of Texas.

Don't blame me... take responsibility for your own failures.

Be Blessed!

Wow, interesting. March 13, 2008 at 7:36 p.m.

Dr. B.

That is funny how I posted on this site like maybe twice and I am falling victim to the "imposter". In fact, if you remember my recent post I didn't use CA Walden Student, I actually just used CA. So, I guess the guy who posted under the CA Walden Student heading needs to concentrate a little more before they start trying to sabotage productivity. Also, in my line of work we have a saying, "If you have to try to act cool, you are probably not."

Nevertheless, Dr. B., I appreciate all that you have said, and I can honestly say that my investigation into CA Licensing not only supports that a Walden Student can obtain a license, but if you check the recent results of th EPPP examinations you will see that a Walden Graduate has sat, taken, and successfully passed the test.

Anyway, Dr. B. I didn't write that so pay no attention to the recent CA Walden Student post. Here is another thing, if you go back and read my responses to you throughout our discussion, you should gather that the context in which the most recent posting has taken is a bit off mark. If I did write the other post, I should probably be seeking a psychologist not trying to be one.

.

Dr. C March 13, 2008 at 8:58 p.m.

Dr. B works for Laureate Education Inc. Walden hires marketing people to scour the internet and promote their school. Don't believe me, try googling some of his answers. I have a strange feeling that you might find some of that exact same wording connected to a dozen different names on different sites.

A sign of a bad school is one that feels it needs to pay people for good reviews. Do your own searches on the internet, talk to people on Myspace and Facebook (individuals with real accounts) and you will find out the truth. Until then, learn to spot fakes like Dr. B.

Dr. B. March 13, 2008 at 9:45 p.m.

Hey Wow, interesting, (formerly Ca).... lol

I humbly apologize. I should have known that a fellow Waldenite would never make such comments... but I failed to see through "game" that the imposter played. Please accept my apology????

Be Blessed!

Dr. B. March 13, 2008 at 9:49 p.m.

Ok.... Dr. C... a "real doctor" puts weight into Myspace and Facebook? That's interesting!

I wish I were employed by Walden. That way I would have to work for the old stuffy 125 year old institution I currently work for... and I probably would have gotten a huge discount on my tuition.

I don't mind people googling my responses. I'm glad they're on the internet.... because they're OBJECTIVE and FACTUAL.... unlike your baseless and extremely ignorant ass.

Dr. B. March 13, 2008 at 9:56 p.m.

Latest psychology exam results in California. Wow was correct. www.psychboard.ca.gov/exams/200607-20061...

Leah March 14, 2008 at 3:05 a.m.

So Dr. B works for Laureate Education... I knew he was suspect when he wouldn't share any of his published works.

USN O-6 (ret) March 14, 2008 at 9:18 a.m.

There isn't a very high incidence of failure on that test. How hard of a test is it?

Dr. B March 14, 2008 at 1:33 p.m.

USN.... have you taken the exam? I mean, the exam must be rigorous enough where students from many of the schools listed failed. Go back through past years and you will see that Walden has had students to sit and pass the exam. In 2005 Walden had one student to fail.

Leah, just like I told you on the UoP board, you don't matter to me. People who know me know very well what I am about. They know my work, and what I do professionally. You're a liar and as you implied on the UoP board, probably a disgruntled lesbian who broke her last chew toy.

Also I told you I do not work for Laureate. But I wish I did work for Laureate... I would have had a large tuition discount.

And one last note, you're false claims do nothing to harm my reputation. I don't have to prove anything to you.

CA March 14, 2008 at 4:40 p.m.

So far I haven't really gotten involved with the whole he said/she said thing, but I have to ask if it really even matters whether Dr. B. worked for Laureate or not.

I don't know if he does so I might be speaking out of my 180, but if he did work for the school I would hate to think that he would get so aggressive with his narrative. Now with that being said (DR. B - I am with you on this), if I took the time to write some nice things about Walden and some jerks were throwing out aggressive, argumentative statements for no other reason than to see their own writing, I would be pissed too.

I mean I will go out on a limb here (a HUGE limb) and say that the majority of us on the board are either seeking graduate level education or perhaps already possess some aspect of a graduate level degree and for the debate to be so personal is just plan mindboggling. Not very scholarly. For those who have actually come across this page truly interested in finding the down and out about Walden or any online school, who are you going to be persuaded by, some jerk who claims B and M institutions are the heat, or the subtle fact driven enthusiasm shared by onliners. If the aggressiveness is indicative of B and M institutions than those universities should be hiring folks to keep the jerks at bay because they really are setting a bad example.

Dr. B I would like to establish another means of contact with you since we both have a common interest with the same school and talk about real issues without the shadow postings that occur. Nevertheless, keep this in mind if someone else does post under CA and is negative, it isn't me the Waldenite. By the way, I go to Walden as I mentioned so I guess I work for them too, right? But I don't. I wish I did because I could use the extra money. Student loans are building up. lol.

.

Dr. B March 15, 2008 at 12:13 a.m.

CA.... I understand. If you want.... drop me an email and I will contact you there. Just so I'll know it's you, list a few things found on the psp....

this is a "sponge" email account so i do not check it regularly. but i will follow up with you. lowkeygent@aol.com

Dr. W March 16, 2008 at 4:08 p.m.

I have utilized online education to obtain all of my degrees and have to say that I completely disagree with the assessment of some of the naysayers who have written sardonic reviews. I have always enjoyed complimentary reviews and comments from potential employers toward my online degrees. They are accredited, so why wouldn't they be?

And while we are on the topic of accreditation, lets address a problem which seems to be running rampant through these reviews. Walden has it plastered all over their website that their Psychology programs are not accredited for licensure. So, if the state of Florida demands that you be licensed and you you expect that from your program, then transfer to a Florida-based school. They will probably take most, if not all of your credits. The classes and courses are accredited through one of the six accrediting authorities which are accepted worldwide, so guess what? They are, kind of, obliged to, in general terms. So, you may have to take an extra course or two...big deal. At least you will be licensed upon graduation, right?

Here's some unsolicited advice for the would-be online learner: self-discipline is the key. If you are a person who has great self-discipline and can subject themselves to the rigors of an online program, then great! Online learning may be just the thing for you! However, if you are a procrastinator who has trouble with deadlines, cheated your way through high school, or even college, to some extent, then guess what? You are probably going to waste your time and money.

Online learning takes a constructivist approach, whereby the learner acts as their own agent in constructing their own learning. You will get out of learning, whatever you put into it. If you apply yourself and give it your all, you will be the benefactor for it. If you give it a half-hearted effort, you'll be quickly discovered and exploited for your efforts. Not publicly, as ethical practices would encourage you to do better. But, the grades you received will be emblematic of the effort that you provide.

JACK T March 19, 2008 at 3:48 a.m.

Dr. W,

You could not possibly be MORE WRONG...credits tend to easily transfer between undergraduate programs. But, when you start talking about graduate level work especially at the doctoral level it is difficult if not IMPOSSIBLE to transfer between programs even between traditional B&M schools much less online programs.

It is obvious to me that your online degrees have failed to educate you as to how higher education at the doctoral level actually works.

JT

JACK T March 19, 2008 at 3:51 a.m.

Dr. B,

Tell us agian why you refuse to share any of your "published" works???

Walden is such a sham!!!

JT

USN O-6 (ret) March 19, 2008 at 7:40 a.m.

Dr. W

If you have a PhD and apply for academia in traditional "universities" you will be shunned for the most part. They are very annal about where your degrees come from, particularly your doctorate. Employers vary to their personal tastes. I read somewhere on this forum that vault.com did a survey where 60% of employers still prefer traditional degrees. I think it is a bum rap but only time will change it.

BTW... the constructivist approach in education already has a meaning, building on past knowledge, not constructing your own learning.

@JACK T

Graduate work will transfer, you just can't transfer very much of it. Generally 6 credit hours only...

Walden University Announcement March 26, 2008 at 9:19 p.m.

Walden University is pleased to announce two new degree programs that expand the university in important fields.

Building on the success of the full B.S. in Business Administration program that began in January, Walden is pleased to announce a B.S. in Psychology and a B.S. in Child Development, with classes starting in June. These programs further expand access to higher education for goal-oriented adult learners, placing them on a path of lifelong learning and inspiring them to make a difference in their organizations, communities, and professions.

Our newly named Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership provides a path that now extends from bachelor's to post-baccalaureate to master's and doctoral degrees. In our School of Psychology, students can enroll in bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and post-doctoral programs.

The bachelor's curriculum emphasizes social awareness, responsibility, and civic engagement, and provides the perfect opportunity for students to make a difference in the world as they prepare for a range of meaningful careers.

Walden Wins March 30, 2008 at 8:57 p.m.

Walden wins three awards:

ponder.waldenu.edu/c/11468_25062.htm

Jack T. April 3, 2008 at 5:43 p.m.

Retired Navy Captain,

6/90=6.66%

Like I said very little doctoral level work will transfer between programs. And, If you are attempting to transfer between an online to an on campus program at a traditional school, you will find that almost 0% of your creditis will transfer. Do not try to mislead people into thinking that they can do doctoral level work online and then transfer into a traditional program. IT WON'T WORK.

Jack T.

USN O-6 (ret) April 3, 2008 at 9:56 p.m.

@JT

6/90 would apply to a PhD... people do go for masters that are much less. You don't change doctoral programs so transferring that would be pointless and irrelevant to a discussion of graduate transfer policy. The 6 credit rule was set up to prevent that in the first place. They want you to complete the courses at their schools. It has nothing to do with selectivity like undergraduate transfers do. You can transfer your first 6 credit hours just as easily as you can your first 60 from the undergraduate as they are survey courses anyway. Online or B&M, it doesn't matter if it is accredited RA. I see it done all the time into our grad program from returning officers who wanted a head start on their masters serving overseas.

Ivy Tower April 4, 2008 at 12:02 a.m.

What is an RA school?

USN O-6 (ret) April 4, 2008 at 8:18 a.m.

Who posted this website?

ponder.waldenu.edu/c/11468_25062.htm

Those awards are a total crock... award for best logo. Give me a break!

Walden Wins April 4, 2008 at 12:42 p.m.

Yes but you failed to note the this logo was for The Social Change Conference. You also failed to mention the honor it received for its Educator for a Day Grant program. The $5,000 grants supported three K–12 schools that hosted a community member in a classroom during American Education Week in November 2007. You also failed to mention that these universities were up for those same awards: University of California, Los Angeles; University of California, Berkeley; Georgetown University; University of Virginia; New York University; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Brigham Young University; and University of Maryland University College.

The University Continuing Education Association is among the oldest college and university associations in the United States. As the principal U.S. organization for continuing higher education, the association assists institutions of higher learning and affiliated nonprofit organizations to increase access through a wide array of educational programs and services.

USN O-6 (ret) April 4, 2008 at 6:23 p.m.

Is Walden so desperate for attention that they must grasp at the straw of being listed with those schools for any arbitrary thing? None of the awards has anything to do with the school itself and the organization, UCEA, passes out awards for anything... logos, community service, marketing strategies. That is certainly nothing potential students will want to know. If Walden gets professional accreditation for it's teaching program or is ranked in US News then you let us know as that is something worth mentioning.

LQ April 4, 2008 at 8:31 p.m.

Dr. B, I want to thank you for your thorough comments on Walden.

I took several grad-level courses at the U of MN School of Public Health, just one short of their grad certificate (Statistics! Damn I had such a hard time online since the TA's really had a problem with English. I dropped out of the class). This was about 6 years ago, but as of now they only offer an online MPH in Maternal and Child Health, not my area. With my work schedule and physical disabilities, I cannot travel almost 200 miles round trip to complete an MPH on campus. So I went to Walden. Last year I took my 2nd course - the course itself was a lot of work (that APA is a pain and NOT the format I'm used to at work) but I was really disappointed in the quality of work posted by at least a third of the students. Somehow these people were passing the course, despite the fact they did no research and could not even complete a simple sentence.
I started to look at other ways to get an online MPH. I just complete an online course in Public Health Ethics at Benedictine U in Illinois, a brick and mortar school with a completely online MPH option. The instructor was AWFUL!! All he did was give homework assignments - never a class note and feedback was pitiful.
Now I am looking to go back to Walden but need to reapply. The MPH program has been completely done over. I just got off the phone with my enrollment advisor who told me that some of the people who contributed to the revamping of the program include the president of the APHA and an assistant surgeon general. This must mean something.
Any comments, especially from Dr B, would be appreciated.

Dr. B. April 6, 2008 at 12:55 a.m.

Hi LQ. I'm sorry your experience with UMN didn't work out too well. But as for Walden.... I believe you'll find a difference in all of the programs. Walden has hired more full time faculty and has a stronger governance policy in place. You'll also find that the leadership in the public health discipline is strong.

Walden is active with the public health association. As a student, the university pays for your membership. There are tons of scholarship opportunities.. and a big push for you to be active and publish with the public health community.

What specific questions do you have?

(*^& April 15, 2008 at 6:11 a.m.

Ivory Tower,

"RA" stands for regionally accredited..

"DR" B is a fraud..

Ivy Tower April 15, 2008 at 4:03 p.m.

Well isn't Walden University a RA institution?

Walden Cares! April 21, 2008 at 7:08 p.m.

At Walden, we know that the daily stresses of life can have an impact on the quality of your learning experience. To better support you in and outside of the classroom, we are pleased to announce the launch of a Student Assistance Program that offers free, confidential counseling for a wide range of issues.

The program is available to both you, as a current student, and everyone in your household, and includes a toll-free phone line staffed by experienced clinicians 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When you call, a guidance consultant will listen to your needs and help connect you with the appropriate resources.

Whether you are experiencing challenges with personal relationships, facing a major life change, or struggling with stress and anxiety, you are not alone. Turn to Walden's new Student Assistance Program to
Get answers to your most pressing questions and problems.
Locate services and referrals to address your challenges.
Discover planning tools and strategies to manage stressful situations.

If you have been struggling with a personal or professional challenge, we hope you will visit inside.WaldenU.edu/sap for more information and assistance. All records are kept private and confidential by ComPsych, the program provider.

UOP April 22, 2008 at 6:50 p.m.

Walden Cares? ROFL!! Why don't you offer debt consolidation services so unemployed graduates can avoid bankruptcy? lol!

john April 24, 2008 at 11:37 p.m.

Dr. B-

I am in the Ph.D. program in clinical psych at Walden. I graduated from BYU with a BA, Cal State Fullerton with an MS, and TJSL with my law degree. I know good education when I see it. My experience with Walden has been exceptional (with the common exception of the bursar's office).

My question regards our status as a non-profit organization. We are certainly presenting the signs of a non-profit (huge increases in research funding, etc.), but I can't find anything official regarding our status. Are you sure we're non-profit?

By the way, no one worth working for hires a diploma, they hire people. No single school works for everyone. Personally, I would go nuts if I had to sit through lectures again. Walden has given me the opportunity to explore areas of academic inquiry I wouldn't be able to explore at a "traditional" school. It works for me. It doesn't work for everyone. I have three job offers in three different states (two at hospitals, one at a private clinic). The days of depending on a name on a diploma to secure a position in the "real world" are over.

With regard to APA accreditation, I wish the school would just do it. I spoke with a member of the accreditation committee. They like Walden. But it doesn't make any difference with regard to licensure in the majority of states. You just have to make sure you take the right courses. Most states offer a non-APA route to licensure.

Best Regards-

John

USN (O-6) ret April 25, 2008 at 2:47 a.m.

What idiot ever said Walden was a non-profit? It is owned by Laureate Education Inc. who owns several for-profit schools. They are in the business to make money.

Dr. B. April 25, 2008 at 4:27 p.m.

Hi John.

Walden is for-profit, but privately held.

Laureate was sold to a private firm. The Laureate foundation is still active. Walden is no longer part of a publicly traded organization.... but until things are officially changed... Walden is indeed still a for-profit institution. This process is taking longer than expected. There is a transition that is occurring over time... and I am glad that you recognized that with the increase in available research funding..etc. Walden is also adding more full-time faculty by the day.

I believe that Walden will eventually gain APA. Fielding has it so the wall to non-traditional education getting APA accreditation is long gone. The School of Psychology has added new programs, is vamping the clinical program... and is adding new full time faculty to meet APA's demands.

In terms of negative criticism from others.... I really could care less. Walden's faculty and students are engaged in scholarship and academia at an exceptional pace. Walden is definitely holding its place in the academy! My scholarly work and practice proves that I have received a quality education. I challenge you to continue holding up the Walden light!

People making negative comments on this board are ignorant and do not deserve a response. Keep moving forward!

Until that next appointed time, John.

Dr. B

John April 25, 2008 at 6:26 p.m.

Hi, Dr. B.-

Thanks for the info. It's good to know that the ball is rolling. I can think of two privately held corporations I took non-profit when I was practicing law. It took a ridiculously long time to accomplish (getting boards together, govt. approval, etc. constitutes a tremendous amount of hoop-jumping.) It is also the most boring legal work imaginable :).

Two personal observations: First, When I applied at Walden, I was told to investigate other schools first. The admissions committee wanted to make sure I knew I was a good fit for Walden. No other school even suggested that I check out other schools. BTW, I was accepted at the two brick and mortar schools to which I applied--BYU and the University of Utah. All of the schools I looked into, both traditional and non-traditional, were fine schools. Each had its merits and weaknesses. In the end, I chose Walden for the faculty and the program. It works for me.

Second, Walden's clinical pshych program is brutal. I do far more work and am significantly more knowledgeable than my four friends at b&m schools. That sounds egotistical. I don't mean it to. But when I get together with my friends or sit in on some of their classes, the differences become unavoidable. I have earned the respect of students and faculty at the two local major universities, although I must admit that at first everyone was curious about Walden. I will probably join in on some research with one of the schools next year.

Walden is not for everyone. If you prefer hand-holding, this is not the place for you. The standards here are often higher than at other schools (take, for example, trying to get through the IRB), but they have to be for us to get noticed. And we do get noticed. If you don't believe me, just go to the APA convention in Boston. We hold up quite well. I am rambling, and will now stop.

Best-

John

UOP April 26, 2008 at 10:59 a.m.

APA... Walden's Counseling program isn't even CACREP accredited. All these chumps going to Walden for counseling won't even be able to get licensed. lol!

Go to UOP and get a real degree with professional accreditation.

Dr. B. April 26, 2008 at 6:20 p.m.

To UOP...... I am glad that you're exerting so much effort in trying to discredit Walden University. But as a tenured educator, I feel compelled to enlighten you on something. At the University of Phoenix, the Master of Science in Counseling program in Community Counseling (Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona campuses) and the Master of Science in Counseling program in Mental Health Counseling (Salt Lake City, Utah campuses) are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP. That is only 3 campuses! This program is not offered online.

On the other hand, Walden University's master in mental health counseling students must do a 2 week face-to-face summer residency in addition to their online coursework. IN FACT....Walden University is in the self study and application phase for CACREP accreditation like the other QUALITY schools listed on this list.......www.cacrep.org/docs/ProgramsInProcessUpdate.doc . Any further questions?

Hey John.... You are 100% correct. I know the IRB story oh too well! Please continue to do what you're doing. It's okay to seem elitest and egotistical.... especially when you know more than those perceived to be your peers...... well at that's how it is in the monastery of academia! lol

hilarious April 26, 2008 at 9:34 p.m.

Walden and UoP being compared is like comparing Horse Sh-t with Bull Sh-t. Either way they are both sh-t, good for making plants grow but not much else. LOL, You can do better than either UoP or Walden. There are much better online programs out there just look around.

UOP April 26, 2008 at 11:21 p.m.

Bring it on Mr. tenured educator. If you feel the need to beat people over the head with your substandard credentials then by my guest. The FACT is UOP has CACREP for it's human services degrees and Walden doesn't. The poor excuse you keep giving is the same diploma mills have given throughout time, "We are SEEKING accreditation." Feel free to get back to us when you have something more substantial to add.

Sad April 27, 2008 at 1:35 a.m.

This is so sad. Just sad! Is UOP serious?

Double Standard? April 27, 2008 at 1:43 a.m.

Hilarious, have you taken courses at either institution to know they are both "Sh-t"?

The Whistler April 29, 2008 at 8:14 p.m.

I am not so sure I would gloat about UOP. Take a look at www.uopsucks.com.

UOP May 1, 2008 at 1:54 p.m.

Who cares about a website that says sucks.com? I don't...

Hilarious May 2, 2008 at 8:46 p.m.

Double standard,

Actually, Yes I have... The quality of instruction at both was poor to say the least. I finally enrolled in OU's executive MBA program and found it to be leaps and bounds better than either UoP or Walden.

Double Standard May 5, 2008 at 6:17 p.m.

@ Hilarious.

Which courses did you take at Walden and UoP. Who were the instructors? What made you enroll at both in the first place? Apparently they offered something you were searching for?

UOP May 7, 2008 at 9:48 p.m.

Anyone who has to transfer through three schools has serious problems.

Hilarious May 11, 2008 at 4:59 a.m.

Walden---Course General Management Instructor Penny Wilkins
UoP---Corporate Finance Instructor Kevin Murphy

"Anyone who has to transfer through three schools has serious problems"

Yeah thats true I had problems with the fact that The "Graduate Level" classes I was taking at UoP/Walden did not meet the rigor of my undergrad work at the University of New Mexico. I gave these schools the benefit of the doubt becase they allowed me to attend while maintaining full time employment. I quit because all I had to do is pay my tuition and show up and I was guaranteed an "A". I wanted to be challenged in Grad school not told "read this book and write a 3 page paper" and then be handed an "A". I then found the University of Oklahoma offered an Executive MBA and while not an online program, I was able to make it work with my schedule. Maybe I had an isolated experience, and others are actually learning something at Walden/UoP (as I grant you that one class at each school is not an adequate statistical sample) But, from personal experience, If anyone asked me, I would say that Walden and UoP are VERY substandard in the education that they provide.

By the way, I graduated from the University of Oklahoma's Executive MBA program with a 3.85 GPA and I actually learned something unlike my experience with UoP and Walden. So, while I "Had to transfer through 3 schools" it was by design not necessity. In addition, OU would not accept either course, but I was not surprised and couldn't blame them.

Hilarous May 11, 2008 at 5:02 a.m.

I will give cudos to UoP for their Idea of putting all required texts online in electronic format. However, this one minor benefit did not compare to the negatives.

Double Standard May 11, 2008 at 12:47 p.m.

@ Hilarious.

1. Ok it still sounds like you're contradicting yourself. You're saying that you only took one class at each institution but you listed med/high level courses. What happened to your beginner courses? You can't go to those courses without the beginner courses first.

2. No grad program will take higher level or specialized courses from other schools. It takes away from their pocket. So I seriously doubt it had anything to do with the Walden or Phoenix. If this is the case, they are undermining the regional accreditation process.

3. You said yourself that your experience is not statistically enough to generalize and that it was isolated. Why pass judgement on an entire institution because you had a bad experience in one class? You mean to tell me that UMN was a piece of cake? BTW I read in the chronicle where UMN had accreditation issues in the past couple of years.

4. Just as people with PhDs look down on people with EdDs etc, do you realize that people with traditional MBAs look down on people with executive master's degrees? I have several friends with traditional MBAs and they would never higher someone with an executive MBA because they are "cut short." I too have a traditional MBA.

Eagerly awaiting your input.

Hilarious May 12, 2008 at 4:55 a.m.

Double,

It is plainly obvious to me that you have no clue what you are talking about.

General Management and Corporate Finance are General graduate level courses--- you can waive general business courses if your undergrad is in business (which mine is)

The executive MBA at OU is the exact same curriculum as the traditional MBA program it is just spread out over 3 years where as the traditional program can be done in 18 months. (You can easily transfer between the two with no loss of course work)

As far as the university is concerned they are the EXACT same program and if an employer enquires what degree I hold from OU, the university will tell them that I hold an MBA (no different than if I had attended their traditional program) So, your “friends with traditional MBAs” would never know the difference unless I told them. But, since I own my own business and currently employ 136 people I don’t think I’m going to be interviewing with your “friends with traditional MBA’s” anyway. (Other than to maybe hire them to work FOR me)

I did not even really need to return to school to get an advanced degree as I was doing just fine without it---I just decided that I WANTED it---but if I’m going to spend the time/money on a graduate degree I wanted to be challenged.

As far as UoP and Walden go, When their GRADUATE level classes don’t measure up to UNDERGRADUATE work at other schools I see that as a Major problem.

I commend anyone who is trying to better themselves through higher education, all I'm saying is that people can do MUCH BETTER than UoP or Walden.

Double Standard May 12, 2008 at 2:10 p.m.

Apparently you couldn't do much better since you sought those two schools first. To add, the EMBA program at Ohio U was SUSPENDED and they are no longer excepting applications... must have been a weak program from the beginning. All they have now is the PMBA and the Integrated MBA at OU. The PMBA does not require a GMAT score but the MBA does. The costs are just as expensive for the PMBA as is the institutions you're comparing OU too.

It appears that you wanted a quicker way out; or so you thought. But then again, it did take you 3 years to earn a degree that traditionally took me 18 months while working full time and having a family. I'm assuming that your opportunity costs were much much less. But then again, I don't have a PMBA or an EMBA, I have a traditional MBA.

Even though it took you forever, I applaud you for earning your MBA; even though the school does not offer it anymore! I just think that it is very disheartening for you to knock others who see these institutions as a way to achieve their life's goals and grow professionally.

Double Standard May 12, 2008 at 2:12 p.m.

I need to make a correction: excepting applications should be ACCEPTING applications.

In The Chronicle May 12, 2008 at 3:20 p.m.

Walden University’s School of Health Sciences is proud to announce the launch of a new Master of Healthcare Administration (M.H.A.) program to meet the growing need for administrators with the specialized skills to address the increasing complexity of the health care industry. Walden has designed the new M.H.A. program—one of the first online programs of its kind—to prepare both current and future health care administrators for leadership positions across the spectrum of health care organizations. For more information, please visit www.WaldenU.edu/mha.

Program Information

48 semester credit hours
Foundation and core courses (42 sem. cr.)
Practicum and capstone (6 sem. cr.)
Professional Portfolio

Estimated time to completion of 2.67 years. Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred.

Hilarious May 13, 2008 at 3:52 a.m.

Dearest Double,

WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT OHIO UNIVERSITY

I graduated from the University of OKLAHOMA. you obviously don't read for comprehension.

The Program is Alive and well...
The program DOES require the GMAT
The Program IS LESS expensive then UoP or Walden and a better more respected program.

My suggestion to you is LEARN TO READ!!!

Regards,

Hilarious

Hilarious May 13, 2008 at 4:06 a.m.

BTW,

Exactly where to you get this "tradional" MBA that you are so proud of??

Hilarious May 13, 2008 at 10:59 a.m.

Above should read... "where did you get this"
sorry for the typo.

Hilarious May 13, 2008 at 11:04 a.m.

Also, I never said it took me three years...That is the maximum time. I finished the degree in 2 years. Furthermore, I fail to understand why you are so insistant that your "traditional" MBA is better. What part of EXACT same coursework don't you understand.

Double Standard May 13, 2008 at 6:54 p.m.

UPenn is where I earned my MBA. And it cost me nothing.

Hilarious May 14, 2008 at 12:25 p.m.

Oh, an Ivy League "trust fund baby"! That explains alot.

Double Standard May 14, 2008 at 2:20 p.m.

Nope. No trust funds here. My parents had regular 9-5 jobs and neither finished school. I just think that you should stop downing people who are in the same position as yourself.

Hilarious May 15, 2008 at 4:50 p.m.

Double,

I'm not downing anybody... All I originally said was that I had a negative experiance with both Walden and UoP when I was trying to find a masters program that would fit with my career responsibilities and I let other people know of these negative experiences. I'm sorry if you have a problem with that but that does not change my opinion that there are much better schools than Walden or UoP (Penn being one of them)

Regards

steve May 20, 2008 at 10:27 p.m.

I agree with Hilarious...I took 3 courses at Walden and they got progressively worse. Definately not worth the money.

Double Standard May 22, 2008 at 8:21 p.m.

Even though I love Penn, I have to be honest in saying that it definitely had many flaws. But I stuck it out and you won't hear many people being downright negative about the institution.

Hilarious May 23, 2008 at 9:39 p.m.

You are not seriously suggesting that Walden as is good or better than Penn (or Oklahoma for that matter)??

Double Standard May 26, 2008 at 2 p.m.

No I'm not. I'm simply saying that both of these schools obviously had something you wanted. You crapped out and ended up in an executive program at Oklahoma (which is still crap).

You stated that both Walden and Phoenix had issues, which obviously still have you bitter. I made my statement about Penn to let you and the world know that ALL SCHOOLS have issues. But I didn't bitch about it or try to discredit the school. I stuck it out and finished.

Walden or Phoenix were not for you but they're perfect for others. Penn may not be for you but it was "okay" for me. An "executive" degree from Oklahoma apparently was good for you but I would never get an "executive" degree. We all make decisions that are best for us and fit our personal preference.

No one knows anyone's personal circumstances that influenced their decision to attend a particular school. What made you apply to Walden and Phoenix? What made you enroll and pay them thousands in tuition? Apparently your personal circumstances were a factor.

I have never applied to either school.

I have stated this before. Stop knocking others who may be in the same shoes as yourself. You don't like Walden or Phoenix. But I don't like people who are hypocritical and think they're top knotch because they hold a crappy "executive" degree. Your executive MBA is MBA Lite!

You need to support others who made an informed decision to continue their education.

The Whistler May 26, 2008 at 8:38 p.m.

Nicely put Double Standard

Chris May 27, 2008 at 4:48 p.m.

Walden is interested in your money but not much else (at least thats my experience with them).

Double Standard May 27, 2008 at 10:46 p.m.

Every school is interested in and extremely concerned with your money. If you go to Penn, Harvard, or anywhere else and don't pay your tuition, they put you out. If you go to Oklahoma and don't pay your tuition, they put you out.

Hilarious May 29, 2008 at 12:39 a.m.

Double Standard, you are a piece of work. You take something I said and completely turned it around. I have never "knocked" others for attending Walden or UoP as a matter of fact I admire anyone who wants to better themselves by attaing a higher degree of education. I think it is very possible to get a very good education at Walden, UoP or any other accreditied university (as education is a direct reflection of what each student puts into it).

You are the one who seems determined to belittle others!

"Your executive MBA is MBA lite"

All I said is that for the tuition that a prospective student will spend I feel that there are better options out there (based on reputation customer service provided etc...).

And, For what its worth, the students that I was in class with, in my "MBA lite", included the CFO of Devon energy, The CTO of Sonic Corporation, The CEO of Oklahoma Rock.

I probably learned as much is not more from these excellent business professionals than I ever would have from a bunch of 23-24 yearolds fresh out of undergrad. All I have to say is that it is plainly obvious to me that you have a lot left to learn

UOP May 29, 2008 at 7:09 a.m.

Does it make sense to go to Walden and UoP when you can only transfer 6 credit hours into a traditional program?

Ummm... NO!

Did you ever really get a taste of these unis?

Ummm... NO!

Do we think you are qualified to comment?

Ummm... NO!

E-MBAs aren't better than a full MBAs unless it comes from Wharton or some such calibre of school. Everyone knows it is watered down.

Double Standard May 29, 2008 at 4:01 p.m.

Hilarious, I rest my case.

UOP, even though I agree with most of what you stated, regardless of the school, MOST programs only allow a maximum of 6 credit hours; traditional or none. They need the money.

UOP May 29, 2008 at 6:21 p.m.

Many for-profits will take more.

In The Chronicle May 29, 2008 at 7:36 p.m.

May 29, 2008

Laureate Education Weighs a Deal With the College of Santa Fe

Laureate Education, a private firm that owns Walden University, is in talks with a struggling college in New Mexico that could give the international company a second campus location in the United States and turn the College of Santa Fe into the latest private college to seek a deal with a for-profit higher-education company in hopes of resolving its financial troubles.

But the deal is not yet sealed.

On Wednesday the College of Santa Fe’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to form what it called a partnership with Laureate.

A Laureate spokeswoman said, however, that the deal was still tentative. “We are in discussions,” said the spokeswoman, Debra Epstein. She called them “exploratory conversations.”

According to an article in the Santa Fe New Mexican, a local newspaper, officials on both sides are discussing a plan under which Laureate would assume the college’s debt — the amount was not disclosed — and assist in marketing, branding, and recruiting more students. Ms. Epstein said she could not say whether the talks were a prelude to Laureate’s buying the college.

Faced with declining enrollments, Santa Fe has been cutting programs and staff members for about a year. It has also pushed to refocus its mission on the arts. Ms. Epstein said that such a mission could fill a niche for the Laureate network of universities worldwide.

If a deal were struck, it would be Laureate’s second domestic arrangement. In 2004, Laureate forged a deal with a culinary institution in Chicago, Kendall College. —Goldie Blumenstyk

HERE IS AN ACCOMPANYING ARTICLE: www.santafenewmexican.com/SantaFeNorther...

Hilarious May 30, 2008 at 7:39 p.m.

Ok here is the deal...

Am I qualified to comment...Who are you to say???

Is trad better than Exec...Matter of opinion!!!

Is walden/UoP overpriced for what they provide??

NO DOUBT!!

For those looking for an online degree program... do your own research and you will see that what I say is true

Go to traditional State supported Universities that have online programs, because UoP, Walden, Capella, and NCU are all crap

Tad May 30, 2008 at 8:18 p.m.

I agree with hilarious. Bad experience with UoP... all they want is your money... they couldn't give a crap about anything else.

Tad May 30, 2008 at 8:19 p.m.

Based on What I've heard, I'd say Walden is the same

UOP May 31, 2008 at 7:29 a.m.

Everyone just hates on UOP because they are the leader in higher education. More people turn to them than anyone. If it was so bad they wouldn't have the largest enrollments and continue to grow. Keep hating, we will keep laughing at those who are jealous of our accomplishments.

Jeff May 31, 2008 at 9:28 p.m.

Over the past ten years apollo group (owners of UoP) grew at a rate of 30.5% annually. Over the next 5 years they are expected to grow at only 7% annually. Why??? because 10 years ago UoP was one of the only games in town. Now they are facing extreme competition from the traditional B&M school's own online and other non-traditional degrees. For the amount of money that apollo group charges in tuition there are much better options available. Just because UoP is the biggest does not mean they are the best.

I was a former Enrollment counselor for UoP. I quit because I could not honestly look people in the eye and tell them that UoP is the best school for their money. There are just too many other better options available now. Walden being one of them.

JB

Jeff May 31, 2008 at 9:38 p.m.

For those interested the following came from Valueline:

APOLLO GROUP 'A' (APOL; 42.99)*

Latest Report page 1578 2-1-08

Apollo Group, a provider of higher education for working adults through the University of Phoenix as well as the Internet, lost $0.19 per share for the quarter ended February 29th. Included in the results was a large charge representing estimated damages stemming from a securities action lawsuit. Excluding the charge, we estimate the company made $0.41 per share. Revenue and share-net were both significantly below our expectations, apparently due to higher discounts and slower enrollment uptake. Too, expenses were up due to the continued hiring of enrollment counselors. Our estimates are under review. Apollo shares are down nearly 25% in late morning trading.

D.G.M.

* The earnings estimates presented herein supersede the figures found in the Summary & Index included in Issue 6 of The Value Line Investment Survey, dated 4-4-08.

Report Prepared on 3-28-08

I see they are hiring more and more "enrollment counselors"
(also known as used car salesmen) If this is such a great school why do they have to "Sell" it to people.

Truly good schools attract people on reputation. UoP has to attract students through high pressure sales tactics.

Why??? because they suck thats why!!!

UOP June 1, 2008 at 6:29 a.m.

Enrollments are dropping nationwide... why? Because the cost of tuition is sky high and lenders are clamping up on loans due to the credit crunch. UOP is still growing despite all of this; it is a testament to their commitment to quality education. UOP has professional accreditations across the board while Walden only carries one. Maybe you should quit hanging around suck.com sites and think on your own for once. I guess you missed the free critical thinking class you could have taken at UOP... pitty.

Public Health Student June 2, 2008 at 3:30 p.m.

I've been reading the above comments with a lot of interest. There are a few things I would like to add that are purely due to my personal experience in public health education. I'm finishing up my MPH at Emory University and will soon be looking to PhD and DrPH programs. As I asked professors and other public health professionals about these programs I became more and more conviced that strictly online programs are seen as poor judgement. Atlanta being the public health capital of the world I gave these responses great weight. However, I continued to ask around about Walden specifically. I had a middle manager laugh out loud when I asked him if anyone would be hired at the CDC with a graduate degree from Walden University. The degrees in public health are simply not recongnized as anything more than extremely poor judgement on the individuals part. I say this only as a warning to those giving serious consideration to Walden University programs in public health. Traditional universities must be accredited by CEPH and members of ASPH to be consiered legitimate (Walden is neither).

Dr. B. June 2, 2008 at 6:37 p.m.

Hi Everyone! I have been gone a while... but back for a few.

Hi Public Health Student. I think you are correct for the most part. But I think you lack some validity in your argument.

Walden University's School of Health Services is in the self study phase for CEPH accreditation. While you are correct in saying that Walden does not have the accredition, you must know that the PH program at Walden is fairly new and accreditation takes on average 4-5 years to gain. No program, not even Emory's began accredited. Walden is very active with APHA and its full-time faculty and students are very active in performing research and presenting research in this area. Here is a good link ponder.waldenu.edu/c/11468_24269.htm .

Being this active in the academic community adds validity to the program that some accreditations cannot. It's a process called PEER REVIEW! Ever heard of it?

Accreditation will come. I'm working with a university in Mississippi that has an excellent reputation but has been dealing with CEPH accreditation issues for the past 4.5 years. Because of this, they put an end to its Dr.PH program. The institution was founded in 1877 but the public health program is about 7 years old.

Also I think it would be wise to check with some of the epidemologists at the CDC for a credential check. Walden has faculty and alum who work there as well for the state health department. One, I met while at the Atlanta airport catching a flight to DC. I know a few others personally.

UOP June 2, 2008 at 10:18 p.m.

Mr. B thinks seeking accreditation and having a bunch of adjuncts working in the field is equal to gaining accreditation. It is the same tired excuse he has been using from the outset. Walden lacks professional accreditation because they are inferior. Don't listen to rhetoric diploma mills have been giving since the end of time... We are "seeking accreditation." Don't buy it.

*Note, he has used that excuse for every question on accreditation.

Hilarious June 3, 2008 at 1:32 a.m.

UoP, People in many industries and definately in Academia think UoP sucks...and they are correct in that assumption.

You can defend UoP all you want but the school is not interested in their students education all they are interested in is more tuition money... For those of you looking for an online school... Here are four to avoid

Walden
UoP
Capella
and NCU

Find a traditional state supported university that offers online programs...You will PAY LESS and GET A BETTER, MORE RESPECTED DEGREE.

do your own research into this matter and you will see that I am correct, don't be "sold" a UoP or other worthless "degree"

UOP June 3, 2008 at 2:53 a.m.

@hilarous

Some people can't go to traditional schools so you have to pick the best of the available. That is UOP.

Double Standard June 3, 2008 at 12:32 p.m.

@ UOP. Even though I don't agree with Dr. B's approach I believe that what he/she posted has a lot of merit. You can't knock the truth.

@ Hilarious. Let it go! You're and your executive MBA are LOSERS.

Public Health Student June 3, 2008 at 3:12 p.m.

Dr. B makes a good point that each public health program does undergo an accreditation process. The average time, according to CEPH, is actually 3 years but it can take longer. Further, having students and faculty that are active in the APHA does not make Walden University a member of the APHA. Additionally, faculty that I have spoken with insist that in order to work at the CDC in a public health area (and virutally all areas are) the individual must graduate from an accredited institution.
If Walden attains its accreditation I will sing its praises.
You may not want to believe everything people in an airport tell you - I once met a man whom insisted he was Jesus.

Jack T June 3, 2008 at 9:45 p.m.

Dr. Bs approach is quite flawed. Self Study phase, seeking accreditation, those are all buzz words for diploma mill. If Walden attains professional accreditation we can sing its praises but its not going to happen people. They have been touting their application for professional accreditation for years in all their programs and have yet to recieve it.

Walden = Waste

Hilarious June 4, 2008 at 12:48 p.m.

UoP "the best online program available"

OMG you cannot be serious.

University of Texas
Penn State
Duke
Upper Iowa
Kansas State
U of Oklahoma
Colorado State
Etc...Etc...

Just a few of the HUNDREDS of better (online, and so completely "available") programs than UoP.

Anyone that attends UoP when there are so many other better, more repected, and less expensive options available is an idiot.

Jeff June 4, 2008 at 6:26 p.m.

Having worked for UoP...I agree with Hilarious.

There are better programs offered by the traditional schools.

The traditional schools almost all offer online versions of their degrees these days and they are almost all better and less expensive than UoP, Walden, Capella etc...

and Since they are online programs they are available to anyone almost anywhere.

Don't be mislead by UoP. I recently received a masters in industrial training from Indiana State University while living in London England. You really can get a degree from a traditional B&M university on your own terms and from anywhere you have a computer with Internet access.

Going to UoP is a serious error that will hurt your career.

UOP June 4, 2008 at 9:24 p.m.

"OMG you cannot be serious.

University of Texas
Penn State
Duke
Upper Iowa
Kansas State
U of Oklahoma
Colorado State
Etc...Etc..."

They do not offer the program selection one can take at UOP and their technology infrastructure is inferior. If you live out of state they are just as expensive as UOP.

Rodney June 5, 2008 at 2:16 a.m.

I would not recommend Walden

Poor customer Service

UoP Calls me constantly-They seem to be very desparate I don't think I would enroll there either

Public Health Student June 5, 2008 at 1:14 p.m.

I need to make a correction on an earlier comment I made. I had indicated that Walden University was not a member of the APHA when I had intended to indicated their lack of membership in the ASPH (Association of Schools of Public Health). I have no doubt that they are members of the APHA since that membership is open (I had a membership before I had any affiliation with public health education or practice).

Dr. B. June 5, 2008 at 2:13 p.m.

Walden University's public health programs falls under its College of Health Sciences. Of course Walden doesn't have a membership in the ASPH. It doesn't have a school of public health, which is necessary to join ASPH.

Jackson State University has been around since 1877 and its "school of public health" was snatched by IHL and given to another state school. But they're still going through the CEPH accreditation process. They won't be a member of ASPH either. But that does not mean it's a bad program. There are hundreds of good public health programs out there. A lot goes into establishing a "school" or "college" of public health. That's probably why there are only 40?

ASPH has only 34 accredited members and 6 associate members. It does not have members in 22 states because those states do not have established schools or colleges of public health. While I agree that accreditation is important, membership is into ASPH is not.

And again, Walden is in the accreditation process for CEPH.

Public Health Student June 5, 2008 at 2:33 p.m.

Membership in the ASPH is not mandatory to have a good program, that's absolutley true. I have no problem with Walden University except that I'm reading a great deal about individual (and who knows what their agenda may be) experiences that are described as having a lack of organization and rigor. This is most likely the product of necessary growing pains within the program itself, which is to be expected. I would simply advise prospective students to be extremely critical of prospective programs, be they Walden, Emory, or Harvard. I would also advise them to only considered programs that are CEPH approved, not in the process. CEPH approval is not retroactive - if you graduate a program that receives its accreditation after you graduate it will do you no good since at the time of your graduation it was not.

Dr. B. June 5, 2008 at 8:23 p.m.

I totally agree with what your last statement! If a professional accreditation is necessary, I would caution any student seeking a program to prioritize accreditation over non and those in the accreditation process.

I caution anyone who reads these boards to take what is written here and question it... check it out further against more reliable sources..... and not rely on the words of disgruntled former students.

Many people who are opposed to distance learning and certain institutions come on these boards to simply slay the institution and the character of anyone who is interested in applying/earning a degree. Of course, that tells me that anyone who takes these boards as %100 fact.... they shouldn't be in any doctoral program ANYWHERE.

I read The Chronicle a lot. Other than the stats that each school publish on themselves, that is one of the most objective forums to gather information on an institution. This is in addition to US News and Reports. There was an article that hit The Chronicle today that highlighted some very positive information about UOPhoenix. It counters much of the negative views that many in academia feel about the institution. As it turns out, graduation and student success rates are much higher than many thought and much of the school is on par with the rest of the institutions in the country.

I appreciate your objectivity.

%*& June 7, 2008 at 12:21 a.m.

"dr" B is a fraud

Leah June 7, 2008 at 6:39 a.m.

I agree, "Mr" B is more like it. A REAL doctor would be happy to provide citations for published works, or even a bio page at their university. Oh well!

Dr. B. June 7, 2008 at 12:25 p.m.

As I clearly stated on the UPX page, I don't owe you anything. I don't have to prove myself or my credentials to someone who doesn't even know what The Chronicle of Higher Education is. You're a nobody. And yes... It's Dr. B.

Leah June 7, 2008 at 6:27 p.m.

We also don't have to believe a nobody like yourself. How pathetic you are to claim to be something you're not.

Dr. B. June 7, 2008 at 6:44 p.m.

What evidentiary support do you have to show otherwise?

Negative People June 7, 2008 at 8:44 p.m.

What I don't understand is why the people who are not in support of the schools have so many negative things to say. I read every post on here and its silly how people are going back and forth for months. Especially the people who are bashing the Walden. If you hate the school, why are you so concerned and dedicating so much time on this website. Get a life.

Jeff June 7, 2008 at 8:45 p.m.

Mr B

What "evidentiary support" do you have to show that your a "dr"?

You refuse to provide any actual evidence, Although you have been asked many times.

Your a fraud

Jeff June 7, 2008 at 8:48 p.m.

To "Negative People"

Just trying to prevent innocent people from making the mistake of attending UoP, Walden or one of the other worthless schools.

Thus, We're providing a public service. If that is being "negative" so be it.

UOP GRAD June 7, 2008 at 8:53 p.m.

I would definitely recommend anyone who is considering any university to do research on the school. I went to a traditional undergraduate school, and completed my masters a UOP. I had a bad experience with UOP because of the turnover in academic counselors and miscommunication in other areas. But I have friends who went to UOP and loved the school. I really think it depends on what area you studying.

If you choose an online school, make sure you have work experience in the area. My UOP degree has helped me advance my career, but I had good work experience in my core area before I entered the program. I'm now taking online post-graduate classes at SUNY Albany that are online classes. The workload and the way you take classes are very similar to UOP.

Jeff June 8, 2008 at 7:43 p.m.

For the amount of tuition you are going to pay at UoP, you can definately do better. The school is not well respected at all.

UoP charges very high tuition for a very poor degree. Don't waste your time or money. Almost any school you attend is going to be better (and have better respect) that UoP and it will probable cost less too.

Dr.B. June 9, 2008 at 3:56 p.m.

Jeff, I don't owe you anything either. People who know me and people who matter are well aware of my credentials and scholarly record.

Joe June 11, 2008 at 9:07 p.m.

@Dr. B

People on the board called me a fraud too. Just post something to shut them up like I did and you can get on with your work here.

Jeff June 12, 2008 at 1:29 a.m.

Like I said Mr B is a fraud. Do not believe a word he says.

Leah June 12, 2008 at 3:43 a.m.

The only thing Mr. B is a doctor of is fraudulent promotion of Walden. He thinks "seeking" accreditation makes Walden a good school. Walden's MO is to meet the minimum requirements of operability in a state so they can offer substandard programs to take more of your hard earned money. When anyone questions him he lashes out by calling people lesbians, a nobody, or losers. He is an agent of Laureate Education Inc. whose primary aim is to make you believe a doctorate from Walden will qualify him for tenure at a major university. We all know an online PhD carries no weight in academia when people with REAL degrees are fighting tooth and nail for those positions. I doubt if he even has a Walden PhD much less tenure at a major university. He is probably an academic advisor at Walden who can't get leads so has to pump gas at the full service Cirlce K down the street.

Dr. B. June 12, 2008 at 3:04 p.m.

hi Joe. i just don't see the need to identify myself to a set of nobodies. all of my publications give my personal identity. there is not telling what these loons are capable of. my face is plastered on two of my articles.

they will just have to get over it. lol

Jeff June 13, 2008 at 12:23 a.m.

Walden is a Joke! Avoid this degree mill or you will end up regretting it.

Joe June 13, 2008 at 5:44 a.m.

I don't need to see any proof Dr.B. I would like to know at what university your Walden degree found you a tenured position.

Dr. B. June 13, 2008 at 1:39 p.m.

Hi Joe. Lets just say that you'll find tenured Waldenites at places like Penn State, Jackson State University, and Oral Roberts. The VP and Provost at Oral Roberts is a Walden alum as well.

Curious June 13, 2008 at 3:03 p.m.

B - Please post a link to the Penn State Walden Alum.

Joe - Please post your link of "shut up".

B - If "these people on these boards" mean nothing to you, why do you spend so much time here defending what you do and posting here? In essence, even if you are implying letting people know "how wonderful Walden really is", you are recruiting for them. So why spend this time here if it doesn't matter? Surely a "respected tenured" professor has much better things to do than this.

Joe June 13, 2008 at 5:17 p.m.

I looked back 10 pages on a "Walden University" search for Penn State's website and found no faculty with that credential.

"Joe - Please post your link of "shut up"."

www.shuturtrapb4icutu.com

Dr. B. June 13, 2008 at 8:05 p.m.

Curious. The semester is out and other than traveling and consulting, I really have nothing else to do. I don't consider myself "defending" anything. I am simply on here countering the false claims on this site with the truth... which I have posted "real" proof.

Dr. B. June 13, 2008 at 8:21 p.m.

Joe. I posted the Penn State faculty's name quite some time ago. I just looked at Penn's site... she' still listed.

Joe June 13, 2008 at 8:46 p.m.

I ran a search on Dr. Sherry Robinson @PSU and it turns out that she is an associate professor of economics. She holds degrees from: Messiah College, International Business Institute, Bucknell University, Walden University, and the University of Oslo.

I doubt if she got her postion from holding a degree from Walden when they don't even offer an economics program. Her terminal degree is from Oslo which is a top 70 globally ranked program. To say she got her position because of her Walden degree is intellectually dishonest. I'm starting to wonder about you Dr. B. :(

Jeff June 13, 2008 at 10:21 p.m.

Like I said before "Mr" B is a fraud. He is probably a high school dropout paid as a "enrollment counselor" (AKA Used car salesman) for Walden.

You can do much better than Walden... Avoid this degree mill.

Dr. B. June 14, 2008 at 2:28 p.m.

Joe... not once did I say or imply that she received tenure because of Walden. But she received tenure years AFTER she got her Ph.D. from Walden. You asked me to show you a tenured faculty member at Penn State... and I did. And she's an associate prof of business administration... that's her official title.

Dr. B. June 14, 2008 at 2:30 p.m.

Also Joe... I showed you three very good schools.... lets not "dig" to try to negate the truth or the facts.

Dr. B. June 14, 2008 at 2:40 p.m.

One more thing Joe... 99% of the Ph.D. students at Walden earned their master degrees elsewhere.

Jeff June 14, 2008 at 6:14 p.m.

"mr" B is a fraud

Joe June 14, 2008 at 9:32 p.m.

Well it looks like Dr. B has lead us astray on quite a few issues.

SHERRY KAY ROBINSON
Title: ASSOC PROF ECONOMICS
Colleges: Messiah College, International Business Institute, Bucknell University, Walden University, University of Oslo... Terminal degree comes at the end
Administrative Area: PS HAZLETON

www.psu.edu/cgi-bin/ldap/ldap_query.cgi

So her title is accoc. prof of econ, her terminal degree is from Oslo, and she doesn't even teach at the flagship campus of Penn State but at the campus in Hazelton.

Dr. B said... "It was recently announced that Dr. S.Robinson, a Walden 2000, Applied Management and Decison Science graduate recently received tenure at Penn State University and is a faculty chair over one of the master’s degree programs there. We all know how traditional Penn State is."

You and your cronies at Walden should be ashamed.

Can you spell B-U-S-T-E-D?

Double Standard June 14, 2008 at 9:54 p.m.

As with most of you, I took it upon myself to check after the Penn issue and Dr. B. was correct about Robinson. He/She stated in a recent post that this Dr. Robinson was a former chair and that she had a new title. According to this link www.hn.psu.edu/Academics/facprofile.aspx... this Dr. Robinson is an Associate Professor of Business Administration in the Business and Econ division.

Joe June 14, 2008 at 10:54 p.m.

That is just semantics. It is a lie to say she teaches at "Penn State" which implies the flagship campus, when it is Penn State @ Hazelton... a small sub-campus. To sit there and pretend she is the head of a masters program at Penn State when it is @ Hazelton is laughable.

Dr. B said... "recently received tenure at Penn State University and is a faculty chair over one of the master’s degree programs there."

Penn State@Hazelton doesn't offer master's degrees Dr. B. Are you tired of lying yet "Mr." B?? No PhD at a REAL college would lie so much. You probably do work for Laureate.

Jeff June 15, 2008 at 4:16 p.m.

"mr" B is a fraud. Do not listen to him. You will be wasting your time/money if you pursue an advanced degree at Walden. It is completely unrespected in both industry and academia.

Do your own research. Go talk to a HR representative at a business that you respect. Go talk to a faculty member at a college that you respect. They will tell you the same thing that degrees from Walden carry little if any weight.

Its fine to get your masters online, but get it from a school that has a good reputation. Walden, UoP, Capella, and NCU are looked upon as a last resort for those that could not qualify to get into a reputable graduate program.

Leah June 16, 2008 at 6:41 a.m.

"Mr." B is a fraud. Any doubt in my mind has been quashed with Joe's posting of Mr. B's fraudulent Penn State claims.

Curious June 16, 2008 at 2:16 p.m.

Penn State is not very likely at all to take someone with a Phd from Walden alone because they are traditional. That’s not to say it wouldn't happen because if someone is tenured in industry though years of high experience and has many high refereed journal publications, Penn State would not care much where the degree came from as long as it was accredited. I know for a fact MIT or CMU would do the same, but these schools are hard to get in to teach in the first place and someone from Walden or any other non-traditional school is unlikely to produce the results of this caliber. But it is just as unlikely many schools cannot produce these caliber students with the research the "A" schools want. So it is not fair to compare Walden or any other online to the "A" schools.

But lets compare them to their "peers" such as state schools or other private schools. It is still uncommon to see students make it in academics mostly because of the lack of close relationship with their advisor. Phd students are known as spawns of their advisors. If the advisor does not spend close personal time (as IN PERSON) they are unlikely to push their students to succeed. Walden is much better than Capella, Phoenix, or a few others, but they still have a huge stigma of "For-Profit" to overcome. The stigma caused by mentioned above. Being on the stock market is too much a risk for many academics to accept.

Jeff June 17, 2008 at 5 a.m.

The bottom line is simple.

Walden, Capella, NCU, and the other UoP clones are subpar schools that way over-charge for the level of education that they provide.

If you get your degree online from a traditional state supported school, you come away with a diploma that will cost you 30-50% less and command a far greater degree of respect.

Avoid Walden, Capella, NCU, and UoP. You will be far better off in the long run.

This is simply a public service announcement for people looking to get an online degree. Look at the online degrees offered by the traditional state supported schools. They are better, more respected, and cost less.

funny June 17, 2008 at 3:55 p.m.

I find it quite funny that most of these comments are from people who have no experience within Walden. I was looking for information but found a group of 12 year-olds bickering. *sigh*

Felix June 19, 2008 at 12:44 a.m.

I have been following this thread for a few weeks now. I am a Walden student in my 4th quarter and enjoy Walden. I have my Masters degree from an internationally recognized college, a real brick and mortar in New York City. I wanted to continue my education but the idea of having to stop working and attend a full-time program was not realistic, I have a family to support. I looked around in NYC, trust me, I have plenty of choices for a Ph.D., but, I found the demands unrealistic. The university I attended is not that selective, did not require a GMAT, but has an excellent reputation.

I am not going to argue that Walden is the best university, but, I will share my experience. Weekly discussions are challenging and require participation. I have had courses in brick and mortar schools where students never spoke and yet we all got full credit for participation, so calling Walden a diploma mill because it gives out A's for participation is a weak argument. You MUST participate in the weekly discussions or get a grade of zero.

I have never needed much support from any school. At Walden, I do everything online or on the phone such as attend webinars on social issues and career advice.

Professor feedback varies. If you read the discussions you can tell that students are digesting the material. The professors aren't there to debate with you or argue points, the material is given to you, so go find the answers and think for yourself! A lot of students can't handle that, they want a professor to read notes or from the textbook to them, that's not a lecture, it's a summary! I have an assignment, I am told what to read, and then I have to answer questions. Professors do extend the conversations and ask additional questions to some students, they are not invisible.

The residency I attended was amazing. From courses on research resources, to research practices, and improving writing skills, I was thrilled to meet other students from across the country.

Walden is a threat to the traditional university and academic snobbery will continue. I think a few of the complainers here just couldn't deal with the independence. I am a professional already in my career. Having Walden University on my resume has already helped me get one promotion, and once I complete my education, I look forward to more open doors. Not just because of the name of the college, but, because of the skills I have gained from Walden, experience from life, and my professional drive.

For those who are so negative about Walden, I can tell some of you had a very bad experience. I am sorry to see how bitter you have become. What surprises me is that people don’t go around bashing brick and mortar college that much, it just looks cheesy when someone complains about a college, it is easy to pick on Walden because it is an easy target as an online university. Legitimate online universities and courses have a tough time because of real diploma mills.

Joe June 19, 2008 at 2:44 a.m.

Look at what one Walden doctorate holder has resorted to...

chronicle.com/free/v50/i42/42a01201.htm

Current Student June 19, 2008 at 3:42 a.m.

Do not go to Walden University. If you absolutely have to go there, do not major in a Psychology. I have been to both traditional and this on-line for profit school and it is just that. They do not care about their students. The admissions person will be very nice to you and help you get admitted, but afterwards all your assistance will stop there. You will have to take time off of work for 2 weeks, 3 times within a one year time span to go to what has been the worst use of my time thus far. This school just wants your money. Believe me. If you want to just give your money and time away, go get a volunteer job and make donations. Make good use of both of them and DO NOT GO TO THIS SCHOOL. SAVE YOURSELF. Believe me. I wish someone had told me.

Joe Sucks June 19, 2008 at 4:03 a.m.

that lady went to several school in addition to Walden. she went to UCLA and Cal State; she got a Ph.D. from a research university in Spain. the article went further to say that both schools are accredited by government approved agencies.

stop trying to make a case you can't prove with your half ass stories.

you're a dumb ass. get a real job and get off these boards.

Walden Student June 19, 2008 at 10:29 a.m.

She attended Walden? Why would a Walden PhD do something so vile? How can they lie so often. This Dr. B appears to be a fraud and claims to hold a PhD from Walden as well. Walden students calling critics of Walden dumbasses and saying they suck is not helping anything. This is not good for the reputation of my school.

Felix June 19, 2008 at 1:43 p.m.

Joe, your post is pointless and just silly. You have a vendetta against Walden, and it shows.

And to Current Student, they are called Residencies, didn't you read about the program before you joined?

By the way Ted Kaczynski, the infamous Unabomber is a graduate from Harvard.

So I guess that's what Harvard grads are up to.

Joe June 19, 2008 at 3:32 p.m.

I didn't post that article. Someone is copy-catting me. My last post here was on... June 14, 2008 at 10:54 p.m

I would never equate that woman to an entire school.

To Joe... June 19, 2008 at 6:11 p.m.

Dr. John Antonakis obtained his PhD degree at Walden. Use a search engine to get information about his postdoc and to obtain a list of his publications.

Joe Sucks June 19, 2008 at 6:31 p.m.

Walden Student you are just as dumb as Joe is. No one said that the lady who got her Ed.D. from Walden was a dumbass. I said that Joe was for making a half-assed case about the caliber of students at the school.

I suggest you take an extra 10 seconds and read over the post again. Don't embarrass yourself.

To Joe... June 19, 2008 at 6:35 p.m.

Walden University is an accredited University and is recognized in the USA, Canada, and I believe in other countries too. I took a course at Walden in 2004 and could easily transfer to a Canadian University (after they checked accreditation).

To Joe... June 19, 2008 at 6:47 p.m.

Dr. Boyd is director of the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Interoperability and Compatibility. He earned his PhD at Walden...

Use a search engine to get more information :)

To Joe... June 19, 2008 at 6:56 p.m.

Dr. Sherry Kay Robinson wrote a 150 pages dissertation at Walden.

The title of her dissertation was: "Entrepreneurial motives and relationships with employees: A case study on women small business owners in a rural Pennsylvania county"

She taught the following courses on Business and
Economics, and Leadership at Penn State.

Best regards.

To Walden Student... June 19, 2008 at 7:31 p.m.

I don't believe you are a student at Walden...

To Joe, Jeff, ... June 19, 2008 at 7:43 p.m.

Read about Dr. James Stahley here:

nvl.nist.gov/pub/nistpubs/calendars/techcal/2000/001805-tc.htm

Best regards.

To All... June 19, 2008 at 8:05 p.m.

After reading Dr. B's posts I would hardly believe s/he is a fraud...

In terms of what Dr. B said about Dr. Robinson, it is true.

In terms of what Dr. B said about Walden University, it is also absolutely true. I also had some doubts about Walden University 4 years ago, but my first experience with it proved to me that it is a great university.

Walden PhD Student June 19, 2008 at 8:06 p.m.

Walden is not Harvard or Princeton, but can be in the future and there is a good chance for it to become an on-line Harvard. I’ve seen a lot of positive changes in Walden, and enjoy using the on-line library provided by Walden.

Just a Point June 20, 2008 at 3:57 a.m.

Here is a link to Baker College (a non-profit)'s faculty listing for its new DBA program. All of these faculty members are CURRENTLy affiliated with Walden either full-time or part-time. Dr. Hoehn, for example, is full-time faculty at Walden and has been for over 25 years. Dr. Stahley recently left Walden as Associate Dean of the School of Management to be the founding faculty of the DBA program at Baker.

www.baker.edu/doctorate/faculty.cfm

Walden PhD Student June 20, 2008 at 11:25 a.m.

Dr. Danielle Babb was my statistics instructor.
The statistics course was excellent! Much better than in the traditional schools I attended before!

Her website is:
www.drdaniellebabb.com
Watch her interviews and read her books! :)

Walden PhD Student June 20, 2008 at 12:28 p.m.

Dr. Abraham Meilich completed his PhD at Walden. More about him:
www.incose.org/symp2001/archive/program/...

Dr. B. June 20, 2008 at 1:40 p.m.

Hi Walden PhD Student. This is great information. I know Dr. Babb and she is great!

Thanks for posting objective information on this site.

As you can probably tell, there are a lot of skeptics on here who have absolutely nothing to do with Walden.

Walden PhD Student June 20, 2008 at 2:08 p.m.

Dr. B, it is nice to hear from you again!

Dr. Babb's final statistics exam was really hard...

Dr. B. June 20, 2008 at 2:55 p.m.

Talk about HARD....I had Dr. Spencer. In addition to the online course, we had face to face STATS during the 2 week summer residency. I personally witnessed people sitting under trees at IU smoking cigarettes and crying about how they were going to fail. lol Group presentations were scrutinized and the pressure was intense. Dr. Spencer told us that if we're having a problem or had a fear of numbers to get over it. Then he started his lecture.

It was awful! lol

Walden PhD Student June 20, 2008 at 3:46 p.m.

The statistics course at Walden was really helpful.

I was explaining my colleagues how to work with t- and chi-square distributions recently. My colleagues earned their MBAs from an Ivy league University...

Statistics will be the same whether you study in a traditional school or on-line...

Joe June 20, 2008 at 5:35 p.m.

I feel like I am being quoted Walden's notable alumni page and there is still nothing that ranks as high as a top 50 ranked school like Penn State. Penn State @ Hazelton is nothing in the world of academics. US News doesn't even bother to list it much less rank it. They didn't bother to rank Baker either. A Walden PhD in the world of academia is only going to allow you to teach at the bottom of the pile. That much is well known in the world of academics. My cousin teaches Medieval Lit @ Cambridge so he knows better than anyone. He says "you will most likely teach in the same calibre of school you received your terminal degree" and the schools listed just emphasize the fact.

Walden PhD Student June 20, 2008 at 5:37 p.m.

Dr. Terri Bittner has a very good and informative website:
www.bittnerfamily.net/resources.html

Felix June 20, 2008 at 6:53 p.m.

Joe, not everyone with a PhD wants to teach, I surely don't. Why knock the school if it's not in the top 50? There are thousands of schools in the same category. This academic snobbery is so silly. I know PhD's who couldn't find their way out of a soda can.

Also, someone posted about Dr. Boyd. Before I joined Walden I found a few folks online who were graduates, and he was one of them. I emailed him and asked him his opinion and he got back to me with a positive response. Another person I contacted had some concerns if I wanted to teach (she was a professor).

In academics, there may be challenges. In real world, I highly doubt it.

Joe June 20, 2008 at 7:14 p.m.

It's about "Dr." B and his claims that a Walden PhD got an alum a tenured position at Penn State, when in fact it was at the obscure campus @Hazelton that doesn't even offer masters degrees that he said she was in charge of. It isn't a condemnation of Walden but of one of Mr.B. The most widely known reputation of Walden in the general public is one of continuing Ed. for teachers who just want a pay bump. No one expects their grads to be at the pinnacle of their fields, they just want the money and Walden gives that to them. Walden serves a purpose but it isn't a very noble one.

Dr. B. June 20, 2008 at 8:30 p.m.

Joe, I don't know why you're spending so much time and effort trying to attack what I write on this board. Penn State, just like MANY universities has several campuses. All faculty are employed by that system. When you graduate from the Hazleton campus, your degree says Penn State, not Penn State Hazleton. If you attend UMN Crookston, your degree says University of Minnesota. No one gives a damn about which campus a person comes from or is employed. Dr. Robinson is tenured in the Penn State system and at the time she gained tenure, she was a chair..... perhaps it was for another campus, but that is still besides the point.

What you're doing is undermining the whole Penn State system. No campus is better than the other. The quality of faculty is the same. The major difference is that some campuses offer courses and degrees that others may not. Large state university systems such as Penn have satellite campuses to better serve the public. Whether you like it or not... .Dr. Robinson is employeed as a tenured faculty member by the Penn State system; and that is all that matters.

What is also interesting is that even though I named you three very good universities, you chose to only hark on Penn State. What about the tenured faculty at JSU and the Provost of Oral Roberts? You have nothing to say there do you?

As for you calling me Dr. B or Mr. B. I really don't care. Because before I became Dr. B.... I was Mr. B. and will always be because I am a real man. Your crappy comments on this site don't matter to me. And there is nothing you can do to discredit me or my work. So give it up Sloppy Joe. Let it go.

Felix June 20, 2008 at 9:49 p.m.

Joe, You are mad because people go to Walden to get a degree so they can earn more money? I don't understand your anger with this, that's one of the points of continuing education. Walden's purpose is to help you earn a degree, why a person gets a degree is beyond Walden's control, and is the truth for any university.

You are mad at Walden for some reason, I don't know why, but I am trying to understand where you are coming from, but I just don't get it.

I bet you will never find Walden on the list of top ten college party schools, and you know what, parents still send their children to those schools and the kids earn degrees and go on to make more money.

I don't know Dr. B, nor do I care to defend any facts he has made, but he is just proud of his accomplishment and where he went to school. There is nothing wrong with that.

Felix June 20, 2008 at 10 p.m.

to Just a Point,

I was looking at your link. One of the professors, Stanley Amaladas, held a leadership position in the PhD in Public Policy program (chair? I forgot the title) at Walden. I met him at the Residency I went to. He also taught one of the research courses at the Residency. Very down to earth, articulate, and intelligent man. He must have just recently left Walden.

Another Joe June 21, 2008 at 12:28 a.m.

Bottom line... If you want to go to Walden go to Walden, If you don't, don't. Why the hell would anyone care where someone else went to school?? It just doesn't make sense???

Joe June 21, 2008 at 2:53 a.m.

Dr. B said "What you're doing is undermining the whole Penn State system. No campus is better than the other."

What planet are you on? Of course some are better than others. It's like saying UNC Wilmington is on the same level as UNC Chapel Hill... it is absurd. You're degree might not say it but your transcripts certainly do! US News ranks the different campuses so it obviously matters.

"Why the hell would anyone care where someone else went to school??"

You must be joking.

Dr. B. June 21, 2008 at 3:14 a.m.

The Richard Riley College of Education at Walden University launched its inaugural issue of Impact Education. This is an official publication of the College of Education and is an excellent resource for individuals interested in all levels associated with the field of education.

The inaugural issue features a conversation with Richard W. Riley. In “The Lifelong Pursuit of Education,” Riley, the former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, describes the difference between a good teacher and a great teacher.

“Walden Addresses the Community College Leadership Crisis” highlights Walden’s Ph.D. in Education specialization in Community College Leadership and its role in developing the next generation of leaders. “Mentoring the Next Generation of Teachers” describes how Walden is helping working professionals begin a second career in education through its state-approved* teacher preparation programs.

Other highlights include profiles of alumni making a difference in their community, as described in the “Lifelong Learners Insights” department. This issue includes Heidi Evans’ remarkable work with hearing-impaired students and Rebecca McLelland’s efforts to expand her students’ perspectives on the environment.

View the inaugural issue at ImpactEducation.WaldenU.edu.

*Walden University’s teacher preparation programs are approved by the Minnesota Board of Teaching for licensure in Minnesota. Walden’s enrollment advisors can provide individuals with guidelines and other information about licensure. It remains the individual’s responsibility to understand and comply with the out-of-state licensure requirements for the state in which he or she seeks to be licensed.

Educated June 21, 2008 at 3:52 a.m.

I just read in Impact Education where the Dean of the College of Technology at Montana State University, Billings is a Walden Ph.D. student and is slated to graduate in 2010.

Walden must be pretty solid.

Leah June 21, 2008 at 7:10 a.m.

Oh yeah, Walden is solid. Just like Kennedy Western had hundreds of graduates in the upper echelons of the DoD made them solid. Out of all the gradautes that come out of Walden only a few of them ever go on to do anything remotley noteworthy and none achieve the top of their field. If Mr. B really did all he said all we have to do is look on the short list of accomplished alumni and we should be able to find him.

To Leah... June 21, 2008 at 1:01 p.m.

Kennedy Western is not accredited and it changed its name. My colleague paid about $7,000 for the whole PhD program at KW in 2004 once he was accepted. He specialized in computer security. I saw his assignment, and it was really good. This sum of money even didn't cover 2 quarters for a PhD program at Walden.

Walden is accredited, meaning the government trusts its degrees. While Walden graduates can put 'PhD' after their names, KW graduates can not do this. I specifically checked with the graduate office of one 'traditional' University, and they confirmed it. I don't know much about KW, I didn't take any classes there and cannot criticize their program, but I think Walden provides all means for student to obtain their degrees. It is up to the Walden students and graduates to prove that they can effectively use the knowledge they obtained at Walden.

Harvard was established in 1636, and I believe there was a Leah who was skeptical about its degrees and suggested to obtain one in UK :)... But Harvard became a great school afterwards because of its famous graduates. The same I can say about other schools like Princeton, Brown and others.

Stupid People June 21, 2008 at 2:01 p.m.

It seems that Leah obviously has it out for Walden like Joe. Why would an institution have a short list of successful graduates. Especially when most of its graduates go on to do great things?

To show she doesn't know what she is talking about, Kennedy Western doesn't even fit in this discussion.

Why Bother June 21, 2008 at 4:51 p.m.

To continue to argue with any of these people?? I truly believe these are the same buffoons that have been on here for months arguing the same useless, baseless arguments. The only thing is they keep creating new "identities"(unfortunately this is what happens with such an open posting forum) because the old ones clearly kept getting "beaten down", so they had to create another to restart their garbage. As you can see they thrive on comments from people to keep them going, the more controversial the comment the more they like it. Simply ignore these uninformed, providing no real arguments pinheads, and like all pests do, they'll eventually "disappear"! (That is of course until they create a new identity! LOL)

To "Why Bother".. June 21, 2008 at 7:19 p.m.

Yes, I agree with you. Why bother? And why you wrote this stuff? Why you blame all people? Why you ever came here?

Another Joe June 22, 2008 at 12:37 p.m.

Joking??

My point is that unless you intend on hiring the person, what business is it of yours where they went to school. Further, if you are interviewing someone for a job and you don't want to hire someone with a Walden degree, then DON'T HIRE him/her.

But I reiterate why the hell would you care where someone else gets their degree from. It does not have any effect on you. So, what difference does it make to you?

If someone wants to waste their time/money going to a poor quality school, (I'm not saying Walden is poor quality, Because I don't know anything about Walden) why the hell should it matter to you? After all its their time/money not yours.

Another Joe June 22, 2008 at 12:56 p.m.

I was am in the military and my schedule completely ruled out college attendance in a traditional sense. I received my bachelors online from the University of Texas (it says nothing about being an online degree) and I recently received my masters in Industrial Psychology from Kansas State University (also an online degree---Also says nothing about online on my diploma)

I was recently commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. Working with many other individuals that received their degrees in a traditional manner, I can attest that my education was just as good if not better than many of the folks that I work with. (I'm not saying that the education they received is bad) What I am saying is that I would be willing to put the education that received online up against anyone else's on the planet.

A person can get a very good education online (I am living proof of that). So...Joe/Leah, Please tell me why you care where SOMEONE ELSE goes to school??

Joe June 23, 2008 at 9:24 a.m.

There is a difference in the quality of education one receives in a state school system. The campus one attends does matter as an education from UC Irvine is not equal to one from UC Berkeley or UCLA. Your education from UT online is not the equivalent of one from UT Austin. The faculty at the minor and online campuses are just not the average calibre you get at the main campus. This isn't to knock your online degree... it still meets the same basic standards as that of the main campus so we can count on that. You just aren't getting the best the state has to offer, that is reserved for the flagship campus. In many of the different schools the admission standards are often lower than that of the flagship campus as well. That and a lack of easy access to the resources offered at the flagship campuses are what differentiate them.

Why it matters... if two CVs are the same except for someone going to UT Austin and one from UT online, the one from Austin is getting the job. It is those little details that can make or break a hire. Reputation is the biggest value of a degree to your CV.

Another Joe June 23, 2008 at 12:08 p.m.

I am not making the argument that UT online is the same as UT Austin. (I don't even know how you could have inferred that)

I am just curious as to why it would matter to YOU PERSONALLY where someone else goes to school?

What business is it of yours if someone decides to attend a school like Walden?

BYW, as far as getting hired goes, where you went to school only matters at the very beginning of your career. For later career movess it is all about experience, experience, experience. If you think that 15 years into your career anybody is going to give a rat's behind where you went to school, then you are delusional. When it comes to employment opportunities its all about "what have you done lately"

Regards,

Another Joe

Another Joe June 23, 2008 at 12:14 p.m.

As far as "difference in quality of education goes"----

The quality of education that an individual receives is a direct result of the effort that an individual student puts into it. An individual can graduate from a top tier school and receive a lower quality education than someone who simply frequents his/her local library.

Quality of education is a direct result of the effort of each individual student. Go talk to any Professor at your school of choice and they will tell you the same thing.

V/r Another Joe

Another Joe June 23, 2008 at 12:40 p.m.

Further, It just so happens that I work with another Lieutenant that attended UT Austin. We are the same military rank, and he is one year older than me (26 vs 25) but I MAKE MORE than him. Why? Because I have 4+ years enlisted time and he doesn't. Like I said experience counts more than education.

Leah June 23, 2008 at 12:46 p.m.

Why do you care why we care? It is obvious we don't want people to buy a devalued product when the uneducated don't know the bad reputations of these schools. It is our business as a service to the public welfare. The more people we keep out of diploma mills like Walden the less debt our nation will have and the less people will lose their homes. I can't stand to think of a single mother with 4 kids, unemployed, out on the street because she can't make her student loans with a worthless degree from Walden. The way these enrollment people are hyping the school it isn't any wonder so many of their claims turn up as fraudelent.

Another Joe June 23, 2008 at 1:17 p.m.

Leah,

Are you seriously implying that if someone attends Walden, they will lose their home? (I think your cause and effect analysis is "SLIGHTLY" flawed LOL)

Walden is a regionally accredited school. Don't you think that if Walden was really that bad that the regional accreditors would revolk their accredidation?

Are you trying to say that regional accredidation means nothing?

As far as buying inferior or "devalued" products goes, Walmart sells millions of inferior products each day, Do you suggest we shut down all the Walmart stores?

I, on the other hand, would say that if you don't want inferior products, then don't shop at Walmart.

I'm sorry, but your arguments are very flawed. I reiterate my contention that it is none of your business where someone else chooses to attend school. If you feel that Walden is that bad you should take your complaints the the regional accrediting authority not vent your baseless dribble here.

Regards

Another Joe

Leah June 23, 2008 at 2:04 p.m.

Pfft LOL... my sister is one such person wronged by the claims a PhD in Psych would gain her respectable employment. She is still doing the same social work she did when she started. As a single mother she can't pay the babysitter and her outrageous student loans Walden charged her. If she had gone for a respectable masters she could at least counsel, but she can't even do that with a bunk PhD from Walden. Employers don't respect the degree and neither do the general public. It was the worst decision of her life and she reminds me quite regularly.

If Walmart sells products that cause harm to the general public, poisened products from China, I would demand all Walmart stores that sold them be closed. When Walden sells degrees that they promote as "career enhancing" and they send single mothers to bankruptcy I would demand they be closed too. It is not a hard concept to grasp but ""(I think your cause and effect analysis is "SLIGHTLY" flawed LOL)""

But I wouldn't want to let you get away with your "baseless dribble" here or anywhere else.

Another Joe June 23, 2008 at 2:25 p.m.

I assume that your sister had at least a bachelors degree before enrolling at Walden and was thus a moderately educated adult.

In our free enterprise economy consumers are allowed to make decisions regarding the products services that they purchase. In doing so, it is ultimately the consumer's responsibility to ensure that the product/service that they are purchasing meets their needs. If your sister did not perform due diligence before she enrolled at Walden she has no one to blame but herself.

That said, I would not recommend pursuing a PhD at Walden. (I thought about it, but when I researched the option I realized that I could not obtain licensure in the sate where I intend to practice) However, I would let others know that if Walden meets their needs, that there is nothing wrong with obtaining your degree online.

After receiving my bachelors/masters online I was accepted into the University of Oklahoma's Traditional Doctorate program. I did not enroll however. Instead I accepted a commission in the military. I am 25 years old and will recieve a military pension at the age of 37. (Joined when I was 17) When I retire I will get a PhD from a traditional PhD program. But I reiterate, That there is nothing wrong with getting your education online and it is none of your business where someone else decides to go to school.

P.S. Im sorry that your sister made a poor decision..but attending Walden is not what will cause her to lose her home.

To Leah... June 23, 2008 at 2:47 p.m.

Leah, I am sorry for what happened with you sister. But did she talk to her mentor about the issue? Maybe her mentor can suggest something?

Arguments June 23, 2008 at 3:24 p.m.

Outlined here is a simple list of arguments against for-profits:

1) Open enrollment. At a BS/BA level or higher, this is not acceptable. Let people in without competition for an AS/AA and then prove themselves in that degree first. This is very true for Phd level.

2) "Enrollment Counselors". People should not be paid like car salesmen and have their enrollment numbers determine pay in education. I could care less if my taxes weren't paying for many of the people to go there.

3) False advertising / Over Advertising. At least ITT is now putting on their commercials a disclaimer about not transferring credits. Sure, all these schools are "accredited", but the general public doesn't realize how important professional accreditation is and the different types.

4) Understand that no traditional universities respect Phd's from these schools. In the US, our number one industry that compares to no other in the world is academics. This is why we are able to microscopic of achievements at the Phd level.

5) A University being run like a business. Just bad.

Joe June 23, 2008 at 3:37 p.m.

Regional accreditation doesn't mean anything these days. They accredit a 2/3 Life Experience degree from Ashford and are likely to accredit Warren National in a few months. The government has failed us here the same as they do with so many other things.

The military is a poor example to compare to the private sector but they reward education with better pay as they do in the commercial world. The more skills you have the more special pay you can receive and the bigger your re-up bonus can be. Equal time does not mean equal pay in the service or in the outside world. Education does make up the difference in the long run. The statistics verify that.

"Quality of education is a direct result of the effort of each individual student. Go talk to any Professor at your school of choice and they will tell you the same thing."

My cousin has tenure at Cambridge... tell him that and he will scoff if you tell him you apply that philosophy to Walden the same as you would to his uni. Even if you graduate Cambridge with a C, you at least know the student has a satisfactory level of comprehension and application of their degree. A C at Cambridge is = to a B+ at a good state school, that is how rigorous the program is. An A at Walden is so easy to achieve and with open enrollment anyone can earn a degree with only the slightest effort. No one knows what kind of student you get with inflated grades and no entrance requirements so they don't want to take a chance. At Cambridge you KNOW what you're going to get... absolute competence at the very least is GUARANTEED.

Leah June 23, 2008 at 3:53 p.m.

One of my sister's biggest complaints is she got absolutely ZERO support in her career placement. There was no networking of placed alumni nor any connections in the profession that could get her an in. It was a nightmare the way she put it in regards to lack of support. The career center Walden provides offered less help than most job websites. She had such a hard time getting the faculty to respond to her emails she became enraged. I remember one particular night of frustration when she called me; she about ripped MY head off for Walden's failures. To blame my sister for Walden's empty promises is misguided when they advertised "career enhancement" and "support" in professional development. What they did to her was downright fraud.

If you have such a good education and job then good for you. Getting into the military is easy. You have obviously never had to fend for yourself in the commercial world. At 25 you still have alot to learn. Stick with the military because you're Walden degree will drag you down on the outside.

Another Joe June 23, 2008 at 3:58 p.m.

All universities are run like businesses. Wake up.

Are you against online, or just for-profit.

If you think that online is ok but are simply against for profit, then you must admit that it is at least possible that a for-profit online school could provide an education at an acceptable level of quality. If you believe that all online is bad I can Prove you wrong.

Duke University has both an online and traditional MBA program. to ensure that their online MBA program met at least minimum standards they designed a standardized test which was then given to both groups of MBA graduates...

Guess what happened... the online students OUT PERFORMED the traditional MBA students... offering at least some evidence that online provides an acceptable level of education.

Thus, your argument that a school is bad simply because it is for profit does not hold water. Once again, I do not advocate a person getting a PhD online because I think that you need face-to face interaction to get the full benefits of collaboration. However, at the undergrad/masters level online is perfectly acceptable. (I do think Walden is over priced...but that does not mean that you can't get an acceptable education there...Its all about what you as an individual put into it and need out of it.

I really don't think that anyone is attempting to compare Walden with Cambridge. If someone does than they are on the other side of the bell curve and are attempting to argue from extremes. (The worst form of argument) You need to look at the average college graduate from an average program. (The middle of the bell curve +- a standard deviation) The average person attending Walden is a working adult who needs a degree to advance in their career. It is not the degree itself that will get them the promotion that they seek it is their workplace performance obtaining their degree is simply checking a box needed to be eligable for the promotion. To say a college is bad simply because they are for profit is missing the forest for the trees.

V/r Another Joe

Joe June 23, 2008 at 4:18 p.m.

I don't have a problem with online education so save your breath. I do have a problem with for-profits because the model doesn't work if quality is the goal.

"Thus, your argument that a school is bad simply because it is for profit does not hold water."

It sounds like your argument doesn't hold water. You mixed up your example. A non-profit vs the same non-profit doesn't work partner. Try again...

"I really don't think that anyone is attempting to compare Walden with Cambridge."

Riiiight... you're the one who tried to compare top tier schools to a library education.

Another Joe said.... "An individual can graduate from a top tier school and receive a lower quality education than someone who simply frequents his/her local library."

ROFLMAO!! You sure lay it on thick partner... I will give you that!

Missing the forest for the trees is a good idiom to describe your position. For you to tread water with that view you would have to provide an example of a decently ranked for-profit school. Come back when you find one. LOL!

Another Joe June 23, 2008 at 5:06 p.m.

Joe,

While I whole heartedly agree that Walden would not be my first choice for an online education (neither would UoP, Capella, NCU, ETC...

I reiterate my contention that it is not for you to decide where adults decide to go to school. And, as for my contention that you can get an excellent education at your local library, that is absolutely true.

You are trying to belittle people because they go to Walden. The correct stance is to try to encourage people in their education pursuits, regardless of where they choose to attend school.

That said I beleive that there are better options than Walden for a myraid of reasons that I won't get into here. However, it is still none of your business where someone else gets their degree from.

Another Joe June 23, 2008 at 5:20 p.m.

Further, Education in our modern economy is vitally important. We live in an information economy and education is its lifeblood. Not everyone is capable of the elite academic work required of Cambridge, Harvard etc... But there is definately a place for State colleges and small private univerities as well.

who are you to say that there is no place for for-profit universities in our educational system. And, as I said before id you/Leah feel that strongly about it complain to the regulatory bodies about it. Bitching about it on this forum will not get you anywhere.

Arguments June 23, 2008 at 5:59 p.m.

I'm simply against for-profit. I do have some issues with phd level online education, but some places have made some significant improvements to show how it would work (residencies and on going PERSONAL interaction with professors). A few examples are in the Pittsburgh area. CMU, RMU, Duquense, Pitt. These are not online programs though, since nothing you do is online. They condense the seminars into several residencies on the weekends (and other full week residencies) so they can get working people.

As for Walden and the argument of "Good school" crap, Walden is simply out for Money. If they weren't, they would lower tuition, offer more scholarships and recruit, provide entrance exams and a rigorous entrance policy like all other schools. Schools like Walden, Capella, UoP, NCU, etc are causing our school system in the US to look like crap.

Another Joe June 23, 2008 at 7:36 p.m.

I do agree that Open admissions is a bad idea. For profit schools should at least have minimum entrance requirements.

Not everyone is cut out for graduate level study, and allowing everyone who applys into the program in unfair to those students that do belong, due to to the significant group work requirements that the vast majority of graduate schools require.

However, Just because a school is for-profit does not make it a bad school. You have to give me more substance than "their for-profit, and therefore they are a bad school"
back it up with some actual evidence.

V/r

Another Joe

Newk June 23, 2008 at 7:59 p.m.

1. Why does Joe keep referring to his cousin at Cambridge? What does Joe have to show for himself? Did Joe go to Cambridge? Could Joe have gotten into Cambridge?

2. Leah and her sister are obviously stupid. The Walden professors probably thought she was stupid too, which is why they communicated with her as little as possible.

3. The same accreditor for Walden accredits U Chicago, Chicago State, and Northwestern. By belittling Walden, you're belittling these schools and reducing the value of an accredited degree. If you compare the faculty, they are equally accomplished. If you have problems with that, contact the HCL.

4. Walden's Ph.D. programs have required residencies.

5. I agree with Another Joe. If you have such large issues with Walden University, why not take them to the Higher Learning Commission? You do no good making baseless comments on this board. But then again, why are you so concerned with other people and THEIR decision to get educated?

6. Walden University is not trying to compete with Harvard or Cambridge. Hell Walden University isn't even trying to compete with Phoenix. Walden is Walden and their credits do transfer to other regionally accredited institutions.

7. The reason a recruiter would call a person's house is because that person wanted them to..ie Leah's stupid sister. They don't make random calls so IF they call you, it's because you contacted them first.

8. Why are all these people who have nothing to do with Walden making comments about it? How can you make comments about something you know nothing about? That is ignorance.

Arguments June 23, 2008 at 8:10 p.m.

From the above:

Number 3 in the above statement is a horribly overused statement. Again, there are different types of accreditation. In the case of Psyc, Walden does not have APA accreditation. I doubt it holds ABET accreditation. I know it doesn't have AACSB accreditation. You can give me alternatives to these, but they are cheap alternatives that do not matter. And being accredited is much different than being affiliated or a member of.

Face it, Walden sucks.

Newk June 23, 2008 at 8:15 p.m.

No. You suck.

Felix June 23, 2008 at 8:38 p.m.

To Arguments, John Hopkins doesn't even have doesn't have AACSB accreditation. It may be by choice, but, I wonder why such a university with a huge name doesn't. Im sure you would go there given the chance. Only about 10% of business schools have it, so the the 90% are garbage? Please, it may not be gold standard, but at least people are getting their degrees. More snobbery from people who probably don't even have college degrees themselves.

To Leah and Arguments... June 23, 2008 at 8:39 p.m.

Watch video about Tim:
realpeople.waldenu.edu/video-tim.cfm

Felix June 23, 2008 at 9:04 p.m.

Leah, I'm sorry about your sister's situation, but, she should have researched the issue more. When I did my residency there were people who were working on their PhD's for Psych. When I asked them about licensing concerns they said that they were already licensed in their states with the Masters degree they held, the PhD just helped bring them up to PhD status to get the title and expand more. It was working for them because they had researched the issue. I am doing a PhD, but, my field does not require a license so I am not in that boat.

In addition, to suddenly expect to get the the big breaks with a PhD is unrealistic, you still have to work your way up the ladder.

Another Joe June 23, 2008 at 9:18 p.m.

Arguments,

Statements such as "Walden Sucks" make you look silly and no one will take you seriously. If you have problems with Walden be specific as to what they are.

For example, I have already said that I disagree with their policy of open admissions into graduate level work and I gave my reasons why I disagree.

To simply say "Face it, Walden Sucks" makes you look childish at best. There is nothing wrong with criticism of a college and its policies. But, you have to follow up that criticism with a suggested way to improve, otherwise your just blowing hot air and it weakens your argument.

V/r Another Joe

Dr. B. June 24, 2008 at 2:34 a.m.

Wow. A lot went on today.

Joe June 24, 2008 at 2:53 a.m.

No one takes any of the proponents seriously when they degrade a single mother who was ripped off by Walden. The Walden employees who frequent this board who insult everyone that shares their stories or opinions are on a smear campaign that only show cases their adolescent behavior. Leah's sister didn't get any support from this university and is a clear concern for anyone looking to sign up. Walden has very little in the way of professional accreditation and ranks nowehere on any scale. It is scoffed at by employers and is not making anyone competitive in academia. I'm not here to rip on Walden but to clear up the hype these employees are plastering on this blog.

Leah June 24, 2008 at 4:59 a.m.

"Watch video about Tim:
realpeople.waldenu.edu/video-tim.cfm"

That doesn't have anything to do with Walden. Maybe you should watch it before you post irrelavent links.

To Leah... June 24, 2008 at 1:52 p.m.

"That doesn't have anything to do with Walden. Maybe you should watch it before you post irrelavent links."

Really?

Leah June 24, 2008 at 4:29 p.m.

Yeah, really. The guy lost his leg and decided to start a charity. That has NOTHING to do with Walden.

To Leah... June 24, 2008 at 6:53 p.m.

How about others - also nothing to do with Walden?

Newk June 24, 2008 at 7:34 p.m.

I told you all Leah was stupid.

Arguments June 24, 2008 at 7:57 p.m.

The post dated "Arguments June 23, 2008 at 8:10 p.m." was not me.

I do agree about the accreditation process and what it means. However, I didn't post this.

And as for the comment on JHU, that is a school that by name alone makes it prestigious. MIT would not need ABET to be seen as prestigious, just like Harvard wouldn't need even Middle States accreditation. But that is because they produce results.

Walden may produce some in the future, but they do have a stigma attached because they have every reason to get people in and keep in them in since they report to shareholders. Until this is overcome somehow, no for-profit school will be able to seen as respectful.

To Arguments June 24, 2008 at 8:24 p.m.

You're creating a double standard here. First you all were saying that schools without professional accreditation were garbage. Now all of a sudden research schools like JHU don't need them? That's BULL. Harvard has AACSB, so why not Johns Hopkins? Johns Hopkins is known for health and environmental related research. Not Business!

What if all schools did like Johns Hopkins and abort accreditations like AACSB? What argument would you all have then about smaller schools that need the AACSB label to recruit students? By JHU not having AACSB, doesn't that negate the argument that AACSB is important?

Arguments June 24, 2008 at 9 p.m.

AACSB and its like accreditations are important to schools who do not have the superior name like MIT or Harvard. Many schools that are smaller and not as well known can prove themselves with this. Other schools, like Penn State or Walden, who get attacked about their acadmics can use it to show they have high standards (Penn State was attacked when it was released many sports players were passing classes with no real reason to which Penn State was able to show this claim was bogus through the accreditation process by having supporting documents from these players).

Doc Psych June 24, 2008 at 9:02 p.m.

I graduated 2 years ago with a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Walden University. I am licensed and am currently practicing in the state of Texas. My practice is strong and continues to grow. With family and professional obligations, Walden was the only way I could achieve my goals. The faculty is awesome and the residencies were intensive and great. I do not regret my decision to attend Walden University.

My advice is for those interested in the psychology program to do their own research and make an informed decision as to whether or not to apply.

Looks Okay To Me June 25, 2008 at 1:13 a.m.

I have degrees from Duke and Florida State. I have been considering Walden for my Ph.D. in Management. I have been taking in what's being posted on this board and have been doing my own homework. It looks to me like Walden is a pretty good institution and has nothing to hide. I looked at several of their dissertations in the UMI database and listend to quite a few of their orals.

inside.waldenu.edu/c/Student_Faculty/StudentFaculty_1490.htm

I think it's very commendable of Walden to make this information available to the general public.

Still thinking.

Felix June 25, 2008 at 3:07 a.m.

Tacky, tacky, tacky. Accusing students who are happy with their education of being employees of Walden. Well, I am not.

That single mom made a mistake, she goofed. I'm not in the Psychology program and I EVEN KNOW ABOUT THE LICENSING ISSUES. You mean to tell me in all those years and her residencies the issue and conversation of licensing never came up? I doubt it, so I don't believe the story at all.

"no for-profit school will be able to seen as respectful."

That is not the correct. There are some on the U.S. News & Reports list.

Joe June 25, 2008 at 4:07 a.m.

The Carey Business school at John Hopkins has a very low reputation. It doesn't even show up on the list much less get a ranking from US News which is a dead give away. Professional AACSB accreditation does matter. There is no highly ranked for-profit school on US News... the best you can find is the bottom of the 4th tier which is not a quality school. You have to get into 3rd tier just for it to be respectable. All of those insulting single mothers should be ignored. They are trying to justify wasting tens of thousands of dollars that they defaulted on which we the taxpayers now have to take care of.

Another Joe June 25, 2008 at 4:48 a.m.

Joe,

You really seem hung up on AACSB.

Here is a news flash for you. AACSB is not the end all be all. It is an accredidation for business research institutions, and IS IMPORTANT if you want to teach at another AACSB accredited school. However, If you are interested in working for industry or teaching at a non-AACSB school its importance diminishes significantly.

The key is to understand exactly what you are buying before you enroll. If you want to teach at The University of Texas at Austin, Then YOU SHOULD NOT get your PhD from Walden. (I don't think you should get a PhD online in ANY CASE but thats just my personal opinion.)

However, If you want to teach at a school like WTAMU, then a Walden PhD may work for you.

Bottom line you have to do your research and know what you are buying. If you fail to perform due diligence before enrolling, you have got no one to blame but yourself.

Joe June 25, 2008 at 6:21 a.m.

Walden isn't even good enough to get you tenure at a school like WTAMU. It might get you a job at Walden or a 4th tier bottom feeder school. AACSB is the end all of business accreditation. The fact John Hopkins doesn't even get on the list is proof enough. If you need further evidence just look at all the rated programs. They ALL have AACSB.

I see duplicate IPs here. Don't think I don't know how to find them through Java script... you know who you are "doc."

Newk June 25, 2008 at 11:59 a.m.

I was watching CBS news this morning and found it interesting how a guy in a nice suit was holding a sign on the corner passing out resumes. His sign said "MIT grad looking for a job"....

Sad. Even the MIT name can't keep you employed.

Joe June 25, 2008 at 3:59 p.m.

He only started REALLY looking for a job after his unemployment ran out 3 days ago. He will be set before the end of the month.

To Joe June 25, 2008 at 4:45 p.m.

So what is my IP address and who do I match up to?

Newk June 25, 2008 at 5:03 p.m.

But with an MIT degree shouldn't he have been able to leave one job and hop right into another one? Why would an MIT guy sit around on unemployment when he can get a top offer elsewhere in seconds? Why would he stoop so low to strap a poster board to his chest like a homeless guy begging for food?

Joe is full of crap!

Public Health Student June 25, 2008 at 5:43 p.m.

I think one of the points that is missed in this "conversation" is that PhD programs are meant to be selective and rigorous. One of the simple facts is that many individuals cannot afford, either time or money, to enter into a 3-7 year obligation with very little pay. Stipends tend to range between $16,000 and $20,000 annually, that's just too difficult for most people to deal with. I know I'll be attacked for saying this but Walden and UOP and the other purely on-line institutions are much less selective in their screening process. I'm not saying that intelligent and hard working people aren't deserving of advanced degrees it's just that established universities basically smother their PhD candidates with all the trappings of their chosen field. Individuals ideally leave universities with a PhD having developed the potential to be leaders in areas such as research and academia. There is a reason for the selectivity and demands of these programs. Some universities offer part-time PhD programs and even JD degrees that are just as intense as the full-time. I wish everyone good luck with their education and careers.

Arguments June 25, 2008 at 5:51 p.m.

Public Health Student is right. These programs are supposed to be selective and rigorous. The fact that you sacrifice so much to enhance your position in that area of study is a statement in itself and I beleive it should be reserved for those who do that. I would even CONSIDER an online program that is selective and nontraditional as long as the entrance requirements are very difficult.

To Arguments June 25, 2008 at 9:34 p.m.

Do you have a Ph.D or executive doctorate? If so, from what institution? What was your GRE/GMAT score? How long did it take you to complete it? Please tell us about your dissertation.

To Public Health Student June 25, 2008 at 10 p.m.

What you speak of is nonsense. Admissions criteria should not be rigorous. The curriculum and learning environment should.

Selectivity does not guarantee success in a program. You just better hope you finish.

Public Health Student June 26, 2008 at 1:11 a.m.

To the comment immediately above. If admissions criteria are so soft anyone can enter regardless of GPA, experience, or writing ability, the program itself is effectively worthless. The degree will have no value if nothing is required to obtain it. I knew there would be those that are unwilling to give what I said a moments thought but I thought the response would be more thought out than "Admissions criteria should not be rigorous." Further, the curriculum and learning environment are very rigorous in established PhD programs and the criteria are there to ensure the candidate is capable of succeeding. You're right, selectivity does not guarantee success in a program, but universal acceptance virtually promotes failure.

Joe June 26, 2008 at 5:23 a.m.

Open enrollments is used as a profit maker. They aren't interested in enrolling people that help the student body because no one cares about it online. They only care about numbers and how much they can charge. Having selective criteria shows that the institution cares about quality control which is why universities either have a good or bad reputation. If you don't care what the value of your degree is then by all means attend. A degree is better than no degree. Just make sure you can pay for it if you don't get a better job afterwards.

Another Joe June 26, 2008 at 9:32 p.m.

Finally, Something that Joe and I agree on. I think one of the biggest problems with the for-profits is their open admissions policy. Due to the group work that is involved with almost every degree program, People who are not qualified drag down thise students who do have the qualifications necessary to succeed. I know the proponents will argue that you have to "give everyone a chance to succeed" but if you know beforehand that someone is going to fail and you enroll them anyway you are essentially STEALING that persons tuition money even if its only for a course or two, until they "wash-out".

Arguments June 26, 2008 at 9:45 p.m.

Open enrollment should only be acceptable at an associate’s level. This is enough for the student to prove herself as an academic and pursue further education from there. Beyond that, I am a snob and believe only those who can prove prior they will make should be approved. The post above is correct that otherwise, it makes the other students get "pulled down."

Joe June 27, 2008 at 5:18 a.m.

When for-profits start being selective about admissions you will see a marked increase in their reputations. It is at least 1/3 of the problem of the perception.

Oh Please June 27, 2008 at 9:01 p.m.

to Arguments, Joe, and Another Joe.

You three really need to find something else to do. You're spending entirely too much time on this board pushing a bunch of rhetoric. If an adult wants to enroll at a certain school, he/she is going to do it. Regardless of what you say! None of you have put forth your own credentials and none of you have spoken on your own successes.

Your points are well taken. But push on!

Leah June 28, 2008 at 8:42 a.m.

Joe is the only one who put up his REAL credentials. We all know he went to The Citadel just like he said. That means he was most likely military too. As to the rest of you we don't have a clue so I tend to believe him. He is certainly more real than the fake "Dr" B.

Another Joe June 28, 2008 at 4 p.m.

Leah,

Look back I also put up my real credentials U of Texas online and Kansas State Online.

Another Joe June 28, 2008 at 6:52 p.m.

Oh Please,

Whats it to you?

Leah June 29, 2008 at 1:36 a.m.

I don't see you putting up an email with those school's abbreviations in it. Joe is the only one that proved it by posting a snap shot of his desktop while logged in to his old account.

another Joe June 29, 2008 at 12:48 p.m.

Leah,

Your an idiot

Felix June 29, 2008 at 8:03 p.m.

There is a very interesting article by the NY Times on Distance Learning degrees. The link is:

www.nytimes.com/2008/06/15/jobs/15career...

You may need to register to see the article, but, I have pasted one of the most important parts below:

Q. How do employers view these degrees?

A. While every employer is different, Susan Kryczka, director of distance education at Boston University, said that most treat online degrees as equivalent to degrees obtained by attending classes in classrooms.

Ms. Kryczka said that many employers would cover online education as part of existing tuition reimbursement programs, provided that employees could prove that the online degree pertained to their current job.

Once employees have completed their degrees, she added, many are rewarded with additional compensation for advancing their education.

“Our students have reported very little pushback on the part of their employers,” said Ms. Kryczka, whose program offers eight graduate degrees online.

When employers are considering job applicants, online degrees are also becoming more accepted. Bob Leber, director of education and work-force development at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va., says that when employers are evaluating prospective employees, most don’t ask applicants to specify how they obtained their degrees, just where they obtained them.

“It’s not like you have to put on your résumé that you got your master’s online,” Mr. Leber said. “All that matters is that you have a degree.”

NYT June 29, 2008 at 9:18 p.m.

But perhaps the biggest risk associated with online degree programs is that not all of the programs are created equal.

John Bear, co-author of “Bear’s Guide to Earning Degrees by Distance Learning” (Ten Speed Press), said prospective students should consider working toward online degrees only from well respected institutions.

“The popularity of online degrees has made the bad guys swarm out of the woodwork to the point where there’s now a whole world of bad and fake degrees,” said Mr. Bear, an educational technology consultant in El Cerrito, Calif. “Before you invest time and money, make sure you’re putting it in the right place.”

Another Joe June 30, 2008 at 12:40 p.m.

I would agree completely with Mr. Bear.

Reputation means everything when it comes to getting an online degree. That is the primary reason I would not attend Walden, Capella, UoP, NCU, Etc... While the education you receive at these schools may be satisfactory the reputaion of the schools are not very good.

If you attend oline at a State supported University you can be sure that your online degree will command the same respect as that of the on campus programs at the same school. No one will ever even know that you attended online.

Joe June 30, 2008 at 4:19 p.m.

"No one will ever even know that you attended online."

If you worked out of state it will be pretty obvious on your resume.

Arguments June 30, 2008 at 4:46 p.m.

The reason I'm so against it is because my tax dollars are paying for many of these people to attend these schools. On the job training at Walmart is probably equivalent to a "for-profit" degree. And nobody said "online" degrees are bad. The "for-profit" ones are, online or offline. They are a joke and should not even be an option.

Another Joe July 1, 2008 at 2:44 p.m.

Joe,

"If you worked out of state it will be pretty obvious on your resume."

That is not necessarily so. Before coming back into the military, I worked for a little over a year as an HR Rep for Sara Lee Corp. When I was interviewing for that position, the hiring manager noticed on my resume that I received my bachelors from UT and my MIOP from KSU. The Idea that the degrees had been earned online was never brought up by either her or me. Even though is was obvious by looking at my resume that I was not living in Austin or Manhatten during the time that I was in school, she confirmed with the schools that I had graduated and that was that. I had a great interview and was offered the job. It is the respect of the school that wins the position...It has nothing to do with the fact that the degree is earned online or in the classroom. That Said, I would still avoid Walden.

V/r

Another Joe

Joe July 1, 2008 at 5:23 p.m.

An online degree from a traditional school is still a good degree, but they still know you did it online. Whether they care or not is up to the employer. For you it apparently wasn't an issue.

To Joe ... July 2, 2008 at 9:57 p.m.

You wrote:
"An online degree from a traditional school is still a good degree, but they still know you did it online."

I agree with you. Can you tell me which one of these traditional schools should I apply if I pursue a PhD degree online?

Joe July 3, 2008 at 5:20 a.m.

What kind of PhD are you looking for?

Arguments July 3, 2008 at 12:56 p.m.

You will be hard pressed to find a traditional school offering a Phd online. An online Phd should not exist and they know that. The reputation of the program is from the research they produce and the close interaction of student/advisor. No respectful advisor would ever accept an online student.

To Joe... July 3, 2008 at 1:06 p.m.

I am interested in PhD in Management or Finance.

To Arguments... July 3, 2008 at 1:34 p.m.

I can not disagree with you, but I think much depends on how students work on their dissertation. I heard complaints from PhD students that there were not much help from their advisors.

Leah July 3, 2008 at 2:08 p.m.

That's funny. You aren't going to find any online PhDs from the upper universities unless you are in nursing or psychology. Indiana State offers a Management PhD and Liberty offers a Finance PhD. If that is good enough for you go for it. They are both certainly better than Walden.

In The Chronicle July 3, 2008 at 3:52 p.m.

In September, courses will begin for Walden University’s new M.S. degree program in Clinical Research Administration. Offered through the School of Health Sciences, the program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills required to address the current and emerging guidelines and standards of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

This program features

A curriculum addressing the most recent developments in the clinical research field.

An emphasis on state-of-the art knowledge of clinical research execution and management.

A practicum to give students hands-on experience in the field.

A capstone to help students develop a professional portfolio
More Information.

M.S. degree program in Clinical Research Administration: www.WaldenU.edu/mscra

Arguments July 3, 2008 at 4:46 p.m.

I didn't know any traditional schools that offered phds online. I guess I was wrong. I would avoid Liberty but ISU seems like it might actually work depending on what you want to do (it has admissions criteria which is a plus). If you want to teach, I would avoid all online phds. For industry, ISU seems like it might work.

As for the post above from the Chronicle, that looks like more of an advertisment than a scholarly article.

Regent University July 3, 2008 at 5:11 p.m.

Regent University offers a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership, and a D.S.L, Ph.d. in Counseling and Supervision, Ph.D.in education, Ed.D. online. Like Walden, there are residency requirements.

Fielding Graduate University offers a Ph.D. in Human & Organizational Systems. Again, like Walden University, there are residency requirements.

To Leah and Regent University... July 3, 2008 at 6:16 p.m.

Thank you for your information.
I think ISU, Liberty, Regent University and Fielding Graduate University are good options for online PhD studyings.

Regent University July 3, 2008 at 10:12 p.m.

One thing to note, Fielding is an online institution just like Walden University.

Ph.D. Student July 4, 2008 at 4:05 a.m.

Here is another Walden University Ph.D. graduate working in academia. As a matter of fact, a high ranking MBA program. www.hult.edu/MBA-program/faculty#7 . I'm sure one of you will try to discredit this.

Hult offers full-fledged MBA programs in Boston and Dubai. No matter which location students choose as their home campus, they will receive the same fully accredited one-year MBA education offering identical quality and an identical curriculum.

Shanghai is a satellite campus of Hult that will hold classes for both Boston and Dubai students during their first elective module. This campus rotation is an integral part of Hult's international MBA experience that allows students to gain insight into the world's key economies.

Hult students will spend nine months at their home campus (either Boston or Dubai) for the core courses. When they move on to their elective modules, they will be given an option* to go to Hult's other campuses to take their elective courses. Hult will facilitate the campus rotation and assist with visa and housing arrangements.

Hult's Shanghai satellite campus will be offered only in the first elective module. During this module in Shanghai, special extracurricular activities will be arranged to enrich the learning experience and provide students with the opportunity to develop excellent knowledge about the city and culture. Students can also join Hult-sponsored networking events with local professionals. In addition, Hult will offer seminars and a speaker series featuring business leaders in the region.

Here are the rankings where Hult is 39 in the world and 29 in the U.S. mba.eiu.com/index.asp?layout=2002rankings

No offence July 4, 2008 at 5:20 a.m.

Who believes an old list that ranks #1 Harvard at #13 behind 10 other US schools? If you want the updated list for 2008 go here. You will find Hult nowhere.

rankings.ft.com/global-mba-rankings

If you want to tought Walden faculty you should do it with more accurate information. Now Middle Eastern terrorists can gain visas to enter the United States from Dubai. Thanks alot Hult!

To No Offense July 4, 2008 at 12:20 p.m.

You're an idiot. First off, if you read these rankings are only from 2007 you idiot. That's not considered old at all!

If you're going to counter what someone posts at least have the common sense to use the same publication you idiot! That is the only way you can do an apples-to-apples comparison. Wouldn't that tell you that they use the same measurement criteria and you can really see how the school ranks? Harvard isn't even "#1" in the publication you posted. To add, The Economist is a much more highly regarded publication than Financial Times; especially in academia.

Ph.D. Student was right in saying that some of you stupid people will try to discredit the ranking.

And saying that terrorists come in through Dubai is stereotypical. They also come through Canada, Mexico, and probably your own house. They're also homegrown in the US.

No offence July 4, 2008 at 1:11 p.m.

Harvard is #1 in US New's Schools of Business was the reference I was making. The Financial Times owns the bloody Economist. As the parent company they dictate what they print. In your lackluster defence of Walden you have proven you have a complete ignorance of British publications. The programmes ranked by the Economist in your post are left overs from 2002 which was the last time they bothered to rank anything. They just recycle the same list year after year. That is why your link says 2002 rankings.

It is a proven fact the largest originator of terrorism comes from the Arabian Peninsula which Dubai is on. The US government doesn't trust Dubai to run US ports and also has reduced Emirati travel visas because of the terrorist threat. The US government might be stereotypical in their profiling of ME persons but such is life... get over it.

To No Offense July 4, 2008 at 4:38 p.m.

You hold no credibility here. You can't even spell "Offense"

Main question about Hult July 4, 2008 at 5:46 p.m.

Is Hult accredited? I couldn't find any information about accreditation on their website.

Thanks.

No Offence July 4, 2008 at 8:32 p.m.

Check the Oxford dictionary genius. You claim to know the calibre of British publications yet can't even identify standard spelling. You obviously don't even read British papers much less the Economist. That is hilarious. You sir have ZERO credibility.

Average Joe July 5, 2008 at 12:48 a.m.

Hult's accreditation is found on the school's fact sheet you.

The British are known for nothing but wood teeth, bad hygiene, and disease

*&% July 5, 2008 at 7:45 p.m.

Everyone (including me) that has taken valuable time to post anything on this worthless site is an absolute moron.

Felix July 5, 2008 at 9:16 p.m.

We have a fraud here and it is "Just a Guy" and the other names he seems to use.

I just looked at other college reviews on this website, and he has the same message on a few:

www.onlinedegreereviews.org/college/nort...

and

www.onlinedegreereviews.org/college/univ...

and

www.onlinedegreereviews.org/college/kenn...

and

www.onlinedegreereviews.org/college/gran...

It starts with:
"As the growth of online education continues I do not understand why anyone would even consider an online university that does not also have traditional on-campus programs."

On the UOP board he is an ex-employee of UOP, on another he claims to have been an executive recruiter for 15 years, and a professor. Same writing pattern, same anti-online university sentiment - same person. The pattern on the other forums is the same thing that occurs on this Walden forum: he complains and other students defend their program, and he argues using different names.

This person apparently has an issue with online degrees.

It doesn't matter what you say to these "characters", they apparently have a hidden agenda, and it is to discredit online colleges that have no brick and mortar campus. It's very sick.

I will post this on the other boards as well.

I have contacted the webmaster of this forum.

Nobody cares July 5, 2008 at 11:25 p.m.

No one cares Felix... give it a rest.

Felix July 5, 2008 at 11:55 p.m.

You seem to care since you must be using a service to check for updates on this site. I gave it a rest, but, I have a right to defend my school.

Just a Guy July 6, 2008 at 1:09 a.m.

Oh no, I've been outed by Felix, He contacted the webmaster and told them that I think online degrees from four universities listed on this site are crap.

I'm so scared that the online degree NAZI SECRET POLICE will come and arrest me for giving my honest opinion.

Felix, You bad man, You. LOL

Felix July 6, 2008 at 3:24 a.m.

You have been outed for being a fool and wasting our valuable time. Congratulations, you are officially a moron and a very, very, lonely person.

Be careful, those big private colleges can usually hire expensive lawyers and identify your libelous remarks through your IP address... no secret police needed, just the server logs. Remember, they have shareholders to answer to.

Just A Guy July 6, 2008 at 1:58 p.m.

Felix,

Your an idiot...

You fail to understand the definition of libel.

Libel is if I were to say that The for profit online schools were stealing their students credit card numbers and running up thousands of dollers in charges.

If I'm going to make a statement like that, then I better have some proof otherwise I may be held libel.

However, in our fine country we have freedom of speech that allows a person to express their OPINION without any fear of retribution.

So, Can I say that I think Walden is a horrible school that way over charges for the quality of education that they provide??? Yep, I can say that all I want and there isn't a damn thing anyone can do about it. (at least not right now, But if we're ever taken over by the Internet degree mill Nazis I may have to watch what I say) LOL

Avoid Walden there are better options available.

Double Standard July 6, 2008 at 8:03 p.m.

Just a guy: held libel or liable?

Felix. I have no affiliation with Walden but am glad to see you furthering your education. I think you're better off not responding to anything these losers have to say. I can't see for the life of me why someone would want to pass judgement on another human being for furthering their education the way they want to do it. I'm a Penn grad and I believe that I have every right to be an academic snob. But I'm not. Joe, Average Joe, and Leah spend too much time on here blowing smoke up each other's ass. And they do this because no one else in the world pays them any attention. Why waste your time arguing with someone who considers themself to be average.... which is probably the size of what is in his pants.

You're doing Walden and yourself dis-service by responding to them. Don't ever defend where you went to school! Walden is regionally accredited and that is what matters most. If people have a second thought about going there they shouldn't enroll. It's plain and simple. But to continuously go back and forth with a vigilant sister of a single mother, a british guy who can't spell, an "average" joe, and a Joe blow who keeps leveraging his cousin's credentials is totally a waste of your time.

To all Walden students, graduates, and alumni: CONTINUE TO DO YOUR THING and don't worry about what ignorant people have to say about you because they would be saying worse if you didn't get your degree.

Walden student July 7, 2008 at 2:44 p.m.

In my industry only the quality of my work matters, not the names of University or pieces of papers issued by particular University. Walden U satisfies all my expectations, and this is important for me. I met a lot of professionals there who had from 10 to 25 years of experience, while at traditional universities I mostly saw clueless students who never worked before and had no idea how the particular industry works.

Reminder July 7, 2008 at 6:57 p.m.

Walden Sucks.

Current Walden Student July 7, 2008 at 8:36 p.m.

Walden is an open enrollment school. The students would never pass the TOFEL English test in a regular university. It seems as if they've been studying English for only 3 months. I think a quarter of the students are illegal aliens, honestly! The adjuncts in their psych program are like GTAs in any other school who don't give a crap. The support isn't poor but certainly isn't up to the standard of what I'm paying for. The tech support is good, I will give them that. The financial aid department is full of retards... they don't know how to tie their shoes much less explain what happened to your money. I am really disappointed with this school much less the fact I can't practice counseling with this degree, but that's not why I wanted to get it. It would have been nice if I could though but they just don't meet the requirements of most states.

Double Standard July 7, 2008 at 11:26 p.m.

Current Walden Student, you're not making WU seem bad. You're letting the world know you're stupid. Why would you enroll in a program that won't meet your goals or give you options? You're just making yourself seem desperate for a degree. I would have never gone to Penn if I knew it wouldn't do anything for me.

Also you're making it seem like universities make up their own English proficiency exam. The university does not decide who passes and who fails. The exam you're speaking of is standardized and if a foreigner passes it.... OH WELL. What does it matter? In fact, most foreign students are better discipled and academically prepared anyway. Sounds a bit jealous to me.

Financial aid. Your financial aid is your business. If you don't have a handle on it why would you expect a clerk to?

If you're disappointed with WU, DROP OUT! Stop whining about it. Stop trying to discredit the school. Acknowledge that you couldn't make it. And GET OUT. Go to another university.

You people, pros and cons, need to bring more objective stuff on this board. Whining about your poor experience is just not enough.

Walden PhD Student July 8, 2008 at 1:21 p.m.

I think that Double Standard is absolutely right.

Current Walden Student July 8, 2008 at 8:32 p.m.

You're letting the world know how stupid and ignorant you are. You don't know the first thing about my situation yet think you know everything. Assumption is the mother of all screw ups and you are its bastard offspring. I am getting reimbursed by my employer and when I graduate will get a raise. That is the only reason I or anyone else should attend Walden U. The TOEFL accepted passing score is set by the university and Walden's is open to anyone who takes it irregardless of their score. That is why the school is full of people who cannot write a complete sentence. As long as I get more money and a free ride I will complete Walden U. I have every right to complain about the huge numbers of semi-illiterate students who make up its rolls. It makes my degree less respected and that disappoints me. It also disappoints me that I can't practice counseling in my state but Walden was the only easy way for me not to give up my life and take care of my kids at the same time. I don't have time to commit to studying when I have to work and take care of children. In that regard Walden was a good fit. These courses are EZ; 4.0 with 1 hour of work a day and not looking back. I have a ranked BS so this open university is a piece of cake compared to my old school.

Double Standard July 8, 2008 at 8:52 p.m.

Ok. If WU is so bad, why would you still continue to accept its so called "mediocrity"? Why would you waste your time? If your employer pays for Walden it will pay for you to attend somewhere else. There are plenty of other schools out there that will offer online courses so that you won't have to leave your family. So why stay "stuck" at Walden? What you're doing is a form of prostitution and I suppose everyone has his or her own price.

I just think that your argument is weakend by your willingness to stick it out and stay at Walden. I think WU is a decent school but I would never stay there and have it on my resume if I felt that it was crap.

You call me a bastard offspring and that's fine. But you're the one selling yourself for an education that YOU feel is mediocre. Heck it's your resume not mine.

As for the TOEFL, you're wrong.

Master Teacher July 8, 2008 at 8:53 p.m.

I think that Current Walden Student is absolutely right.

Master Teacher July 8, 2008 at 8:58 p.m.

She is right about the TOEFL. Universities make their own standard passing scores and Walden has none. They are open enrollment.

Current Walden Student July 8, 2008 at 9:22 p.m.

You obviously didn't get what I said. It was the only option available so I took it. Walden has the biggest selection of graduate RA psych degrees and had the only thing available that I needed. If I had a better option that I could get paid for and not take up too much of my life I would go. I needed a degree for an easy promotion and will get it. That is good enough. That doesn't mean Walden is a good university by any stretch of the imagination. Don't waste your time trying to put words in my mouth or infer hidden meanings. I am quite able to articulate my own contentions which are Walden is mediocre at best.

Master Teacher July 8, 2008 at 9:32 p.m.

The only reason I went was to get a pay raise. It worked well for that but the degree is little respected. I don't need it to be as it is RA accredited. As a holder of a Walden Ed.D I know I will never teach in traditional academia, but that isn't why I got the degree. I am a practitioning teacher where the best education you can get is in the classroom, not a university. The education I received from Walden hasn't helped me in the least. I know what I'm doing and Walden did nothing for me; but the pay raise is nice!

Double Standard July 8, 2008 at 9:32 p.m.

This is so sad. You all are giving me second thoughts about Walden here. Because if you two took your sad lazy behinds and did a little of searching you would find that at WU

"International students must be from an officially approved institution in the country; and the student must demonstrate a proficiency in English with a score of 550, paper-based score, or 213, computer-based-score, in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)."

Because I'm an OBJECTIVE person, I used my institution (UPenn) as an example. At Penn, International students are required to have a TOEFL score of 173 or higher (500 or higher paper-based).

Master Teacher: YOU'RE WRONG and you represent a DOUBLE STANDARD plus stupidity.

Current Walden Student: you're SAD, PURCHASABLE, and represent a DOUBLE STANDARD.

Master Teacher July 8, 2008 at 9:46 p.m.

Sorry but you're wrong as usual.

"TOEFL scores are not required for applicants whose native language is not English."

www.businessweek.com/bschools/05/distanc...

Current Walden Student July 8, 2008 at 9:57 p.m.

Many of the people that get into Walden are illegals who don't take a TOEFL. That is for people who bother to come from another country legally.

Felix July 9, 2008 at 2:25 a.m.

Of course Master Teacher is the same nutcase as Just a Guy, and he is still wrong:

inside.waldenu.edu/c/Files/DocsSOM/AcadAdvsr-FAQsMGMTAMDSandISM.pdf

For international students, the baccalaureate degree must be from an officially
approved institution in the country. In addition, the student must demonstrate
a proficiency in English with a score of 590 in the Test of English as a Foreign
Language (TOEFL).
• An undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred.

Felix July 9, 2008 at 2:29 a.m.

and here it is in the catalog:

www.waldenu.edu/c/Student_Catalog/8898_1...

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
550 on the paper-based; 213 on the computer-based

So what is the next lie the nutcase will post?

Double Standard July 9, 2008 at 3:11 a.m.

I agree with you Felix. Isn't it funny how these ignorant people try to come back with so called proof from a magazine when it says in a couple of REAL sources that TOEFL is required and gave a minimum score.

I don't think Current Walden Student and Master Teacher are affiliated with WU. I think they're just some jokers using an alias to continue to spread racist remarks about foreigners and untrue remarks about WU.

I'm mostly a traditionalist when it comes to education. But it pains me to see people try to discredit quality schools that do something "different."

WU is the flagship when it comes to distance learning. And yes a Penn graduate stated it.

Double Standard July 9, 2008 at 12:24 p.m.

I'm beginning to think that Master Teacher and Current Walden Student are either the same person or are in cahoots with each other.

But that is beside the point.

There may not be many but there are some Ed.D. programs out there online that are at a traditional school. They're advertised in the AFT Magazine all the time!

Plus there are many Ed.Ds who will never teach in higher ed because it is simply a sub degree to the Ph.D. The Ed.D. is not a research degree but and Ed.D. will allow you to teach at a smaller college. If you were a legit person and really tried, I'm sure you would land a position teaching at a smaller college. Especially if you were in K-12 Administration

Public Health Student July 9, 2008 at 2:11 p.m.

Actually, there are quite a few Ed.D.s that teach at major universities (this is solely based upon my individual experience so take from it what you will). I really think you research after the degree is of greater import than the degree itself. That's not to say that the source of the degree may not be considered. Terminal degrees designed toward professional practice are often less geared toward the academic aspect. Have a great summer.

Walden U eMall July 9, 2008 at 11:35 p.m.

Check out the Walden U eMall where you can get all of your needs satisfied online!

www.emallatwaldenu.com/

This is just one more valued service brought to you by the staff at Walden.

Have a nice day!

Walden=High Standards July 9, 2008 at 11:45 p.m.

To get into an advanced degree at Walden you must have a regionally accredited degree. Walden has the same high standards as FSU, UA, UM, UT, and all the other good schools that offer online degrees.

www.achieveyourcareer.com/walden-univers...

Walden is truly a degree you can be proud of!

Contact info July 9, 2008 at 11:55 p.m.

Can someone give me an email address to the admissions department at Walden? I don't want to fill out the rest of the forms they have.

Arguments July 10, 2008 at 12:19 a.m.

Walden=High Standards.....

HA HA HA HA HA

Felix July 10, 2008 at 2:46 a.m.

Now that's a new complaint, a college selling things... you are just a moron, go get a life....

Walden uses this service, go take a look and the dozens of other colleges on the list you moron

www.ugradshop.com

Try again, I expect you to complain about the colors of the website next...

Walden U eMall July 10, 2008 at 4:50 a.m.

We here at the Walden U eMall provide far more than just graduation gifts. We have over 150 scholarship partners where 10% of every purchase goes to put single mothers through school. You can get anything from flowers to bait and tackle through our service providers. We are your one-stop-shop for all your online needs!

Arguments July 10, 2008 at 10:38 a.m.

All right, this site now advertises! Walden has all your needs, you can even buy your degree instead of ever attending classes. We are totally legit, we will even give you credits based on your age....I mean "life" credits.

Just a Guy July 10, 2008 at 12:22 p.m.

I hate the colors on their website! LOL

Juy a guy July 10, 2008 at 12:25 p.m.

Double Standard is a Penn Graduate, you must all bow down before him. LOL

Double Standard July 10, 2008 at 2:15 p.m.

Just A Guy. I don't mind you bowing down to me at all. And trust me in saying this you won't be the only one.

Arguments. Walden gives credit for life experience toward a degree? I didn't know that. Please post a source or link.

Just A Guy. Hate the colors on their website? Adjust your monitor or stop visiting the website. You do have options you know.

I believe that Walden U eMall is either Joe, Average Joe, Arguments, or Just a Guy. Heck they all may be the same person.

Crapella Student July 10, 2008 at 3:01 p.m.

My pincil is only 1/2 inch long cant fidn becuase my wife letf with milky man, I liek 2 troll in every blog. I am stupido. loco, retardado e idotus! Sorri1

Double Standard July 11, 2008 at 11:07 p.m.

Hi. It's me: The UPenn Grad.

I got my first issue of The Chronicle today and was surprised by a HUGE announcement from Franklin University in Ohio. It announced "new faculty" and officially welcomed them as FULL-TIME faculty. It's on page A12.

Franklin was established in 1902, and has grown to serve more than 10,000 students annually on a 12 acre downtown campus. It is NON-PROFIT.

ROSSROSS WIRTHIRTH, Program Chair, Business Administration
B.A., B.S., University of New Mexico
M.B.A., New Mexico State University
Ph.D., Walden University

JOHN CRADDOCK
MBA, Pepperdine University;
Ph.D., Walden University

BRIAN GREGORY, Program Chair. Operations & Supply Chain Management
B.S., Western Kentucky University;
M.S., Texas Tech University;
Ph.D., Walden University

JOETTE MILLS
B.A., Rutgers University;
M.P.A., New York University;
Ph.D., Walden University

STEPHENSTEPHEN TVORITVORITVORIK
B.F.A., B.S.Ed., Ohio University;
M.A., New Mexico State University;
MBA, University of LaVerne;
Ph.D., Walden University

Ah hah July 12, 2008 at 9:34 a.m.

Another unranked online university! Ah hah!!

Double Standard July 12, 2008 at 12:17 p.m.

Apparently there are a bunch of people on here who simply cannot read.

From Franklin U's web site.

The 12-acre downtown campus has an updated look and feel today, thanks to a new courtyard and completely refurbished buildings (Alumni Hall and Fisher Hall) as well as the renovation and opening of the Student Services Center, which houses all student-oriented services in one location.

We are committed to remaining a not-profit in order to keep our tuition low. And we remain firmly rooted in the central Ohio community, which has been our home and our anchor for more than 100 years.

We are proud of our history and excited about our future as we continue this rewarding journey together with our staff, faculty, students, alumni and the Columbus community.

Ah hah is obviously stupid. Franklin is a traditional institution that offers online courses. Online schools have not been around since 1902.

Double Standard July 12, 2008 at 12:37 p.m.

More on Franklin:

Franklin University's Main Campus is located in downtown Columbus, Ohio at 201 S. Grant Ave. Franklin now holds three commencement ceremonies each year, giving students the opportunity to graduate – and celebrate – at the end of the trimester in which they complete their studies.

The campus features administrative offices, the Paul J. Otte Center for Student Services, the Student Learning Center (SLC), the Franklin University Nationwide Library and plenty of free parking. The University is in the heart of the city near the state capital complex, accessible via I-70, I-71 or I-670, or by using public transportation.

Now I have nothing at stake here. But we must maintain the truth. Spreading ignorance does not help anyone who comes to this site looking for information on WU or any other institution.

Franklin Facts July 12, 2008 at 3:52 p.m.

1) Franklin is open enrollment accepting 100% of all applications.

2) US News does not bother to rank Franklin.

3) Franklin University was one of the pioneers in allowing unlimited distance education.

4) Half of all students attending Franklin do so online.

I'm Jeff July 12, 2008 at 8:14 p.m.

I am Jeff, take a look at this link about me.

www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/245/RipOf...

I complain about everything about private schools... Im soooo unhappy with life because I got kicked out.... I go all over the web to complain about online schools and private schools.

Double Standard July 12, 2008 at 8:31 p.m.

If Franklin was an open enrollment institution, it would not require GMAT or GRE for some graduate degree programs. Stop pushing lies!

Franklin Facts July 12, 2008 at 11:54 p.m.

From Peterson's

"Entrance Difficulty
Noncompetitive , 100% of applicants were admitted"

www.petersons.com/ugchannel/code/InstVC....

Sorry to prove you wrong but Franklin is just another bottom feeder school like Walden. You get a PhD from Walden and the only other schools you will teach in are other bottom feeder schools.

Get a Life July 13, 2008 at 2:09 a.m.

and SO WHAT! No one cares what you say, maybe what your psychiatrist says, what does he say? How are you handling the divorce and the child support?

Double Standard July 13, 2008 at 5:19 a.m.

Ok. What's funny is that you ignorant people rely on second handed information when everything I quote you is strictly from Franklin' web site. Franklin's web site carries much more weight than peterson's. Be real you idiot.

Peteron's July 13, 2008 at 10:33 a.m.

Peterson's reports the facts as submitted by the university in question. They admit 100% of all applicants so it doesn't matter that they take the scores. They don't turn anyone away, hence an open enrollment university. You folks who can't see it are the only ignorant ones about.

Felix July 13, 2008 at 11:37 a.m.

It just proves that you don't know what open enrollment is about.

to Felix July 13, 2008 at 7:29 p.m.

You don't have to take the GMAT unless your GPA is below 2.75. Coming from slacker schools like Walden that shouldn't be a problem. Franklin is another open enrollment U. Get over it.

Felix July 13, 2008 at 7:41 p.m.

You need to get over private schools, they will always exist and no one on ANY website listens to you.

You need to get over your pain and move on. I hear you are in major debt, how is the lawsuit against you going?

to Felix July 14, 2008 at 12:16 a.m.

Nobody has a problem with private schools. Harvard is a private school but is highly selective and rigorous. What people have a problem with is open enrollment degree mills like Walden and Franklin.

Felix July 14, 2008 at 3:22 a.m.

No one has a problem with open enrollment, if they did, these colleges would go out of business, just like any other business.

The City University of New York had open enrollment just until recently, and you know what, it helped many students who had the odds stacked against them. That's one thing you don't seem to understand.

It is only you that has the problem with open enrollment, let it go.

Double Standard July 14, 2008 at 3:56 a.m.

Felix. Stop arguing with these idiots. If Walden was a degree mill, it would not be regionally accredited. These same "names" you're going round and round with is not one other than Joe/AverageJoe/Leah/Jeff/Respondants.

I was browing the WU site and ran across this documentary. I'm not sure if you all have seen it but I think it says a lot. www.waldenu.edu/c/about/PhDResidencyDocu...

Current Walden Student July 14, 2008 at 10:10 a.m.

That video about sums it up except for the rigorous part. A PhD from Walden is a practioners degree, not a research degree like a PhD is SUPPOSED to be. That is why a PhD from Walden carries little weight in academia.

Double Standard July 14, 2008 at 12:15 p.m.

I forgot to add Current Walden Student to the list of Joe's that keep changing their alias on this board.

If WU was as much of a joke as this loser says it is, shouldn't they be Former Walden Student?

Get a life.

Current Walden Student July 14, 2008 at 4:52 p.m.

You all are Walden employees who have a vendetta to promote this school. Why don't you enrollment counselors take a hike and leave this blog to REAL students!

Arguments July 14, 2008 at 5:37 p.m.

I bet if you took a poll and asked what school is more respected, Walden or any non-profit, Walden would lose out. Its for bottom feaders who basically pay to go there because they are known for "hand holding" and helping you make it through there, or more to the point, get your money. Even if you argue handholding is needed, its still useless for those in the real world since your boss will never hold your hand. Phds should be held for the selective few who dedicate a part of their lives to advancing the field of study and sacrifice to make it. Not just paying to take online classes and then say they are a doctor. Losers.

Felix July 14, 2008 at 5:52 p.m.

I'm a student at Walden and YOU ARE NOT. In addition, I have never worked for Walden.

Get a life.

Current Walden Student July 14, 2008 at 6 p.m.

Yeah right, all you people care about is promoting the school. People satisfied with their education don't come to review sites of their alma matters or current schools. They only do so to complain so basic logic dictates the rest are employees of the university.

Felix July 14, 2008 at 6:05 p.m.

The biggest loser is Jeff La Marca. He posts all over the web against online schools.

From another website:
www.studentsreview.com/MN/CU_g.html

For those who don't know, Jeffry LaMarca is the author of all of the Capella-hate posts.
On 7/1/05 Jeff sued Capella University for failure to accomodate and violation of the American with Disabilities Act.
On 11/19/07, LaMarca's lawsuit against Capella was dismissed.

According to Capella's site:

All charges brought against Capella University by a former learner were dismissed on Monday, November 19, 2007, in United States District Court for the Central District of California. The court found that Capella did not violate the Americans with Disabilities Act and provided adequate accommodations to Jeffry La Marca. Capella has consistently denied Mr. La Marca’s allegations.

Capella has brought counterclaims against Mr. La Marca alleging defamation and interference with business relations. He attempted to have Capella’s counterclaim dismissed, but was unsuccessful at the district court level. That decision is currently on appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

In fact, the court found that:

1. LaMarca is not disabled under the ADA.

2. Even if LaMarca was disabled under the ADA, Capella granted reasonable accommodations.

3. Capella did not engage in retaliation by locking out LaMarca from Capella's courserooms due to LaMarca's abusive behavior.
In fact, the judge found that: "Plaintiff's comments were abusive, harassing, and inappropriate for any public environment, let alone the functional equivalent of a classroom..."

Felix July 14, 2008 at 6:09 p.m.

Promoting the school? I'm defending it from YOUR LIES! And the lies of all of your alter-egos.

No one cares what you say.

Current Walden Student July 15, 2008 at 3:16 a.m.

There is no one named Jeff in this thread attacking Walden. Why you would bring up someone that has never been here is beyond comprehension. There are thousands more people besides Jeff La Marca that post against online schools. You're the one whose comments are irrelavent to this blog and your motivations for being here don't make sense. If you are happy with your degree then you don't need to defend it. You don't see anyone from Harvard jumping on the web trying to sell people on how wonderful it is. You obviously have underlying issues that point to an inferiority complex. This is a typical symptom of having inadequate self-esteem. That is one thing I did learn at Walden.

Dr. B. July 15, 2008 at 4:25 a.m.

Here is some positive news amongst all this madness.

In the Ponder, it shows Walden students and faculty actively involved in scholarship. ponder.waldenu.edu/c/11468_25379.htm

Felix July 15, 2008 at 4:49 a.m.

Ok, I admit it Walden Sucks but it is the only school I could get in. All the reputable schools kept turning me down.

I hate the fact that Walden is the only school I could get in.

Current Walden Student July 15, 2008 at 6:19 a.m.

I'm trying to have dialogue to better the university. Maybe one of you employees can take back to your superiors suggestions that can make Walden a better school to attend. From the student end there is much left to be desired and no one at Laureate gives a damn.

Double Standard July 15, 2008 at 7:58 a.m.

I am a Penn Grad and therefore superior to you all!!

to Current Walden Student July 15, 2008 at 11:18 a.m.

take your medication, you now think you are Felix....

and you can't even get that right!

Ph.D. Student July 15, 2008 at 1:46 p.m.

No one cares that you went to Penn State. This thread is for those interested in Walden so take a hike troll. The only thing that you are superior to is dung!!

Double Standard July 15, 2008 at 3:40 p.m.

Ph.D. Student et al.

I went to UPenn, not Penn State. Also, you should be able to discern from my other posts that the above poster was not me. It appears that someone has been using other's alias in the past slate of posts.

As a Ph.D. student, I would expect you to use more appropriate language than referring to someone as a troll.

To Dr. B... July 15, 2008 at 3:58 p.m.

The ponder mentions Dr. Stuart Gold, he was my instructor, really tough instructor. I had to make sure almost every day that I follow his requirements to get a good grade. The requirements were reasonable, and I learned a lot. He was teaching E-commerce and he also taught us how to write a case study. Really good experience!

Ph.D. Student July 15, 2008 at 5:53 p.m.

No one cares that you went to U Penn either. Get a clue you troll. No one cares about what you think because you have no reason to be here. You are no better than Walden students and certianly not superior to us. Bye!!

Double Standard July 15, 2008 at 7:09 p.m.

I am very supportive of WU and its students. They are doing great things and I wish them the best of luck.

Double Standard July 16, 2008 at 3:41 a.m.

WU students have been conned out of a good education. I am sorry you and your fellow classmates have wasted so much money at an institution that doesn't even compare to my alma matter. I hope that you will find someone sympathetic to your degree so you can find meaningful employment. Good luck in all your endeavors again.

Ph.D. Student July 16, 2008 at 3:58 a.m.

Who the hell do you think you are to demean Walden students in such a manner. You are nothing but a troll Double Standard. Go away!

Felix the cat July 16, 2008 at 12:35 p.m.

No! It is not the same, is a different one, but you are the same that seems to go a great length in your troll duties. Putting you cat nose where it does not belong, remember curiosity kills the cat. You get a real life and keep your fight with Just a guy!

Hi Jay you still a troll and a shill!

Arguments July 16, 2008 at 2:15 p.m.

When you are posting something "positive" about the corporation, sorry, "University", please make sure it doesn't end in or affiliated with walden.edu because of course it will make itself look good. Post some outside references. Like, lets see, try to find out what its peer schools think of its reputation.

To Arguments... July 16, 2008 at 3:55 p.m.

I agree with you - "try to find out what its peer schools think of its reputation". Very reasonable approach!

I absolutely agree with you.

to Felix the Car July 16, 2008 at 10:21 p.m.

Did you just threaten my life? Let's be clear here.

Felix

Felix July 16, 2008 at 10:26 p.m.

Felix the Cat wrote:

>>> psycho babble, nonsense, blah, blah, walden sucks, blah, blah, Im soooo >>>angry cause I got kicked out of school, blah, blah, diploma mill, blah, blah

Felix July 17, 2008 at 12:17 a.m.

And the fact that you admit that you are lying on all these forums, using different names, you still don't think you are doing something odd?

do you think this is normal behavior? what's the point?

Felix you are a cat a troll July 17, 2008 at 12:22 a.m.

What Lies? Can you prove it? Of course not! You don't even know who you are fighting and are obsessed to find out! Anyway, you have something to prove, I don't!

Felix you are a cat and a troll July 17, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.

You keep telling people that they need mental help. Have you look in the mirror lately? Are you a licence psychologist or psychiatric? Of course not, you don't have the education and required licenses to reach that prognosis! Maybe a street pharmacist you are.

Felix July 17, 2008 at 12:53 a.m.

You can't even stick to one name,

why are you so ashamed of who you are?

Arguments July 17, 2008 at 1:20 p.m.

I liked it better when at least stuck to rhetoric about Walden, not this mindless rapport.

So anyways, Walden! I don't like them. But some do. Lets stick to that topic.

I think what really bothers people, is that Walden students do not have to sacrifice their lives like we did to get a Phd in a traditional setting. But, schools like Carnegie Melon, American University, and Robert Morris University are setting new trends. They have distance doctoral programs that are not online. They require more residencies but still have the same amount of class time if not more per credit. They have it post masters and go recruit instead of waiting admissions.

The point is, as much as I would hate this, these are the bridging programs that will make online phds a bit more respectful.

But Walden still has a huge hurdle in my mind, the for profit status.

Felix July 17, 2008 at 5:11 p.m.

So tell us what sacrifices you have made.

Arguments July 17, 2008 at 9:22 p.m.

I made a whopping $15K a year for 5 years while contributing to the field of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering by studying XX (Dissertation title will not be posted).

I have one thing to say July 18, 2008 at 12:44 p.m.

WHO THE HELL CARES ABOUT ANY OF THIS CRAP!!!

Just A Guy July 20, 2008 at 12:14 p.m.

Walden Sucks

U.S. Mint July 21, 2008 at 1:42 a.m.

The United States Mint has selected Andrew D. Brunhart as its new deputy director. Mr. Brunhart assumed his responsibilities beginning May 23, 2008.

"Andy has more than 20 years of experience in senior executive positions," said United States Mint Director Ed Moy. "His expertise in organizational change will help the United States Mint achieve its strategic goals and become a more results-oriented organization."

Most recently, Brunhart served as general manager of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) in Laurel, Md. In that capacity, Brunhart guided the revitalization of the Engineering and Capital Programs and proactively addressed WSSC's aging infrastructure. During his tenure, WSSC received recognition as one of the "Best Places to Work" in the Greater Washington, D.C., area for three consecutive years.

Brunhart retired from the U.S. Navy as a captain following 30 years of service. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Marquette University and a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois. He also is a graduate of the Advanced Executive Program at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and holds a Certificate in Financial Planning. Brunhart is a certified professional engineer and a registered financial consultant. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration from Walden University.

The United States Mint, created by Congress in 1792, is the sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage for the United States. Its primary mission is to produce an adequate supply of circulating coinage for the nation's commerce. The United States Mint also produces proof, uncirculated, and commemorative coins, Congressional Gold Medals and bullion coins from a variety of precious metals. In fiscal year 2007, the United States Mint produced approximately 15.4 billion coins and generated more than $872 million in numismatic sales.

U.S. Mint July 21, 2008 at 11:14 a.m.

So in essense, he has no free time so he chose a program that was not rigorous.

No... July 22, 2008 at 5:15 p.m.

No... he got the job without Walden. He only started his PhD a year ago. I think being a Navy Captain and program manager of sanitation engineers had something to do with it. Deputy Secretaries can be any political appointees though. The Bush admin was full of neopotistic hacks who have since been fired for having degree milled papers or plain incompetence.

Dreamer July 23, 2008 at 1:03 p.m.

If I can get into Walden's Phd in Applied Management, is it possible for me to teach at Penn State or Michigan as a professor? My MS was done at Phoenix, so I don't think that is strong enough to get a professor position. I hope its enough to get into Walden though.

Any thoughts?

Just A Guy July 23, 2008 at 5:41 p.m.

LOL, No it will not be good enough to teach at ANY traditional top tier school.

Another PhD Student July 23, 2008 at 5:46 p.m.

Dreamer.
It would probably be in your best interest to seek out a brick and mortar institution that has a reputation for solid research in your field of interest. The institution doesn't have to be really prestigious (i.e., Harvard), just a solid and respectable research facility.
Good luck.

Just A Guy July 23, 2008 at 8:24 p.m.

On the other hand, anything is possible. Good luck.

Just A Guy July 24, 2008 at 12:15 a.m.

I am obsessed with online schools. I visit several forums, blogs, and Websites daily to complain about online schools. I have never attended any of the schools that I complain about, but they must be bad because I SAID SO!

Ponder July 24, 2008 at 5:29 p.m.

Here is the link to The Walden Ponder for July. Enjoy.

ponder.waldenu.edu/c/ponder.htm

Walden Commencement Today July 26, 2008 at 2:39 p.m.

Commencement Focuses on Future as Global University

Graduates from 19 countries will celebrate their accomplishments on July 26.

Walden University will graduate more than 3,500 students, including the first graduates of the dual-degree program between Walden and Universidad del Valle de Mexico (UVM) on Saturday, July 26.

In the dual-degree program, the first 27 graduates of UVM and Walden will receive a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Walden along with their Licenciatura in Business Administration from UVM. Twenty-four of them, as well as family, friends and officials from Mexico, will attend the Minneapolis graduation and be recognized during the commencement.

Nearly 1,000 students are enrolled in the dual-degree program, evidence of Walden’s commitment to Mexico’s leading higher education institution

Walden University's 40th Commencement Ceremony will be available via live webcast using the following link:

www.waldenu.edu/c/About/About_Commenceme...

Just A Guy July 27, 2008 at 3:01 p.m.

I think that it is very interesting how I have said nothing negative about Walden or the other UoP clones other than I beleive that there are better options available amoung the traditional schools that offer online programs.

If you are considering an online degree, you might want to ask yourself why the Waldenites become so defensive when anyone says that there may be a better option than Walden.

If Walden is so great why would they need to be so heavily defended??? If someone says something negative about the Univeristy of Iowa...Do the graduates of Iowa start screaming bloody murder? NO! Why? because they know that Iowa is a quality school that does not need to be defended.

Do yourself a favor, Avoid Walden and the other UoP clones.

Just A Guy July 27, 2008 at 3:42 p.m.

I never went to Walden and I don't know any Walden students or faculty, I just complain about all online schools. You should avoid them just because I said so.

Just a Guy July 27, 2008 at 3:45 p.m.

Do your own homework and you will find there are better schools than Walden. (The post above is an imposter)

Just a Guy July 27, 2008 at 4:01 p.m.

If you are not attending Harvard then you are wasting your time. You will find there are better schools than the one you are currently attending, but it's still a waste of time to transfer to the better schools because they still aren't Harvard. If you aren't going to the single best school in the world then don't even bother going to college. I didn't go to Harvard, so I could have done better. I just complain about all online schools. You should avoid them just because I said so. (The post above is an imposter)

Just A Guy July 27, 2008 at 7:34 p.m.

Also, I have nothing better to do with my time (probably because I'm unemployed) which is why I post on here 99% more than anyone normal would!! (I'm the original poster)

Just A Guy July 29, 2008 at 3:18 a.m.

Must post negative comments....

post
post
post
post

I never went to this school but who cares....

post
post
post

Walden July 30, 2008 at 6:57 p.m.

I dislike Walden University. Why do their doctoral graduates feel entitled to be put on the same level as non-profit schools? All they did was paid for the degree, not work for it or worked to get entrance to the program.

Walden August 1, 2008 at 7:58 p.m.

Must post negative comments....

post
post
post
post

I never went to this school but who cares....

post
post
post

JAG August 2, 2008 at 6:11 a.m.

Walden Sucks

JAG August 2, 2008 at 11:45 a.m.

Must post negative comments....

post
post
post
post

I never went to this school but who cares....

post
post
post

I agree August 4, 2008 at 6:19 p.m.

I agree, its a joke.

Business August 5, 2008 at 3:44 p.m.

Walden is a business, wanting to make more money. Period. No more, no less. It sells diplomas, not an education. If it were concerned about the quality of its customers output, it would lower its tuition, offer more scholarships, and try to obtain some professionally respected accreditations.

Business August 5, 2008 at 4:09 p.m.

Every college is a business, wanting to make more money. Period. No more, no less. It sells diplomas, not an education. If it were concerned about the quality of its customers output, it would lower its tuition, offer more scholarships, and try to obtain some professionally respected accreditations.

Business August 5, 2008 at 7:17 p.m.

Yes, and many colleges go get ABET and AACSB accreditation to care more about output than money.

Business August 5, 2008 at 8:30 p.m.

Yes, and many colleges go get ABET and AACSB accreditation because it is voluntary.

AACSB accreditation is not required in the business world.

Business August 5, 2008 at 8:50 p.m.

If you think AACSB accreditation is to care more about output than money then your are fooling yourself.

Business August 5, 2008 at 8:54 p.m.

AACSB proves quality, not just that you a "set of learning tools" and the other BS the for profits give you. Walden is a joke and shouldn't even have the right to call itself a "University". Its a waste of taxpayer money to send people there and let the customers get government student loans. What a joke.

Business August 5, 2008 at 10:46 p.m.

its = a possessive adjective
it's = it is

Business August 5, 2008 at 10:50 p.m.

I failed to mention that student loans get paid back, they aren't gifts, there is no loss to the taxpayer, I really don't know what I am talking about.

Business August 6, 2008 at 5 a.m.

I have none... thus why I'm here.

Business August 6, 2008 at 2 p.m.

Of course the money that the Suckers...I mean students borrow becomes a financial burden to the Suckers...I mean Students that is difficult to repay when the Suckers...I mean Students find out that they have a worthless piece of paper that says "Diploma" on it.

Business August 6, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.

I have lots of opinions, but no facts.

Must post negative comments....

post
post
post
post

I never went to this school but who cares....

post
post
post

Business aka Just a Guy aka Jeff August 7, 2008 at 1:57 a.m.

I need help.

I post negative posts all over the web about Walden, but I never went to Walden.

If you see a negative post about Walden and:

it calls Walden a diploma mill or
it says to look at another school or
the post calls you a shill or
the complaint is that it is a for-private college or
the complaint is that they have open admissions or
I claim that the first amendment protects my opinions

Then you know it's me. Ignore my ranting.

I never went to Walden, I just have a problem.

I need help. I am obsessed.

Joe August 7, 2008 at 3:39 a.m.

Since when is "its" an adjective? "Its" is a possesive PRONOUN. AACSB is a quality control. Outside of that it means nothing, but that does mean something. The only US schools that don't have AACSB do not have good reputations, minus John Hopkins, and even then Hopkin's school of business is not highly regarded nor ranked. It comes down to what you as a consumer are willing to accept. If you just want a piece of paper then Walden is the school for you. This is the case for many people as they will be holding the lower rung jobs of their professions. Someone has to fill these positions so let them go if they do not want something better for their life. Not everyone has the inclination or drive to make it to the top.

Joe August 7, 2008 at 4:28 a.m.

I have lots of opinions, but no facts.

Must post negative comments....

post
post
post
post

I never went to this school but who cares....

post
post
post

Get your money back from your college August 7, 2008 at 4:33 a.m.

www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/its

function: adjective

dictionary.reference.com/browse/its
the possessive form of it (used as an attributive adjective)

Felix August 7, 2008 at 12:20 p.m.

I am the real Felix. If anyone disagrees with me and says anything negative about my school. I become very angry and I do the following...

POST
POST
POST

I know Walden Sucks but I enroll people anyway because they pay me to enroll suckers.

I am an Idiot August 7, 2008 at 3:06 p.m.

I am only capable of writing

"post post post" because I have nothing worthwhile to contribute.

Seriously August 7, 2008 at 6:06 p.m.

The "post post post" is only hurting the case of those trying to defend Walden by showing no intelligence to argue his/her case.

I am an Idiot August 8, 2008 at 3:09 p.m.

I have lots of opinions, but no facts.

Must post negative comments....

post
post
post
post

I never went to this school but who cares....

post
post

This site proves it August 8, 2008 at 4:43 p.m.

This site proves that Walden grads have limited education, and are unable to intelligently defend their institution.

AVIOD WALDEN

This site proves it August 9, 2008 at 4:58 a.m.

I have NOTHING intelligent to contribute/limited education myself hence why I'm here. I have nothing better/constructive to do with my time...hence why I'm here. Unemployment will do that to you...hence why I'm here!!

This site proves it August 9, 2008 at 7:30 a.m.

Thats correct...I am unemployed...I could not find a job with my worthless Walden Diploma.

Avoid Walden

This site proves it August 9, 2008 at 10:51 a.m.

Of course I'm umemployed...because "Avoid Walden" (which I strangely corrected avoid the second time around..probably because I didn't have spellcheck on the first time) is all I'm intelligently capable of writing....hence why I troll message boards..darn limited education!!!

Obviously You are too! August 9, 2008 at 11:14 a.m.

Obviously, You are unemployed as well. Its nice to have the company of a fellow unemployed Walden Grad on this board. My fine Walden education has prepared me for hanging out on Internet message boards all day but not for much else.

Of course the defenders (aka employees) Of Walden will tell you its a "top tier school", "Just as good as Harvard" etc, etc...

What they wont tell you is that employers wont hire you after you matriculate. Oh well, You'll have plenty of time to hang out here with the rest of us unemployed Walden Grads. Welcome to the party!!!

Obviously You Are Too! August 9, 2008 at 4:23 p.m.

Of course I'm unemployed.. I like to hang out on a message board complaining about something that will NEVER change no matter how how much uninformed, ridiculous, no support having, meaningless, bantering I do! Who cares about doing something meaningful in my life! Let's live through a message board where we can complain to our hearts content and NEVER make a difference! Hooray...let's complain about online schools instead of our miserable, pathetic limited education lives!! Sure I'm glad to join the party!!

Next we can start complaining about online shopping!! It's sad when people go shopping online when there are perfectly good department stores they can go to!! These people are obviously uneducated and bottom feeders to choose to shop at Ebay online, when they can go to Target to get the EXACT same thing!! Can you believe that!! Down with online shopping!!! Go to a REAL store where you can pay DOUBLE THE PRICE but at least it will be the REAL THING!!

Just A Guy August 10, 2008 at 4:13 a.m.

Anyone reading this will definately have second thoughts about enrolling at Walden. Therefore my work here is done and I shall post..post...post... no more.

Just remember you can do much better than Walden.

Regards

JAG

Just A Guy August 10, 2008 at 5:46 p.m.

Anyone reading this will definitely be glad I'm gone because I never had anything of substance to post post post on this board anyway. Thus I will seek another message board to wreak havoc on and hope someone there will listen to my useless, baseless, arguments.

Just remember you can do better than to listen to someone who obviously has no clue about online schools, and make your own informed, researched educational decision.

Regards

JAG

NCU Grads August 12, 2008 at 10:55 a.m.

I posted on the NCU site too, but I wanted to see what Walden grads thought.

Who has a more solid reputation, Walden U, Capella U, North Central U, PACE U, or North Dakota State. Out of all five of those, which one would hold the most weight for a Phd in technology?

I also looked at Carnegie Mellon University, Robert Morris University, and Duquense University (I live in Pittsburgh so these are possible). They aren't online degrees, but they seem to have some very hard requirements to get in. I went to the school and talked to some admissions people, but they didn't seem as interested in me as NCU did. After reading this blog, is it because NCU wants you to go there for money and these schools don't care? I'm confused. NCU seems like it has a rock solid reputation and a great curriculum. They outlined some harsh writing guidelines the other schools did not and also how much help is available. The other schools did not do this. Would NCU be a better school then because it has better graduates?

Richard August 12, 2008 at 12:01 p.m.

NCU, Walden, Capella, are simply University of Phoenix retreds. Noth Dakota State is by far your best option out of the schools you mentioned. The three traditional schools you mentioned are also far netter options than NCU, Walden, Capella etc... They may have more strict entrance requirements but your education will be far more valuable to you in terms of what employment options are available to you after you graduate.

I attended Capella for my undergrad and applied for a traditional doctorate program at the University of North Texas and was basically laughed at. even though I had a 4.0 GPA and had scored a 680 on the GMAT. I had to do a traditional Masters before the univerity would even consider me as a candidate. I am now in my second year. Was it difficult to get in?? YES. Was the effort worth it as apposed to going to a fifth rate online school more my doctorate?? most definately

Richard

Funny August 12, 2008 at 2:58 p.m.

And we thought you were going away "Richard"

NCU Grads August 12, 2008 at 7:41 p.m.

Richard,

I am having an issue also getting looked at serious at traditional schools. My MBA is from UoP and basically, the schools don't take me serious. In fact, one professor I met with at RMU got a funny smirk on his face when I told him I went to UoP until he realized I was serious. He reccomended checking out an MBA from an AACSB school first and redo the program. Nice waste of $20K there on my part. This is why I was curious about the other online schools. I thought Walden and NCU looked a bit different, maybe better? But I guess if a phd were easy, everyone would do it or go to one of these schools:(

Richard August 13, 2008 at 3:07 a.m.

No...I didn't go away..I just reinvented myself. Schizophrenia will do that to you.

See one minute JAG and my other personalities...now I'm Richard!!! I wonder who I'll be tomorrow....just wait and see!!

Me thinks August 13, 2008 at 1:44 p.m.

This site is completely useless thanks to one or two idiots

It's really August 13, 2008 at 5:11 p.m.

Just one idiot who complains just to complain. He goes to every forum related to online schools and complains. Same wording and argument over and over. He basically shot himself in the foot, no one takes him or his complaints seriously.

NCU Grads August 13, 2008 at 6:04 p.m.

No, I'm not the same person as the rest. I feel like I learned a lot at UoP and got a good education from them. I don't think their degree is well accepted though like other MBA's are. I decided I wanted to teach while I was there and many others in my class did too. One of my professors gave me a list of schools and many were online ones. I took half online and half in class at UoP and thought it was very convenient and great. I don't understand why these schools listed above have a bad reputation, but I'm just upset by it.

NCU Grads August 13, 2008 at 8:01 p.m.

I'm still highly considering NCU or Walden instead of others. If you are an NCU or Walden Phd, how has industry or academia welcomed you? Has it helped you at all? I want the ability to teach as a professor or work in industry (I'm in industry now, but want the ability to teach later). Is it hard to get jobs teaching at local colleges and Universities? Since both NCU and Walden are Universities, it should be easier to teach at a local colloege I would think since Universities are seen as higher status than a college. And please don't post annoying comments like "POST POST POST" or "WORTHLESS DEGREE" or "IT TALKS TO ITSELF" or anything like that, just honest feedback please.

For NCU Grads August 13, 2008 at 10:23 p.m.

Others asked the same question on Yahoo answers -

answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080412051207AAksaE4

NCU Grads August 14, 2008 at 12:22 p.m.

I'm really looking for someone who went to NCU or Walden right now, then maybe people who do hire for professor or industry in high end research positions (meaning research in industry, not acadmics). I will not fool myself into thinking I will be an associate professor at Penn State or MIT, but I'm hoping maybe a small local college, between a University and a community college.

To NCU Grads August 14, 2008 at 12:36 p.m.

Before I enrolled in Walden I researched the web and found professors and non-professors that were Walden grads. I contacted them all via email and got very honest and fantastic answers. The professors were at traditional brick-and-mortar schools and were teaching nowhere else.

I suggest you do the same.

JAG August 15, 2008 at 4:43 p.m.

To those considering an online education:

Posters on this site will rant and rave and attempt to put words in my mouth by saying that "I am anti-online" and "I know nothing about Walden, UoP, Capella, NCU etc..."

Jag August 15, 2008 at 4:44 p.m.

Here is the truth.

Point 1. I am NOT anti-online. There are very good online programs.

University of Texas
Kansas State
Boise State
University of Maryland
University of Oklahoma
Indiana State
and Many Other schools have Excellent online programs ranging from Bachelors to doctorate programs.

Point 2...I "Know" quite alot about Walden as I have a Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma Price college of Business with a specialization in Organizational Behavior. I have worked in Industry for over 20 years and have taught extensively as an adjunct professor for UoP (I quit due to poor academic standards brought on by the corporate administration at Apollo Group.) and 7 other online programs offered by traditional and non-traditional Colleges.

JAG August 15, 2008 at 4:44 p.m.

While I personally have not been involved with Walden I personally know Collogues who have and I believe in learning from the experiences of others.

Walden's policy of open admissions brings students into the program that are ill prepared to do advanced academic work resulting in a drag on those few students who are prepared to do work on the doctoral level. The same issue exists at UoP Capella, and NCU.

Thus I am against Walden, Capella, NCU and UoP being allowed to offer "Doctorate" programs because their programs end up being very substandard when compared to the Doctorate programs of other institutions. The advocates of this system will try to say that "we have to give everyone a chance to succeed."

This is non-sense for the following reasons.

A. If you allow everyone in then those that don't
belong drag down the quality of instruction for those
that do belong during the first few classes until
the "posers" can be eliminated

B. The "posers" that are eliminated have now spent
several thousand dollars on courses that they either
did not complete or failed out of entirely and now
have a student loan obligation with nothing to show
for it.

There have been a large number of imposters on this site using the "JAG" screen name. The vast majority of them are posers.

Inevitably there will be someone that says that I am "ANTI-ONLINE" and that "I've never attended Walden and therefore have no right to an opinion"

The truth is that I am not anti-online I am anti Walden, Capella, UoP, and NCU due to their open admissions policy at the doctorate level for the reasons discussed above and others.

The problem I have is NOT with online education.

But I know the Waldenites will attack me viciously for this opinion and say that JAG is "anti-online" and "misinformed and lying".

Do your own research...Go talk to a professor at a university that you know and trust. Ask them what they think of Walden, UoP, Capella, and NCU.

Then ask them what they think of University of Maryland's online Doctorate.

Then ask them what they think of Indiana State's online doctorate.

Ask them what they think about Kansas State's proposed online doctorate.

I have spoken with many professors at many well respected universities and the results are consistent. They believe that there is a place for online education and that students can get a very good education in online programs. However, They all agree that the open admissions policy at the doctorate level in the for profit schools that I have mentioned are nothing more than corporate greed seeking more tuition dollars.

OK Waldenites go ahead and tell everyone how I am "anti-online and mis-informed."

No one cares August 15, 2008 at 8:14 p.m.

This is a forum for STUDENTS to share their experiences. You have NEVER attended Walden, you have never taught at Walden, yet you are obsessed with this bizarre cause of yours. Plenty of people have Walden degrees, and they are doing just fine. If you are not a student of Walden, please go someplace else.

People don't get there Ph.D's just to teach, there is a real world out there.

No one cares August 15, 2008 at 11:08 p.m.

People don't get their Ph.D's just to teach, there is a real world out there.

JAG August 15, 2008 at 11:40 p.m.

I'm sorry...it's the schizophrenia kicking in again. Excuse the same diluted, baseless, useless argument that I've been using since I've been here (clearly I'm the one who has issues since I can't leave a message board forum trying to convince myself and others that all of these online schools are sooooo baaaad)

And from the number of spelling errors in my post..I think the schizophrenia has convinced me that I have a PHD when it's clear I probably never got out of community college. I know I said I would leave..but the other personalities won't let me......

HaHa August 16, 2008 at 12:23 a.m.

"I know I said I would leave..but the other personalities won't let me......"

@ the real JAG August 16, 2008 at 8:03 a.m.

You are a troll and you cannot substantiate your claims with solid evidence, just a merely mediocre close minded opinion like your colleagues (of course if you seek approval from the same people that think like you, they will concur with your position), so monkeys hang out together. But anyway, you sir are a charlatan.

Not everyone can finish a doctorate, only about 10% of the population can. Certainly, Mr. Jag you are not one of the 10%! I can smell you that you are a hater. University with closed enrollment are not there to help anyone, besides they don't need students, they just need bodies to gain grants. Things are changing, and change is inevitable.

stay away from the University of Oklahoma August 16, 2008 at 11:25 a.m.

You could have done better than the University of Oklahoma.

JAG August 16, 2008 at 3:56 p.m.

I don't really care where you go to school. But, you are wasting your time and money if you go to any of the for profits for a Doctorate.

JAG August 16, 2008 at 5:50 p.m.

I told you they would lash out

"This is a forum for STUDENTS to share their experiences. You have NEVER attended Walden, you have never taught at Walden"

Therefore you have no right to an opinion---

These people are so predictable it is unreal. They can't defend their institution rationally so they simply call me a "troll" and say that I have no right to an opinion and do not know what I am talking about.

"Change is inevitable"-That I agree with. Advanced education is changing and for the better. There are excellent non-traditional programs that can be completed online from anywhere in the world. I listed a small number of them in my post above.

Unfortunately, Walden is not one of them. For the cost you will pay in tuition, You can get a PhD from the University of Maryland or Indiana State University...Both FAR BETTER programs and schools than anything Walden has to offer.

Obviously, Walden graduates have a hard time defending their school with rational commentary!!

LM 2008 August 16, 2008 at 7:09 p.m.

Any primate with something resembling an intact cerebral cortex would recognize that the only thing holding the higher education B&M edifice and supporting paradigms together is custom, self interest, and prejudice. This is not difficult. The economic realities pressing on this anachronistic, bloated and largely unnecessary drag on the public purse will overwhelm it, and hopefully sooner rather than later. Even now, with the immature technologies currently at hand, much of the cosmically inefficient system could be replaced.

Smells like tic tac August 16, 2008 at 7:22 p.m.

Now either tic tac is here or she/he is assuming other personalities, your style of words/writing is similar to the one tic-tac that posted at the now almost dead CSU blog, but tic-tac did not kill the CSU blog, despite she/he was right in many things, she or he was not that clever. But either way JAG or Tic-Tac have an obscure satanic and diabolical agendas as detractors. This is a sign of the times.

Mr/Mrs. Jag August 16, 2008 at 7:49 p.m.

You keep missing the point and the boat. The reasons for some other institutions, they are there to serve(they adapt to you instead of you adapting to them) the students even if they are for profit as you call them,you indicated that you can get a cheaper PhD degree it may be true in theory but not in reality. But you have not considered all the economic impact that a cheaper PhD can have in someone that cannot afford it(not economically).

Not everyone can do it due to time constrains and distance this being the mayor setbacks. But when you consider the lost of income(you cannot work with cheap PhD), family, time, travel, and other hidden costs, and you add all this up you will see that in the long run this so call cheap PhD has cost you a fortune and you have given up your freedom for three to seven years. And in the end, there is not guarantee that you will recover from this investment.

So do the math and do not limit yourself to tuition only that seems is the only element you are taking in consideration. It is about economics all around. And if you take a look at some non for profit they are charging either the same or more than for profit, so where is the savings?

Bottom line, like or not Walden is accredited and there is nothing you can do about it.

Mexican Mike August 17, 2008 at 4:54 p.m.

Just because its accredited does not mean that it will ever be a good school. It will always be a school of last resort for those who could not hack it at a real school.

Bottom line you would be better off with no degree at all than with a Walden degree!!

To the original Mexican Mike August 17, 2008 at 8:21 p.m.

Nonsense you write, you don't have proof that is not a good school, and you don't know every student situation as we don't know yours, other than being a dirty troll, since you have no association with the school, is not for you to determine the quality of it and if you did have an association it means you did not made the grade. What is the matter a Walden graduate took your job?

Just the Facts August 17, 2008 at 11 p.m.

Let's see:

Mid-career professional earning $80,000 a year in a major U.S. city.

Did their master's and undergrad at a traditional brick and mortar. Went to class every night while working full-time.

Would like a PhD to advance their career in the non-academic field.

Researches two colleges in their city:

1) Both schools require the student not work full-time while in the program. The program can take 4-5 years.

2) School 1 has tuition of over $70,000 for the complete PhD, not including fees. The goal of the program is to produce professors. The program will cover the tuition for each student and a stipend of about $20,000 per year. The program lists jobs that theirs students have gone on to, mostly assistant professor jobs earning less than $60,000 a year.

3) School 2 is cheaper and has tuition of about $25,000 for a complete degree and a stipend of $18,000 per year. The school may cover the tuition if funds are available.

In addition to the tuition, there is cost of travel to and from school, countless hours away from family, and no real world experience gained during those years.

A mid-level professional will suddenly be working for a professor and help them do research; the mid-career professional becomes the co-author of research. The professor hasn't worked in the industry for decades, bases all information on the research of others and their graduate students.

Researches Walden:

1) Tuition is about $70,000 for the complete degree
2) Can continue to work, gain professional experience, and apply the course work and research to real world situations.
3) Walden offers scholarships based on need. If a student doesn't qualify they can get financial aid. Many employers have tuition reimbursement, which brings down the cost as well.
4) All the research that is done is for the student; the faculty just guides the student. There is no co-author.
--------------------

At one of the non-Walden schools

1) Stipend (20,000 x 4 years) = 80,000
2) Employment Loss (80,000 x 4 years) = (320,000)
3) Year one employment after graduation = 60,000
------------------------------------------
$180,000 Income over 5 years

At Walden

1) Tuition at Walden for PhD, 4 years= (70,000)
2) Employment (80,000 x 4 years) = 320,000
3) Year one employment after graduation = 80,000
------------------------------------------
$330,000 Income over 5 years

A difference of $120,000 the first 5 years.

-------------------------
This is where Mr. Anti-Walden says I'm a shill, and says "you can do better".

He is all opinion, all lies. He is afraid of change and can't handle the fact that he is part of the old school.

He doesn't realize it, but he had to pay for his degree without putting out the cash upfront.

-------------------------
Walden offers a competitive product, it is here to stay.

Walden is a good school, I know because I am a student.

JAG August 17, 2008 at 11:18 p.m.

Schizophrenia ...no medicine...now I'm Mexican Mike...constant rambling...same old argument...and I call other people predictable...please help me I have no life....

Poor JAG August 18, 2008 at 12:50 a.m.

(Munro, 1999)

The patient expresses an idea or belief with unusual persistence or force.
That idea appears to exert an undue influence on his or her life, and the way of life is often altered to an inexplicable extent.
Despite his/her profound conviction, there is often a quality of secretiveness or suspicion when the patient is questioned about it.
The individual tends to be humorless and oversensitive, especially about the belief.
There is a quality of centrality: no matter how unlikely it is that these strange things are happening to him, the patient accepts them relatively unquestioningly.
An attempt to contradict the belief is likely to arouse an inappropriately strong emotional reaction, often with irritability and hostility.
The belief is, at the least, unlikely.
The patient is emotionally over-invested in the idea and it overwhelms other elements of his psyche.
The delusion, if acted out, often leads to behaviors which are abnormal and/or out of character, although perhaps understandable in the light of the delusional beliefs.
Individuals who know the patient will observe that his belief and behavior are uncharacteristic and alien

JAG is a disgruntled UOP employee August 18, 2008 at 1:35 a.m.

Just a Guy March 30, 2007 at 9:44 p.m.

This program is a joke. I used to work for the school and quit in disgust. If a student deserves to fail, the school administration pressures the professor into passing them. They tell the instructor to "work with the student" to ensure they pass the course. This is so the student can continue in the program and more importantly...CONTINUE PAYING TUITION.

This school is nothing but a machine designed to separate students from their tuition dollars.

NCU, Walden, and Capella are no better.

Go with state supported, regionally accredited, online programs that also have a ground campus. They at least have academic integrity.

JAG must be nuts August 18, 2008 at 2:20 a.m.

Every school wants faculty to work with students. Department Chairs and Deans regularly work with faculty/students to help a student along. In addition, schools usually have a grade appeal process.

What JAG doesn't get is that private online institutions have to work harder at finding, keeping, and servicing students. Like any online only business they need to advertise and work with clients. Walden works for me, as it does for thousands of others. Giving away degrees and grades just doesn't make business sense.

JAG August 18, 2008 at 6:56 p.m.

When I was teaching for UoP, I was more than happy to work with my students to ensure that they grasped the concepts and were successful in their courses.

Most of the students put forth the effort required and were subsequently given the grade they deserved.

The individual in question put forth no effort what-so-ever and yet the administration of the Oklahoma City campus of UoP still expected me to give him a passing grade.

Simply UNSAT

that explains it August 19, 2008 at 11:48 a.m.

so JAG is a disgruntled ex-employee. What he alleges happened at UoP occurs at colleges all the time, nothing new. Keep your complaints on the UoP page.

She or he has no beef here August 19, 2008 at 5:37 p.m.

This person had an issue with a past employer (UOP) and comes here (Walden) to distract, to pose a negative personal opinion (negative persuasion), and to try to stain the reputation about other online schools (NCU, Walden, Capella etc...) that she/he has no association and experience with. This person has no reasons to come here and create a chaos, to me that shows poor character and lack of responsibility. It will be more than appropriate to formulate an opinion from what you have experience with, not the other way around. As indicated before, these individuals have an obscure satanic and diabolical agendas as detractors and dirty trolls. Like it or not, distance education is here to stay, either you change with it or you will get railroad with it. This is a sign of the times.

Troglodytes resurfing everywhere as anti-online August 19, 2008 at 9:15 p.m.

Seems to have emerged from the mists of time untouched by human evolution. Devoid of a single progressive idea and lacking the slightest awareness of social and cultural advances, Troglodytes have developed an incoherent political philosophy that she/he characterizes as "conservative" or "libertarian", but which could be more accurately described as "bigoted narcissism". Their aggressive posturing often frightens off weaker, more timid Warriors. In pitched battle, however, Troglodytes easily loses control and their attack quickly degenerates into a rant. Just for the fun of it, Weenie, Issues. Pinko and Evil Clown will sometimes deliberately goad him into a towering rage.(Reed,2008)

Kevin August 20, 2008 at 12:31 a.m.

All you people are truly stupid. Who the hell cares one way or another.

@Kevin August 20, 2008 at 12:41 a.m.

Why do you care what we say.

impostor as well August 20, 2008 at 4:22 a.m.

Impostor is a digital Proteus who changes his persona whenever it suits his purposes. That 21 year old co-ed from Arizona State you met in a discussion forum may, in fact, be a retired steel worker from Pittsburgh. Impostor will claim to be black, white, rich, poor, young, old, straight or gay, and if he's good he can pull it off - at least for a while. Of course, there are sinister, even criminal reasons Impostor would lie about who he is, but more often he fakes it to lend weight to his arguments, or simply to amuse himself. Impostor's requisite imagination and good writing skills can make him a formidable enemy, but even the best Impostors will eventually blunder and reveal their true identity. Once uncovered, Impostor always flees the field, but he may return in another form - you just never know...

2 New Associate Deans August 22, 2008 at 5:13 p.m.

Walden University has named two new associate deans to provide strong academic leadership for its health sciences and doctoral education degree programs. Dr. Joanne W. Flowers is associate dean of the School of Health Sciences, and Dr. Joe Ann Hinrichs is associate dean for doctoral programs in The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership.

ponder.waldenu.edu/c/11468_26389.htm

Kimberly August 24, 2008 at 4:21 p.m.

JAG (or anyone else)

As far as I can tell there are no "traditional state supported schools" that offer ONLINE doctoral level degrees. They all require you to be on campus.

So, please tell me how I am supposed to get my doctorate from a "traditional state supported school" without completely disrupting my life??

Walden seems to me to be the next best option.

Stew August 25, 2008 at 8:34 p.m.

Kimberly

I don't know of any either, but I do know many schools offer "distance" programs. They are not online. They require long residencies since they stack up the inquiry seminars in week long sessions and then back on the weekends. The most famous one I heard of with extremely high success and a reputation to back it up is Robert Morris University near Pittsburgh PA. The down side to this program is the price tag it carries. The reputation of the program is word of mouth since their website is poorly designed and doesn't show off what its worth. I am close with a man who was visiting professor there which is how I heard about it. Other than that one, there is also PACE, Dakota State, and a few others. Your best bet is to search for "distance Phd" or "distance doctoral programs."

To Kimberly August 26, 2008 at 6:02 p.m.

Kimberly,

These same programs offer the exact same type of education and support that Walden offers. RMU and Pace aren't the savior of distance learning. You also have Azusa Pacific, Regent, Union Institute, and a few others....

All of these programs have residency requirements and many cost more than Walden.

Make an informed decision and follow your own right mind. Only you know your situation and only you can do what is right for you.

To Kimberly August 26, 2008 at 6:14 p.m.

Just to note, you also have at least 20 days of residency to fulfill at Walden.

Felix August 26, 2008 at 9:07 p.m.

Kimberly,

Every program at Walden is a bit different. I think the Psych program has a ton of residency requirements, while Public Policy is only 20 days.

Check around.

Greg August 27, 2008 at 10:14 a.m.

Kimberly,

What do you want to do with your doctorate?

Stew August 27, 2008 at 1:25 p.m.

Kimberly,

Greg is right, it depends on what you want to do. For example, if you want an engineering phd, it won't happen distance or online that will be respected in industry or academia. Psych at Walden is not APA accredited and I know a few people who had many issues trying to gain licensure once completed.

Your best bet is what someone wrote above, find the professors at the school and talk to them. Then, google the name of the school and you should be able to find graduates teaching or maybe even on resumes. Contact them directly and get the story on their feelings.

You can always consider part time phd. Most people can deal with the courses with no problems. Its when you need to select a dissertation and defend the proposal and begin that undertaking most people fail. So if you go this route, expect to take some time off work to do this.

Kimberly August 28, 2008 at 10:05 a.m.

I would like to teach at New Mexico State University. I live in Las Cruces and it is the only college in the city.

Greg August 29, 2008 at 4:50 a.m.

Kimberly,

You won't be able to teach at New Mexico State with a Walden PhD. Go to the department at the university and speak with the department head. They will tell you the same thing I just did.

The Fake August 29, 2008 at 12:41 p.m.

The fake is back. Go hang out on Urban Dictionary with the other angry teens.

Greg August 31, 2008 at 3:08 a.m.

I'mmmmm Baaaack (told you the other personalities won't let me leave!!)....like my newest personality?? Let me know..I'll have a few more to introduce in the coming days....Stay Tuned!!

JAG September 2, 2008 at 7:05 p.m.

It is hilarious that the Waldenites seem to think that there is only one person on the planet that has had negative experiences with Walden "University".

Walden is substandard, and many people seem to know that. Average universities do not need to be so vigorously defended as does Walden, this should be a huge red flag to anyone looking for an online degree program.

JAG September 2, 2008 at 8:54 p.m.

I'm baaaaack. I have no life.

It is amazing that since I never went to Walden I have to check in here and ....

POST
POST
POST

Negative comments...

must POST
MUST post

negative comments about a school I never went to.....

JAG September 3, 2008 at 5:17 a.m.

Isn't it hilarious that all the "people" who have negative arguments sound just like ME??? Normal people who have lives have other things to do...but me (and my personalities) are unhappy with our lives so we have to have SOMETHING to do.....like post-post-post-post-post-post-post

I'm someone who can't seem to tear myself away from this board so I have to keep post- post -posting to make myself feel better since NO ONE else seems to care about my same old long-playing drivel that I've been using since I've been here. OOPS...time to take my meds...Hope it helps this time... I feel a new personality coming out...NOT!!

Stew September 4, 2008 at 5:31 p.m.

Thank you to those who try to disprove negative opinions by posting very ineffective thoughts that just make you plain stupid. This really does not show how those of us from Walden are taught to argue. Those are probably posts from someone who didn't get accepted (I know there is open enrollment, but even Walden wouldn't take someone who has incoherent thoughts).

Thank you September 5, 2008 at 12:03 a.m.

If you go back to earlier posts you will see how a few have tried to make decent arguments. When other people have hidden agendas and attempt to discredit Walden at any cost, the gloves come off.

You should help.

Greg September 5, 2008 at 5:03 a.m.

Does anyone here believe that Kimberly will be able to secure a faculty position at New Mexico State University with a Walden PhD?

If you do, you are delusional.

Therefore, what I said to Kimberly is true. Why is the truth so hard to accept? Why am I badmouthed (being called fake) for simply telling the truth? Just wondering???

Are you September 5, 2008 at 12:16 p.m.

on the hiring committee? Do you even LIVE in New Mexico?

this is a forum for students and prospective students. If you are not one of these, stay off the board.

IceMan September 5, 2008 at 5:46 p.m.

For those against online education and claim there are better universities elsewhere, what are these colleges and universities? are they hidden? can they meet the demand of the working adult? If so please share with us your great knowledge and post your experiences.

Kimberly September 6, 2008 at 5:28 a.m.

Greg,

Thanks, I spoke with the Dept head at NMSU like you suggested, and now understand what you were talking about.

Hilarious September 7, 2008 at 12:46 a.m.

Ahh, Kimberly has discovered the truth.

So tell us September 7, 2008 at 3:01 a.m.

Who is the head you spoke to, I'll gladly call to confirm your lie.

Kimberly September 7, 2008 at 2:04 p.m.

That wasn't my post.

JAG September 7, 2008 at 11:16 p.m.

Did you like my latest personality...now I'm Kimmmberrrleee!

JAG September 7, 2008 at 11:20 p.m.

Make that Kimberly/Greg/Hilarious....More still 2 come!!!!

Stew September 8, 2008 at 3:56 p.m.

FYI

I don't like Walden, but the degree doesn't matter, its your research and publications!

In The Chronicle September 11, 2008 at 1:56 a.m.

Was the Price of a Ph.D. at the U. of Louisville 9 Credits and a $375,000 Grant?
A high-school superintendent earned a Ph.D. from the University of Louisville in only one semester after awarding a $375,000 grant to a university center run by Robert Felner, Louisville’s former education dean, Louisville’s Courier-Journal reported today.

The explosive news came amid a federal investigation of Mr. Felner over allegations that he misused a $649,000 grant. Among other reviews, the university is auditing finances at its education school, while the University of Rhode Island is inspecting a research center Mr. Felner founded while serving as that institution’s dean of education.

Mr. Felner stepped down from his Louisville post in August, when he was named chancellor of the University of Wisconsin at Parkside. Days later, after reports of the Louisville investigation emerged, Wisconsin officials asked for Mr. Felner’s resignation. Today’s development is certain to intensify the firestorm around Mr. Felner’s rocky run through higher education.

In 2002, John E. Deasy, then superintendent of the Santa Monica-Malibu school district, in California, secured a $375,000 grant for Mr. Felner’s National Center on Public Education and Social Policy to conduct surveys of the school district. Two years later, Mr. Deasy was awarded a Ph.D. in education from the university, after being enrolled for only one semester of nine credit hours, the newspaper reported, citing university records.

The chairman of Mr. Deasy’s dissertation committee was Mr. Felner, who supervised no other doctoral students during his five years at the university. Now the superintendent of the Prince Georges County public schools, in Maryland, Mr. Deasy lists the degree on his Web bio. —Paul Fain

Joe September 12, 2008 at 9:15 a.m.

To Kimber, We have had intense debate about the value of a Walden PhD and those who have it work in community colleges is the best I've seen unless they have another degree from a top school. It is a common expression in acadamia that the level of school your degree is from is the level you will teach at. Acadamia in general does not like online schools, that much is a fact. If you want to teach at a good state school a for-profit school is not the answer. It is better to go to a non-profit online program if you can find it. If that is not an option you are going to be very disappointed with what a PhD from Walden will bring you as far as tenured positions are concerned.

Stew September 15, 2008 at 4:59 p.m.

I agree with Joe, except anywhere you go you will have to publish. If you earn a Phd from Walden but publish frequently in top rated journals, you will find the ability to move in academia. The only exception would be Tier 1 schools who will not hire you soley on the school your Phd is from. What I mean is they will filter you out without consideration usually. This is not to say its impossible, but not probable. I know many of my students who state they do not respect a professor at my University because she has her degree from Capella. I tell them to read her publications because thats her work, not Capella.

In conclusion, no matter where you go, if you don't publish, you don't teach.

Dr. B. September 15, 2008 at 7:42 p.m.

I have been lingering around on this site for a while..... and I'm happy to see someone post something with decent rationale. Stew actually made a lot of sense. Wherever you earn your doctorate, you will have to publish. Because you're attending an institution like Walden you will have to work extra hard to overcome the stigma associated with earning a degree distantly.

It is not impossible to acquire a tenure track position in higher education. However it will take a hell of a lot of work on your part. But we must also recognize the fact that not everyone who graduate from these programs desire to teach or perform research.

I began publishing and presenting my research early as a Ph.D. student and it has helped me a lot. And if you're not willing to do that, you won't make it... regardless of the institution.

Stew September 16, 2008 at 12:37 p.m.

Adding to Dr. B., many Phd programs do not force the student to publish in anyway. In fact, I have a few friends at some of the highest ranking universities who haven't published in their 3rd year of Phd. It makes it harder to find an advisor (or sponser as they call it) at that point, but its not a factor for graduation. Some schools have mandated publications now in doctoral programs as a means of progressing to the candidate state. I believe this will be common in the coming years as it makes the university look better and justifies students graduating.

But again, your research is what counts, not the school. The school only says that you can do research in the form of a dissertation, but it says nothing about the quality no matter where you go. Your advisor on the other hand does matter.

If you the most well known MIT instructor in a certain field, chances are, your "advisees" will be high calibur since you will not sign off on a dissertation otherwise.

chiquitha September 16, 2008 at 2:32 p.m.

Walden and capella are brick and motar schools. 2. the are regionally accredited 3. they can accept finacial aid. 4. some of thier classes require you to do residencey on campus (thier campus) seriously do your homework.

JAG September 16, 2008 at 5:44 p.m.

Chiquitha,

You are not helping the cause of Walden and Capella. Thats ok...You are obviously either a student or a grad.

Regards JAG

JAG/Jeff September 16, 2008 at 7:52 p.m.

still loves to talk to himself... take your meds!

Dr. B. September 17, 2008 at 2:09 a.m.

I believe that Chiquitha is another alias of an imposter.....

But Stew is pretty correct again.... your research (publications and presentations) and your advisor are extremely important to your success..... during and after your doctoral program.

I can say that getting into Walden was easy, but getting out was extremely difficult. But my advisor pushed me to do many things.... publish and present my research... and his name never ended up on any of it.

Institutional names and pedigree matter to many and will continue to matter because some people must have that name to speak for them. But after you graduate, regardless of where you earned your degree... it's the work afterward that earns your respect amongst your academic and professional peers. For example, my CV was requested just last evening by a doctoral student attending a large state funded university (Texas) who wants me to serve on his dissertation committee. I think that my academic work (student and post doc) played a major role in his decision to ask me to serve. As of today, the university approved my seat on the committee. Needless to say, I am honored!

Whatever institution anyone attends, he or she must do their research and choose and/or hope to be chosen by a program that is the best fit for them.

Troglodytes resurfing everywhere as anti-online September 17, 2008 at 9:27 p.m.

Seems to have emerged from the mists of time untouched by human evolution. Devoid of a single progressive idea and lacking the slightest awareness of social and cultural advances, Troglodytes have developed an incoherent political philosophy that she/he characterizes as "conservative" or "libertarian", but which could be more accurately described as "bigoted narcissism". Their aggressive posturing often frightens off weaker, more timid Warriors. In pitched battle, however, Troglodytes easily loses control and their attack quickly degenerates into a rant. Just for the fun of it, Weenie, Issues. Pinko and Evil Clown will sometimes deliberately goad him into a towering rage.(Reed,2008)

Walden Is Growing September 18, 2008 at 6:05 p.m.

Walden responds to the demand for executives with advanced leadership skills.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Today’s complex business world demands that executives have a command of business fundamentals as well as an understanding of the latest research and trends that are affecting modern business practice, including organizational change, strategy and innovation, and globalization.

To address this need, Walden University has launched a Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.) program through its School of Management. The School of Management currently offers a Ph.D. in Applied Management and Decision Sciences degree. The new D.B.A. program offers students a practical application for business theory and research and features a doctoral study centered on a real-world company project instead of a dissertation. Students may choose from 10 specializations, including a self-designed option that allows students to create their own specialization under the guidance of a Walden faculty member.

“This program is designed for the business professional who seeks a leadership position within an organization or to influence the success of an organization as an outside consultant,” says Dr. Wanda Gravett, associate dean of the School of Management. “Walden offers these executives the opportunity to translate their business experience into a program that focuses on strengthening their leadership and decision-making skills.”

Walden’s Doctor of Business Administration program is designed for experienced business professionals who want to translate their industry expertise into leadership positions as consultants or as executives within their organizations.

Developed with insights from experienced faculty members and leading business practitioners, the D.B.A. program emphasizes advanced decision-making and leadership skills, in-depth knowledge of both theory and applied research, and the ability to manage positive social change. Explore some of the greatest challenges and opportunities facing business today, including globalization, ethics, and managing stakeholder relationships, as well as management issues directly related to your professional interests.

Ten specializations, including the option to design your own, that focus on the latest research, theories, and trends influencing business

Specializations

Entrepreneurship
Finance
Global Supply Chain Management
Information Systems Management
International Business
Leadership
Marketing
Social Impact Management
Technology Entrepreneurship
Self-Designed

More Information
Prospective students interested in the program should contact an enrollment advisor at 1-866-492-5336 for more information. Walden is currently accepting applications for a fall 2008 start date.

Stew September 18, 2008 at 7:28 p.m.

Posting like the one above get annoying. You are giving news on the University and not a personal perspective. Please avoid posting such things unless it is for reference to your posting arguments/conversational pieces.

Is Stew September 19, 2008 at 11:29 p.m.

even a Walden Student?

This is a forum to discuss Walden.

Posting news about Walden is a topic for discussion.

Stew September 20, 2008 at 3:45 p.m.

I am not a student, I work with the faculty (not a Walden employee). I do some research with a few facutly members.

One course at Walden September 23, 2008 at 9:39 p.m.

I took one course at Walden. I realized that online learning is not for me. I learn much more effectively in a traditional classroom.

HOWEVER, Walden is just as challenging as any other university I have ever attended. People who say that Walden is sub-standard have no idea what they are talking about. I would recommend Walden to anyone who needs to finish their degree while maintaining a flexible schedule. For me personally I don't have the need for flexibility and really enjoy being on a traditional college campus. Walden, however, is a very good school that will be around for a very long time.

Jim

In The Chronicle September 26, 2008 at 11:23 p.m.

Walden University is honored to support civic engagement among today’s youth and tomorrow’s leaders by sponsoring the Walden University Presidential Youth Debate to air at noon Eastern time on October 20.

The debate gives young people ages 13 to 35 the opportunity to have their most pressing questions answered by presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama.

Visit the Walden University Presidential Youth Debate Web site.

How the Debate Works
Young people submit questions and vote for the top 14 questions that will be sent to the candidates. The candidates will answer via video, and questions and answers will air online at www.debate.WaldenU.edu on October 20 at noon Eastern time.

Debate Time Line

Sept. 29, 3 p.m.: Deadline to submit questions for the Walden University Presidential Youth Debate
Sept. 30, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.: Voting for top questions for senators John McCain and Barack Obama
Oct. 20, Noon: Airing of the Walden University Presidential Youth Debate online
Nov. 4: Voting for the next president of the United States
Get Involved
Share details of the debate with everyone who touches the lives of young people—in schools, youth groups, and your extended community. You’ll help to instill young people with a sense of empowerment as well as the responsibility to be informed, educated citizens.

About the Debate
The Presidential Youth Debate was founded in 1996 to focus presidential candidates on issues important to America’s youth. Every major presidential candidate has participated in the Presidential Youth Debate since 1996.

Visit the Debate Web Site
Visit www.debate.WaldenU.edu for more information. Eligible voters may register for the November 4 election via the Web site as well.

@Stew September 29, 2008 at 7:28 a.m.

What publishing does Walden make their PhDs do? Has there ever been an example of a Walden PhD CANDIDATE, with no other top tier degrees, getting in a top journal?

Stew September 29, 2008 at 1:32 p.m.

I have no idea about your question above. The research I do with the faculty does not involve the students. The facutly, however, I can tell you have published in competitve journals that would be considered highly prestigious. This does not speak to the calibur of the students. I am not arguing Walden is a good school. I am arguing even if you go there, you can publish and do research that can be recognized and push you past the stigma and be on the same level or higher as the top institutions.

Walden October 2, 2008 at 11:21 p.m.

Walden is a non-competitive school of last resort for those who can not make it in an actual academic setting. You would be better off attending a Jr College.

Walden October 3, 2008 at 3:58 a.m.

Walden is a competitive school of first resort for those who have the intelligence to realize they have options other than a traditional classroom. You would be better off not listening to the same, meaningless banter of our local schizo nutcase using yet ANOTHER alias Walden i.e. JAG! He has no life...just pity (and humor) the poor pathetic idiot!!

What is the Problem With Walden? October 11, 2008 at 4:15 p.m.

I have degrees from Walden, Phoenix, UCLA, Union, and Cal State. With an exception of UCLA, all of them were earned online. They all provided me the flexibility I needed and offered a solid education.

In comparing the programs and delivery methods, I must be honest. Walden and Phoenix have the online learning concept hands down. They are true pioneers in distance learning. I think that the other institutions can learn something from these two. At Cal State, the students were the facilitator. All the professor did was video taped lectures. There was little feedback given and all communication was via email. At least at Walden and Phoenix I could have a live chat or call my professor. When tuition is paid, you're learning from someone with a terminal degree and terminal experience... this wasn't the case at the other schools and at UCLA I had graduate students teaching most of my courses... Cal State was an easy program though.

At Walden your professor has a doctorate and from a solid institution. At Phoenix, all of my professors had doctorates and two of my classes were taught by Deans. At both institutions, the professors teach (in the classroom and online)and closely monitor your research. The school has a solid reputation.

There is absolutely nothing with attending Walden University for an advanced degree.

To Post Above October 13, 2008 at 2:29 p.m.

Right, Walden and Phoenix are equal to UCLA and Cal State. Phd BLAH BLAH BLAH. Bunch of BS. You know why Walden and the other schools don't go after top accrediations like AACSB or ABET? They don't want to hire full time faculty that does research and publishes. Don't compare Walden with those other schools, its like comparing Walmart to Saks Fifth Avenue for buying cloths. Walden and the other for profits are the Walmarts of education. You a piece of crap that doesn't work after a year or two but you spent too much on it anyways.

To Post Above October 13, 2008 at 4:34 p.m.

I'm very angry. I've never been to Walden or Saks, so I just complain all day. I hang out on Urbandictionary making up definitions. I need my meds.

Walden October 14, 2008 at 12:54 a.m.

You guys who criticize Walden and other on-line universities are clueless about education. May I suggest that you take a course on "Education" at your local brick-and-mortar university and then come here and discuss what education really is.

The role of education is to nurture self-directed learners and on-line learning does exactly that. If you're still stuck in your classroom waiting for a professor to tell you what to do and how to think, you don't belong in graduate school. If you're comfortable in that setting, it's your prerogative and without any clue about pedagogy, adult education, instructional strategies, and the mere perception on how education is evolving, spare yourselves the self-humiliation and post only constructive, knowledge based, and real ideas.

In short, go to school.

What is the Problem With Walden? October 14, 2008 at 10:17 p.m.

I am the poster that caused the recent trouble by simply saying that Walden was not a bad choice for earning a degree.

The idiot who half read my post doesn't understand that I was not saying that Walden trumps UCLA. I was very clear in stating that Walden and UoP's online delivery is solid compared to other schools I have attended. But if I were to compare the fact that Ph.D. earned professors taught me at Walden while bitchy graduate students taught me at UCLA..... I would still say that Walden provided me with a solid learning experience while UCLA provided me with a solid name.

To Post Above October 15, 2008 at 8:02 p.m.

I may be able to accept part of that. Walden or UoP will give you the opposite of a solid name, but there is a reason for the reputation, they aren't even considered Tier 4 schools. Little to no research and they serve no purpose in our society except to suck money from the public, kind of like the stock market right now. The schools suck.

Cutter October 15, 2008 at 10:06 p.m.

Subjective Ignorance

Walden Alumni October 17, 2008 at 11:29 p.m.

Here is the link to positive Walden University news.

ponder.waldenu.edu/c/11492_26603.htm

Walden Alumni Magazine

alumnimag.waldenu.edu/

Diverse Issues in Higher Education October 17, 2008 at 11:35 p.m.

Walden Ranked a Top Producer of Master’s, Doctorate Minority Graduates

Walden University continues its proud tradition of providing diversity and access for adult learners. According to the publication Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, Walden ranks high on the list across numerous multicultural segments and degree programs.

In its 2008 Top Graduate Degree Producers analysis, Diverse ranked Walden a top producer of master’s and doctorate minority graduates in the following disciplines:

Master’s:

Psychology—American Indian No. 3
Education—Total Minority No. 4
Education—African-American No. 5
Education—Hispanic No. 5
Education—American Indian No. 8
Education—Asian No. 9

All Disciplines—African-American No. 10

Doctorate:

Business—African-American No. 3
Health Professions—African-American No. 5
Psychology—African-American No. 5
Business—Total Minority No. 6
All Disciplines—African-American No. 9

The analysis considered graduate degrees awarded during the 2006–2007 academic year and is based on data from the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data Set (IPEDS).

Quantity = quality? October 18, 2008 at 4:43 a.m.

What percentage of all doctorates are awarded by online schools?

Well..... October 20, 2008 at 1:36 p.m.

The DI ranking only addresses minorities... all who are not white men and women. It covers both HBCUs and TWIs. The issue of quality = quantity is not that valid in this case because according to the Top 100 list, traditional institutions such as Nova, University of IL and USC are cooking up way more doctorates (all disciplines) than anyone else... and no one questions quality there.

If you ask me, it's like cattle-herding.

Of all institutions listed, only a few are online learning institutions.... this does not discount that most traditional schools now offer online doctorates. The caliber of faculty is equivalent.

So what's the issue?

Studies October 21, 2008 at 8:55 p.m.

The studies are pretty much invalid as it says nothing to the quality of the dissertations or thesis completed. So what if it graduates higher amounts of minorities. Also, show me a study that proves diversity is a good tool to increase quality. Its a buzz word right now that will go away, just like "going green." The other site provided for good news was from Walden themselves, of course they will post good news.

I think Walden has the ability to be a school with a solid name, but they lean back on minority students too much. These students tend to be the ones with the most financial aid also. A bit of a coincidence? UoP has 300K people in school now, does that make them good?

The real measure is to find what the students have contributed to their field of study after a Phd OR what they are doing for work after BS/MS. Anyone who thinks Walden is good, post some links showing this information.

I realized after reading this it sounds like I am against Walden. Thats not true. I am frustrated by them because they used to carry some weight, like ITT did over a decade ago (and now its a cursed name).

Caralynn October 24, 2008 at 3:34 a.m.

Has anyone gotten a Master's in Nursing at Walden and can give me some feedback? I am considering enrolling in their program.

Studies October 24, 2008 at 3:42 a.m.

Poor Jag...ahem...Studies. He's frustated because the only one who listens to him is himself. It gets really lonely in those rubber rooms.

Also since he's on this validity measure, why not post what YOU'VE done with your degree since you've had it. What kind of wonderful positive contributions has he made to society, since he wants to know what contributions EVERYONE at Walden has made???? I know being delusional is part of your illness, but at least try to CREATE something credible. Go ahead post...we'll be waiting....

Pathetic October 24, 2008 at 3:49 a.m.

I guess he doesn't know how to read either since there's accomplishment after accomplishment published monthly on what Walden graduates are doing with their degrees, information he can EASILY look up to see if it's true. Too much brain power to use I suppose...he loses IQ points everytime he TRIES to think rationally! So sad!

To Carolynn October 24, 2008 at 6:56 p.m.

Walden's graduate program in nursing is regionally and professionally (CCNE) accredited. You won't have any problems getting an appointment if you cared to move up to teach in a nursing program. The program has received high marks.

Good luck to you!

www.waldenu.edu/c/Schools/Schools_8497.h...

Walden University Presidential Debate October 24, 2008 at 7:40 p.m.

Cyberspace is gaining ground.

The Walden University Presidential Debate was a great success. It was an excellent to get America's youth involved in the political process.

Kudos to Walden University!!!

debate.waldenu.edu/video/full-debate/

Just Curious October 25, 2008 at 1:44 p.m.

I'm Just curious to know how many people initially enroll in Walden's doctorate programs that ultimately fail to finish??? Does anyone have those stats??? I contacted Walden enrollment folks (should have asked for a name but I didn't) The said they would research and send me the info but its been 4 weeks and still nothing. I'd be thankful for any info.

JC

Walden Alum October 25, 2008 at 5:36 p.m.

The attrition rate for Walden is currently in line with most Ph.D. programs, traditional and nontraditional. This strongly challenges the belief that entrance exams are indicative of academic success.

According to the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students (keeping in mind that this data is antiquated), the average attrition rates for individuals completing doctorates from all granting institutions are as follows:

3 years in program: 4.5%
4 years in program: 10.5%
5 years in program: 22.5%
6 years in program: 36.1%
7 years in program: 45.5%
8 years in program: 50.9%
9 years in program: 54.6%
10 years in program: 56.6%

Walden's average Ph.D. program last roughly 4.5-5 years.

JC October 26, 2008 at 4:34 p.m.

Thanks Walden Alum,

But that does not really answer my question. What is the attrition rate at Walden?

I've already been told that it is "in-line with most other programs" but I can't get anyone to tell me what that figure is.

I know for example that at The university of Oklahoma the attrition rate for business PhD students has averaged 11.7% (over the last ten years) Source: Price College of Business-University of Oklahoma

What is the specific PdD candidate attrition rate at Walden? Does anyone know?

JC

Richard Riley College of Education and Leadership October 28, 2008 at 8:08 p.m.

Copy and paste this link...

impacteducation.waldenu.edu/Alumni_magazine/ImpactEducation_FallWinter_2008.pdf

JC November 3, 2008 at 3:26 p.m.

Richard Riley College of Education and Leadership October 28, 2008 at 8:08 p.m.

Copy and paste this link...

impacteducation.waldenu.edu/Alumni_magazine/ImpactEducation_FallWinter_2008.pdf

That does not help me either...Is there no concrete numbers that tell me what the attrition rate of Walden PhDs is??

Why is Walden so secretive with this information??

JC

To JC November 4, 2008 at 5:22 a.m.

I don't think that individual was trying to answer your question. I think that he/she was simply spreading good news.

Why are you so interested in Walden's attrition rate? Are you interested in attending the institution? If not, why all the trouble?

JC November 4, 2008 at 8:55 p.m.

I am interested in attending. It would meet my needs for flexability. I have contacted several other universities and they were all very forthcoming with the information I requested.

For example I contacted Texas Tech's school of business and asked for their PhD attrition rates in their school of business and they sent me a packet that showed that of all the students who started the program within the past 15 years 71.6% had fininshed the program within 7 years. While 9.8% had left the program entirely.

Does Walden not keep such numbers??

Dr. B. November 5, 2008 at 4:26 a.m.

You may have to contact the university's accountability and research center directly. The admissions people are not expected to have that kind of data. They are recruiters and support staff. The university surveys alums, faculty, and students on an annual basis. I just completed one and I assure you that this data is available. You may do even better by contacting the Laureate organization..... this is who keeps this information.

Walden's attrition is extremely high... and it's because of the liberal admissions policy. But there is a lot of support for students who seek it. Through residencies and networking, students learn that they are not alone... even at a distance. Walden does not beg anyone to stay in the program. The school provides a lot of support. It even has a family counseling center to help students and their family cope with stress. There are also thousands of dollars in scholarship dollars.

My Ph.D. is in Applied Management and Decision Sciences. You can do a lot with that. It does not lock you into business administration or the field of management, respectively. It has been well received.

Here is a link of names you should email. lastname.firstname@waldenu.edu

www.waldenu.edu/c/About/About_225.htm

Best of luck to you.

CHE November 6, 2008 at 6:18 p.m.

Walden University is pleased to announce that, beginning in December, we will offer a new bachelor’s program that gives students a unique opportunity to define their course of study as they gain exposure to a wide range of topics.

The new B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies program gives students a high degree of flexibility as they choose two areas of disciplinary focus from Walden’s undergraduate majors. A range of experiences, including a seminar, internship, study abroad, or service learning and two capstone courses, are part of the program. These are designed to prepare students to answer questions, solve problems, resolve conflicts and address topics that are too broad to be covered by a single discipline or profession in today’s complex global society.

The B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies, which is designed to help students develop the skill set employers across all sectors are seeking, is offered through Walden’s Center for Undergraduate Studies. The center also houses Walden’s general education core courses and connects undergraduate students to university services.

You can view the B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies curriculum at www.WaldenU.edu/interdisciplinary.

JC November 6, 2008 at 10:32 p.m.

Thanks Dr B.

I found out today that my employer (U.S. Military) is going to let me take a sabbatical to attend a traditional PhD program in exchange for agreeing to instuct at one of the service academies. I'll continue to draw my pay as a Major. (Can't beat that deal with a stick) So, thanks for your help but I've decided to go to a traditional program.

Regards,

JC

Dr. B. November 7, 2008 at 9:13 p.m.

That is great news JC! Good for you. So what program will you be attending? What area of discipline?

Joe November 14, 2008 at 9:57 a.m.

Good luck JC! Go teach those kids how to use a compass and read a map. They are far too reliant on GPS these days that they forget the basics.

Walden retention is unknown except for what was listed in the minorities. Since it is so high among that catagory we can assume it is even higher among whites and women. The majority of people attending Walden are in the education program who are earning graduate credits for a pay boost. For these people it is fine as they already know what they need to do in their jobs. For those who are seeking career changing degrees it is not a wise option, especially in this economy. The real problem with Walden retention is not with the students but with the faculty. For the vast majority of them are moonlighting as adjuncts with careers and families added on top of their duties to Walden. Their pay is nothing to be laughed at, actually one should pity them it is so pathetic. They are overworked and underpaid so it is no wonder they take off when they could be doing more productive things with their time. Half of those left teaching there have the same degree you will be earning at Walden, a for-profit online degree. If you just run through their faculty listings the number of Walden, Capalla, and Nova PhDs will boggle the mind. The only ones worse are UOP and Capella.

Kelly November 14, 2008 at 6:30 p.m.

My experience at Walden University has been nothing but positive from the time I first picked up the call and ask questions until present day when I have completed half of my Masters in Nursing degree. They have went above and beyond to help me in every way when it comes to answering financial aid questions, they offer awesome writing center services to help you improve on your writing abilities, and the counselors and library have been invaluable.
If your not a diciplined person, then online learning is not for you. It requires much more time than going to a traditional brick and mortar school, I have had alot of experience in both. There is nothing easy about online learning, it takes hard work, dedication, and loyalty, but again, its not for everyone.

I read some of the negative comments above and the way I can figure it, those did not seem to be very respectful or professional comments. Education is not for the weak or fainthearted. Anything worth having will be something you have to work hard for.

Walden is awesome and I would and have highly recommended it for those interested in persuing a higher education.
Sincerely,
Kelly

Kelly November 14, 2008 at 6:32 p.m.

My experience at Walden University has been nothing but positive from the time I first picked up the phone to call and ask questions until present day when I have completed half of my Masters in Nursing degree. They have went above and beyond to help me in every way when it comes to answering financial aid questions, they offer awesome writing center services to help you improve on your writing abilities, and the counselors and library have been invaluable.
If your not a diciplined person, then online learning is not for you. It requires much more time than going to a traditional brick and mortar school, I have had alot of experience in both. There is nothing easy about online learning, it takes hard work, dedication, and loyalty, but again, its not for everyone.

I read some of the negative comments above and the way I can figure it, those did not seem to be very respectful or professional comments. Education is not for the weak or fainthearted. Anything worth having will be something you have to work hard for.

Walden is awesome and I would and have highly recommended it for those interested in persuing a higher education.
Sincerely,
Kelly

Actually November 14, 2008 at 6:53 p.m.

The average salary for full time faculty at Walden is around 90K (Management) and 60$ in other disciplines. That is not bad considering you only have to travel 10 days out of the month for the face to face residencies and administrative parts. They also rent office space out of your home.

If you're speaking of adjunct pay, what adjunct do you know of that makes a lot of money at one school?

Joe is an idiot and lacks any support for his ignorant comments.

Joe is just November 15, 2008 at 4:57 p.m.

a disgruntled ex-employee or one of those people that hate online schools.

Check this out:

www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=...

Joe is Also Just November 17, 2008 at 2:04 a.m.

Another alias for our local schizo nutcase i.e. JAG. He must be off his meds for the holidays!

JC November 17, 2008 at 9:20 p.m.

Dr B.

My discipline will be Logistics or Operations Management. As far as what school I will attend, it remains to be seen. I have applied to Michigan State University, The University of Oklahoma, The University of Texas, and Texas Tech University so far. I found out that I have been accepted to OU. My undergrad is from New Mexico State University where I had a 3.89 GPA, I also hold an MBA from Kansas State University with a 4.0 GPA and I scored a 730 on the GMAT as well as 13 years of operational experience as a logistics officer. So, I think I have a legitimate shot at acceptance to all 4 schools. If accepted to all 4 I'm leaning toward Michigan State University.

As far as Walden goes, Education is what you put into it. Anyone that believes that Walden (or any other school) is substandard shouldn't attend that school. But to belittle the choices made by other adult students is nothing short of childish. I wish all who chase an advanced education of any sort nothing but the very best.

Regards

JC

Joe November 20, 2008 at 7:11 a.m.

Here is the support...

Average Full Time faculty at Walden make $55k. Women make 5k less then their male counterparts. There are only 71 FT faculty at Walden and the real kicker is the vast majority of faculty are adjuncts. They number 1,059 and are the ones you are dealing with 94% of the time if not more. 95% of the students who attend Walden are in graduate studies and they are being taught 90%+ of the time by adjuncts.

Not even UCLA is close to those percentages. For those of us who went to smaller schools like myself, 85-90% of the classes I took as a Cadet in BSEE at The Citadel were taught by tenured faculty and 95% of my MBA there was tenured as well.

The graduation rates of Walden students are very high. They pump out 6,327 a year when the student population is only 27k. Considering Walden is by far a graduate school and one of the largest producers of doctoral degrees in the country, this is a very large number.

Walden students are mainly in the education program. What is odd is that full time teachers are able to complete graduate and post graduate degrees under what it takes full time students in traditional schools who must sacrifice time from their jobs to do so. Either this or they still teach and take their degrees much slower. Since Walden does not provide a teacher preperation program all of them are certified teachers most likely employed.

The graduation rates by ethnicity are also listed below.

www.stateuniversity.com/universities/MN/...

From the statistics we can conclude: you are going to be taught 94% of the time by adjuncts, the graduation rate is far higher than advertised, full time teachers are completing graduate degrees in record time, graduate students are being taught 90% or more by adjuncts.

The end result is a watered down degree being taught by underpaid/overworked adjuncts who have little motivation to apply themselves to helping their students. The few full time faculty they have largely carry degrees from other online for-profit schools. Walden has an almost 10% pay discrimination of gender bais against women on full time faculty. Walden is far overpriced considering what can be had at in-state school rates who have far better quality.

For 'Joe is almost' we can conclude they have nothing to offer except their sales pitch to sign you up for a degree that is too overpriced for its value.

Joe is bitter and wrong November 20, 2008 at 6:13 p.m.

1. Walden's teacher prep program is www.waldenu.edu/c/Schools/Schools_12150..... Because of this, Walden is now working toward NCATE accreditation.

2. Walden has good Carnegie designation: Doctoral Research Univeristy with a professions focus.

3. Walden is regionally accredited by HLC/NCA. By downing Walden, you're also downing the entire regional accreditation standard and process. If regional accreditation was garbage, why won't UCLA and others opt out?

4. Walden's faculty are not begged or forced to work there. They come there to work with students who are self driven and actually have something to add to their class and cohort. They want to work with students who are mature and who can them for themselves. They want to work with students who are serious about learning and can actually make a difference in their professions and communities.

5. Walden's faculty, full-time and part-time, have better credentials than you.

6. Walden's doctoral students must meet face to face and are mentored by academically and professionally qualified faculty.

7. Because Walden has two commencement proceedings a year, 6000 degrees is not bad considering the university has classes beginning every month. My undergrad only has 8,000 students and graduates over 25% of them each year.. and it's a R2.

...more for idiot Joe November 20, 2008 at 6:26 p.m.

8. Not saying that this is right, women faculty has struggled to make what male faculty make for over 100 years. It is still a struggle for them because the academy has primarily been held for educated men. Why do you think they pushed for Women colleges?

9. Walden is an institution for working adults who desire to learn and earn a solid accredited degree, not book-heads who love being a slave for their advisor.

10. How do you know where the full-time faculty earn their degrees?

11. If you've never enrolled at Walden, how do you know so much? Is it possible that the poor little Citadel grad is a bitter dropout?

12. Walden provides a way for working adults to earn a respected degree. Just because they can't sit in a classroom with you and slave for a professor doesn't make them less of a person. In fact, anyone who can maintain a family and professional life, and earn a degree at the same time gets a lot of respect from me.

13. There is too large of an assumption that Walden graduates only want to work in higher education or be a professor.

14. Someone posted several Walden publications on here and I appreciate them for doing it. It really opened my eyes about Walden and its graduates. If you read the Walden publications you can see that the Walden student and graduate is a unique individual. They're not out for money or fame. They want to make a difference in society and are doing just that.

15. Despite what you or anyone else says, Walden students and graduates receive the plaudits of those who matter, their peers, family, and friends.

To Joe November 20, 2008 at 6:27 p.m.

this is what counts more than your stupid opinion alumnimag.waldenu.edu/26152_26204.htm

Joe November 21, 2008 at 4:34 a.m.

1) Teacher prep is only approved in Minnesota. That doesn't serve anyone outside the state as most of the students are.

2) The Carnagie designation means nothing. It only says Walden pumps out alot of doctoral grads.

3) I don't care about the reputation of Regional Accreditation, it means little to nothing if they accredit Capella and UoP. I have always stated professional is what matters and UCLA and others have it for ALL their programs.

4) Walden's faculty are 94% adjuncts who think they are making a worthy move to academia to find out they have been had. When they start handing out the grades the students earn, their contracts are not renewed and the adjuncts left know they have to pad grades or they won't be coming back. A large number have no other prospects to teach in academia as their online degrees won't get them a job anywhere except schools like Walden.

5) The day Walden opens an engineering program I will laugh.

6) Walden faculty quit so often the students often have to find new commity memembers.

7) That is the point... Walden graduates far too many doctoral and graduate students for an open enrollment university. The historical average for open schools is far lower. Thus correlating Walden pads grades.

8) It isn't right but the fact female FT faculty outnumber men 2:1 and they still make 10% less then they do is even more telling of the discrimination of this university in their value of the worth of women.

... November 21, 2008 at 4:34 a.m.

9)That is code for an easy degree.

10) On Walden's faculty listings.

11) My motivations are not the issue, Walden is. Your attempts to attack my character are your defence mechinism and the only credibility they detract from are yours.

12) Who calls it respected? It certainly isn't respected in acedamia. At most it is tolerated in the education and business world, in many cases it it outright rejected. The largest use of the degree is by educators looking for a pay bump that is not dependent on quality, only that they carry so many credits. If Walden wasn't so expensive I might advocate the degree for eduactors in this purpose, but the economics of it do not even justify it for that use.

13) Walden graduates with a PhD rarely find jobs worthy of the pay scale PhDs should carry. Many look to find work in academia but will find that is where their degree is discriminated the most. It is a lose-lose for most Walden PhDs. It is only those that have great credentials prior to their enrollment at Walden that are able to do anything that specifically requires a PhD.

14) The Walden spam that has been posted here is just that... SPAM. Why we should believe Laureate corporate press releases is a mystery to me. If you don't believe they are out for money you should revaluate your philosphy of a free-market economy.

15) Their peers, family, and friends are not the ones who are going to be hiring them. It might feel great to get a pat on the back but unless they are an already employed teacher getting a pay boost, the economic realities of this overpriced degree will soon become a reality. The pats on the back aren't going to pay off their student loans and neither will their sense of accomplishment. If it puts them into bankruptcy that great acheivement will turn into a curse.

Joe November 21, 2008 at 4:55 a.m.

'this is what counts more than your stupid opinion'

Posting a link to a couple grad students isn't going to impress anyone. Belittling me by calling me stupid, idiot, bitter, disgruntled, or a schtitzo nutcase certainly isn't going to convince anyone you are an objective observer.

I have respect for those in armed forces as I was an officer myself. The first name listed already had a PhD on counseling before entering Walden... your case is looking more flimsy every second. There is little evidence Walden PhDs are seriously progressing anyones career where it would be worth the financial sacrifice to do so. Considering the man is only a major he isn't going to be seeing any financial benefit from his Walden degree.

Cost over value November 21, 2008 at 7:14 a.m.

You have to evaluate the value of a Walden degree to its cost. A Bachelors and most Masters degrees will run you about 40k... a PhD in Psychology could run you well over 80k and most of the other PhDs run in the 70k+ range. Most of the people in these degrees are 40+ with not so much time until retirement. It makes little sense for a teacher with 10-20 years left of teaching to pick up one of these degrees for a 3k a year raise when they could triple that money in compounded interest over time. It makes even less sense for someone to spend near a 100k on a doctoral degree that hardly anyone respects especially in this tough economic environment.

What is the point of getting the psych degree when they are not even able to get liscenced to practice in most states? What is the point of getting the MAT for certification when they are only approved in Minnesota? What is the point of getting a PhD in education when acadamia scoffs at the degree? What is the point of getting a watered-down MBA without AACSB? What is the point of getting a DBA without AACSB? What is the point of getting a non-ABET accredited engineering MS? The only answer you can come up with is personal satisifaction because it well isn't worth the cost of these degrees that don't come with professional accreditation.

Get your facts together November 21, 2008 at 12:29 p.m.

>>A Bachelors and most Masters degrees will run you about 40k

What world do you live in? 40K? Is your data from 1952? Just a point how out of touch with reality you are.

>>What is the point of getting the psych degree when they are not even able to get liscenced to practice in most states?

again, no knowledge of this area. The students I SPEAK WITH at residencies are already licensed with the Master's degree, so the PhD just adds to the value.

>>hardly anyone respects especially in this tough economic environment

nothing but an opinion from an ex-employee or angry student

The Walden student population is 27K? I can tell you it is MUCH higher than that... MUCH.

Man, it must suck to be you, all of your information is just WRONG.

For a year you just keep bashing Walden, you really need a life. There are a few Walden student communities online, we know what is truly going on, how satisfied we are with Walden, and what is going on in the job market. You just come here to try to scare potential students and spread lies... it isn't working - get a life.

It is easy to tell you are not in academia, your research and deductions are just - nonsense!

Walden Students & Graduates November 21, 2008 at 3:28 p.m.

are a threat to Joe and his idiot drinking partners. AACSB and ABET are not necessary for indivduals who are already working in their fields.

These people need to get a grip.

Also Joe (i.e. JAG) November 22, 2008 at 11:46 p.m.

Probably wasn't accepted at Walden (or any other school for that matter) or flunked out...only people who didn't match up to what Walden has to offer continue to be bitter about their experience! It certainly doesn't compare to the THOUSANDS of success stories that truly matter versus the smatterings of complaints by disgruntled students who didn't do their homework BEFORE they enrolled! A truly educated and non-biased person knows the difference!

Also notice how he comes only HERE to complain!!! If he truly had guts to "spread his message" take it to a more public forum!! This should tell you how confident he is with his "facts"!

Joe November 23, 2008 at 3:38 a.m.

I will show you how confident I am of my facts...

"The Walden student population is 27K? I can tell you it is MUCH higher than that... MUCH."

www.alleducationdata.com/more-sid125231_...

www.shiksha.com/getListingDetail/17727/i...

... what have you provided, NOTHING. Even your handlers keeping up the wiki page say it is less. They must be having a bad year.

"Man, it must suck to be you, all of your information is just WRONG."

It is pretty good to be me... wife, two kids and I work in an industry that is growing despite recession. Plus I have a solid pension plan so I haven't lost anything.

BTW... I am right.

Joe November 23, 2008 at 4:23 a.m.

@Also Joe (i.e. JAG)...

Nice try but I have no other pseudonyms. Unlike you I post under the same name to avoid any confusion ad hoc.

"Probably wasn't accepted at Walden (or any other school for that matter) or flunked out..."

I already posted the screenshot of my Citadel alumni email account. You have proved NOTHING except that you are so insecure with yourself that you must demean others.

Keep going... you are only making a fool of yourself.

LOL November 23, 2008 at 3:58 p.m.

"Demean others" HAHAHAHA. Isn't that ironic.

Walden students in action November 23, 2008 at 4:18 p.m.

From the Walden University Alumni Association Blog

waldenalumni.typepad.com/waldenu_alumni/

Students getting jobs, becoming principals, speaking at events, authoring books, being publish in peer reviewed journals.

Walden’s students, faculty and staff are contributing to their disciplines through publications, presentations and other professional activities.

Bret Atkins, a Ph.D. in Public Health student specializing in Community Health Promotion and Education, published a book review of Biosecurity & Bioterrorism: Containing and Preventing Biological Threats in the fifth anniversary issue of the Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (2008, Vol. 5: Iss. 1, Article 41).

Dr. David Ciampi, a Ph.D. in Psychology student specializing in Clinical Psychology, was invited to be a member of the People to People Psychology Professional Delegation to the People’s Republic of China. The delegation will visit China in November 2008, and Dr. Ciampi will speak to Chinese colleagues about disaster mental health care preparedness and response capabilities in the United States. The trip is under the auspices of the People to People Ambassador Programs, which were established by President Dwight Eisenhower to foster face-to-face understanding between different nations and cultures.

Dr. William Dixon Jr., a doctor of education (Ed.D.) student in The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership specializing in Teacher Leadership, was the subject of an article in North Carolina's Roanoke Daily Herald about his appointment as principal of Weldon High School.

Volney Douglas, a Ph.D. in Applied Management and Decision Sciences student specializing in Information Systems Management, presented research he co-authored with Brian Grizzell, also a Ph.D. in Applied Management and Decision Sciences student, titled "A Phenomenological Study of Self-Identified Servant Leaders" at the Fourth Annual Business and Leadership Symposium in September at Fort Hays State University. The abstract of their research was published in the proceedings of the symposium.

Dr. Amara Ezeamama, a faculty member in the School of Health Sciences, co-published "The Synergistic Effect of Concomitant Schistosomiasis, Hookworm, and Trichuris Infections on Children's Anemia Burden" in the Public Library of Science's peer-reviewed online journal Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Robert Fong Sr., a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration student specializing in Homeland Security Policy and Coordination, published an article titled "Review of Maritime Security: An Introduction" in Vol. 5, Issue 1, of the Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Walden students in action November 23, 2008 at 4:19 p.m.

Dr. Ron Fox, a faculty member in the School of Psychology, was this summer elected a fellow of the American Psychological Association from their Division 44 based on his work with se.xual orientation issues. Division 44 also gave Dr. Fox its 2008 Distinguished Book Award for Affirmative Psychotherapy with Bise.xual Women and Bise.xual Men (Harrington Park Press, 2006), which he edited.

Dr. Joan Gipe, a faculty member in The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership, was invited to continue serving on the editorial board of the Journal of Reading Education, a juried publication of the Organization of Teacher Educators in Reading. Gipe has served on the board since 2006.

Dr. Pamela Harrison, a faculty member in The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership, published a book chapter titled "Campus Leadership in Texas: The Effective Principal" in Texas Public School Organization and Administration: 2008 (Kendall/Hunt, 2008).

Wanda Carol Lirette, an M.S. in Nonprofit Management and Leadership student, was chosen by Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal to serve as an at-large member on the Governor’s Advisory Council on Disability Affairs. Lirette is the vocational supervisor at Options for Independence and has been an advocate for people with disabilities for many years.

Paula Moore, a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration student specializing in Nonprofit Management and Leadership, accepted the position of acting chief of staff for the Division of Community and Government Affairs in New York City's Administration for Children’s Services.

Jen M. Padron, a Ph.D. in Health Services student, presented a poster titled "HIV/AIDS/STD/HCV, Coinfection and Seroprevalence in Severe Mental Illness" at the Psychosocial Rehabilitation Canada 2008 Conference, held Sept. 17–19 in Manitoba, Canada.

Linda Snyder, R.N., a student in the School of Nursing, published an article titled “CNE: Wound Basics: Types, Treatment, and Care” that was used as the basis for nursing continuing education credit in the August 2008 issue of the peer-reviewed journal RN.

Yea..Yea ... November 23, 2008 at 5:55 p.m.

Joe i.e. JAG still coming back because he has something to prove but ONLY to the people on this forum.. who by the way have his number from the last 10,000 posts he's made.... the only fool I see is YOU.

P.S. those voices must be getting stronger

Joe is passing viruses November 23, 2008 at 10:54 p.m.

Please be careful posting the links that Joe posted.... they have viruses... especially the second one. Thank God my computer caught it.

Walden Alumnai in Action November 23, 2008 at 11:05 p.m.

Dr. Frieda Cooney, who earned a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) with a specialization in Teacher Leadership, was selected by the Maryland Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance as a 2008–2009 Simon McNeely Award recipient for outstanding teaching and service in dance, health and physical education.

Dr. Pedro Nino, who earned a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) with a specialization in Teacher Leadership, was chairman of the state committee that drafted the Standards for Second Language Teacher Education Programs in North Carolina. The state also sought Nino's opinion on proposed standards for teacher leaders, and he served on the panel that drafted the Standards for Classical Language Teacher Education. He was appointed as a national program reviewer for the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

2007
Richard McElroy, who earned a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) with a specialization in Teacher Leadership, was named assistant professor of early childhood education at the University of Central Missouri.

Sallie Kaan (nee Peck), who earned an M.S. in Education with a specialization in Elementary Reading and Mathematics (Grades K–6), co-authored an article, “Elastic, Cottage Cheese, and Gasoline: Visualizing Division of Fractions,” in the November 2008 issue of Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, a journal of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Jason Heath, who earned an M.S. in Education with a specialization in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (Grades K–12), was profiled as Teacher of the Year in The Sun News newspaper in Macon, Ga., on Oct. 1, 2008.

2004
Dr. Andrea Edmundson, who earned a Ph.D. in Education with a specialization in Educational Technology, is the chief executive officer of eWorld Learning, Inc. and founder of the Global eLearning Community, a virtual professional association that links experts in online learning. Edmundson has also created a computer-based tutorial titled Andrea’s Painless Approach to Using APA Style, a CD or downloadable program she wrote to help graduate students and instructors.

Stephanie Miller, who earned an M.S. in Education with a specialization in Integrating Technology in the Classroom (Grades K–12), was hired to be assistant principal at Great Oak Middle School in Oxford, Conn.

2003
Tamara Zylla, who earned an M.S. in Education with a specialization in Elementary Reading and Literacy (PreK–6), was named one of 16 Los Angeles County Teachers of the Year for 2008–2009. Before that, she was chosen Teacher of the Year for the Bellflower Unified School District in California. Zylla has been assigned to a position as district instructional coach for English-language arts grades K–12 and is writing the district lesson plans for grade K-6.

Walden Alumni in Action November 23, 2008 at 11:09 p.m.

2006
Dr. Gregory E. Sumner, who earned a Ph.D. in Human Services with a specialization in Criminal Justice, was accepted into the Leadership Georgia class of 2009. Leadership Georgia is a leadership training program for young business and civic leaders.

Theresa A. Beeton, who earned a Ph.D. Human Services with a specialization in Clinical Social Work, was awarded the Harville Hendrix award for clinical excellence by Imago Relationships International at their 2008 conference held in Portland, Ore., in November 2008. Dr. Beeton was recognized for coordinating and designing research related to Imago Relationship Therapy. During this conference, Dr. Beeton presented the results of her most recent study concerning spatial brain changes and the use of Imago Therapy.

2008
Joseph P. Yenkosky, who earned a Ph.D. in Health Services, is working with staff from the Midwest Avian Adoption & Rescue Services and the Kerulos Center on the Parrot Directed Study Initiative, which integrates recent academic findings regarding animals, comparative intelligence and sanctuary knowledge.

2007
Dr. Donna Kazemi, who earned a Ph.D. in Public Health with a specialization in Community Health Promotion and Education, is an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte School of Nursing. Kazemi recently received a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

2003
Dr. Cheryl Crozier Garcia, who earned a Ph.D. in Applied Management and Decision Sciences, will present a paper, "Sixth Century Values for Twenty-First Century Careers: The Practice of Humility for Generation Y," at the World Universities Forum 2009, to be held Jan. 16–18 in Mumbai, India.

1998
Dr. Sam Holland, who earned a Ph.D. in Applied Management and Decision Sciences, received permanent status as a Wharton Fellow at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. His article, “Achieving Organizational Excellence Through Performance Measurement,” was published in the summer 2008 issue of The Quality Management Forum.

Dr. Chizoba Madueke, who earned a Ph.D. in Applied Management and Decision Sciences with a specialization in Leadership and Organizational Change, co-authored an article titled “Paradigms of Leadership Development: An African Perspective” that was voted the best paper during a presentation organized by the Clute Institute for Academic Research, held Sept. 29–Oct. 2, 2008, in Las Vegas, Nev. Writing for the Leadership & Organizational Management Journal, he wrote “Paradigms of Leadership: The Human Side” (March 2008) and co-authored “Organizational and Social Systems: Theoretical Perspectives” (May 2008) and “Organizational Change Models: Conceptualized Dynamics and Behavior” (September 2008). Madueke also presented a co-authored paper, “Globalization: Africa’s Role in the Early Global Trading Connectedness,” at the International Academy of African Business and Development Conference, held May 20–24, 2008.

Walden Alumni in Action November 23, 2008 at 11:09 p.m.

1994
Dr. Shamir Andrew Ally, who earned a Ph.D. in Applied Management and Decision Sciences, co-authored a paper titled “2007 Cricket World Cup Sport Tourists: The Caribbean Experience” and presented it at the European Association for Sport Management Conference on Sept. 18, 2008, in Heidelberg, Germany. Ally also co-authored a paper, “Globalization, Sport and Tourism: The Case of the 2007 Cricket World Cup in Guyana,” presented at the Romanian American University’s International Conference on Globalization and Performance in the European Tourism Industry in Bucharest, Romania, Nov. 9–10, 2007. He was a presenter on “Agriculture and Eco-Agri Tourism” at the Agro-Business Investment Opportunities in Guyana Conference held Aug. 22, 2007, in New York, N.Y.

Dr. Madeline Frank, who earned a Ph.D. in Applied Management and Decision Sciences, presented several workshops in Virginia in June 2008. One titled “10 Creative Ways to Inspire Students and Curb Teacher Burn Out!” was for educators and administrators. Another, titled “10 Secrets to Stop Students' Boredom, Inspire Them and Make Them Smarter,” was for parents of at-risk students.

Christina L. Burtis, who earned an M.S. degree in Nursing with a specialization in Education, has become a full-time nursing faculty member for the Lancaster General College of Nursing & Health Sciences in Lancaster, Pa.

James W. Beeks Sr., who earned a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration, participated in a panel discussion on “Institutional, Structural, and Cognitive Aspects of Policy Formulation and Implementation” at the 2008 Southeastern Conference for Public Administration held Sept. 24–27, 2008, in Orlando, Fla. His presentation was titled “The Yoo 2003 Torture Memorandum, Abu Ghraib, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Judicial Charismatic Leadership Model.”

Poster sessions? November 24, 2008 at 2:50 a.m.

Who cares? Everytime a diploma mill graduate gets a hangnail is an occassion for a press release.

Apparently November 24, 2008 at 3:01 a.m.

the previous poster knows absolutely nothing about academia. Presenting posters of work in progress is another form of peer review. "Poster sessions" is an idiot as well.

Why don't you show us your poster?

Joe November 24, 2008 at 5:49 a.m.

Wow... you have to dig back to 94' and this is the best Walden alums have to offer? The best education doctorates get are a few teacher of the year awards and an assistant principle position. My wife is a school principle and has nothing more than a specialist degree with three teacher of the year awards on the wall, NCATE review board, and published numerous articles in KDP... she has accomplished more than all of the Walden education alums combined with her pre-doctorate.

The Walden health PhDs are working with parrots and writing papers on hookworm. Since when was the degree about Veterinary Science? It looks like those degree holders couldn't work with humans so they had to go to other species. What is really funny is the one who drew a poster about AIDS... wow, they made a poster!!!

The only one that caught my attention was a director of children services... as it turns out the director was only in a temporary "acting" capacity and was later replaced.

My alumni association has bigger success in one tri-annual publication than in all of Walden's history.

sure November 24, 2008 at 5:07 p.m.

ignore the BOOK AUTHORS AND RESEARCHER ARTICLES. Skip over those. Such a know it all that knows nothing.

Complaining just to complain.

Ice Man November 24, 2008 at 6:58 p.m.

Dude, if you read the postings you would've noticed that he starts from 2007 and goes back to the 90's.

Facts November 24, 2008 at 7:59 p.m.

Two things caught my eye I wanted to say:

1) Regional accreditation does nothing except say you are authorized to grant degrees. This does not mean quality and the reason most won't drop out of it, is because they need it to get students financial aid.

2) All schools will have good and outcomes, regardless of the population. Schools like MIT, Harvard, etc. will have stronger names and prefer to keep them that way. What you get from them is a guarantee the faculty is highly qualified and respected. But these are tier 1 research schools, not teaching schools. Walden is considered a teaching school, not a research intensive school. So the alumni cannot be held to the same standard. You cannot look at Harvard grads either and say "they were not nominated for educator of the year award like local state colleges have faculty that are".

Understand there are different institutions in higher ed for different reasons. Walden serves its purpose of providing degrees to working adults who can better make efficient use of their time. But I highly doubt any of them went there to be put in the same caliber or research area as Harvard or Stanford.

Facts November 24, 2008 at 9:28 p.m.

Bah! I mean to say in number (2) above that all schools have good and bad outcomes. I don't have time to spell check. Sorry.

Joe November 24, 2008 at 10:46 p.m.

Book authors and research articles... baah. For this tri-annual edition of Citadel Alumni News there are 15 published homeland security/defence papers, 13 engineering articles, 12 education/counseling, and 7 business. We are just a little rinky dink military college offering up to a masters and only five of those were published by people who went on to PhDs. Defence people are making contributions to the DoD's RMA, HUMINT/SIGINT, foreign policy, and technology integration which are all vital to national security. Engineering publications cover advances in power management, battery life, renewable avionics fuel, internet security, C4ISR, and satellite comms which are helping to turn our country energy independent and increase our national security. Education articles cover everything from classroom management, counseling, to administration. Business publications address issues dealing with weathering the coming storm to in depth publications of company fiscal management solutions. The awards list is several pages long, speaking engagements are too numerous to even mention.

This is some of what goes on in 1/3rd of a year for alumni of a regular little school whose student population is smaller than Walden's graduating class. A National School's contribution list could fill up a book in the same short time span. The point is your alumni should be doing a heck of alot more than filling up one page of mediocre contributions in a year especially considering the number of graduates they are pumping out.

So silly November 25, 2008 at 2:10 a.m.

Now we are comparing schools? A school that is over 100 years old to an online university? You laugh at book authors and research articles? You have serious mental health problems.

You really need a life.

Joe November 25, 2008 at 2:49 a.m.

You are so silly... Walden has been around for almost 40 years. Alumni from a 100+ year old school are not going to be making many contributions if they graduated over 40 years ago. To compare schools is exactly the point. Walden doesn't match up. No one is being laughed at except people who think making a poster about AIDs is a contribution to mankind.

Of Course Jag i.e Joe.... November 25, 2008 at 3:41 a.m.

has a mental illness....it's all the personalities coming to the surface at once...it seems "Joe" is the main personality at the moment. Let's just continue to humor him.....this board of course is all he has in life.

Joe November 25, 2008 at 5:17 a.m.

That is the best retort your Walden PhD training can come up with? Now you are the only one being laughed at...

Walden PhD November 25, 2008 at 6:13 a.m.

Joe,

You are right. Walden alumni are not the most distinguished or flushed with awards compared to other schools. Walden is not Ivy League and never claimed to be. Neither is Walden The Citadel, it is not a military academy with a nationally ranked engineering school. I applaud you for your accomplishments in life and all your Citadel alumnists. You fought for our country and that is a great honor but that doesn't change the fact you are comparing apples to oranges.

I chose Walden for my masters and PhD in Psych and did so knowing exactly what I was getting. I know I won't be able to teach in anything more than community college. I know I will not be publishing any ground breaking works. Walden is not a research school where these contributions are common place. It is a school where mothers like me want to go back and start a career after the children are out of the house. By the time I am finished cleaning the house, taking the kids to after school activities, and cooking dinner I am worn out. I do not have time to go to a traditional school hundreds of miles away for any length of time. I do not have time to spend hours researching and writing ground breaking works. Why should I rienvent the egg when I only need to learn what others have already discovered?

I want to provide therapy for couples who can benefit from my experience as a mother and wife. Walden gives me the credentials to do so and do it with some authority. The degree is not hard but it puts doctor on my name and puts a a legal diploma on my wall. That is all I wanted and that is what it gives me. It suites my purpose and that is all I care about. If you see someone making outrageous claims that Walden will take them to the mountain top then by all means jump on them. It is not going to do that in any case. What it will do is get you over the hill, meet an education requirement, and help you do what you want to do.

Facts November 25, 2008 at 3:35 p.m.

And Joe, its defense with an "s", not a "c", we are not pulling down fences (e.g. DE-fencing the yard). That was just a bit of a joke on my part. I work in defense so I noticed the misspelling, but your other arguements were good, and I'm not a spelling bee champ myself.

Like Walden PhD said and I mentioned, people don't go to Walden to become the top researchers in their field. This doesn't mean they don't contribute to their field though. If Walden PhD does personal counceling and helps a couple stayed married, well I would say that is a contribution. But you can't say because Walden PhD does not publish new findings on mental models and nuerology its not a contribution.

HOWEVER, a PhD should be contributions in the theoretical aspect and not the applied. Walden should award a PysD, not a PhD.

Furthermore, you can't put Walden on the same level as Pheonix or Capella. These schools advertise heavily and have been under scrutiney for some time. They are not usually respected. Walden has never been in federal trouble or spent anywhere close to the advertising amount as the former mentioned two. I believe Walden's biggest issue is that people categorize them with UoP and Capella, causing problems Walden did not bring on themselves. The only problem Walden brought upon themselves is accreditation under APA, ABET, and AACSB. But if they were a non-profit, it wouldn't be an issue. People use that against them to say its a money making scheme to say your accredited and you don't want the "top accreditation". Walden never needed the top accreditiations because that is not their intent as a University! They give people who are working a practical way to earn a degree for the future, not to be the best researcher in that field.

Joe November 25, 2008 at 7:58 p.m.

@Walden PhD...

I agree with you 100%. I am not trying to belittle Walden graduates but trying to get them to realize the limitations of the degree in the corporate and academic world. For teachers who want a pay bump, more power to them as it will do it. For people like yourself who want to counsel, more power to you. I am sure you will make a great counselor. You seem very well grounded in reality. If all Walden student/grads told the truth like you I wouldn't even post here. There is a niche for Walden degrees in education and counseling but there are systemic problems with the way they go about it and provide degrees that hold no value outside these professions.

@Facts...

"And Joe, its defense with an "s", not a "c", we are not pulling down fences (e.g. DE-fencing the yard). That was just a bit of a joke on my part. I work in defense so I noticed the misspelling, but your other arguements were good, and I'm not a spelling bee champ myself."

Sorry, DEFENCE is the international English spelling of DEFENSE. I have been spending so much time working with Australian and UK MoD orders that it kind of rubs off. It is still correct to spell it that way.

You are right about the PhDs. The mother in the above posting said their PhD was not hard which is not the way it is supposed to go. Walden waters down the PhD when it should be recieving a less than designation. If they called a spade a spade then less issue could be drawn about this school. I just want people to know what to expect when buying a degree from Walden. My wife is a career educator/admin and has lots of issues with their graduates.

Fraud November 25, 2008 at 11:28 p.m.

No, you are trying to belittle Walden students and graduates. When we post what students are doing such as writing books and articles, you laugh. Your wife has issues with Walden students and you come here to post? So your wife is the source of information? So let's hear the specifics of her "issues" with the graduates. You boldly bash an entire university based on one source of information and you want to be taken seriously?

I have staff from Harvard and Yale who can barely tie their shoes, and they are older adults, so blaming the university doesn't make sense.

You have made this bashing your life's business, and you seem to bash other online colleges as well, you really have issues.

We KNOW what we want to do with our degrees; I have never met a student who was in doubt.

Go take a look at what Walden grads are doing:

alumnimag.waldenu.edu/

We are doing just fine, and we don't need your skewed advice.

Joe November 26, 2008 at 12:59 a.m.

Well Fraud... the specific issues my wife laid out had to do with competency. There are two left-over Walden grads in her school that she wanted to get rid of. One was not able to put together curriculum based lesson plans and could not get it right after several submissions. She had a course added to her duty and was too incompetent to make up her own so she went online and grabbed lesson plans from someone teaching in another state. Our state has its own curriculum standards and she could not meet them using someone elses work. One was telling students unfactual information displaying their lack of content knowledge. She failed her Praxis several times and was taken off the Highly Qualified list which costs my wife's school NCLB and Title I funding. Since they have tenure it is practically impossible to get rid of them. When I sit down to dinner I often have to hear her complain about these people so Walden incompetence effects me in this way. She is trying to draw up enough evidence to get them removed but has little luck getting support from the district as they are in critical needs areas.

Why cant we just get along November 26, 2008 at 1 a.m.

Joe, no offense but online learners aren't harming anyone. You seem to have all your credentials, degrees and experience intact which is awesome for you. If you have a problem with any of these institutions (legal one at that) than I highly doubt this is the best place to bring it up. Just my humble opinion. Peace.

Sorry November 26, 2008 at 1:04 a.m.

Sorry about the issue regarding your wife. Maybe she should bring it up to her administration or school board. If the problem is with Walden maybe she should discuss it with Walden officials directly.

AND THAT"S IT November 26, 2008 at 1:05 a.m.

IN A NUTSHELL!!! And of course an...idiot...ahem...educated person like "Joe" will have some kind of retort as if ANYONE on here needs "reality" from someone like him who is clearly lacking it!

I don't think.... November 26, 2008 at 1:11 a.m.

all of this started with a Master's degree from Walden. If there were problems before, then CLEARLY their undergrad institute is to blame for not preparing them properly in their education courses. You don't just a Master's degree from a school and then all of a sudden become an incompetent teacher...incompetency is recognized right from the beginning, especially in a classroom.

Disturbed Walden Ed.D. November 26, 2008 at 2:18 a.m.

My goodness, at first when I read Joe's comments I thought he was just a disgruntled blogger making fun of online students. The comments he has made about his wife's experience with Walden graduates can only come from someone who is either an educator or has access to someone who is. This is very disturbing as I didn't want to believe what he was saying. I will admit, Walden is an open enrollment university and people have been known to sneak through the cracks but this is just bad. Very bad indeed. I don't want people like this ruining the reputation of my school. Joe, I wish your wife luck getting these people removed. They are not the average Walden student I promise you.

Disturbed Walden Ed.D November 26, 2008 at 2:33 a.m.

Why do you keep knocking Mr. Joe? If he wants to come here and complain then let him be. Every time you respond with some personal attack on him he is just going to keep posting here. If you leave him alone he might just disappear. Just food for thought.

Walden PhD November 26, 2008 at 2:57 a.m.

I don't like where these comments are going. Joe should not be airing his wife's dirty laundry in public. Whoever asked him to do so is taking this in the wrong direction. Whoever is egging Joe on by making fun of him is not doing us any favors either. It makes us look petty and makes him look like the voice of reason when proponents of Walden need to be looking like the smart ones. Please stop as you are making us all look like a bunch of children. There are serious adults here who want to keep what respect Walden does have.

Just a Guy November 26, 2008 at 4:31 a.m.

Just so everyone knows, The original "JAG" has not posted anything on this site in over a year! (except for this)

JAG

Joe i.e JAG... November 26, 2008 at 5 a.m.

Is just a southern flunky. Everyone knows a degree from The Citadel outside of the South is worthless. If he tried to get a job in CA he would be laughed out of the interview. Walden grads are taking jobs all over California against people with local degrees and everyone knows it has the toughest job competition. Trying to compare the Citadel to Walden is a joke. Walden is far superior offering all kinds of doctorates. Walden alumni are making contributions all over the world.

alumnimag.waldenu.edu/26149.htm

What are Citadel alumni doing? Getting married, making babies or dying is all they can do.

citadelalumni.org/news/

Joe is bitter because he is being passed over by Walden engineers and business people in his job. Yes, even Walden offers a better engineering degree and business degree than the Citadel. The NTU school of engineering and the school of management offer better degrees than his crappy Citadel degrees. Walden gets you a PhD, DBA in business and an MS in engineering. The best the Citadel gets you is a crappy BS in engineering and a crappy MBA in business. He was probably commanding toilet scrubbers in the military he is so stupid.

Facts November 26, 2008 at 3:43 p.m.

Post above:

I don't think your arguements above about the "engineering programs" have any foundation what-so-ever other than what you think you see. Walden is not accredited by ABET which is the industry standard accepted. Second, they only offer "applied science" degrees which furthers this argument as nonexistent since Citadel U has ABET and both types of degrees, not to mention they are not just in "engineering technology". I can guarantee you nobody in engineering would accept Walden's systems or software degrees since they are not ABET compared to Citadel U. If you read Lockheed's website (major contractor), they will not pay for tuition unless it is ABET. The funny thing is that Walden says that Lockheed is a partner, which is not true what-so-ever.

As for business, I don't hire business people, but Citadel is AACSB, which is the golden standard for accreditation in business, and Walden is not, which mutes your point again.

Joe November 26, 2008 at 5:10 p.m.

You must be joking. The Citadel is the 2nd best masters program in the South, the 5th best overall up to a masters, and has the 34th best engineering undergrad in the nation.

www.externalaffairs.citadel.edu/USNews09...

For its size, it is among the best in the nation. Considering you don't get taught by a bunch of GAs but by the actual faculty, it is better than many of the big National Schools in what it does. If you think getting a doctorate or MS from Walden is going to bring you more prestige than an MBA or BSEE from the Citadel, you must be dreaming. As already mentioned, AACSB and ABET.

If you think me having gone to school in the South is a bad thing you must have some kind of social complex where you think Californians are better than everyone else. I worked in CA for over 5 years, I wasn't competing against any Walden grads, that I knew of, and my Citadel credentials didn't give me any problems keeping a job.

I will tell you why you don't see any contributions from Citadel alumni in your link...

www.citadelalumni.org/news/

"The Spring 2009 Issue of Alumni News which will only be mailed to MEMBERS of The Citadel Alumni Association."

Since you are not Citadel Alumni you will never get to see it. We don't plaster our alumni newsletter all over the internet.

I will take my 'crappy' BSEE and my 'crappy' MBA over your school anyday. Saying I commanded 'toilet scrubbers' is a new low even for you. How sad...

Citadel engineering... LOL November 26, 2008 at 5:20 p.m.

Citadel Engineering Rankings:

2004: #27
2006: #32
2008: #38

Shouldn't they be going the other way? LOL.

Joe November 26, 2008 at 6:29 p.m.

I guess it is...

2009: #34

externalaffairs.citadel.edu/USNews09

It has always hovered around #30.

What an idiot November 26, 2008 at 7:03 p.m.

What kind of idiot laughs at a tier 1 engineering school that graduates the people who keep our military running?

What an idiot November 26, 2008 at 7:15 p.m.

What kind of idiot laughs at Walden that offers top engineering and business degrees to the people who keep our world running?

Fool November 26, 2008 at 10:06 p.m.

What kind of idiot goes to his neighbors house and complains about the color of the wall paper. No one cares what you think Mr. Citadel.

I care... November 27, 2008 at 6:21 a.m.

I was thinking about the MS in Sys Eng before I read through all this crap. I thought Walden had a good reputation but the graduates here act like a bunch of babies. I can't imagine anyone from Grantham behaving like such juvenilles. This dude Joe might not like online but he has the same degree my boss does. I know of a few Citadel people and they are all pretty high up. If he has anything to say from the employer end I want to hear it.

Just a Fraud November 27, 2008 at 1:39 p.m.

Please stop becoming new characters, you are embarrassing yourself.

Joe November 27, 2008 at 7:10 p.m.

You think everyone that has something unpositive to say is me. I am not the only critic of your school mate. You still think I am JAG. lol

same writing pattern November 28, 2008 at 6:26 a.m.

over and over. same message on other blogs on the same dates.

get a life.

Ex-Faculty November 29, 2008 at 6:03 p.m.

Whoever posted that Walden engineering degrees and business degrees are better than a tier one traditional school need a wake-up call. The academics are the same but the grading is too lax to compare. The average A/B+ student at Walden is a B/C+ student in most traditional schools. We are allowed a little leeway in grading but the general guideline is to curve up 10 points. If you have too many failing students, you won't be invited back.

Current Walden SOM Faculty November 30, 2008 at 12:49 a.m.

That is not true. Governance and accountability are extremely important at Walden U. If a student is not meeting the expectation, they earn a failing grade. I have been teaching for Walden for over 16 years. I have had a large number of students to pass my courses and I have had a large number of students to fail my courses.

With as much support as we have for students, no one should fail. The fact of the matter is that there is an overwhelming "idea" that Walden is easy and that is not true. Many students are easily admitted but find out quickly that they are not Ph.D. or graduate student material. Only those who are fit to survive will do so.

I invite all of you to visit ProQuest and read the research that is being produced by Walden Ph.D. graduates. Dissertations are guided by highly qualified faculty.

Ex-Faculty November 30, 2008 at 2:43 a.m.

Expectation is the key word. Walden expects 10 points less. I have had students file petitions for grade review when I gave them a C, the associate dean sends me an email saying the registrar has changed their grade to Bs and it wasn't up for discussion. This happened numerous times and I was not given contract renewal. I know there is nothing wrong with my grading as I am an adjunct for a big state school and I didn't grade these graduate students any harder. All Walden cares about is passing the students so they can take more of their money.

Please read some of their Ph.D. dissertations. You will find their methodology, literature review, biblio, and particularly outcomes insufficient compared to average Ph.D. work. It is acceptable on an MA level, but not a Ph.D.

Faculty Chair November 30, 2008 at 3:52 a.m.

I think the reason you were dismissed from Walden was most likely for other reasons, not faculty surveys or grading. You're evaluated on how you facilitate the learning process and what you do to assist the student. That does not include curving. If anything your performance as an adjunct was probably sub-par and is probably fine at your "big state school." I have overseen faculty at Walden and traditional institutions and I think you're leaving a lot out of your story.

We all know that traditional universities are not necessarily the gold standard of higher education. Reading The Chronicle will tell you that. Check the accrediting bodies who have placed traditional institutions on probation or snatched their accreditation. Walden has never been threatened with either.

The Walden dissertation is a quality dissertation. Anyone who is familiar with quality research can read that and see it for them self.

Read The Chronicle November 30, 2008 at 1:03 p.m.

I have been lurking on this board for quite some time and feel it is time for me to interject a bit.

I am not a Walden graduate, faculty member, paid spokesperson, support staff, or student. I have no interest or bias and think it is necessary to look at the truth.

With all of the budget cuts, Mr. Ex-Faculty's braggadocious attitude about working for a big state school could come to an end. Private and State schools are financially struggling. They are cutting programs and are refusing faculty salary increases. This is even in light of them cutting academic programs to help fund athletics. Even Brown University is on a hiring freeze for 1 year and are cutting programs and faculty jobs. Endowments are down. No one is giving money anymore. In fact, some of the universities are getting together to do a mass lawsuit against one of the fund managers of their endowment program.

If Mr. Ex-Faculty is not tenured, he may soon be finished working at his "big state school." While I wish him the best, this is no time to brag. He has already found himself not being invited back by Walden and may find himself not being invited back by his "big state school."

I have a Ph.D. (from an R1) and am a higher education consultant. This is my area of research and practice. I see no fault in Walden.

I know for a fact that many institutions are non-profit but operate under a for-profit model. They MUST do this in order to stay afloat. As a consultant I have helped them to change to such an agenda AT THEIR REQUEST. I can attest that being for-profit does not risk quality.

Even though Walden has the for-profit stigma over its head, it will be one institution that will continue to grow (because when the economy is bad, people return to school), and because it is financially solid. And unlike most for-profit schools, it has managed to maintain its financial stability without having to "go public" again to raise funds. Walden is the online flagship of an international network of 25 universities and is the only "online" institution. Its finances and academics are solid.

So all of you who are here just to take jabs at the institution, Walden has been around for 40 years and is not going anywhere. The academic world is struggling, especially those who heavily rely on grants and state funding.

Lets be open to the possibilities that Walden has.

Ex-Faculty November 30, 2008 at 5:23 p.m.

Blame it on me and the big state school. I must be such a terrible teacher. I teach at 3 other online schools and they don't have any problems. As I am constantly online, I make myself available most of the day. I am constantly checking my faculty portals and mail. Unless the student is a night-owl, I respond same day, often under 20 minutes. I have never seen so many students complain about their grades as they do at Walden. It isn't like the faculty chair didn't send me a memo saying to take it down a notch as I was getting too many grade reviews. When you have the assoc. dean changing your grades without discussion, and your students complaining that they should be getting better grades for mediocre work, it is the fault of the institution. Walden will never come out and admit this as policy, but it is the ingrained culture of the school. I was not about to sacrifice my integrity as an educator to lower my standards for Walden, especially on the pittance they paid.

Are you objective enough to take off your Walden hat and tell these people the shortcomings of this school, or are you going to remain the partisan mouthpiece of Walden?

Read The Chronicle December 1, 2008 at 12:26 a.m.

Sure. I will be able to admit any institution's shortcomings as long as you're able to do the same. This includes the other three "online" schools you work for and the "big state school". None of them are perfect.

I just want everyone to be open here.

With all of those teaching "gigs" I find it hard to believe that you could dedicate that much time to any student. Teaching traditionally is hard enough and teaching online is much harder.

This just all goes back to what Faculty Chair stated; no wonder you were dismissed from Walden.

Ex-Faculty December 1, 2008 at 1:25 a.m.

No wonder I was dismissed? I only teach 5 classes among 4 schools. The rest of my money comes from military pension. My kids are out of the house. I am the most available and engaged adjunct any online student can hope for. The ones with the full-time jobs and kids to raise are the ones who shouldn't be doing it.

Sorry, try again.

And still December 1, 2008 at 5:07 p.m.

And still all of those teaching "gigs" and no one will bring you on full time? Come on soldier! How can you be a "good" educator working for so many schools? that is a lot of students. Walden probably found out about your other obligations and realized that you were only in it for the money. That's why you got the ax.

Ellen December 1, 2008 at 6:13 p.m.

Please make the correction that Walden is the online flagship of the Laureate Education network that operates 42 institutions of higher learning in 20 countries and has over a half million students. This includes a medical school in Madrid.

Too Much December 1, 2008 at 8:25 p.m.

Why do you think Walden doesn't have a medical school in the US? Probably because its way too hard to get accredited. I would never let an MD from Madrid operate on me. Walmart has over tons of stores throughout the world too, but you don't see people arguing they are high quality, just convenient. Walden compared to other schools is a joke. Face it, they are lower than tier 4 schools with nothing added to society!

Ex-Faculty December 2, 2008 at 9:42 a.m.

Walden knew about my other 'gigs' before I signed the contract. They even said my input with the experience would be welcomed. My obligations in no way hindered the job. One of the pluses of teaching online is you can do your work anywhere. The problem with Walden students is they don't want to read your assignments. When I would scroll through the weekly discussions I could tell many of the students had not read the material. They would post garbage and I am supposed to give them credit for responding with crap. I get this at other online schools but I am able to deal with it by failing those students. At Walden, they just complain until they get their grade changed by the assoc. dean. Don't get me started with the whining from study teams.

If you really want to see how unprepared Walden doctoral students are, read their KAMs. It is amazing what crap they will approve in the LAs. The topics are so broad they can't hope to adequately address the issue with any finality. My biggest critique of Walden PhDs is that they never really come to any conclusions in their work. It is all open-ended crap. It is partly their fault but mostly the fault of the assesors for letting them getting away with it.

You just don't get it December 2, 2008 at 2:50 p.m.

And your post makes it clear. Finality? The focus is not to save the world's problems, it is to write a KAM to help the student get more engaged and comfortable with their subject area, improve research skills, encourage some level of social change in that students area, and connect theory, research, and practice. These students are doing independent research through their entire academic career. No faculty hand holding, and the research is theirs, they are not doing research for someone else.

And of course the subjects are broad, that is what research is about!

Ex-Faculty December 2, 2008 at 3:20 p.m.

You just don't get it. The KAM is supposed to provide solutions, i.e. finality to a question. It says so in the statement of what a KAM is. Any college graduate knows that a paper is supposed to answer a question. Walden students don't get around to it because they are caught up wasting their time on open-ended KAM papers that many just regurgitate in their dissertation. Their dissertation ends up being a load of crap just like their KAMs because that is what they base it on. They shouldn't need to learn how to write and research on a PhD level and then do a number of KAMs that teach them the WRONG way to go about it. They need to find solutions like the statement says. Very often times, they don't. My hats off to those that write a quality dissertation because the KAMs are an unguided waste of time teaching them a very bad habit.

Walden December 2, 2008 at 8:12 p.m.

does not have a medical school anywhere you idiot. It belongs to Laureate. And if you just so happened to be in Madrid and became ill, I bet you wouldn't care what school they were from as long as you were cured would you?

KAM Man December 2, 2008 at 8:27 p.m.

I really appreciate the KAM process. They are an individual journey that can lead you through the literature for your dissertation. My first KAM was 133 pages and it was turned into a published article. In fact, each of my KAMs were vamped into published articles in well respected journals.

KAMs do not answer a question; there are no research questions in KAMs. In fact, there is not stated question at all. Instead, each KAM is derived of 3 courses of study. One deals with breadth, another depth, and the final is application. You closely examine theory, move into more practical theory and practice no older than 5 years old, and then you show your competency through an applied process/project that is based off the first two components. Open ended is fine because it leaves grounds for more discovery. The KAM is not a dissertation. It is a series of three critical essays and an annotated bibliography. The KAM is a guided process that is overseen by each doctoral student's mentor.

It sounds like the "booted" Ex Faculty person just couldn't get with the KAM program. It sounds as if he is extremely bitter from being fired, which is totally understandable. But it makes no sense to come on here and try to put Walden on blast for their fault at being a sorry teacher/mentor. In fact, I don't think Ex Faculty was a teacher/mentor in the doctoral program at all because he would know exactly what the KAM is and how it works.

Furthermore December 2, 2008 at 8:33 p.m.

It is extremely difficult to mentor 13 or so Ph.D. students and teach at 4 other schools. No wonder Ex Faculty got fired. His name should be Bitter Faculty.

Ex Faculty keeps coming on here trying to vent... but is only being vindictive.

Too Much December 2, 2008 at 8:57 p.m.

Walden is part of Laureate so I put them in the same category. And if I was in Madrid, I would rather take my chances fighting off a sickness rather than have a Waldenite try to cure me. S/he would only speed up the process of death probably. Face it, Walden is not respected and is a waste of money. Show me a Walden grad working at an ABET or AACSB accredited program.

Look at December 2, 2008 at 9:15 p.m.

Sacred Heart University

Too Much December 2, 2008 at 9:58 p.m.

Huh, there is something I didn't expect to see. Maresco from there has a Phd from Walden. He is a clincial professor, whatever that means, and doesn't have an all impressive background I would have expected to get in and offset Walden. Look at has proved me wrong, but I would still never hire a Walden grad myself.

@Too much December 2, 2008 at 10:15 p.m.

"but I would still never hire a Walden grad myself."

Of course not, regardless of the truth, your are biased. Not scholarly or academic. All of your posts are unsupported opinions.

Too Much December 2, 2008 at 11:26 p.m.

I doubt that I'm not scholarly or academic. It probably wouldn't surprise you that most schools will not hire an online for-profit graduate. I won't hire them simply because I don't think the graduate did enough work to determine where to go to school. If they did, Walden wouldn't be a choice since there are cheaper alternatives with reputations that are not questionable (e.g. Penn State). Also, I don't support the idea of doctoral degree being obtainable by anyone. I think its a sacrifice that cannot be truely done by someone who works full time, unless the full time is research, or the degree is taken part time from a tradional university. But to have open enrollment is a joke. Hence, the online-for-profit status is a good filter that takes little time to review.

Look at December 3, 2008 at 3:01 a.m.

Penn State @ Hazleton

Wow December 3, 2008 at 3:14 a.m.

people used to say that about two year degrees. Imagine, anyone can get a college degree nowadays.

Maresco credentials December 3, 2008 at 2:04 p.m.

You people are full of it. Maresco didn't get a non-tenured track Clinical position because of Walden. He got it because of "Professionally Qualifying Experience (8 years at senior executive level)"

www.shu.lu/pages/2_04_marketing&spor...

Walden PhDs are worthless in academia.

PSU December 3, 2008 at 4:34 p.m.

Penn State branch campus does not offer Engineering or MBA programs. Therefore, it is not ABET accredited. It is surprising a faculty member at PSU would have went to Walden. She taught there for a number of years prior to going to Walden, but I know PSU is a snobbish tier 1 research school in general, so why she would go there is beyond me.

Regardless December 3, 2008 at 5:53 p.m.

It is her decision and you people are trying to find every excuse possible to discredit these Walden Ph.D. graduates.

As for Moresco he had an opportunity to work tenure-track with the same university but decided against it. "In 1999, he was given the opportunity to accept a position as an Assistant Professor at Sacred Heart University. In 2000, he decided not to seek a tenure track position an instead accepted an administrative position while retaining his faculty rank as an Assistant Professor of Marketing in the Management Department. In July of 2004 he resigned his administrative position as Director of Academic Quality for the College of Business and accepted a position as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Management Department of the college of Business." It was his decision and regardless of what you people say, it has been shown and PROVEN that Walden graduates are working at ranked institutions.

Get a life!

Furthermore December 3, 2008 at 5:56 p.m.

If the Walden Ph.D. was worthless, why would Moresco or Robinson be able to secure their rank? A doctorate is necessary to be ranked anything above a lecturer or instructor. Coupled with their Walden Ph.D., they are published and have presented in scholarly and professional arenas.

The Walden Ph.D. holds much value.

Look at December 3, 2008 at 6:49 p.m.

Jackson State University in the College of Education

A point to be made December 3, 2008 at 7 p.m.

JSU's education programs are all NCATE accredited but Walden's isn't "yet" as it is put on their site. I guess there is still something to be said about the value of the Walden doctorate.

Steve December 3, 2008 at 8:51 p.m.

I think it is commendable for Dr. Wilson to gain tenure at JSU. She is a Walden graduate and her CV looks extensive.

Nope December 3, 2008 at 9:01 p.m.

Get a life. If Walden graduates so many good people in a doctoral program, why are there so few being seen? Face it, a Walden Phd is not respectable. Why do I feel this way? I'm a Phd from a traditional university and I had to give up 6 years of my life for it. This BS where you can apply and get in with open enrollment and work full time is not right. A Phd is something you have to work hard for and concentrate on that field of study. You exhaust all the literature and contribute to the field. You cannot do this working full time. I am all for a professional doctorate, but not a Phd, and there is a huge difference. I don't like how people see a Walden Phd and myself on the same level. It is never true and never will be. Walden isn't even a tier 3 school. They don't contribute to the field and make more money the more people they graduate. The stories told by ex-faculty explain it all. A student working towards a Phd is something that should be hard to obtain, not just by giving money to be accepted. What a joke. Walden doesn't even require a background in research. All these people who think a Walden or any other FOR-PROFIT school's degree is worth something are part of your own little world. Nobody else in academics or industry respects it, so why should you?

WTF December 3, 2008 at 9:53 p.m.

Sacred Heart in Luxembourg
Penn State @ Hazelton
Jackson State University

Luxembourg is a sub-campus in Europe
Hazelton is a little rinky dink 4 year only campus
Jackson State is a dump 4 tier university

The Walden Ph.D is no road to success in academia.

Walden Football December 3, 2008 at 10:53 p.m.

Sure they have it. Check out Walden online Fantasy Football. They are playing away at University of Phoenix in their stadium. rofl!

Nope December 4, 2008 at 4:26 p.m.

And blah blah points out the quality output of Walden. Can't even defend the degree. That is sad by the way, when you have to "defend your degree" because people don't take it seriously. If you went to Ohio State, or Penn State, nobody questions your degree at any level, but if you go to Walden, be prepared for a bombardment of questions since nobody beleives in the school. That is, of course, if you can even get an interview in the first place.

keep dreaming December 4, 2008 at 9:16 p.m.

People? LOL, one lonely closed mined fool, all alone. No one cares what you say. No one is listening. You will find Walden graduates being leaders in their field, teaching courses at universities, and conducting scholarly research.

It doesn't matter what you say, you are small minded.

wow December 5, 2008 at 1:18 a.m.

>>No football team = Walden Sucks!!

How American of you.

Nope December 5, 2008 at 1:17 p.m.

Yeah, your right, Wladen does lead and teach etc etc, but they populate other For-Profit schools since those are the only ones that will really hire a Walden grad. WOW, moving on up in the world teaching at Phoenix! They should be proud and the shareholders should buy them some dinner sometime!

Don't Think December 5, 2008 at 3:43 p.m.

I don't think Walden is a for-profit anymore. I believe that the parent company is non-profit. Doesn't this make them nonprofit now?

Almost right.... December 5, 2008 at 5:49 p.m.

Walden is owned by Laureate Education, which is privately owned. The Laureate is no longer publically traded. The corporation is financially solid.

Walden is still structurally a for-profit university but like many universities operates like a non-profit university. This is where the available funding comes into play. There are plenty of grants, scholarship, fellowship, and research dollars available for both faculty and students. Universities that operate under a "real" for-profit venture never does this.

Franklin University, for instance, is structurally a non-profit university but operates as a for-profit. It does grant much funding to faculty and students. In poor economic times such as this, it is suggested that traditional educational institutions make such a switch. www.franklin.edu/en_us/www.franklin.edu/...

Nope December 5, 2008 at 5:58 p.m.

Put it this way, would you attend Drexel online? Just because Drexel is a nonprofit respected school doesn't mean Drexel online is the same. DO is a for-profit and laughed at in the real world, just like Walden.

In The Chronicle December 5, 2008 at 5:59 p.m.

On Dec. 3, Walden University announced it will provide 100 full scholarships to highly deserving teachers to help them earn their master’s degree in education. Those selected will be known as Riley Scholars, in honor of Richard W. Riley, the former U.S. Secretary of Education during the Clinton Administration, and a champion for making higher education accessible for those in need. The announcement of the commitment by Walden University was made at the Clinton Global Initiative Asia meeting in Hong Kong as part of a global commitment by Laureate International Universities.

“These scholarships are named in honor of Richard W. Riley for his global contributions to the field of education and to Laureate,” said Douglas L. Becker, chief executive officer of Laureate Education. “Our global network of universities will grant more than 1,000 scholarships to teachers around the world because we know that teachers have a tremendous impact on the lives of students and families and the positive development of society. Providing highly deserving teachers with advanced education empowers them to effect positive change and to make their communities stronger. I am incredibly proud that Walden University is participating in this major commitment to education through their participation in the Riley Scholars program.”

The selection criteria and application process will be announced in early 2009. An expert panel selected by Walden leadership will determine the criteria for awarding the 100 Riley scholarships.

Richard W. Riley served as United States Secretary of Education from 1993 to 2001. He previously served two terms as governor of the state of South Carolina. Recently, Riley was named one of the 20th century’s “Ten Best Cabinet Members” by Time magazine. During his tenure as Secretary of Education, Riley spearheaded initiatives to improve academic standards and expand college grants and loans programs. In 2008, Walden University, a member of the Laureate International Universities network, named its College of Education for Riley. The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership at Walden University is one of the largest and most prominent teacher education institutions in the United States.

In The Chronicle..cont. December 5, 2008 at 5:59 p.m.

“I am pleased and honored to be a part of such a significant effort to recognize and support teachers throughout the world,” said Secretary Riley. “I am very proud of the work being done by Walden University and by Laureate to strengthen society through education.”

“The new Riley Scholars initiative is a wonderful way for Walden to create opportunity for teachers around the world, honor our good friend and colleague, Secretary Riley, and develop a new partnership—as part of the Laureate International Universities network—with the Clinton Global Initiative," said Jonathan Kaplan, president of Walden University.

Clinton Global Initiative
Established in 2005 as a project of the nonpartisan William J. Clinton Foundation, the Clinton Global Initiative convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Since 2005, Clinton Global Initiative members have made nearly 1,200 commitments valued at $46 billion. Already these commitments have impacted more than 200 million lives in 150 countries, and commitments made at the 2008 annual meeting are expected to impact almost 160 million.

Laureate International Universities
Laureate International Universities is a global network of 42 accredited campus-based and online universities offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs to nearly 500,000 students around the world. Laureate International Universities students are part of an academic community that spans 20 countries and more than 100 campuses throughout North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Laureate International Universities offer more than 130 career-focused, undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degree programs in fields including engineering, education, business, medicine, law, architecture, health sciences, hospitality, culinary arts and information technology. For more information, visit www.laureate-inc.com.

Nope is and Idiot December 5, 2008 at 6:02 p.m.

The same faculty who teaches for Drexel also teaches for Drexel Online. Does this mean the curricula is watered down? Of course not.

Check your facts.

Donna Brazile to Speak at Walden Residency December 5, 2008 at 6:15 p.m.

Hear Political Strategist Donna Brazile at Dallas Residencies

Explore “Perspectives on the World” from Voting Rights Institute Chair Donna Brazile on Jan. 22, and meet face-to-face with faculty and peers on Jan. 11–24.

Donna Brazile
Walden University students can participate in academic sessions, access faculty and staff members, gain peer support, and hear political icon Donna Brazile speak at the plenary session on Jan. 22, 2009, in Dallas, Texas. It’s all part of the Academic Residencies’ Winter Session and university commencement at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel.

Influential Political Strategist
Brazile, a renowned political commentator and dynamic speaker, uses her diverse experience to address the current state of affairs—from public policy to the recent presidential election. One of the most admired and well-known political strategists today, this author and voting rights leader has worked on every presidential campaign since 1976. She made history in 2000 for her work as Al Gore’s campaign manager and was the first African American to hold such a position in national politics.

Brazile serves as chair of the Democratic National Committee’s Voting Rights Institute (VRI). She is a nationally syndicated columnist, a weekly political contributor for CNN, a political consultant for ABC News and This Week with George Stephanopoulos, and a regular contributor to NPR’s Political Corner. In addition, Brazile writes a column for Roll Call newspaper and Ms. Magazine and serves as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University.

Her numerous awards and honors include Washingtonian magazine’s 100 Most Powerful Women in Washington, D.C., Essence magazine’s 50 Most Powerful Women in America, and Ebony’s 150 most influential African Americans in the country.

Counting the minutes December 5, 2008 at 6:34 p.m.

until someone comes on here and try to negate all of this positive information about Walden.

Minutes counted December 5, 2008 at 6:45 p.m.

Posting articles from the Chronicle about something Walden wrote is not enough to prove they have high quality. Walmart donates millions of dollars a year to charity, does that mean they are high quality and a good store?

Bingo December 5, 2008 at 6:48 p.m.

Just as I thought.

Hiring Process December 5, 2008 at 7:02 p.m.

To hire a new faculty member, this is the process:

1) Take all online, for profit, and foreign schools and put them in a seperate folder.

2) Any non Phds, put in the same folder.

3) Review based on research experience, advisor, and school.

4) Bring in for interviews.

5) Hire.

In essense, Walden doesn't make it past number 1!

Same Ole Assumption December 5, 2008 at 7:45 p.m.

You all keep assuming that all a Walden graduate wants to do is work in higher education. The same assumption doesn't stand for someone who attends a traditional program. I have met plenty of Ph.D.'s who attended traditional programs who go into non-profit, international, or federal service. That is their first and only goal. They have no desire to teach in higher education because of the bureaucratic BS and low salaries. In fact you have plenty of K-12 teachers with masters and doctorates making more than college professors in most states. Academe is not what you all are trying to make it out to be.

Lets make this clear... not everyone who earns a Ph.D. wants to teach and perform research in academia.

Nope December 5, 2008 at 8:42 p.m.

Yeah, your right, mostly because Walden Phds can't get into higher ed unless it some other for-profit, so they run to industry since industry understands that person has been ripped off, so knows how to make money from the mistake of going to Walden!

Donna Brazile December 5, 2008 at 10:51 p.m.

Donna is the best you can get to speak at your commencement. hahaha

Walden names a scholarship after a Sec. of Education and you think that makes it a good school? The marketing ploy is so obvious and you dopes can't even see it.

Who said Walden doesn't operate like a for-profit? They are blind. Tell me what Walden's endowment is? hahaha

The complainer December 6, 2008 at 3:51 a.m.

really needs to stop being a LaMarca

www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=...

WTF December 6, 2008 at 6:23 a.m.

Know Walden alums are making up new terms for the dictionary. hahaha

... December 7, 2008 at 5 a.m.

Must post positive lies or people will find out the truth.

post
post
post

Must post lies before they find out...

post
post
post

FYI December 8, 2008 at 3:53 p.m.

Walden has grads working at MIT, Harvard, and Stanford, so I don't know why everyone doesn't accept us for who we are. This proves Walden is equivalent to the ivy's.

FYI December 8, 2008 at 6:07 p.m.

See the links below!

www.hmi.hms.harvard.edu/about_us/who_we_...

www.stanford.edu/group/sipp/alumnischool...

Nope December 8, 2008 at 6:59 p.m.

Yes, a Harvard guy who was already an MD and a link that shows nothing about teaching there. Good job moron.

Missing the Point December 8, 2008 at 11:19 p.m.

You keep assuming that a Walden graduate only wants to teach. You're missing the point that Walden is still represented at Harvard.

Walden Represented Nothing December 9, 2008 at 6:36 a.m.

The Harvard lecturer is an MD who lectures on surgery. His time at Walden has nothing to do with Harvard. He hasn't even finished the Walden PhD. The Stanford link is for a three week summer program that accepts candidates until it fills up. If it doesn't fill up, they will take anyone with or without a degree. They even take undergraduate students so the program can't be too serious for a Psych seminar. If you look at the international list of schools they accepted you will even find some third world diploma mills on it.

M-Cuts December 9, 2008 at 4 p.m.

I must say, Walden isn't a bad school. Out of all the for-profits, they are one that is run the most like a traditional college. But traditional colleges are all really run for profit. Most of the comparisons I see are Harvard or some other tier 1 college against Walden. That's insane. Nobody is going to Walden to teach at Harvard. Understand if you compare Walden to community colleges or tier 3 colleges, you will find more similiarities than differences. The only real difference I've found in teaching at for-profit and non-profit is that SOME (I've never taught at Walden but want to) for-profits do push you to "hand hold" students to pass classes so they can keep enrollment up. Also, for-profits have bad recruiting practices in general. But just because non-profits have admissions standards doesn't mean they don't take everyone. They take mostly anyone and force them to take extra classes.

While I do disagree with open enrollment at a MS and Phd level, the for-profits have to make money. It doens't change the quality of the program after the first few classes (I admit if someone in my class did not deserve to be in a MS or Phd program, I would get annoyed with them until they dropped out).

But you can't compare Harvard (98% denial rate) with other schools because its not right. And Missing the Point is right. Lots of people from my Phd are in research or in corporations leading. Most people I know that went to Walden teach in high schools and got a nice raise from it, so bash all you want, it helped them and it wasn't Harvard.

Ex-Faculty December 10, 2008 at 5:57 a.m.

Walden run like a traditional school LOL! I don't think so. For-profit, open enrollment, grade inflation, adjunct heavy, and useless KAMs does not simulate a traditional model. Like you say, they have to make money so quality is thrown out the window. Since they don't have an endowment or public finances to rely upon for funding they are subject to all the same misgivings for-profits have. The fact they went private is even worse for the company as they are doing it to avoid public trading transparency and disclosure laws. This opens up a whole new avenue for corruption as the private company is held in the hand of only a few share holders.

Actually December 10, 2008 at 11:53 a.m.

M-Cut makes a good and accurate point. Walden is operated like a traditional institution and going private was a strong move for the institution. Transparency and faculty governance has never been an issue, but I guess as a fired adjunct you probably didn't get a change to participate in any of the faculty meetings...etc.

Endowments and public finances are not everything. In fact in The Chronicle this week, it was written that for-profit institutions actually save the tax payer money. States don't have to appropriate millions of tax dollars to them. And in light of the economic downtown, the for-profits are able to offer self developed grants and loans to their students that oftentimes have less interest bearment that the federal loans. Also in The Chronicle this morning is a discussion on for-profit institutions, how financial stable they are, and how they are out-performing traditional institution and are able to reinvest back into their institutions. Just for the purpose of rendering an example.....While Harvard reported an $8 billion dollar loss in its endowment, it has also frozen all hiring, cutting some programs, and trimming scholarship funds. This is hitting traditional higher education extremely hard right now.

Walden is still growing, reinvesting, offering more and more scholarships, offering more and more research dollars to faculty and students, and continues to hold its academic activities; the social change conference and research symposium.

Slug Nutz December 10, 2008 at 1:27 p.m.

Walden Has No Frats, No basketball, No Football, No Dorms (No Campus), No (real) Professors It in no way even resembles a traditional university.

For anyone to come on here and claim that Walden can even hold a candle to a two year community college is ludicrous. Walden will never be as good as the traditional colleges in this country. Period. Walden sucks!!

Go Gators, Beat OU

Mature Man December 10, 2008 at 3:35 p.m.

It sounds like someone needs to grow up.

M-Cuts December 10, 2008 at 6:08 p.m.

Walden's move to be private can be seen negatively or positively. I would say from the past there, the school will likely declare itself non-profit sooner than later. It is one of the few for-profits that truely captures the academic culture and was not influenced heavily share holders. If it was, it would not have the full time faculty ratio it has and the quality in the faculty.

Walden does have a campus and real professors. Just because it doesn't have a football doesn't mean its bad. Have you ever watched a Harvard football game? DOes that mean Harvard is like Walden too because it isn't known for football?

Ex-Faculty December 10, 2008 at 9:58 p.m.

What possible positive conclusion can you draw from Laureate going private? They are no longer accountable for transparency to the FTC or the stock exchange. They are expanding to offer degrees in third world countries. They have more campuses in Central and South American jungles than any Corp on earth. Never mind that most of the people are illiterate, Walden's parent Corp can now get away with offering degrees to anyone. Is Laureate's expansion into the third world a postitive?

How much in scholarships does Walden actually offer? The only real scholarship program they have is the Riley Scholar and they are only giving 100 of those away. Laureate International is giving 900 scholarships away to other countries in the third world which does nothing for AMERICANS. All the rest of the scholarships are either paid for by someone else or are only given to a few people. For 500,000 Laureate students across the world this is nothing and really nothing for Walden. State schools give more in athletic scholarships than Walden gives across the board.

How many of those little research fellowships does Walden actually pay out? I'll tell you, one per. Since they have three they aren't paying out more than $30k. That is a joke. Traditional universities are going through the millions.

This is a shame December 10, 2008 at 11:48 p.m.

Ex-Faculty needs to go away. He is bitter because Walden fired his lazy tired behind. What traditional institution gives out more than 100 full academic scholarships a year? Please show proof of traditional institutions topping that.... especially in light of the recent economic situation facing this nation.

How are France, Spain and Switzerland 3rd world countries? In fact, out of a list of 167 3rd world countries, China is the only one that Laureate has a campus based institution. I bet you won't take your reject adjunct rear-end over there and tell them they're 3rd world and useless.

American University has more linked campuses in 3rd world countries than Laureate.... Iraq? Afghanistan? What's the deal?

Ex-Faculty is bitter. Mad because he was fired by Walden. Needs to get a life.

Walden's Commitment to Social Change awards equal to $95,000 per year. They're given out several times a year.

David Palmer Military Scholarship $2500

Gear Up Scholarships total $25,000

Laureate International is 20% of tuition as long as funds are available. With Laureate being financially solid, funds will be available for a long time.

Presidential $5000

Riley=full tuition. Annual tuition for MS in Education is about $15,000 per year.. times 100 is 1,500,000.

Ex-Faculty needs to go find a real job.

Joe December 11, 2008 at 1:18 a.m.

Walden handing out scholarships is a laugh and a half. The Citadel offers 180 athletic scholarships and all scholarships total $2.5 million per academic year. That is enough to put 12% of the student body on in-state full scholarship. This little school of 3,300 offers more money than the mega-gaint Walden. You should really examine what traditional schools offer before you go spouting how similar it is to traditional schools. It is nothing like it.

Ex-Faculty December 11, 2008 at 1:56 a.m.

--Ex-Faculty needs to go away.--

Why, can't stand to hear a voice of reason?

Plenty of schools give more than 100 equivalents of full scholarships. UCLA gives the equivalent of 270 full scholarships just in athletics. As Joe mentioned, The Citadel offers over 300 in free rides. These are mostly distrubuted out among the students, but it gives you an idea of what regular schools do. For a student body so large as Walden, it is a pittance of what would be comperable to regular schools.

Laureate has most of her international campuses in Latin America. Only one is in China.

Central America

Universidad Americana (UAM), Costa Rica
Universidad del Valle de México
Universidad Interamericana de Costa Rica
Universidad Interamericana de Panama
Universidad Latina de Costa Rica
Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología (ULACIT), Panama
Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana (UNITEC), Honduras
Universidad Tecnológica de México (UNITEC)

South America

AIEP, Instituto Profesional, Chile
Business School São Paulo (BSP), Brazil
Centro Universitário do Norte (UniNorte), Brazil
CIBERTEC, Peru
Escola Superior de Administracão Dereito e Economia (ESADE), Brazil
Escuela Moderna de Música (EMM), Chile
Institute for Executive Development (IEDE), Chile
Instituto Tecnológico del Norte (ITN), Peru
Universidad Andrés Bello (UNAB), Chile
Universidad de Las Américas (UDLA), Chile
Universidad de Las Américas (UDLA), Ecuador
Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (UPC), Peru
Universidad Privada del Norte (UPN), Peru
Universidade Anhembi Morumbi (UAM), Brazil
Universidade Potiguar (UnP), Brazil

www.laureate-inc.com/univCampusBased.php...

--I bet you won't take your reject adjunct rear-end over there and tell them they're 3rd world and useless.--

These cocaine producing countries are indeed 3rd world and useless. Laureate can offer them the latest techniques in money laundering.

Have you even bothered to read the terms of the scholarships?

*David Palmer is only given to a few active duty doctoral students and isn't even available anymore.

*Laureate International is going to third world drug cartels.

*The Presidential is only awarded 3 at a time.

*The Riley Scholars is a 1 time deal. 100 scholarships and its done. Walden doesn't provide bupkiss for scholarship awards.

Joe Mamma December 11, 2008 at 3:23 p.m.

Joe and Ex-Faculty need to get a life. Joe is lonely and sees Walden graduates as a threat to his career.

Ex-Faculty is bitter because Walden gave him the boot for being a sorry instructor.

Finally December 11, 2008 at 10:54 p.m.

The administrator is watching over the blog since I saw most of the comments were gone.

Joe December 12, 2008 at 1:27 a.m.

It appears the posts of the troll who was stalking me are gone but the troll is still here.

Joe Mamma... that is the best you can come up with? Instead of attacking people's character, why don't you come up with a coherent rebutal to the arguments presented? I can come up with several reasons why you don't, most likely is because you are in an indefensable postion. Otherwise, you would have the wherewithal and wit to make a satisfactory case.

Many December 13, 2008 at 3:41 a.m.

points have been made. You just care to ignore them. Closed minded. It's that simple. Threatens your way of life and existence.

Football December 13, 2008 at 11:27 p.m.

Football is all that matters if a college does not have football than it sucks!!!

Football December 14, 2008 at 12:53 a.m.

I can explain why this is true.

I graduated from a tier one school. While the education I received was adequate, it did little to make me employable the skills that I learned after college (at a vo-tech beleive it or not) is what gave me the skills that I needed to become employable. It seems coming out of college after 4 years with a degree in Russian Studies, does not put a person at the top of most HR manager's wish lists. But a 6 diploma from a vo-tech in IT will get you the interview.

I would have considered the 4 Years that I spent at the University of Tennessee a waste if it were not for the large amounts of fun that I had at my frat house and attending college football games. Thus I reiterate that if a college does not have frats and football that it isn't worth a crap!!

Ex-Faculty December 15, 2008 at 12:06 p.m.

Are you serious? The BCS rankings are a joke. You wasted your life watching a fixed system and you want to brag about it. If you want to brag about college sports then get in line for March Madness, now there is a system that works.

You took Russian, can you answer me this?

Pochemu u vas tut tak skuchno?

Average Age December 15, 2008 at 2:20 p.m.

The average age of a Walden student is 35. Needless to say, football and frat parties are not as of much importance. I understand the importance of those things to someone 18-21 as they're becoming more socially well rounded... and this is important in college. However, Walden students are working professionals and are at a serious point in their life and careers. I know a lot of colleges, especially SLACs that do not have football teams. Someone needs to grow up.

Jerry December 15, 2008 at 9:34 p.m.

Walden is in a growth and transition stage. I can not say that right now, December 15, 2008, they are as good as they were when I started in September 2006. Back then, way more people oriented. Today, the new technology has many bumps to be worked out. They do not send enrollment or money due statements, you can not switch classes to be with friends, Heck- today I can't even get them on the phone to pay for a class (which should show in my online access page but it doesn't).
But, overall- I am a happy camper. It's not a you pay-you pass school. Had only one bad professor. The comeradery between students is great! I'd do Walden again but, I thinks a doctorate is as high as I can go.
Online schools are a different animal. Patience, patience.
-Jerry

For New England Area Walden Students December 16, 2008 at 5:20 p.m.

The Walden community is concerned about those New England residents living in regions affected by the recent ice storms, and we would like to offer you our support during this difficult time.

As you confront the challenges in your area, your commitments to your Walden program should not be a source of additional anxiety. We just wanted to check on your well being and inquire if you needed any help regarding your studies at Walden.

In addition, Walden offers a Student Assistance Program to provide free, confidential support, resources, and information to you and everyone in your household to help you better address many of life’s challenges. To access the Student Assistance Program, please go to: inside.waldenu.edu/c/Student_Faculty/StudentFaculty_13624.htm.

You can also call the Student Assistance Program at 1-866-465-8942 or TDD: 1-800-697-0353. You will want to reference Walden’s ID: SAP4EDU.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or would like to discuss further alternatives based on your specific needs. You can call us toll-free at 1-800-WALDENU (1-800-925-3368), option 3, and following the prompts to get to your school.

As always, Walden is dedicated to your continued success.

Sincerely,
The Academic Advising Team

Jones International University December 17, 2008 at 3:33 p.m.

Is an all online school and is AACSB accredited. Looks like the AACSB has relaxed its standards a bit.

jonesinternational.edu/schools/business/index.php

Jones December 17, 2008 at 3:43 p.m.

The GMAT is not required for admission either. Plus their admissions standars appear to be as "open" as Walden.

Seriously? December 17, 2008 at 4:11 p.m.

Jones International University is a MEMBER of AACSB, IT IS NOT ACCREDITED BY AACSB. There is a huge difference. Anyone can be a member. Heck, I can start a school now and become a member. To be accredited is different and you have to have GMAT requirements for admissions. Do your research more effectively before posting this hearsay.

Second, I find it funny that Walden "Academic Advising Team" posts on this board. Wow, if the students of Walden must come here to defend their degrees quite frequently.

Seriously? December 17, 2008 at 4:14 p.m.

Oh, BTW, this link provides all AACSB schools.

www.aacsb.edu/General/InstLists.asp?lid=...

Also, I noticed you keep stating "ONLINE SCHOOLS". Penn State World Campus is online and AACSB accredited for its MBA. Its not the online factor that would be impressive, its the FOR-PROFIT factor that would impress me if I saw an AACSB FOR-PROFIT ACCREDITED school.

Walden Student December 17, 2008 at 4:15 p.m.

Walden's Academic Advising Team did not post the message. I did. They sent that message to all students and I posted it here because I wanted to show that Walden cares for its students and offers a lot of support for those who need assistance.

Well.... December 17, 2008 at 4:20 p.m.

I don't know why that person posted something about Jones on the Walden board anyway. I don't know what there is about Jones to brag about.

Seriously? December 17, 2008 at 9:05 p.m.

Walden's "Acadmic Advising Team" needs to make sure the money keeps flowing in!

On Paper December 17, 2008 at 9:10 p.m.

On paper Walden's overall programs are very comparable and competitive to other schools. The worst thing Walden has is the stigma of for-profit. But in general, Walden advertises to working adults who need the credentials, so they are no trying to recruit the same people that want to go to MIT or other big name schools. Get over the fact that Walden makes money. So do other schools. Do you think you will not find issues in other schools about recruitment and grades? How about teaching evaluations at all schools? Did you know tenure is based on the evaluations? Many questions ask about grading and accessability. Do you think those professors don't give out passing grades for better scores? I don't agree with the ITT model of giving "bonuses" based on it, that is BS.

So Walden has a for-profit status. Did you notice all the graduates on this page from Walden don't complain about the school, but other for-profits have students that do? That should tell you right away the students are satisified with their education at Walden. If they weren't you would see more complaints on this board about the school from students instead of those people who "think" they know about the student calibur. Get over it, for-profit just means the money doesn't go into a never ending endowment, it means it pays off the people immediately who support it and have more connections for the future.

PSUhD December 17, 2008 at 9:15 p.m.

I know this post is going to stir up something, but I will ask anyways to please not respond to this post unless you know the answer.

I hold a PhD from Penn State University and want to teach online courses at Walden. Does anyone know the average background (or credentials) of an average Walden adjunct? I want to know before I apply so I can taylor my CV to what the faculty look for in the adjuncts per department.

Last, yes, I am a real Phd from Penn State. Yes, I want to teach online at Walden. No I don't think I'm better than everyone at Walden. No I am not trying to point out the adjunct ratio at the University. No I am not trying to say anything bad about the adjuncts here.

Please again only post if you know the answers or have some links for me.

Thank you.

To Ex-Faculty December 18, 2008 at 12:28 a.m.

- Pochemu u vas tut tak skuchno?

Moi vopros k Vam: chto Vy ponimaete pod slovom 'tut'? 'Tut' - eto gde?

Looking forward to your answer :)

@PSUhD December 18, 2008 at 1:58 a.m.

Im a student in my third year. The information that professors post appear to have a great deal of both diversity and focus. Diversity in terms of the number of organizations they have worked for, with a focus in their field. Some have been consultants for major organizations, and entrepreneurs.

Dr. B. December 18, 2008 at 3:40 a.m.

This is to PSUhD.

You will find Walden faculty credentials listed under each College's page. On top of that, your research, professional experience, and philosophy of teaching will play a major role.

The chancellor for Penn State DuBois (Dr. Anita McDonald) is on the Board of Directors for Walden U. She may be a good contact for you.

In the doctoral programs, you will find that ALL faculty hold a terminal doctorate from an accredited university. The undergraduate programs may have a few master's holders, but you will find that roughly 99.99% of Walden faculty hold a Ph.D.

Education faculty Ph.D.: www.waldenu.edu/c/Schools/Schools_8307.h...

Ed.D. faculty: www.waldenu.edu/c/Schools/Schools_8314.h...

M.Ed faculty:
www.waldenu.edu/c/Schools/Schools_9213.h...

School of Health Services:
www.waldenu.edu/c/Schools/Schools_321.ht...

Management faculty:
www.waldenu.edu/c/Schools/Schools_294.ht...

The School of Management also has a list of Contributing Scholars.

These are just a few examples. Feel free to run through the list of colleges and school at Walden and google their faculty.

Sample position announcement: SOP

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Full time faculty reports to the program director, and work closely with the School's academic administrators, academic advising and administrative staffs, and full and part-time faculty.

Teach courses in the clinical specialization.

Assist the program director with the quality and integrity of the program curriculum

Participating in academic residencies.

Mentoring students in their thesis and dissertation research.

School and University committee service; and scholarship.

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES:

Knowledge of the Business

Management Skills

Teamwork

Accountability

Integrity

Problem-Solving / Critical Thinking

Communication Skills

Experience:
REQUIREMENTS OF THE POSITION:

Earned doctorate in clinical psychology.

Maintain a doctoral level license.

Candidates should possess a significant record of intellectual and professional contributions to the field of psychology

Five to seven years of graduate teaching experience

Experience in chairing or serving on dissertation and thesis committees

Commitment to advocating for the learning and development needs of students earning their degrees in a distance learning environment including students who are experienced professionals

Teaching, advising and mentoring; commitment to the promotion of applied research ; excellent leadership, communication, team, and human relations skills.

Experience with distance learning preferred.

Experience with accreditation is a plus.

Some travel required (minimally once per quarter)

Evidence of compatibility with the Walden University mission of positive social change, broad access and professional excellence and our values of quality, integrity and student-centeredness.

Walden Student December 18, 2008 at 3:12 p.m.

"Walden cares for its students and offers a lot of support for those who need assistance"

Oh, really? I tried to get a receipt from the bursary/billing department and sent them email requesting a receipt. They haven't answered/responded to my email for 2 months!!!!

I would like Dr. B or somebody else comment on this 'no-answer' policy.

Joe Knows Walden December 18, 2008 at 3:36 p.m.

I have not had any of these problems in my 4 years of attending Walden University. I have never had an issue getting a receipt or any response from the administration or services at Walden. Even when I needed a library book or journal article through the lender program at IU, Walden's in house librarian sent the book and then followed up to make sure it was what I needed and how they could further assist. They called and sent me emails. Excellent service.

In terms of a "no answer" policy that is new to me. I have always gotten good customer service from the administration, faculty, and support staff. In fact, the president even answers his own emails. I have taken my own concerns to him and he has had them handled with care and has followed up with me.

Being negative about the institution doesn't make anything better. Found on your PSP is a new feedback link. The president sent all students an email regarding this. They encourage us to use it when things aren't going "right."

When I paid my tuition, a receipt was always emailed to me. I don't know why it is any different for you.

To Joe Knows Walden December 18, 2008 at 3:42 p.m.

"I don't know why it is any different for you."

I don't know either. Sent them 3 other emails! No response... Still waiting.

I just want to know December 18, 2008 at 3:43 p.m.

What institution(s) out there have absolutely no flaws? I want to attend.

to I just want to know December 18, 2008 at 3:52 p.m.

George W. Bush attended Harvard :)

Curious December 18, 2008 at 3:58 p.m.

Sorry, my mistake. He was attending Yale from 1964 - 1968

Curious December 18, 2008 at 4 p.m.

Yale is a private University, as far as I know. Correct me if I am wrong :)

Dr. B. December 18, 2008 at 4:02 p.m.

I am sorry you're having those issues Walden Student. I didn't have any issues either, but that was just my experience.

I would email them one more time and put jonathan.kaplan@waldenu.edu in the CC line of the email. Tactfully let them know that you have emailed them over and over requesting this information. I would also include finaid@waldenu.edu and burser@waldenu.edu.

I can pretty much guarantee that you will get a response in 24 hours. Please let me know how it works out.

Bush @ Yale December 18, 2008 at 4:02 p.m.

That's one hell of an institutional flaw.

Just curious December 18, 2008 at 6:29 p.m.

Dr. B:
Are you sure it is safe for the students to follow your advice?

Joe Knows Walden December 18, 2008 at 7:24 p.m.

To Just Curious

That is a stupid question. If Walden Student doesn't want to follow Dr. B's advice, then he/she shouldn't complain. Help was offered. It is up to Walden Student to decide whether or not to take the advice. Two people on here have suggested the same thing. It apparently worked.

If Walden Student takes the advice and it works, we should all know about it. If it doesn't, we should know about it. If Walden Student doesn't take the advice, he/she should stop complaining.

Walden Fan December 18, 2008 at 8:18 p.m.

Walden students are making a difference all over the world. We have worked in all areas of government, the United Nations, corporations, etc. We have studied and taught at the some of the most prestigious academic institutions in the United States. Some of us are presidents of colleges as well as community leaders.

My BA and MBA are from brick and mortar schools and my PhD is from Walden. The PhD has made a difference in how I am received professionally and I have made a difference where I am due to my training and credentials. ALL SCHOOLS ARE IMPERFECT FROM HARVARD TO YOUR WORST STATE SCHOOL!!! For those of you who are feeling insecure about your educational achievements, don't knock Walden for your failures or, rather, "try Walden before you knock Walden."

Please take note Walden is the future and many of your current brick and mortar schools are outdated and in the past!!!!

PSUhD December 18, 2008 at 8:27 p.m.

Thanks Dr. B for the info. But you did mislead a bit on the faculty,

www.waldenu.edu/c/Schools/Schools_14494....

For graduate programs, most of the people have terminal degrees, but this is for the undergrad. BUT this is common for all schools. To teach an MS or Phd, you have to have AT LEAST that level of degree, so it makes sense.

To Walden Fan: I don't think Walden is the future. Walden is Walden. Schools like Penn State, Harvard, etc, won't be changing soon. They might adapt, just like when the idea of a "university" versus "college" became so important, so now is "adult learners" and "distance learning". But to say b&m are outdated and in the past is definitely incorrect. If this is so, the top research facilities in the world would not need test tubes and chemicals because its all virtualized. I disagree with you whole heartidly.

The reason I want to teach adjunct at Walden is the students, not the reputation of the school. Walden brings in adults who I feel I can learn from myself and teach them. The best relationships in school you will find are the give/take where the professors ADMIT they don't know everything and learn from you. As long as they know the area they are teaching soundly, they can be good professors and still learn themseleves. This also means the snobbery of "Dr title" has to stop. I never have my students call me Dr, because to me, it doesn't matter. What matters is what I can offer them. Some the brightest and best people I know are not Doctors.

This is not to say a Phd is nothing. A Phd indicates you have contributed significantly to your field of study as approved by your peers. So Walden cannot simply hand out a Phd for money because it has to be approved by the dissertation committe consisting of other Phds who are very likely NOT TO SIGN OFF if they feel the work is bad, because that is a personal signature, not the schools.

Dr. B. December 18, 2008 at 9:29 p.m.

PSUhd when I gave you information, I spoke primarily on the graduate level. The program you referenced is extremely new and those faculty are new as well. I am sorry that you feel I missled you. However, my point is very clear and factual. By you having a Ph.D. I assumed that you would only be interested in teaching and mentoring the upper tier students. Pardon me if my assumption was incorrect.

You will find at the Walden residencies, if you're invited to join the faculty, that the line between the "Dr." title and the student is very thin. Faculty address each other by their first names and I have noticed some students doing the same thing to faculty. I do not require my students to call me "Dr" but I think that most do as a matter of respect for my authority in the academy. I teach for a traditional institution that is 150 years old.

If you do join the faculty, just know that the demands are high. You will have to work and be accessible. The students at Walden are a joy to work with. They do not feel entitled. They want to learn. They try hard. They bring experience to the classroom.

Students at Walden are not taught to be scholars. They are taught to be scholar-pracitioners. There is a difference, which is why the Walden graduate and faculty is one of a kind.

And at commencement you feel that all of the work was worthwhile. I am serving on two dissertation committees at the traditional university I work for. So I understand how important the signature is on the dissertation. I have gone round after round with one student who feels that I am giving him an unnecessarily hard time. But my point that I am trying to stress to him is that I am not going to sign off on anything that is not of high quality. Also, my reputation is riding on his success. When that dissertation hits ProQuest, it is going to be of high quality if I my name is going to be on it.

Just Curious December 18, 2008 at 10:02 p.m.

Dr. B:
"The students at Walden ... bring experience to the classroom."

Yes, they do bring experience - some of them are very experienced. That's absolutely right. They are not 18-20 year students who attend regular schools, but the ones with a lot of years of experience.

PSUhD December 18, 2008 at 10:17 p.m.

Dr. B,

I like to be involved in a mix of teaching, not just graduate students. Dissertation committees are very time consuming and truth be told, I'm working to tenure now at a research school (tier 1 or whatever you want to call it) and wouldn't have the time to I feel I would need to be on a committee. Graduate thesis is a different story. But I thought most Walden students in the undergraduate program would begin to come from massive layoffs. It is predicted that enrollment for online schools will increase by 200% in the next two years because of this. I want the people who spent 10-20 years in one field and now want to get a BS in a new field, or an MS in a new field. I'm a true believer in crossing diciplines.

I also think these same people are the ones, as you said, that want to learn and know more and are demanding to do so. The best students I have are the ones who question everything BUT listen too.

I've had offers from Capella, UoP, and a few others, but truth be told, I felt like they were more a business than anything else. Not much academic freedom and they flat out told me I needed to make sure I had an 80% passing rate. I'm not going to pass anyone who doesn't deserve it.

Walden's faculty and diversity seems pretty impressive, although I will admit I'm not excited about the amount of UoP and Capella grads. That is my own bias, but I've encountered too many during interviews and other places that left a bad taste in my mouth. Walden was different, which is why I looked there. While looking for stuff I found this site which I understand is less than Wikiopedia, but it gets some good answers (1/100 isn't bad).

Walden Fan December 18, 2008 at 11:32 p.m.

To PSUhD: Something is awry with your thinking or reading. I did not make an absolute statement. I never stated "all". Certainly, many colleges will adapt to effective learning models, especially, the prestigious ones. My point is many colleges will fail due to their outdated learning models that will not meet the needs of future student demands, particularly, those schools that are facing severe fiscal constraints.

Schools such as Walden are here to stay and will only get better at what they do - they represent the future direction of higher education. Even Harvard's last president mentioned that online learning is the next wave in higher ed. Many B&M schools have already dopted Walden's format, however, Walden is ahead of the game on this one and its span is global. Don't hate try to relate (LOL).

Walden Fan December 18, 2008 at 11:57 p.m.

To PSUhD:

To your point regarding lab work and the need for physical surroundings. I am in agreement with you up to a degree, but, consider, what a school with limitless possibilities can create. GET OUT OF THE BOX!!! Your thinking is too limited to consider new paradigms that have the real potential to cause a revolution in the way humans learn, teach, think, and function. I believe there is an untapped level of intellectual development that we have only just begun to explore. Walden and others like it are pioneers in uncharted waters - I am excited about how technology is currently being used in higher ed. I say let's push the envelope as far as it will go. As long as Walden's management is required to produce solid accountability, integrity, and oversight in meeting its mission as required by its regional accreditation body and the U.S. Department of Education, I say let's see how far and fast this organization can rise to new heights.

PSUhD December 19, 2008 at 2:18 p.m.

Walden Fan, I still think your missing the point.

MIT does not give grades the first year for students. Its interest is in allowing students to take different courses to discover what they like.

Penn State has 3 parts to all its curriculum in CS/Engineering programs. Lecture, labs, and recite. This has been researched with data to support a very effective way of learning.

Brown does not give grades in sequence for some majors. It gives a grade at the end of the year based on an essay for all courses taken.

State colleges in PA have made the lab component a part of all courses. This lab component is to give hands on applications to all things learned, including in English.

Walden would not be able to do any of these via distance. Walden offers adult students the opportunity to work at their own pace for anywhere in the world, while providing instruction from a qualified faculty when needed. Walden is not innovative in the learning methodologies like you are making it out to be. Understand and take Walden for what it is. It is a school that offers distance learning with immediate application. You thoughts about making it “grow as large and fast as it can” will only make it the next Phoenix, something you should not want as a Walden student.

Walden has done what other schools do to keep quality. It sets goals and grows in specific departments. Take Penn State for example, their goal for computer science is to have X amount of research faculty producing and creating research labs in the year Y with income on patents and awards from contracts in the amount of Z. University of Pittsburgh is currently creating an IS department to compete in tier I research and recruiting heavily for info sec. Walden does have clear goals like this, but they do not make them all public due to proprietary information.

What I get out of reading your posts, is simply that you think bigger is better, and Walden will be the biggest because they are new and the wave of the future and the best way to go. Well if that’s the way you look at it, VHS would have never won over BETAMAX, the internet2 would be up and running full speed, electric cars would be a dime a dozen, and the cell phone infrastructure in the US would be comparable to other countries.

Dr. B. December 19, 2008 at 3:24 p.m.

As much as I hate to admit it :-), I have to side with my colleague, PSUhd. Walden has experienced tremendous growth and change over the years. While I agree that institutions like Walden may be the wave of the future, too much growth..especially too fast... can be detrimental to the institution's reputation. Walden's student body as well as its number of highly qualified full-time and part-time faculty have grown tremendously. Faculty and student research is ongoing, and Walden has invested more than any other for-profit in promoting scholarly avenues for them... grants, fellowships, and scholarships. While there is plenty of academic freedom, there is also plenty of oversight and accountability. All research must be practical (with respect to theory) and have an implication for social change. The university mandates this due to its social change mission and the scholar-practitioner model that students learn from.

At one point Walden's growth became quite scary. I must admit though that it has never been as aggressive as Phoenix or Capella..etc. The television commercials are tasteful and are only found on certain channels... History, MSNBC, CNN..etc to attract a certain calibur of student.

Also, there is the Center for Faculty Excellence, Center for Student Success, Center for Research Support, Center for Undergraduate Studies, Center for International Programs, and the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment that all serve as checks and balances to assess the University's mission, performance, and quality.

Even though I have yet to make application to Walden (which I will in due time), I have no reservations about suggesting that any of my colleagues do so.

Walden Lady December 19, 2008 at 3:33 p.m.

This is a touching story. From Walden to Duke. alumnimag.waldenu.edu/26148_26177.htm

Walden Fan December 19, 2008 at 4:09 p.m.

PSuhD:

You're still stuck in the mud and you have the uncanny but drool ability to twist a statement so that you can win a point. You must be very frustrating and overwhelming to deal with by lazy thinkers because you are kind of intelligent. Walden has the checks and balances to be recognized by a regional accreditation body and the U.S> Department of Education. And, all I am saying is it currently has the possibility of being a great institution.

I am not saying bigger is better. I am saying innovation leads to breakthroughs and revolutionary approaches. The use of new technologies to create different delivery models for teaching and learning is an awesome endeavor. The questions for Walden is will it refine and innovate further as new technologies are discovered and does its management have the imagination to think outside of the box to invent creative models for learning using a mix of the old the the new? You may be way out of your league to have this discussion because you're stuck in convention and status quo.

PSUhD December 19, 2008 at 4:44 p.m.

Two things come to mind when you talk about recognition of accreditation. Accreditation for one means nothing. Its not about checks and balances, it is about Walden saying "this is our curriculum and this how we rate it". That is how you get regional accreditation. To beat a dead horse here, professional accreditation is where quality is a factor. You can be fully innovated all you want, but innovation does not mean accreditation. If you want to say Walden is the best of the best and has innovated teaching methods, they should be ABET, AACSB, etc. accredited also. But this is not their mission.

I am stuck with status quo because that is the life I live. I see this from an academic perspective. My whole argument came from the base that I believe Walden offers nontraditional students a way to earn a degree. I said I wanted to be a part of that. I teach traditional students all day and there is a difference in traditional versus nontraditional.

What I am saying is that are making arguments based on the sole idea that Walden is a teaching school. Typically you can divide academics into two broad categories, research and teaching. Research means contributing theories, teaching means teaching theories to students to apply them. Walden would be considered a teaching school. I will not accept Walden as a tier I research facility. It is not their purpose nor do they wish to be one. If they did, they would be going after the research accreditations like AACSB.

Is Walden innovative? Yes and no. Walden listens to students and continuously makes online learning better. I agree with that. So they are innovative there. But is Walden creating and implementing new models of learning like MIT or Penn State is? No. Again, that is not their purpose. If they find one that works for the student population, then sure they will use it.

But again, growth is not always a good thing. I fall back on the UoP comment above. I have an idea of how much Laureate invests back to Walden. This isn't all public again for proprietary reasons. But you can easily compare the faculty research grants and publications to other for-profits and see the difference. The only real competitor to Walden in this area is Drexel, but that is because the ivy-like school has a ground campus that uses the same professors.

I could easily sit here and argue all the bad points about Walden but I don't believe the institution itself acts like other for-profits. I agree with you that Walden is innovative but I do not think it is heavily research oriented. Again, this is because its not the Universities purpose.

Walden Fan December 19, 2008 at 5:10 p.m.

Your comments about research oriented schools versus teaching schools in your last posting make sense and I respect your position. It is compelling.

Let's hope that higher education institutions, like Walden, can evolve for the bettement of future scholars, practicioners, leaders, and professionals so that society benefits as a whole. I believe Walden is on the right track to becoming a highly regarded and recognized leader in higher education.

By the way, to reiterate my earlier point about Walden's flaws, ALL SCHOOLS HAVE FLAWS EVEN TIER ONE SCHOOLS - BELIEVE IT OR NOT!

Dr. B. December 19, 2008 at 5:20 p.m.

I would like to chime in here... thank God the semester is over... and I now have time.

Walden is not a research university. It is doctoral research intensive university with a mission to teach; to close the gap that exists in higher education by offering broad access to people across the globe who want to learn. Walden is a teaching institution that has an aggressive applied social change research agenda. That is why you have the scholar-practioner model. The programs are professions related and the university ensures that they will always remain current and relevant. You will never see a life science (biology,medicine, chemistry..etc) program at Walden. And NO institution without such will ever be ranked as a research (T1,T2) university.... so people who continue to compare Walden to Harvard or any other insitution of that calibur are ignorant and lost. Becoming a or competing with T1 or T2 institutions is not the focus of Walden. That is not the intent of Walden. That is not the mission of Walden.

Walden has a strong mission of transformation and social change. While the strong cadre faculty and students are encouraged to perform research, teaching is first. Through innovative teaching, applied learning, and scholarly dialogue, students learn best.... research grows from all of that.

Walden prides itself on having high quality graduate instruction. This is through pedagogy and close mentoring by faculty. The university promotes a strong teaching and learning environment. Research is institutionally encouraged and supported.

As a side note..my Ph.D. is in applied management and decision sciences. AACSB nor ACBSP accredits those types of degrees. Instead these bodies only accredit Business Administration degree programs. So neither have been an issue for me. It allows me to do more things. Walden just began a DBA program and a full BBA program. The MBA program is still fairly new. Some form of accreditation will come in due time.

PhD Student December 19, 2008 at 5:48 p.m.

Dr. B:
You wrote:
"Walden is not a research university."

I am writing a dissertation and do some research, though. Does it mean that I shouldn't do any research for my thesis?

PSUhD December 19, 2008 at 6:03 p.m.

Well it seems we are all on the same page, but just saying different things. At least it is more productive than the other arguments concerning Harvard versus Walden.

Understand also that Walden is one of only very few For-Profit universities that are considered in search committees I've been on for positions (faculty, research, or consulting industry) which is why it stood out for me. It seems to be the only one that actually reinvests and recruits active faculty.

Capella for example has Harvard faculty, but typically it is only one or two token people just to say "we have people from this school" whereas Walden is much more diverse. The total number of full-time faculty alone should be a dead indication of this compartively.

University of Illinois (or Chicago, I can't remember which one) recently announced its move to open an online for-profit school. It will be interesting to see how that works out. This move should also move Walden a bit more out of the Stigma of "Online" or "for-profit", both of which are still debated as bad.

The "for-profit" status is the big hurt for Walden. They have overcome this hurdle simply by producing good people and dissertations being published along with journal articles. It should help them for the next few years in the economy also. The big hurt is from the attachment of negativity though, its from federal funding. The for-profit status makes it harder to get grants for research and opening new labs. Its a shame too because in defense, almost all companies are for-profit yet they get earmarks to do research and open new facilities. I think this need reworked in education by allowing for-profit schools to win more federal funding for reserach and just monitoring the money (the same way they do in defense) to ensure it is all going to the facility and research.

To make things more interesting, I like to watch people belittle degrees with the status "for-profit" without reason or justification. I admit I do not like UoP or Capella, but I do like Walden and I explained my reasoning (without much backup data though).

I would still like to see Walden open an engineering program for a BS and hold residencies for the lab portions. RIT already has a program like this, but the US really needs to recruit more science and engineering people for degrees. I think this would be a key driver for innovation at Walden for military personel.

PSUhD December 19, 2008 at 6:24 p.m.

PhD Student:

Reseach University means its primary goal is to train people for research by developing researchers who understand how to create sound experiments in new environments. Walden's dissertations are more applied where you are not creating a new theory and are adapting the bridge of research and industry as described by Dr. B. Not being a research university does not mean not doing research, it is applied research versus theoretical (i.e. creating an algorithm for computers to run faster versus using that algorithm in a new environment) as a very very generic example.

PhD Student December 19, 2008 at 7:03 p.m.

PSUhD:
you wrote:
"Research University means its primary goal is to train people for research by developing researchers who understand how to create sound experiments in new environments."

This is what I was taught at Walden - I was taught how to create sound experiments in new environment and how to test hypothesis :)

Dr. B. December 19, 2008 at 7:09 p.m.

Ph.D. Student... please don't misread what I wrote. Walden is a research intensive institution... not a research extensive institution.... it is a teaching school that has a research focus. It is not a research university...ie.. T1, T2.

Dr. B. December 19, 2008 at 7:24 p.m.

I understand what you're saying. But please know that "research universities" are those that typically have medical schools, vet, or law schools attached to them. Research institutions deal heavily in research.

I am not saying that Walden is not a great institution. In fact, it's a solid institution. I am a proud Walden graduate!!!!

My degree is respected. In fact, I received an offer today from the University of Alabama to develop and be a co-principal investigator in a study. Before the offer, they investigated my research history and were impressed.

No one is saying that you can't do research by attending Walden. In fact, every doctoral student is well prepared to perform research after the degree.... IT WORKS.... just make it work.

PSUhD December 19, 2008 at 7:31 p.m.

There is an overlapping circle that fills all three tiers of schools (for simplicity, assume a school is either tier I, II, or III). Tier I assumes you only do research and come out with new theories. These theories are not applied but rather proven through exhaustive literature reviews and practices. Tier II is central to teaching and research, but the research is mix of theory and application. Thir III is more geared towards teaching people how to adapt the theories and design experiments towards proving those theories. When you talk about hypothesis, that is giving a concrete (not theoretical) example of an application. A Research Question (which you may still run into) is more applicable to theories.

Understand one is not better than the other and they are not mutually exclusive. Theory cannot be useful without application and application doesn't make sense without theory. Our society typically views the Tier I as more important because it is where most ideas originate. However, the ideas are more like patents than applications. The best products use other patents and understand how to integrate them to make a better product.

Think of it this way, I can develop the best theory about learning and prove students can learn something that usually takes months. But if nobody ever uses it, my theory is only proven in rhetoric and not practice, so most people would be skeptical.

Do not take me saying I would not accept Walden as a Tier I as an insult. I would rate Walden Tier II for the sole fact the faculty publishes in some good journals and conferences and the school is dedicated to research. However, they are more focused on outcome and application and advocating students more than research. This is a good thing for most people since school is a way to learn from others rather than a few (e.g. if you go to MIT, you will learn a lot from a few people rather than a little from a lot of people, the latter being more well rounded). This also explains academic snobbery, arrogance, and ignorance in a lot of research (I won't lie, I'm included).

Walden Student December 19, 2008 at 10:42 p.m.

Dr. B:
"I can pretty much guarantee that you will get a response in 24 hours. Please let me know how it works out."

I followed your advice and it worked. I am very thankful to the people at Walden who helped me very much!

Dr. B. December 20, 2008 at 12:52 a.m.

Nice explanation, PSUhD.

Walden Student, glad I could be of assistance. You tried three times and it was time to move up the chain of command until you got results.... it's not personal... it's business! ;-) Regardless of the institution, people working as staff are support staff. When they don't perform their tasks as expected, then it is time to move to someone who can get it done. I have had to do this at almost every institution I have attended.

I am glad things worked out in your favor. Good luck with the rest of your educational journey!

Football December 20, 2008 at 1:07 p.m.

to ex-faculty,

in answer to your question, No I'm not bored! I just have an interest in the growth of online education and, I like creating controversy.

Ex-Faculty December 21, 2008 at 7:47 a.m.

@Football

Eta stranica ... pochemu l'udi zdes' tak skuchno? Ya zhelayu, chtoby l'udi dobralis' by do real'noj problemy.

Ex-Faculty December 21, 2008 at 9 a.m.

--The students at Walden are a joy to work with. They do not feel entitled.--

Are you talking about the same school? :D

Ex-Faculty December 21, 2008 at 9:10 a.m.

--University of Illinois (or Chicago, I can't remember which one) recently announced its move to open an online for-profit school. It will be interesting to see how that works out. This move should also move Walden a bit more out of the Stigma of "Online" or "for-profit", both of which are still debated as bad.--

Scrap that idea: They are still viewed as bad.

organizationsandmarkets.com/2007/03/31/university-of-illinois-scraps-for-profit-subsidiary/

Ex-Faculty December 21, 2008 at 9:38 a.m.

--Walden is not a research university. It is doctoral research intensive university--

A little contradiction of terms if I might say so.

Ex-Faculty December 21, 2008 at 9:52 a.m.

All this banter about Walden being a teaching university as opposed to a research university is misleading to say the least. Traditional schools that only offer up to a masters degree make research contributions all the time. You do not have to have a Med. School, Law School, or even a Ph.D. granting program to be involved in research. Schools that grant Ph.Ds have research programs as a venue for their Ph.D candidates to become involved. Walden does not have this which is a reason they lack a quality experience to base their "teaching" on. Walden has a fine curriculum but the culture they instill in their students is one of mediocratiy because they do not require them to excel and they have limited opportunities for the students to get involved. This is why it is ideal for teachers because they already have the venues to conduct "research" and they only want a pay increase. The other Ph.D candidates do not have this luxery.

Dr. B. December 21, 2008 at 1:54 p.m.

Ex-Faculty. While I understand your position clearly, I must agree with another poster who claimed that your position is bias and is perhaps caused by bitterness from not being invited back by Walden.

If you look at the Carnegie designations, you have research intensive and research extensive universities. Research extensive universities are typically your T1 research institutions. Many of them are T2 institutions as well. If you look at these institutions, most of them have a medical school, teaching hospital, law school, vet school...etc attached to them. This is weighted in the criteria. Walden does not care to be affiliated with this type of mastery. This is why the curriculum is professions based.

Your input on this board has been invaluable. I believe that it is bias and that you do the other participants here (pro or con) no justice.

Ex-Faculty December 21, 2008 at 6:35 p.m.

--I must agree with another poster who claimed that your position is bias and is perhaps caused by bitterness from not being invited back by Walden.--

If I have told an untruth, feel free to correct me. There are always two sides to every coin. My side is not governed by the sceptre of making myself feel good about a school. The best thing Walden could have done was reject my application; then I wouldn't have had my eyes opened to the poor bureaucratic policies that encapsulate her.

-- If you look at the Carnegie designations, you have research intensive and research extensive universities.--

Why would I even bother? Here are the meanings of the two classifications:

Doctoral/Research Universities—Extensive: These institutions
typically offer a wide range of baccalaureate programs, and they are committed to graduate education through the doctorate. During the period studied, they awarded 50 or more doctoral degrees per year across at least 15 disciplines.

Doctoral/Research Universities—Intensive: These institutions
typically offer a wide range of baccalaureate programs, and they are committed to graduate education through the doctorate. During the period studied, they awarded at least 10 doctoral degrees per year across three or more disciplines, or at least 20 doctoral degrees per year overall.

www.carnegiefoundation.org/dynamic/downl...

Walden was given a classification because it conferred enough doctoral degrees to get one. It means nothing.

--Walden does not care to be affiliated with this type of mastery.--

Of course not. It costs too much money.

--This is why the curriculum is professions based.--

Then they shouldn't confer Ph.Ds!!! Do you get it yet?

--Your input on this board has been invaluable... you do the other participants here no justice.--

Yet another contradiction of terms. Your KAMs have really prepared you for life as an academic.

Dr. B. December 22, 2008 at 3:39 a.m.

Actually my three KAMs were all turned into peer reviewed publications.

What did you kams do for you?

Ex-Faculty December 22, 2008 at 5:46 a.m.

I didn't earn my doctorate at Walden. I perish the thought. What publication(s) is going to print three useless KAMs?

Dr. B. December 22, 2008 at 12:59 p.m.

Ex-Faculty. Your agenda is very unbecoming and I cannot fathom why any institution would hire you to sit on its faculty. This is the last time I will entertain your ignorance.

Each KAM that I was required to write was turned into a separate publication for three separate peer reviewed journals. The documents in their original format were not published and if you were familiar with KAMs and publishing you would know why. I had to shorten them to the size of an article. My first KAM was 133 pages. Second was 115 pages, and Third was 92 pages. If you know anything about peer review processes, you know that journals typically do not look for articles that long. But apparently you were/are out of your league.

Since you were not welcomed back to Walden University, I understand why you were/are not familiar with the possibilities of the KAM. You have breadth (theory), depth (research in practice), and application (your exhibition of competency). Many KAM students implement a study. Some build a model with implications for social change pertaining to the subject matter. Some students publish this material as a literature review. The KAM's possibilities are limitless. But of course we do not expect you to know that.

My KAMs were also presented in professional and scholarly arenas I am sure you will never get admitted to... even with your non-Walden doctorate.

I think it is funny how you "perish the thought" of earning your "doctorate" at Walden but didn't mind working there. I would never work for a place (at will) if I did not agree with its mission, goals, and governance. This says a lot about your character. But I guess that is why you were not invited back?

I really hate that you feel the way you do about Walden, but I totally understand why. I would probably feel the same way too. I just think it is silly for you to bring your negative, unwarranted, and totally baseless agenda on this board. At some point you should pick up the pieces and move on with your life.

Ex-Faculty December 22, 2008 at 3:59 p.m.

Ah yes, the 133 page KAM. 33 pages of content and 100 pages of fluff. Which then had to be reorganized and edited to a valid statement of purpose. Your KAMs were not published. Your edited and revised new edition was. They are two different things.

You now nothing about my committee participation so your speculation is just that. You seem pretty intent on trying to belittle me which only assasinates your character. Teaching at a university you initially know little about is one thing. Deciding to go there as a student, if applicable, after seeing the shortfalls first hand would only be foolhardy.

What a KAM is said to be and what the final product often ends up being are two different things which I have stated here already. Having had access to the KAM database I can attest to the majority of them being junk. It really isn't the fault of the student but the lack of guidance they recieved during the entire process. It has plenty of potential if the mentors and assessors would have them carry out a project that was more than just learning how to write a pile of garbage.

To Ex-Faculty: December 22, 2008 at 4:24 p.m.

Interesting thoughts about KAMs. What are your thoughts about Walden Dissertations?

Traditional Doctorate December 22, 2008 at 4:25 p.m.

This question is to Walden's Ex-Faculty.

I am a very objective person and am open to all types of learning.

I earned my Ph.D. at the University of Washington and was able to have it published in a top business journal. The dissertation was 152 pages in length. Like Dr. B. I had to drastically shorten my work to 24 pages to meet the journal's mandated length. So you mean to tell me that by shortening my dissertation to meet the journal's requirement, the material that was ommitted was garbage? I think not.

I am not familiar with the KAM but I do know publishing. Dr. B.'s comment is factual and of much merit.

I have taken the time to read back through the recent posts and it seems as if you have some serious issues with Walden. I also agree that your ranting and raving is very unbecoming of someone who is on faculty at other institutions, even though it is only adjunct status. I clearly would not want to work with someone with your attitude.

Stop being bitter about your Walden experience and simply move on. No institution is perfect and it seems as if you are hell bent on ruining Walden's reputation. People who read on this board can see right through you. You are one of many (faculty and students) and the positive numbers seem to outweigh you.

Just when December 22, 2008 at 6:06 p.m.

people were on here acting as if they had common sense. Here comes an idiot to ruin it all.

PSUhD December 22, 2008 at 7:43 p.m.

I must say I don't understand the KAMs and just from the general idea it doesn't exists elsewhere would throw me off a bit. Maybe if I read I would understand it more, but initially my thought is that it is a made up term to seperate the University.

I don't like some of the terminology because I like structure and standardization, which is maybe why I have a hard time with online Phds in the first place. I also hate the term "learner" versus "student" which is becoming so much more common everywhere.

But Just when is right. This was productive, but is getting off topic. I don't blame Dr. B for not posting his work here. That just gives you reason to find his/her personal email address which is hard to change after tons of annoying emails come in.

Also, whoever said all institutions have issues and problems is correct. Also, the problems are very subjective to your own personal view. In my view, I don't see slow response time by financial aid as an issue, but thats because FA has always been secondary to class (except when you are further in the semester) and never caused me any issues to have to drop a class or not get grades.

Also, if you are questioning Walden dissertations, read them. Proquest them or find them some other way. Dissertations are again subjective. When you have a large agreement of different people saying its bad quality, then I would begin to move away from saying it is subjective. This is why I would say I dislike UoP and Capella, because this has been agreed upon (I am in no way saying they are all bad, I'm saying a large majority of them are).

Second, Walden has been around much longer, so you have history. Look at its graduates and what they are doing and have done. Don't look at the schools webpage because obviously they will find a lot. Google is and see who posts credentials of Walden and you will likely get better results (although alumni pages are good places to start).

In general, your experience with the school is something that will give you the image of the school. I attended Stanford for a semester and must say I hated it. As an undergrad I felt unwelcomed and unwanted. The professors, the real ones, not graduate students, that taught my classes would flat out say they don't like undergrads and prefer grad courses. The TA's that taught said they were too busy with research so if we needed help, to request a tutor. But, in their defense, most people were extremely intelligent and didn't need much guidance (except me). Also, I did get to work on some sweet research projects which made me want to go get a Phd. But would I do it again? Probably not. I'm not smart enough to make it without help from faculty. This is why I want to teach ONLINE at a school that promotes students and not research.

Walden PhD worth it? December 22, 2008 at 10:31 p.m.

Cost versus reputation wise?

"Ph.D., Walden University"

Google it. You don't get much out of it. Nothing to be impressed by. This is more so true if you add ""Ph.D., Walden University" site:.edu" if you want to teach. I disagree with Dr. B. It doesn't seem like there is anyone from Walden teaching at traditional universities doing research. They are mostly online schools that are also for-profit. This is a bit discouraging. It seems easier to go non-profit to for-profit than vice versa. Like non-profit has a better and more acceptable reputation.

Can someone comment on this? I'm just curious because I go to Northcentral and will be graduating soon. This is not promising to me and NCU doesn't seem to care much.

My 2 cents December 23, 2008 at 12:41 a.m.

Right now online schools are the only ones providing services in a niche market. Most online learners are working adults who can't afford to attend school full time. Until then, we just gotta use what's available to us.

Amy December 23, 2008 at 1:36 a.m.

I'm curious about the opinions of EdD students in Teacher Leadership. Please let me know a few things:
When did you enroll?
How long have you been a student?
Are you having any problems?
Anything else that I may be able to use to help me figure out if this program, which was touted to teachers as a 3-year program, is worth it.
Thanks.

Dr. B. December 23, 2008 at 7:23 a.m.

Someone asked whether or not the Walden Ph.D. is worth it. That is totally up to you to decide. This is your learning experience and you must make your learning worthwhile. If you ask me, I would scream YES from the nearest mountaintop. This is because I allowed my education to work for me. I teach, I perform research. I supervise dissertations.... all traditional.

I must say this, if you planned on teaching at a T1 or T2 institution, you should have attended a program at one. While the Walden doctorate does not block you from the academy, that is not the program's first intention. But please keep in mind that I know graduates from Rutgers and Emory who are without a scholarly record (publications) who have not been welcomed into the academy either. In fact, they have not found anything beyond an adjunct position.

As for Walden, you will find graduates holding teaching, administrative, and research appointments in the academy at many institutions.....

Indiana Wesleyan, Franklin, Penn State Hazleton, Oral Roberts, Jackson State University, Sacred Heart, Grambling State University, University of Central Missouri, University of North Carolina School of Nursing, Lancaster College of Nursing, Mount Olive College, Montana State, and many liberal arts colleges. Walden even has an alum who is a permenant fellow of the Wharton School at the Univeristy of Penn. But you must keep in mind that these people have an extensive scholarly record.

The research center at Grambling is named after a Walden graduate who was on faculty there for over 40 years but recently passed away. She was one of Walden's first doctoral graduates.

Sad to say, if you're not trying to publish... you will definitely perish if you're trying to teach and perform research at a T1 or T2 institution. My chair is a Harvard grad and he groomed me to be an exceptional scholar-practitioner. He also taught me early on that publications and presentations are the only ways to validate your doctorate.

As for Northcentral, your program's administration may seem to not care for a few reasons.... 1. scholarship is not of high priority, 2. the programs are practitioner base, 3. they lack a scholarly record of their own..etc. To add, the institution lacks history... it is still a baby....it is still trying to prove itself.

For-profit universities are not trying to train scholars. In fact most of them cover the basics in terms of learning how to perform research.

Walden is the only distributed learning institution other than Fielding that has a social change and extensive research agenda.

About Ivy Universities December 23, 2008 at 6:29 p.m.

Not Everything That Glitters is Gold

Jensons December 23, 2008 at 8:15 p.m.

At least the glitter doesn't appear in the eyes of the administration like it does Walden. All they care about is the bottom line. Face it, too much is at stake to care about quality. Why do you think Illinois opted NOT to open a for-profit school online? Also, Drexel online is no longer for-profit! BECAUSE THE FACULTY DID NOT WANT THE DOLLAR TO DRIVE QUALITY VERSUS QUANTITY. Walden is the easy way out. Nobody will ever respect an online degree from Walden in the same light as they will a traditional University.

To Jensons: December 23, 2008 at 9:28 p.m.

You have no idea what you are talking about. If Walden was so bad, they would have been bankrupt just like the bad auto industry. Since the quality is good, they are doing splendid!

Walden Fan December 23, 2008 at 9:36 p.m.

What a bunch of malarky laced in crapola spun by academic nut jobs. As someone who has experienced Walden. I can tell you that I worked one on one with my doctoral advisor. I was required to attend Walden's doctoral workshops, which were highly topical at the doctoral level. I only worked with experienced professors who taught full time at B&M colleges and universities. Even the bashing ranting naysayer (Ex-Faculty) who said he worked at Walden claims to have a "traditional" PhD and to teach at a B&M institution. My experience taught me that Walden provides a competitive education that is equaivalent to any competent B&M university.

Many of Walden's graduates are administrative and/or teaching staff at B&M schools. But more to the point, many are successfully represented in a plethora of professions and industries. Find other insititutions to knock like the B&M alma maters of George W., Sarah Palin, Dick Cheney, Donnie Rumsfeld, Bernie Madoff, et cetera or get a life.

Translation, say something that's grounded in substance and relevance and not out of fear. Anything that is different usually has to prove itself and Walden certainly will become a publically proven entitiy over time because it graduates have and will continue to achieve in their respective scholarships and/or fields.

Jensons December 23, 2008 at 10:08 p.m.

Hypothetically:

If I had two candidates side by side and they were exactly the same down to years of experience, educational background, etc. BUT went to two different schools, Walden University, and any non-profit University, I would always take the non-proift, hands down. Why? Walden has a reputation, but its known for its open enrollment. If they want to get a good reputation, they need to cease the online doctorates and make them into distance doctorates (which is starting actually, as shown by the residencies required, but its still online more), kill the open enrollment and add enrollment standards, get more full time facutly and better accreditation.

PERIOD

Walden Fan December 23, 2008 at 10:46 p.m.

Jensons: Luckily, I am in a position to hire and I would hire one of my alum over a hypothetical jackass. The world rarely doles out what you have described.

Again, there are many highly successful graduates of Walden in all walks of life who are making a difference in their professions. Be careful, your next big opportunity may be dependent on a Walden grad.

Jensons December 23, 2008 at 10:53 p.m.

And at the same time, YOUR next big opportunity may be by a traditional school grad, which would knock you out of the runnings for having a Walden degree.

Face it, Walden cannot compete with traditional programs. They offer useless degrees nobody respects.

Walden University December 23, 2008 at 11:21 p.m.

Then why are there so many of us in high level positions, why are there so many of us getting published, and why are there so many of us conducting post doctoral work at the Ivies? Stop posting because your ignorance is showing!!!

Jensons December 24, 2008 at 2:41 a.m.

Doing post doctoral work at the Ivies huh? Please do post some proof that joke!

Frauds December 24, 2008 at 12:01 p.m.

If you are being pubished then you should be proud to share your work. You don't because you aren't published and are pumping gas at the Circle K. If there is a succesful Walden PHD among you then will the real Dr. please stand up!

Walden Fan December 24, 2008 at 5:25 p.m.

Jensons: Let's get down to brass tacks. Walden is an accredited University that is respected by the United States Department of Education. It does not matter what you think or say because Walden's graduates possess an accredited and recognized credential and they are making a difference in the world. Check out Youtube just to get a quick sample of who we are.

You are a text book example of someone who is fairly literate with very poor reasoning skills. I wish you well but anyone can clearly see you could not survive in any REAL doctoral program, Walden included.

Ex-Faculty December 25, 2008 at 4:31 a.m.

--Interesting thoughts about KAMs. What are your thoughts about Walden Dissertations?--

The dissertations are a mixed bag. People who know how to write a traditional thesis usually end up doing fine on the Walden dissertation. The people who are being exposed to heavy writing for the first time only have their KAMs as the basis of experience. Many will do the same topic as they did in the KAM and many will even cut and paste entire sections into it. The problem is the KAMs often do not have valid methods or are open-ended questions with no measurable results, often a cause and effect of the two. When they apply this, or the same low standard they did to their KAM you end up with a dissertation that is simply garbage. That is why the KAM isn't doing students any good.

Ex-faculty December 25, 2008 at 5:23 a.m.

--So you mean to tell me that by shortening my dissertation to meet the journal's requirement, the material that was ommitted was garbage? I think not.--

I think not either. I doubt if your dissertation was based on a KAM, or even resembled a KAM. A KAM is largely learning how to write/research a paper and documenting what you have done, so it is mostly garbage. If you wrote a KAM that had good methods and outcomes, at most it would be 30-40 pages of quality material. The rest is just stuffing that documents bringing yourself up to speed on the topic.

Ex-Faculty December 25, 2008 at 5:59 a.m.

--You have no idea what you are talking about. If Walden was so bad, they would have been bankrupt just like the bad auto industry. Since the quality is good, they are doing splendid!--

Quality has little to do with it. It is a matter of convenience. To address the need for working adults to go back to school it is the perfect niche. There are good and bad online schools out there. While Walden isn't the best it is certainly better than the whore we all know and hate. Despite Walden being better "quality" than UoP, Phoenix is raking in the big bucks due to the 'enrollment at all costs' philosphy they have.

Jensons December 27, 2008 at 12:29 a.m.

I still ask, post some links to these "Ivy" post docs that were Walden Alumni!

Walden PhD Student December 28, 2008 at 11:21 p.m.

Hello Ex-Faculty

Thank you for yout thoughts about Walden dissertations. I am currently write mine. And I thinkt your thoughts can help me improve the content of my dissertation.

If you have any further suggestions, I will be thankful for them.

Walden PhD Student December 28, 2008 at 11:28 p.m.

Hello Jensons:

You wrote:
--I still ask, post some links to these "Ivy" post docs that were Walden Alumni!

So far I know only one person who was a post doc at Yale. He specialized in leadership, now he teaches at a University in Switzerland. But I am sorry I forgot his name.

Ex-Faculty December 29, 2008 at 1:59 a.m.

Without knowing the details of your dissertation I can tell you only a few broad things that I would advise any Walden doctoral student to avoid. Do not count on your KAMs as the basis of your dissertation. Do NOT cut and paste from your KAM. Remember that a dissertation is supposed to be an original contribution to your field that has measurable results that others can follow to attain similar outcomes. Do not have a result that leaves you with vague and ambigious data leaving people scratching their heads as to what the heck you were thinking when you did your research. Do not conclude your paper with more questions than you have answers for. The biggest problem I have seen with Walden dissertations are poor methodologies and too generalized outcomes. Get to the heart of your matter and stick and fork in it(evidence) to call it done. If you fail to prove your contention you are wasting time, if your contention is something obvious you are wasting time, if your research takes you on a different path from your contention, switch your contention. Remember that this is supposed to be an original work that is going to help your colleagues.

Walden PhD Student December 29, 2008 at 2:44 p.m.

To Ex-Faculty:

I very much appreciate your time and suggestions. Thank you.

PSUhD December 29, 2008 at 3:53 p.m.

Leave for a week for vacation and this is what happens.

To Jensons and Walden PhD Student:

The chances of a Walden PhD working at an Ivy is slim to none. This is just as true for even a Penn State PhD graduate. The post-docs are at the Ivys are so competitive that they will typically throw out any application that is not for a top school IF they haven't already selected someone. Typically, a Post-doc at Yale, Harvard, etc already has a person in mind from their own network. A post-doc is always sponsered by a faculty member who brings in research grants. This faculty member has a network of elites and will usually take on the networks faculty advisees'''' on. '''' - This means, if I was a faculty member at Harvard, I would ask my friend at Yale to take my doctoral student on as a post-doc after she graduated.

The KAMs at Walden do make sense. Since it is distance education, the KAM is a way to show off work over a small bandwith communication (as opposed to in class discussions). The KAM, also if done correctly, should be used to published several papers.

Jensons has a point with Phds hiring Phds. Usually, a position that requires a Phd, is being hired by another Phd. Phds are usually very snobbish and do not like online degrees from anywhere. If it came down to it, all else being equal, a Walden Phd would likely lose out. But the chances of it being equal are slim to none also. The Walden Phd SHOULD have the edge assuming she has more experience in industry, which is why she pursued her Phd online.

Finally, asking if Walden is worth it should tell you right away not to go. If you ever question any Phd program, don't do it. A Phd is something you have for life and it opens many doors, but also closes many. If your goal is money, a Phd is a bad idea because monetary rewards aren't there. Just get a Masters degree. It has been proven to pay more. A Phd is more for decision making and research in industry than applied work. For example, a Phd in Technology would give the ability to design and formulate strategic strategy for the company, but would not qualify you for doing programming or hands on integration (unless the project is complex) due to cost. A Phd in Engineering gets you the ability to do theoretical work and architect the design of a system, but you are not likely to code the software or build the electical boards required. Its all in cost.

Finally, if you are questioning the amount you will make after you get a Phd, like mentioned, don't go get a phd. The time you will spend getting the degree will not likely pay out as good as a Masters, no matter what field your in (the only exception may be Psychology).

Good Luck.

Ex-Faculty December 29, 2008 at 5:18 p.m.

--The KAMs at Walden do make sense. Since it is distance education, the KAM is a way to show off work over a small bandwith communication (as opposed to in class discussions). The KAM, also if done correctly, should be used to published several papers.--

Would in-class discussions get published? The answer is a big fat NO. The KAM hardly has interaction as the mentor leaves you to your own devices. Without this faculty guidance it is even worse than in-class discussions.

Do you get it yet?

Jensons December 29, 2008 at 6:39 p.m.

By making up terms, these for profits can make more money! Like having "facilitators" and "learners" and "Knowledge Area Modules" and ....................

DUH!

Walden PhD Student December 29, 2008 at 8:03 p.m.

to Jensons:

Nothing is so disappointing than to read your comments for a mother who has a kid with special needs, who wanted to become a researcher to help her kid, and the only way for her to do so was to become a PhD student at Walden, and then, after spending a lot of money and time on studyings, to read your comments...

Walden PhD Student December 29, 2008 at 8:10 p.m.

Dr. John Antonakis (www.hec.unil.ch/jantonakis/) wrote and defended his dissertation at Walden and was a post doc at Yale.

Walden PhD Student December 29, 2008 at 8:16 p.m.

To PSUhD
-- Phd is a bad idea because monetary rewards aren't there

It depends on industry. Many big companies require PhD in Computer Science, for example, and offer very good monetary rewards. :)

Walden PhD Student December 29, 2008 at 8:32 p.m.

To Jensons:
--I still ask, post some links to these "Ivy" post docs that were Walden Alumni!

It is Dr. John Antonakis (www.hec.unil.ch/jantonakis/).

PSUhD December 29, 2008 at 8:45 p.m.

Walden PhD Student:

First, I still hold that there are not many monetary rewards for a Phd. Even in CS. CS is a lot like engineering, the return on investment is not as much as a MS. Some positions at Google and Microsoft might require a Phd, but they are few and far between. Those jobs will payback. Most people who go in CS or Engineering though, tend to stay in research, which is why those positions are now more like Post-docs than a regular position.

As for Dr. Antonakis, that surprises me. It should tell you not to listen to Jensons though. If you haven't noticed, s/he hasn't really posted anything worth while.

As for your specific research, I still will say a Phd from Walden will be more clincal research than anything else, which again, is NOT a bad thing.

Good Luck.

Jensons December 30, 2008 at 4:04 p.m.

Well, the truth hurts sometimes. When you find out you spent too much money on a degree that isn't very well accepted, it probably is not good.

Lets wonder why Walden would be like this. OH, I KNOW, THEY ARE OUT TO MAKE EVER LAST PENNY THEY CAN FROM ANYONE!

Walden Fan December 30, 2008 at 5:15 p.m.

At the end of the day, those folks who have earned doctorates at Walden possess bonafide credentials that have been approved and accredited by the highest authorities in the United States. The deciding factor in whether or not the Walden degree will have impact is publishing. To be a recognized scholar, if that is your wish, YOU MUST PUBLISH OR PERISH!!!! Your work must be grounded in solid research and have substance. No PhD is worth its salt without its recipient doing commensurate work in the world that is recognized as scholarly or a substantive betterment to a given and respected community. You naysayers who feel the Walden degree garners no respect are probably failures that could not earn the degree or you have it and are piss poor ignorant and too lazy at marketing yourselves, which makes you pathetic.

PSUhD December 30, 2008 at 6:39 p.m.

I think Walden Fan might be a little brash in the words, but it is pretty much correct. A Phd is only substantiated by the published findings of the research. A Phd is a lot like a house. Its nice to have, but if nothing is inside the building, its not worth having. The publications would be like the furnishings in the house.

The Walden name, like other schools, won't get you in some places and will get you in others. For example, the chances of you gettting an interview at Yale (<-using this for the specific example of the above postings) are very slim with a Walden degree, or even a Penn State degree. BUT, it is possible with good publications and connections. I have a feeling those people who knew Dr. Antonakis during his time at Yale didn't question his abilities since he went to Walden, but also didn't take Walden as the deciding factor on his credentials.

Academics is all about proving yourself all the time until you hit a certain point, and from that point on, your still proving yourself because there is always more funding needed, publications to be put out, books to be written, and more. So regardless if you are Walden or Harvard, you need to do something with the degree.

Jensons December 30, 2008 at 7:53 p.m.

Ya, publishing is one thing, but where you publish is another. I don't ever see any Walden publications in IEEE or ACM or MAA or any top journal!

Dr. B. December 30, 2008 at 8:48 p.m.

As for Jensons and others like him/her, some people simply refuse to believe that Walden produces a quality product. They refuse to believe that it is possible to learn and to earn a doctorate at a distance; especially when you include the required face to face time at residencies and the scholarly activities sponsored by the University. They refuse to believe that even with faculty and institutional governance in place, a FP university can produce quality research.

I have not done a post doc at Yale, but I have presented my research there. While I was there, I had an opportunity to network with some very key people in academia: prov from Harvard, prov from Brown, dean of Howard Law, director of faculty diversity at Harvard, provost at Cornell, and faculty at both Brown and Yale. What interested me is that even though it was "odd" that I was invited to present my research there, all of these top ranking academics were receptive to Walden's mission and its scholar-practitioner model of learning. While the provost from Brown made it clear that it is important for people in the sciences to publish in top journals, the most important thing is to get work out there so that it can be peer reviewed, judged, scrutinized, and perhaps use to progress society through dissemination of the publication. What is even most interesting is that even though Walden has had a very aggressive recruitment agenda, most of these people (including academics from top schools) have never heard of Walden. My colleagues and I earned their plaudits, however.

I am not braggadocious, but must say that I and my colleagues represented Walden extremely well @ Yale. I have been published in some pretty respectable journals (12 times since January 08) and maintain my direction in pushing out more research. I recently had articles accepted for publication in 2 journals affiliated with solid European mgnt journals. A faculty member at University of Alabama (at the advice of her colleague) researched my research history and was impressed. They have invited me to come there and work with them on a study. In March, I will be presenting twice at a higer ed association annual conference in Atlanta. I am also affiliated with AMA, and the Academy of Management which is where you will find the "top" journals in management. Institution doesn't matter... they want quality research.

And while it is clear that it is not every doctoral student's dream to teach or perform research, people will find that Walden has students and graduates placed in some very impressive areas in industry and in academic appointments.

I have not had my Ph.D. long, but I can tell you this based off of MY EXPERIENCE.....In the end, when they look at your CV, where you earned your degree will be of little importance if you have "done something with it." You MUST PUBLISH and PRESENT. That is why you find an increasing number of Walden faculty, students, and graduates publishing more and presenting more.

Dr. B. December 30, 2008 at 8:58 p.m.

I have a correction... 3rd paragraph. Should read 2 journals affiliated with solid European management associations and institutions.

Total BS December 30, 2008 at 9:02 p.m.

"I have not had my Ph.D. long, but I can tell you this based off of MY EXPERIENCE"

You sure have alot of experience for such a young Ph.D. Why don't you take an X-Lax and unload all that crap you're carrying.

Dr. B. December 30, 2008 at 9:10 p.m.

That's funny.

Walden Fan December 30, 2008 at 9:39 p.m.

Jenson and Total BS: You guys are just hateful and mean spirited. It's doubtful that you are educable because your ignorance is blinding. This is not about Walden - it is about your inferiority complexes and being complete failures in the world. My advice for you is to find a good shrink who will prescribe mega doses of Prozac or Lithium for starters and then massive extreme therapies so that you can generate the work ethic and insight to try to make something of yourselves because right now you're just marginally literate fully anti-intellectual with an axe to grind carrying around inferiority complexes. Try to acheive something so that you can feel good about yourselves. Good luck dung!

PS I bet neither one of you could complete any kind of doctoral program.

Recent news December 30, 2008 at 10:33 p.m.

How many people earned a Ph.D. in your field last year?

According to the annual Survey of Earned Doctorates, the number of research doctorates awarded by American universities reached a record high in 2007—48,079—growing overall at 5.4 percent, according to the National Science Foundation.

While the disciplines of science and engineering saw the largest increases, four key areas of growth are fields in which Walden University offers doctorates:

Business (management/administrative services)—1,505 degrees (14.9 percent increase from 2006)
Education—6,429 (5.04 percent increase from 2006)
Health—2,134 (12 percent increase from 2006)
Psychology—3,294 (1.1 percent increase from 2006)

Walden’s Multicultural Performance

Across numerous multicultural segments and degree programs, Walden ranks high, according to the publication Diverse: Issues in Higher Education. In its 2008 Top Graduate Degree Producers analysis, Diverse ranked Walden a top producer of doctorate minority graduates in these disciplines:

Business—African Americans No. 3
Health professions—African Americans No. 5
Psychology—African Americans No. 5
Business—Total minority No. 6
All disciplines—African Americans No. 9

This analysis considered graduate degrees awarded during the 2006–2007 academic year and was based on data from the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics’ Integrated Postsecondary Education Data Set.

Total BS December 31, 2008 at 12:10 a.m.

I doubt you have published anything. You are full of crap.

Dr. B. December 31, 2008 at 1:57 a.m.

You do not have to believe me. That is definitely an option for you. lol

Ex-Faculty December 31, 2008 at 4:25 a.m.

It is pretty obvious what this BS is trying to do. If Dr. B is not comfortable sharing the published work that is his/her business. While most Walden Ph.Ds are not qualified to be published there are some that make it. Going to Walden does not make you dumb Mr. BS, but it can make you lazy. If people really care about their work and have the fortitude to do a project of value it can come out quite good. It is just unfortunate that those are exceptions rather than the rule.

@Ex Faculty December 31, 2008 at 8:44 a.m.

You are a sick person. You really need a life.

Joe December 31, 2008 at 1:04 p.m.

Actually Ex-Faculty made a pretty decent point this time. With all of the psychotic people out there Dr. B. and others are right to not post their personal credentials on this board just to appease the query of a bunch of strangers. I am not concerned with Dr. B. or his credentials. I am more concerned with the for-proft v. quality issue.

There are too many crazy people out there, I will forever remain anonymous.

Walden PhD Student December 31, 2008 at 3:40 p.m.

I did some research and found this website:
www.bittnerfamily.net/resources.html
Take a look at this website and the KAMs.

Walden PhD Student December 31, 2008 at 3:43 p.m.

This is my statistics professor:
www.drdaniellebabb.com
The statistics exam was really challenging...

Walden PhD Student December 31, 2008 at 4:34 p.m.

To Ex-Faculty:
You wrote:
"Going to Walden ... can make you lazy."

Yes, I agree, but you pay more for being lazy at Walden. If you don't want to pay more - stop being lazy. :)

Walden Shame December 31, 2008 at 8:49 p.m.

Diane Stottlemyer, the infamous infamous instructor Capella who likes to showcase her PhD from the degree mill LaCrosse University (reportedly her ‘doctorate’ cost over $2,000 dollars) is now an instructor at Walden.

To Walden Shame December 31, 2008 at 9:12 p.m.

About accreditation of La Crosse:
www.lacrosseuniversity.com/accred.html

What would Dr. B say in this case? Interesting...

To Walden Shame December 31, 2008 at 9:20 p.m.

Try this forum:
forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?threadid=3571&highlight=stottlemyer

Walden Shame December 31, 2008 at 9:24 p.m.

Lacrosse University is such a fine degree mill. How many other Walden faculty bought their degrees from them? Do you think that Dr. B will admit that Walden hires faculty members from degree mills?

Ex-Faculty December 31, 2008 at 10:24 p.m.

I wouldn't hold that against them. I have seen plenty of B&Ms hiring people with Kennedy Western doctorates.

Joe December 31, 2008 at 10:53 p.m.

Walden Shame's posts are very similar to this Jeff La Marca character who is failing in his attempts to sue Capella University.

Dr. B. January 1, 2009 at 12:11 a.m.

Happy New Year everyone!

Diane Stottlemyer teaches in the newly formed BS Interdisciplinary Studies program. The credentials listed with Walden are B.A., Indiana University, and M.Q.A., California State University. She did not list a doctorate as part of her credentials.

If she did not list her doctorate on the application and is professionally of good standing, why should Walden crucify her? Did she misrepresent herself on the application...no. Background checks do not pull up whether or not a person bought/earned a degree from an unaccredited institution. She's not overseeing research. Walden can only hold her responsible for what she puts on the application.

Furthermore, why are you all downing her? I have seen where anarchists, pedofiles, and murderers who have all served their time get top appointments at traditional institutions. All of a sudden their agenda is called academic freedom.

You all need to give it up.

Ex-Faculty January 1, 2009 at 4:49 a.m.

Definetly have a Happy New Year.

I agree with Dr.B. She is faculty of the least demanding program and an undergraduate one at that. An MSQA from Cal State online isn't the most prestigous degree but it is adequate to adjunct an online BS class.

LaMarca January 1, 2009 at 4:17 p.m.

is another guy who needs a life.

Find January 2, 2009 at 2:56 p.m.

I find it interesting how Dr. Babb doesn't list her education or where she got her Phd anywhere on her site. Where you get your Phd from is extremely important. Also, how can someone teach economics, technology, statistics, and business/management? Typically at a college level, you would have a Phd in that field to teach that class. Stats and technology aren't the same. Business is nothing like stats. I understand they intersect, but get real, she is not qualified to teach all of those courses.

And having Stottlmeyr on your faculty is a bad thing. She openly lists that Phd as being real. That is not acceptable. When that happened at MIT, the person was outed and wasn't even on faculty. Anyone who uses a bought degree I have no respect for. I would never ever take a class from her or call her Doctor.

Walden Fan January 2, 2009 at 4:31 p.m.

The faculty members I worked with at Walden received their doctorates from NYU, Univ. of Minn., and Univ. of Fl. My advisors and reviewers were highly respected in their fields of study and challenged me on my work. Walden certainly requires independent study and research. Walden has the experience and technology to handle plagiarism and it is grounded in the latest technologies for learning. However, you can't afford to be lazy because the school will drain you of your finances and kick you out on your butt - this is a drawback or motivator depending on your work ethic. Walden is an opportunity for the student that is passionate about achievement, ambitious, and does not have the time or flexibility to go to a traditional B&M school. According to the NY Times, the school is "respected." Based on my experience, the school's reputation will do nothing but get better and better.

The nasty naysayers on this bulletin board appear to be just jealous and ignorant.

PSUhD January 2, 2009 at 4:44 p.m.

Walden Fan:

Can you provide a link to the article that says Walden is respected? Also, NY Times isn't much of an academic reference. If you find a Chronicle article, it would be better recieved.

I don't know if the post above was to show Dr. Babb was a Walden graduate. If she was though, I would question also why her education was never posted. Kind of like a Dr. Phil (<-sorry, an academic joke).

Walden, is again, based on the prospect that it caters to the non traditional student and provides distance learning for those who have no option of a local university, or have the option but not he lifestyle for it. Walden grads have done good things. Those who ask why always post a Walden site for alumni who have done good things can ask the same about any other school. Penn State alumni would be best researched on a Penn State website, but nobody is questioning the motivation for that. Just because Walden posts about their graduates does not mean it is for advertising, they do it because alumni like to stay in contact and understand what each person is doing. Check out UoP and you will see a lack of caring for alumni. Walden's alumni association alone should tell you people are proud of their degree.

I went to Penn State for a Phd (incase you couldn't tell by the name). I can say what I went through for 6 years was something that cannot be done online. Why? Penn State is a premier Tier I research intensive institute. Does this mean my degree is more respected than Walden? Well, if your asking about engineering or computer science in a theoretical aspect yes. If you are asking from a business standpoint, no, because my degree is not in business. If you are asking from an applied science standpoint, no, my degree is not as respected.

Again, people who hate Walden, ask why? It serves it purpose and the students there are mostly working professionals. This is why they mostly have Masters and Doctoral programs. The school isn't out to train the next Stephen Hawkings. It is out to get the working proessional credentials and a foundation to move forward in their career or switch careers.

Dr. B. January 2, 2009 at 6:14 p.m.

I know Dr. Babb and she is a joy to work with professionally. She earned her Ph.D. at Capella.

PSUhD January 2, 2009 at 6:43 p.m.

I wonder why Babb does not have her education posted on some sort of CV on her website. Maybe I missed it. Even people I know that work at Stanford still post their CV and they are the best known people in their field.

Walden Fan January 2, 2009 at 7:32 p.m.

PSuhD: Here is an excerpt from a NY Times Article called "CyberScholars" regarding Walden and online education:

"One morning in December, Sandra Kuntz, an adjunct nursing professor at Montana State University, awoke to prepare for the biggest day of her academic career. Generations of scholars have agonized over this moment: a one- to two-hour presentation to, and grilling by, a Ph.D. dissertation committee. But Ms. Kuntz didn't have to actually face the committee. Her defense would be handled from home, through a telephone conference call.

Ms. Kuntz was a student of Walden University, a for-profit institution in Minneapolis that operates without a physical campus. The four experts on her committee, mostly former professors at other colleges, were scattered nationwide. While she had met three of them only once or twice, they had been guiding her research over the last two years largely by e-mail.

''I had the option to fly them all in to Minneapolis, and I would have liked to do that,'' Ms. Kuntz, 56, says. ''But I couldn't afford it.'' So when she got up that morning, Ms. Kuntz dressed in a business suit, laid out her books and papers on the U-shaped desk in her home office (''Just in case''), and loaded her computer with her PowerPoint presentation. On the other end of the line, the committee members loaded their copies of her PowerPoint.

Like dissertations by many online students, who typically pursue inquiries related to their day jobs, Ms. Kuntz's research delved into a real-life concern: evaluating nearby counties' readiness for terrorist attacks. That morning, she started by delivering a half-hour summary of her findings. After another 30 minutes of polite questions, her Ph.D. work was finished.

As unconventional as Ms. Kuntz's experience may be, her degree brought her the advancement she was hoping for: a tenure-track position at Montana State and a raise. Ms. Kuntz had chosen Walden because Ph.D.'s in her field are not offered at Montana State or anywhere else in the area. ''This was not the best option,'' she says. ''It was the only option.''

Her story is typical of a growing number of middle-age people who are trying to advance idling careers or shift into new fields. About 5,000 to 8,000 people are currently pursuing Ph.D.'s through online programs at a dozen or so institutions, generally in health and human services, business, education and psychology. Fields like laboratory sciences are not far behind.

A recent survey of top administrators at 994 higher-education institutions suggests online education's new respectability. The survey, conducted by Babson College for the Boston-based Sloan Consortium, found that 57 percent consider online studies to be equal to or better than face-to-face instruction..."

Jensons January 2, 2009 at 9:19 p.m.

The article left out "Ms. Kuntz needed to pay her tuition and $5000 graduation fee before the degree would be mailed to her however". What a joke, she couldn't fly because she couldn't afford it, but she is paying $75K for the degree? Makes no sense. You cannot do a dissertation away. Its been proven that over 50% of communication is body language.

Walden Fan January 2, 2009 at 9:42 p.m.

Jenson: Are you kidding? All schools require payment of tuition and administrative/student fees before graduating.

This is the furture:

Those students, mostly 30-ish middle managers and professionals trying to enhance their skills, cannot be with her in a Penn State classroom at a set time. One woman is an Air Force pilot flying missions over Afghanistan; other global travelers filed comments last week from Tokyo, Athens, São Paulo and Copenhagen. Dr. Duck cannot regularly be at Penn State, largely because of her three children. Yet she and other instructors will help the students acquire standard M.B.A.’s next August at a total cost of $52,000, with each side having barely stepped into a traditional classroom.
Welcome to the brave burgeoning world of online education. It’s a world most of us, whether we like it or not, will have to grapple with, as students, tuition-paying parents or employees. Nearly 3.5 million college or graduate students, one of every five, took at least one online course last fall, double the figures of five years earlier, according to a survey of 2,500 campuses published last week in a collaboration among the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the College Board and a Babson College research group.
Taken at face value, the study was chilling. This writer’s first impulse was to recall a college course taught by Irving Howe, who read Robert Frost’s poems with tenderness and an edge of menace that conveyed the poet’s respect for the sinister beauty of nature. Those poems would not be as richly appreciated online.
Yet for now such fears would be misplaced. The study’s fine print makes clear that growth is not across the board. Selective private four-year colleges that are the subject of so much angst this season are barely dipping their toes, typically providing online courses for students studying abroad or slackers who needed that 8 a.m. math course to graduate. Some, though, have taken note; for example, Columbia for several years has offered online master’s degrees in some engineering fields.

Walden Fan January 2, 2009 at 9:43 p.m.

(Cont'd):

Still, the surge is mostly among community colleges, professional programs like business and education, specialized online schools like the University of Phoenix, and public universities like Penn State and Illinois that feel obligated to accommodate far-flung residents. And the numbers are expected to grow partly because Congress last year dropped a requirement that colleges deliver half their courses on actual campuses in order to qualify for federal aid, a move critics saw as an enticement for diploma mills. Just as newspaper and television professionals are fumbling to figure out how to survive in an Internet world they did not grow up in, professors and students are realizing that they will have to learn, as one wag once said, to play the violin while performing at Carnegie Hall. QUESTIONS persist. What kind of content works best online, and what gets lost in translation? Which instructors and students function best in the virtual classroom? What happens to all those brick-and-mortar dormitories? How do you calculate the price of tuition? … For those who shrug off online courses as watered-down soup, Dr. Duck and her students say courses like theirs at Penn State’s World Campus — the university’s online division, with 300 courses for 7,500 undergraduates and graduate students — require many more hours of work; discussion is not limited by a classroom hour. They confess, however, that they miss the ability to read expressions and body language that confirm that a point has been truly understood.
Online courses may not be suited to subjects like laboratory science or theater, but can work fine for the nut-and-bolts information and analysis required in a history survey or for the editing needed for a basic writing course. Still, even in those fields many professors would feel lost online.
Dr. Duck, a respected instructor who taught conventionally for nine years and online for five, said she “wouldn’t go back to the classroom if they doubled my salary.” Her work, she thinks, is on the frontier of education in a global economy
In her dining room, her children sometimes pause beside her as she teaches, and she does not shoo them away.
“It’s good for them to see this in action,” she said. “It’s going to be their world.”
E-mail: joeberg@nytimes.com

PSUhD January 2, 2009 at 10:08 p.m.

Hey now, lets not beat up on old PSU! BTW, they also offer online degrees, although the MBA requires residencies, much like the Phds at Walden.

Your point is taken and rightfully so that online degrees and schools are here to stay. Much like online banks, online companies, etc etc because virtualization can reach a much more broad audience. Hence again, why I want to teach professionals at Walden (I have not done so yet).

As for Jensons, please do not respond to those comments, it only encourages more "jibber jabber" that is useless.

Also, thank you for posting the article in the NYT, I did not read it or see it (I typically don't read or watch the news because I don't think it is usually worth it anymore unless I want to see all the money the US is losing).

Dr. B and anyone else from Walden, I am wondering if you have run into any snobbish academics who initially or still have snubbed you for a Walden Phd. I spent a semester working on something at MIT and I wasn't well received at first by the Harvard side. I was told my degree and research was not "research tier I material" and the only reason I got in was "my doctoral advisor is **** the fellow granter".

Walden Fan January 2, 2009 at 11:21 p.m.

At the end of the day, being respected at anything has something to do with one's own accomplishments/reputation, bearing and carriage. Case in point, I had a professor, who was tenured in undergrad (highly regarded B&M) who was regarded as a worldwide authority and scholar as a historian and he earned his degrees from a "diploma mill",but, no one would even think of challenging his authority. He constantly fought with world renowned scholars and was well received internationally and he was even a guest scholar at an Ivy League University. At the end of the day, it is not the dog in the fight but the fight in the dog. The world is a scrappy place and you have to prepare to defend your credentials and credibility no matter where you come from and part of the preparation is knowing your craft both the soft (human touch) and hard (technical knowledge) aspects. Walden is not for sissies but hardcore worldly lifetime learners who are determined - any other type will be grist for the money mill and kicked out for being inadequate.

There are many smart people who graduate from Walden expecting the degree to be their "ticket in" - it does not work that way, Walden graduates must challenge the status quo by producing quality work or fighting their naysayers because the "Walden" experience can be awesome. Like life, it is what you make of it.

Dr. B. January 3, 2009 at 2:42 a.m.

This has been an interesting discussion. And aside from the comments of people like Jensons, this has been a positive experience.

PSUhD... To answer your question.. no I have not. It is probably because I have no desire to be in those types of places.... other than to present my research, answer some questions, and back on my flight to the next conference I try not to remain in those types of environments... lol.

Many people, I find, are quite interested in online learning. I have tenured faculty at traditional institutions asking me about online pedagogy and delivery..etc. all the time. Now here is the flip side,.....

I'm a graduate of Walden, and in spite of what others think about the institution, I am an academic snob. It definitely is not because of where I earned my degree. Instead, it is because of my track record. I am an expert in my field and have the research and publishing experience behind me to prove it. The key to this is... My snobbery does not manifest until the environment that I am in at the time is full of academic snobs.

Other than this board, I have yet to have my credentials questioned. Most people research my scholarly history before inviting me in on projects anyway.. so there isn't much to question at that point.

Walden PhD January 3, 2009 at 5:30 a.m.

You have little room for snobbery. You are at your institution by the good graces of people trying to give you a leg-up despite the limited educational opportunities you had that required you to turn online. You may think your publications make you the 'cat's meow' but little does everyone know that there are journals out there that will publish anything legable because they aren't recieving enough submissions to fill up their content. You are one of many doctorates Walden has pumped out over the years and you will always be associated with the rest of us who are working professionals, not academic snobs... please spare us your contempt!

If you didn't know January 3, 2009 at 5:51 a.m.

Mr.B teaches at a Community College. He is about as far up the ladder as the first rung. It doesn't take but a Masters degree to be in his position. He is little more than a fake PHD with a superiority complex.

Mr. B LOL January 3, 2009 at 7:02 a.m.

Did Mr. B get a PhD from Lacrosse University? His friend, Diane Stottlemyer, has a bio ( people.capella.edu/pg/friends/summerinside?view=opendd ) that says:

"My name is Diane Stottlemyer and I have a Ph.D in Business Administration with a concentration in Applied Computer Science and Instructional Curriculum Leadership. I also have a MSQA in Quality Assurance.

I am an adjunct professor as well as a quality assurance consultant. My goal in life is to continue to learn and strive to enhance my knowledge in the field of education and quality assurance.

I have dedicated my life to teaching, research and studying. I have found that there is unlimited resources available to enhance and continually learn. It is my goal to continually strive to make changes in curriculum and teaching methodologies so that all students can achieve an educational experience as well as apply quality concepts in business organizations so they can achieve excellence.

Teaching can be a rewarding opportunity. Many strive for excellence when working in the field of education. Reaching that goal can be a challenge. It is important as a teacher and administrator to provide specific goals and objectives and make sure that the quality of education is derived from those goals and objectives. It is also essential to provide a quality of education that is accessible for all individuals no matter what their concentration, ambitions or goals.

My research interests include:

Online education
Online communities
Multicultural environments
Quality assurance in education
E-learning techniques and challenges"

Did she learn about Quality Assurance, Instructional Curriculum Leadership while she was researching and buying fake degrees from a diploma mill? Maybe Walden hired her because of her research skills? Can anyone find a single item of research Diane Stottlemyer has conducted?

Mr. B must be right because Walden must not do background to find out whether or not if their faculty have bought/earned a degree from diploma mill. That's why Stottlemyer is now teaching at Walden.

Ex-Faculty January 3, 2009 at 7:29 a.m.

Dr.B teaches at CC? And he has the gaul to deride me... that is hilarious! This is just another case of why Walden should not confer Ph.Ds. It creates self-inflated egoes that, in reality, have no merit.

Dr. B. January 3, 2009 at 1:27 p.m.

Ex-Faculty, you strike me as a "bright" person. Where did I ever mention that I worked for a CC? The person who states that I do, please show proof.

I have been very clear about the type of institution I work for. While I have no problem with CCs I do not work or one. How can I work with doctoral students and serve on dissertation committees at a CC? Think about it.

People come onto this board and start unnecessary drama from time to time. Please don't succomb to their ignorance and sensationalization.

For the person who questioned my academic snobbery.... I was clear in stating that it only shows when necessary. I am a very pleasant person to work with and all of the dissertations that I help to oversee are of quality.

As for Walden Ph.D., as much admiration and respect that I hold for you (because of Walden), I suggest that you read through the posts before posting... be clear what you are posting too.... and perhaps don't knock me for my work... instead get like me. I was clear that my snobbery was on another level and not like what most think. If it were not for my snobbery, I would not have been able to fit in with the "top dogs". It only shows when necessary and sad to say, is sometimes necessary. All of my students know that I am there to help them. The University asks me to serve on committees all the time. And I am not a trouble-starter on the faculty senate.

Ex-Faculty January 3, 2009 at 7:15 p.m.

That's a good question. My apologies for not reading through the hundred thousand words of garbage posts on this page. Having since reviewed it, I notice you were still ABD only a year ago. How you work with doctoral students, serve on dissertation committees, and speak at conferences is yet a bigger question for such a newly minted PhD from Walden.

Dr. B. January 3, 2009 at 9:25 p.m.

It was a bit longer than a year ago. :-)

To be honest.... I had a wonderful mentor/dissertation chair (Harvard Grad) and worked with some extremely academically and professionally strong people in my cohort. My chair encouraged me and supported everything I did. He even quoted some of my work in his work. He was a God send.... and has yet to seek credit for any of the work I did. My cohort was extraordinary too.. everyone was serious about learning and producing scholarly work.

Also, when I go to conferences, I make long-lasting connections with prominent people. I guess this is where my business background benefits me. Even though I am there to participate in scholarly discussion and present my research, I am shaking and baking future relationships the entire time. I guess the nearly 5 years I spent in the Ph.D. program was spent trying to "position myself". A lot of doctoral students and candidates fail to do this until the last minute and end up looking lost after graduation. Because of my background and networking, I had an appointment waiting for me the moment I graduated.

Dr. B. January 3, 2009 at 9:34 p.m.

One more thing......

I knew that by attending Walden U, there was a lot of stigma and back-biting that I would have to fight once I graduated. So I moved strategically to get things done throughout my matriculation. I never desired to attend Harvard, but knew that I possessed similar knowledge and outweighed the professional experience of any Harvard business graduate. While I was there to learn, it was equally important for me to position myself for post doc success.

My committee kept reminding me of the stigma that existed against Walden and online institutions, which is why they pushed and pushed me to submit a quality dissertation. Some people forget it, which is why I constantly remind the Waldenites I know to keep publishing and presenting their work.

Ihwu January 5, 2009 at 4:02 a.m.

I'm sure Mr B there is a respected academic snob. Sure, any for profit can make it with the Yales. You paid for your degree and didn't earn it. Walden will graduate anyone who pays for it, just like all the other for profits. You didn't even have to take the GREs or spend any time at school learning to research. I would never call you doctor or believe you did anything worth while. Did you get your undergrad and masters at Pheonix too? Yeah, they are so highly respected themseleves. Anyone who goes to Walden should not be proud or care about your degree. Its not respected and your better off using a degree you get out of a cracker jacks box.

Walden Student January 5, 2009 at 11:10 p.m.

Just found this website. This is Rick Blunt's site. You can take a look at his KAMs and thesis.
www.rickblunt.com/phd/

Jack is back January 6, 2009 at 6:38 p.m.

This crap is funny. I come back to this site (once in a blue moon) whenever I need a laugh. Waldenites and Cappellites and lets not forget the Pheonicians, will all defend their store bought degrees to the death. I find it comical that they try to compare their degrees to tier 1 schools. They claim that "not everyone wants to work in academia". Well, thats nice, but then getting a PhD is kind of an exercise in futility because the vast majority of positions in industry don't require a PhD. A masters will suffice just fine, thank you very much. And for those of you who seem to think that one day soon the for-profit PhD will be an accepted standard in traditional academia, I only have one thing to say....

Keep Dreaming LOL

Walden Fan January 6, 2009 at 10:28 p.m.

It seems that the techie dregs enjoy knocking that which they have not experienced. Open admissions is a cool thing. Actually, aspiring students should be given the chance to pursue a good education through open admissions, which is/was a practice at CUNY, and they should be flunked out if they can't make the grade. All of the naysayers could not make the grade at Walden. Online education is here to stay, Matter of fact, many tier 1 B&M schools are implementing distance programs.

CUNY January 6, 2009 at 11:31 p.m.

CUNY is not open admissions, undergraduate is " SAT or ACT scores are required for admission to a CUNY four-year college." Graduate schools require GMAT...ect.

"You should laugh at yourselves for being so ignorant and backwards (LMAO)."

Maybe if you were correct, but since not you are the only one being laughed at.

Actually January 7, 2009 at 1:16 a.m.

ACT and SAT scores are required at most universities. That does not mean you can't get in with an extremely low score though. GMAT and GRE are the same thing. Most students who have low scores on these exams are admitted but conditionally (depending on the institution)

This is still the same thing as open admissions. You just have to take the exam.d

I got my MBA at a state university which is AACSB accredited. I didn't take the GMAT. Instead they converted my extremely low GRE score and I was admitted as a standard student.

That is true January 7, 2009 at 5:18 p.m.

GMAT and GRE scores are mostly a formality.

Walden Fan January 7, 2009 at 5:25 p.m.

CUNY: You DO NOT know what you're talking about because I know people who went to a CUNY school under open admissions.

Walden Fan January 7, 2009 at 5:39 p.m.

CUNY's open admissions policy to 4 year schools was revised in 1999 to take root as follows:

CUNY students who are not directly admitted to the senior colleges because they do not meet academic admissions standards can choose to enroll in an associate degree program at one of CUNY’s community colleges, take part in "immersion" programs offered in the summer and winter months, find public or private tutoring, or participate in the one-semester "Prelude to Success" program taught by community college faculty at senior colleges. The graduates of the community college programs then earn admission to the senior colleges.

At the end of the day, the process is still tantamount to the intent of Open Admissions. The difference in the prior Open Admissions policy is that entering a four year college was direct rather than circuitous, but, a rose by any other name is still a rose.

Yup... January 7, 2009 at 10:57 p.m.

It sure is. University of New Orleans has open admissions also.

CUNY January 8, 2009 at 1:38 a.m.

CUNY is a university system... it has CCs in it which are the same as any other. If you screw up in HS you can attend CC, redeem yourself and transfer to a 4 year institution. It is the same anywhere. Your transcripts will still show it. CUNY is no different. CUNY also has different levels of universities included under the umbrella, if you go to a lesser CUNY school, it will haunt you the same as if you do it in a lesser SUNY, UC, or similiar type of system. Your diploma doesn't just say CUNY and you don't just put CUNY when you fill in education on your job applications.

Walden Fan January 8, 2009 at 6:42 p.m.

CUNY: Your point is well taken, however, a lesser school only hurts someone who does not "know" the right people. Hell, Dick Cheney and Sarah Palin graduated from "lesser schools" after a number of transfers and look at them VP of The United States after being the CEO of a major corporation and the other was a mayor and then became a govenor. The point is to be a "success" professionally entails more than just graduating from the "right school".

Hopefully, your job application will carry some experience and you'll know someone that can get you in the door.

Dr. B. January 8, 2009 at 7:52 p.m.

Great point, Walden Fan. I learned early in business school that not only is it important to know the right people... but to also know that the right people know you!

Walden Fan January 8, 2009 at 9 p.m.

Thank you

Academic snob January 9, 2009 at 6:11 a.m.

Networking is fine if you plan on staying in the same organization as much of the internal hires are conducted in such a fashion. If you plan on going somewhere else, don't count on it. I never relied on my friends to land me a job and I hope you wouldn't either. You have to make your own mark and your educational background is a part of it.

Using Bush lackies for examples is rather irrelavent to the 'common man'

Not Common January 9, 2009 at 1:22 p.m.

I am a common man who happens to have some well connecated friends, family members, and associates. If I can make a call and be able to make an upward move professionally, then so be it.

Academic Freedom January 9, 2009 at 3:39 p.m.

Academic snob: Everyone who has risen to greatness or success did it with the help of a network. No one has risen to success without the help of others. Think before you commment. Something is VERY wrong with your thinking.

IMEM January 9, 2009 at 3:47 p.m.

Academic Snob: It has to be true that your network can move you up. If its not, then how the heck does a Walden or Phoenix Phd get a job teaching? Everyone knows the degrees are store bought and worthless except those idiots who buy them.

Academic Freedom January 9, 2009 at 4:02 p.m.

Schools with multi-billion dollar endowments are working on a business model just like Walden. Walden is the newest version. Bush graduated from Yale and Harvard, I guess his degrees are store bought as well, which means if you're wealthy enough any school will sell you a degree, tier 1 schoools included.

It is amazing how limited you folks are. Walden students are amazing. Go to Youtude and watch:

Dr. Sally Lorbach
Dr. Sharon Freeman
Dr. Tim Bolton
Dr. Judith Defries

Maybe this will lift the sincerely misled out of their ignorance.

Smart Guy January 9, 2009 at 6:36 p.m.

I would probably trust these people more than Harvard snobs.

Academic snob January 9, 2009 at 9:13 p.m.

"Everyone who has risen to greatness or success did it with the help of a network. No one has risen to success without the help of others. Think before you commment. Something is VERY wrong with your thinking."

Perhaps you should review your own thinking... there is such a thing as merit based success. When you move away from your network they are not there to support you. Your record is then all you have. It must be nice to have a job that you are unqualified for and given anyway. This is what is wrong with the Bush administration.

"I am a common man who happens to have some well connecated friends, family members, and associates. If I can make a call and be able to make an upward move professionally, then so be it."

So are you common or not common? Your title makes it unclear. If you are so well connected then I must say you are 'not common.' If you are speaking to references then I doubt if that seals any deals. If you are speaking to actually recieving a job based on family/friends, then you must be highly endebted to them since not being able to make it on your own. Some of us don't want to owe people such favors.

If the only way to succeed with a Walden degree is to rely on others for a job, you are at an even bigger disadvantage to traditional institutions. Their connections are better and career services are superior to what Walden provides.

Walden produces more.... January 9, 2009 at 10:39 p.m.

Walden produces more than starch collared, socially dysfunct academics. Its scholar-pracitioners are making a real difference in this world. alumnimag.waldenu.edu/26152_26203.htm

Walden = < January 10, 2009 at 12:39 a.m.

Thanks for all the Walden commercials posted on Utube, that really helps prove the point Walden is a profiteering business and not a respected institution. Alumni mags are publications reserved for alumni in REAL schools. They don't have to advertise their achievements because everyone knows they excel. Out of all the hundreds of thousands who have gradauted from Walden, only a handful have actually achieved anything of note, and hardly any of them need to thank Walden.

Accreditor January 10, 2009 at 5:38 a.m.

If you check with the accrediting body of Walden, you will see just how many degrees were conferred. WU only conferred 185 doctorates last year. Most of the degrees conferred are at the master's level.

Simone January 12, 2009 at 2:45 p.m.

What do you mean ONLY 185? Most schools typically graduate way less than that! For an online program, that is a joke. That is also why nobody respects online doctoral programs.

Second, what makes you think "Walden is the way of the future"? That is so far from the truth its sick. All of these for profits will eventually drop off because of lack of quality output. All they do good is advertise.

Academic Freedom January 12, 2009 at 3:37 p.m.

Walden=< : This is for you. All the schools have postings on Youtube for their goods, even tier ones.

Simone January 12, 2009 at 5:50 p.m.

Also, again, accreditation does not mean respect or quality, stop comparing the two. Your argument is like saying "Kia cars are sold in the US and have a charter as a business, so they must be top quality"!

Academic Freedom January 12, 2009 at 7:02 p.m.

Simone: accreditation means a standard has been met, which can't be dismissed as you're suggesting. Funding and certain opportunities are afforded to accredited schools. If the standard is met for accreditation then a modicum of respected is extended. The regional accreditation bodies are a BIG deal for coleges and universities nationwide. It measureS SET standards associated with teaching quality, PhDs on the faculty, instruction methodolgy, etc. Your Kia analogy is off.

PSUhD January 12, 2009 at 7:15 p.m.

I think the posts above are all off and missing something.

Can somebody please operationally define the following terms?

Quality
Accreditation
University
Standard
Research

And how they relate? I don't think anyone has really connected anything. It is all very subjective and both sides seem to be very ignorant. One sees Walden as horrible, the other great. The truth is, all academics are somewhere in the middle of these. So maybe by defining the terms, it will help.

PSUhD January 12, 2009 at 7:55 p.m.

I beleive you misunderstood what I meant. Bandwidth is limited for expressions online.

What I meant is that the two argument sides are from two different schools. One saying online schools are the best and the other that traditional ones are. I have a feeling that each argument is from someone who is all one or the other. Each of these is usually different for the terms I presented. What I'm asking, is for both sides to operationalize the terms as they have different meanings to each individual school of thought. If they are defined, perhaps a better arguments will be provided.

Dr. B. January 12, 2009 at 8:09 p.m.

PSUhD.... I must to agree with you again. I'm not saying anyone is ignorant, but the naysayers should post something more substantive than saying that Walden sucks..etc. I place the same challenge in the hands of the Waldenites on this board who know for a fact that Walden graduates are doing something in their field and are bringing about positive social change.

To all....

Operationalization is something I learned in a research class at Walden. I doubt that many of the naysayers on this board can even process the term. This is why I think it isn't worth the time to even argue with them.

As for academics, I have published a few articles on matters in higher education and I believe that your statement about all academics falling somewhere in the middle is right on point.... this is including business schools. Every institution is connected to some extent and all have had students who either love it or hate it. The experience is subjective, which seems to guide most of the posts on this board....

As for accreditation.... Walden is regionally accredited by the HLC of the NCA. This is the same accrediting body that accredits UoChicago, Northwestern..etc. If regional accreditation was not important why won't the other instutions drop out of it?

I oftentimes visit the UoP, Capella, and NCU boards just to see what's going on... the same negative posters on here are the same on there. There agenda is quite transparent.

Ex-Faculty January 13, 2009 at 1:20 a.m.

I think some of the naysayers need to check their own programs. I have been associated with many online and traditional education programs in my time, and I can say that Walden is no less of a program on the Masters level. On the other hand, I do have disdain for the Walden Ph.D. because quite frankly, I don't think they have any business offering them.

Walden = < January 13, 2009 at 1:52 a.m.

You can keep calling me names but that doesn't change the fact you are here compensating for the negative rep of your school. I have never gone to a review site of my schools to defend my degrees; I never had to as no one would ever question their reputation. After reviewing this school from people who have taught on the inside, we know Walden phds are crap. From the level of doctoral persons here, we know them to be dilusional as to what they actually have. None of them are accomplished thanks to Walden. They just have a legal piece of paper that they can call themselves doctor with. Now that Obama is coming into office, he will shut down these for-profit diploma mills by shutting down Title IV.. He thinks they are a "drain on public funds." hahaha

Walden = < January 13, 2009 at 7:32 p.m.

Schools like Walden cheapen the value of everyone's degrees. What does it mean to be a PhD anymore when Walden will confer them to anyone with minimul effort? Any clown can get into this school because it is open enrollment. Doctoral students at Walden have no idea how hard it is to earn a REAL doctorate. The residency at Walden is a joke. The KAM work is a joke. When they finally get to the dissertation they pump out garbage that passes. Teachers who get these graduate degrees are now milking the school districts for raises they didn't earn which means my kids get less funding that should be for them. Not to mention the drain on public funds Obama says they are. This school is a parasite to the public and as a tax payer, I am outraged.

Ex-Faculty January 13, 2009 at 10:01 p.m.

I agree somewhat with the Ph.D. comments but as I already stated, the M.Eds in many traditional schools are just as easy. The education degrees are really watered down these days across the board. The problem with Walden in this department is a grade inflation of about 10%. When you get to the graduate level an 80% is the accepted passing grade and Walden students who would earn a C anywhere else end up passing.

Walden PhD January 14, 2009 at 7:11 a.m.

I doubt it. There are at least a half dozen different people trolling these boards that hate online degrees. We shouldn't be suprised they support each other.

Simone January 14, 2009 at 3:41 p.m.

Again, I dont' care about the online factor, it is that stupid FOR-PROFIT factor that is a drain. And if "Academic Freedom" beleives that Walden is a "high quality degree" and is better than a traditional school, well that is just self delusional. Please give me some links that show Walden was rated high by the Chronicle, or some other academic PEER publication! Please don't post a link that ends in "walden.edu" because it is a joke. You need a third party that is unbias.

Walden Fan January 14, 2009 at 4:59 p.m.

Simone - This was in US News & World Report (10/15/2001):

"At the well-regarded Walden University, which has been offering Ph.D.'s online since 1993 to students some of whom have gone on to teach at Yale University, serve in the Bush administration, and head up companies, faculty prepare weekly discussion topics for chat rooms and participate in extensive E-mail conversations with students. Other schools, like the University of Baltimore, ensure student-professor interaction by requiring students to log on at least three times a week and grading them on their contributions to the discussion boards. At the end of such courses, there can be over 3,000 postings on group discussion boards. For Wendy Sahli, 30, an undergraduate student at the University of Maryland-University College, getting gobs of individual attention from a professor via E-mail was one of the best aspects of her online coursework: In traditional classrooms, class time is precious. [With E-mail] I feel like I can ask the instructor questions without distracting the other students."

This story appeared in the October 15, 2001 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.

Walden=< January 14, 2009 at 10:38 p.m.

That's funny because I found that excerpt word for word on this for-profit marketing site.

www.graduateguidedl.com/dlfaq.asp

Walden Fan January 15, 2009 at 12:24 a.m.

The important part of the statement is that the highly referred to and respected US News & World Report, the periodical that ranks schools, recognized Walden as follows:

"At the well-regarded Walden University, which has been offering Ph.D.'s online since 1993 to students some of whom have gone on to teach at Yale University, serve in the Bush administration, and head up companies..." (10/15/2001)

Walden = < January 15, 2009 at 1:14 a.m.

You are so busted my lazy friend. I just happened to find that article you were citing. Read what Walden's CEO said in the SAME article...

<<But can an online education truly compare to learning in the classroom? Even some online boosters say no. "The closer you are to Socrates," says Bob Scales, CEO of Walden University, "the farther you should be from distance learning.">>

Cited: U.S. News: "So where's the beef" (10/15/01)

74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:9NIRaO4Ya8YJ:www.onlinemaed.com/news/quality.pdf+www.onlinemaed.com/news/quality.pdf&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

Even the CEO of Walden said his school was inferior to traditional learning. What's really funny is that the principles of Socrates are a major part of education programs and the CEO has the ballz to say that for a college that is largely education majors. The closer you are to stupid the closer you should be to Walden. The next to time you quote a publication you better read the entire article or your lazyness will come back to bite you in the butt as it has here. You read some Walden Ponder byline with that in it yet can't bother to look up the original article. That is my biggest problem with you for-profit online grads, you are so freakn lazy it is ridiculous.

Ex-Faculty January 15, 2009 at 8:29 a.m.

While that comeback was pretty good, you are forgetting one thing about Socrates and a degree from Walden; it isn't challenging any truths. It is a professions based degree so they are just learning what has already been done before. That is what Bob Scales was getting at in his comments. His statement also validates my contention that Walden should not be offering Ph.Ds.

Simone January 15, 2009 at 4:36 p.m.

I'm wondering why Walden people feel this urge and need to defend their degree. I have a degree from The Ohio University, and nobody ever questions me, let alone the need to defend it on an online site that has no merit what-so-ever either way. The one thing this site and others like it prove is that the FOR PROFIT DEGREES are in question. I encourage you to go find a site that does the same thing for Penn State, or any other traditional school. A site that has a bunch of students posting about how much they hate it, or even ANYONE who posts about the validity of the traditional schools. Let alone and THISSCHOOLSUCKS.com. There was a lot for Walden and Phoenix. And you still think Walden is worth defending? I guess if I wasted $50K for a degree, I would do the same.

The Chronicle January 15, 2009 at 7:48 p.m.

Ohio is a public institution. It also has its flaws, which is manifested in its so called alumnus bickering on this board.

Established in 1804, Ohio University is the oldest public institution of higher learning in the state of Ohio and the first in the Northwest Territory. It's College of Education is also on probation and will receive another site visit in October 2009.

Simone January 15, 2009 at 9:10 p.m.

Right, its still better than Walden. Lets take a poll across academics and ask Walden's peers. Face it, Walden is a joke and a drain on society. I would have no problem with Walden except that it waters down the term Phd just like stated above, simply to make a profit.

To Simone January 15, 2009 at 9:45 p.m.

Even though you are a person who erroniously bragged that their alma mater (THE OHIO UNIVERSITY) was not a public institution (even though it has always been one) I have to ask you this dear scholar, where did you earn your doctorate and in what area?

To say that Ohio is better than Walden is purely baseless and totally subjective. I mean, you didn't even know that Ohio was a public institution, which tells me you never attended unless it was to someone else's graduation.

Ohio's College of Education has been on probation since 2007 and is in jeopardy of losing it forever. Several of the Colleges at Ohio have been on probation or some form of corrective action.

What is there to brag about?

Simone January 15, 2009 at 10:11 p.m.

www.insidehighereducation.com/news/2008/...

The Chronicle January 15, 2009 at 10:35 p.m.

College of Santa Fe turned to Laureate Education (a short while ago) for help. Laureate loaned the institution $35 million dollars to help cover the non-profit college's debt. Talks for Laureate to purchase CSF because it didn't want to take on the non-profit college's mountainous debt.

There are a lot of NP institutions closing their doors.

Today's Chronicle January 15, 2009 at 10:39 p.m.

It pains me to think how the traditionalists at these top universities want to down Walden for making a positive change in society when you have these "well respected" academics cheating their rear ends off!!!

James B. Twitchell, an English professor at the University of Florida, has retired after it suspended him for five years for plagiarism.

The university’s decision, first reported by Inside Higher Ed, would have required Mr. Twitchell to provide evidence that he had not committed further plagiarism in order to be reinstated to the faculty. But Mr. Twitchell’s retirement has made that provision moot.

Over the past decade, Mr. Twitchell became well known for his writing on American consumerism, with books like AdCult USA and Branded Nation. He also has contributed to The Chronicle Review. Last spring The Gainesville Sun reported that he had lifted multiple descriptive passages in several of his books. Mr. Twitchell acknowledged at the time that he had “cheated.” —Thomas Bartlett

Chronicle News Alert January 15, 2009 at 10:42 p.m.

January 15, 2009
Capella U. Settles Lawsuit Against Former Student
Capella University announced today that it has settled a countersuit against a former student who sued the online university in June 2005, alleging an antidisability bias.

The countersuit, which was filed in 2005, claims that the the student, Jeff La Marca, defamed the university and interfered with its business relationships. Mr. La Marca posted online comments and images critical of the university and its lawyers during the course of the original litigation, the university said.

Mr. La Marca — whose original suit claimed that Capella had violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by using technology that did not accommodate his learning disabilities — has issued an apology and will hand over his Web sites to Capella for removal, the university said.

Mr. La Marca’s original suit was thrown out in November by a federal judge, who ruled that the student was not considered disabled under the Americans With Disabilities Act and that the institution had provided reasonable accommodation. As part of the settlement, Mr. La Marca has also withdrawn his appeal of that decision, the university said. —David Shieh

Link to apology: www.capella.edu/vc/inc/pdf/la_marcas_apo...

I Love It January 15, 2009 at 10:55 p.m.

Many of the people are here are probably "LaMarcas" lol

The Chronicle January 16, 2009 at 12:21 a.m.

Walden has moved beyond traditional engineering programs. ABET means nothing if the curricula is outdated.

Carnegie Foundation Calls for Overhaul of Engineering Education

The nation’s engineering schools are using outdated educational practices that focus too heavily on imparting technical knowledge and do not do enough to prepare undergraduate students for the profession, according to a new report issued by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

The report, “Educating Engineers: Designing for the Future of the Field,” argues that, in the midst of worldwide transformation of the engineering profession, undergraduate engineering programs in the United States continue to approach problem-solving and knowledge acquisition in an outdated manner. Moreover, engineering programs’ solution to improving the education they offer has been simply to add more courses, rather than reconsidering the design of their programs.

Instead of having a “jam-packed curriculum focused on technical knowledge,” engineering programs should be doing more to help students develop analytical reasoning, practical skills, and professional judgment, the report says.

“We are calling for a new model that will involve fundamentally rethinking the role and even the makeup of the faculty,” Sheri D. Sheppard, a co-author of the report who directed a long-term study of engineering education for the foundation, said in a written statement issued today.

“Among other things, the new model gives more importance to teachers and researchers who are sympathetic to professional concerns and have some interest in them,” Ms. Sheppard said.

“Educating Engineers” is the third in a series of reports on professional education issued by Carnegie’s Preparation for the Professions Program, which is conducting two- or three-year studies of training in various fields. The program also has issued reports on the preparation of lawyers and members of the Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish clergy, and it plans in the coming months to issue reports on the preparation of nurses and physicians. —Peter Schmidt

Academic Freedom January 16, 2009 at 5:43 p.m.

Walden Fan: Walden=<, is correct about Bob Scales being employed at Walden, but, what he is wrong about is the intent of Mr. Scales' communication. Mr. Scales means you have to work harder in a virtual situation to replicate the classroom experience, which does not negate that fact that US News & World states that Walden is highly regarded. It has been my observation that Walden students are hardworkers and that Walden is a challenging academic experience.

What Walden=< fails to note is the remaining part of the paragraph which says:

Carol Twigg of the Center for Academic Transformation disagrees: It's the classroom that's inadequate, she argues. "That's where one size fits all."

Walden PhD Student January 16, 2009 at 9:38 p.m.

To write a PhD thesis, in the first chapter we should write the following:

- Background to the problem
- Theoretical framework and basis of the study
- Purpose of the study
- Research questions
- Rationale for the study
- Significance of the study
- Implications for social change
- Hypotheses
- Method
- Definition of terms
- Scope
- Delimitations and Limitations
- Organization of the study
- Assumptions
- Outline of the study

All Walden dissertations contain this parts, as well as lit review and methodology, results, conclusions, recommendations. I found it helpful since I recently took a look at a PhD dissertation written at University of Florida where I could find the Abstract only and about 80% of text taken from the books and papers and results of case studies. So, it took me a lot of time to find out what was new in this thesis, what was the scope, assumptions, etc.; there was no literature review - the author just mentioned some names among which one could find his advisor's name.

I usually don't find the parts listed at the beginning of my message in B&M university dissertations - maybe they are not important? Especially I don't find any description of methodology used in B&M dissertations, though I do find lit review but in many cases they aren't up to date...

By the way, before applying for a PhD program at Walden, I had a chance to compare dissertations written at a regular (even Ivy) university and the ones written at Walden. To my opinion, Walden dissertations were good enough for me to make a decision to become a Walden PhD student.

Walden PhD Student January 16, 2009 at 10:07 p.m.

There are the following important things, I think, one has to consider when applying for a program at any University:

- accreditation; the University should be recognized by the government, and it gives you the right to put credentials beside your name on your business card.

- the faculty; the faculty should have degrees from accredited schools and published papers. I would prefer the faculty experienced in the industry as well - the knowledge comes not only from the books but from real life, too.

I went to Ivy and non-Ivy schools in different countries, and prefer non-Ivy universities because the faculty there is more friendly while the Ivy faculty in most cases is unreachable - it often takes 2 weeks for them to answer your emails and they have only a couple of minutes to talk with you.

Walden produces more.... January 16, 2009 at 11:38 p.m.

Walden is about bringing positive social change. Its faculty and students are making a difference. My dissertation chair is Dr. John Nirenberg. He is a scholar of a very unique breed; Ph.D. and Ba at UConn, and an MFA from the University of New Orleans. He is even on the editorial board of several journals published by sage and is a retired college professor and dean.

What I find interesting about Dr. N., is that even though he has these credentials he finds time outside of the office a delightful treat. He interacts one on one with students and is very passionate about Walden doctoral students. I once read something that he wrote regarding his credentials and that he was attracted to Walden because of its mission of social change. He even walked from Boston to Washington, DC in protest and a push for Bush and Cheney to be impeached. It's not a political move; it's a move that he felt would have a greater benefit on society.

Walden PhD Student January 16, 2009 at 11:53 p.m.

Dr. N's credentials can be found here:
www.waldenu.edu/c/Student_Catalog/8857_8...

You can watch him as well:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVLPLSFWgkc

From the President January 17, 2009 at 12:02 a.m.

Dear Students,

Walden University will be closed on Monday, Jan. 19, for the federal holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

In 1994, Congress created the King Day of Service to transform the holiday into a National Day of Community Service. So for many, this is not just a day “off” but a day “on” and an opportunity to effect positive social change through community service. You can read more about the King Day of Service at www.mlkday.gov, and you can find information on volunteer opportunities at www.usaservice.org.

By serving your community on Monday, you’ll be advancing Walden’s mission, just as so many of you did in October on our third National Day of Service. You will also be honoring Dr. King’s legacy on his 80th birthday during a truly historic week.

As we pause to reflect on this day honoring Dr. King’s social change leadership, please know that while Walden is formally closed on Monday, the following Walden student support departments will still be available:

• Student Support Team: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern
• Academic Advising Team: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern

You can reach both teams by calling 1-800-WALDENU (1-800-925-3368) or by submitting a quick request form through the “Write Us” link on the Support tab of your myWalden page.

Thank you for your commitment to education and your dedication to service.

Jonathan A. Kaplan
President
Walden University

Walden=< January 17, 2009 at 1:10 a.m.

Walden Fan said...

<<Walden=<: Do you even have a college degree? You are so laughable. There is and was no Bob Scale at Walden. You're a fool..., did'nt you read that Walden is well regarded? or are you just illiterate along with being stupid?>>

"MG Robert H. Scales, Jr., USA (Ret) was appointed
President and CEO of Walden University in 2000."

www.jhuapl.edu/POW/bios/scales.htm

This is why no one respects Walden grads. The incompetence is just obscene.

Walden = < January 17, 2009 at 1:28 a.m.

Academic Freedom said...

<<What Walden=< fails to note is the remaining part of the paragraph which says: Carol Twigg of the Center for Academic Transformation disagrees: It's the classroom that's inadequate, she argues. "That's where one size fits all.">>

I didn't fail to note anything. Carol Twigg is an advocate for online education as that is her job. It is like a tobacco lobbyist saying cigarettes aren't bad for your health. lol

What I did note is that the CEO of Walden, at the time of that article, said people closer to Socrates had no business going near Walden. Anyway you cut it, that statement is damning and it was conveyed by the president of the university he was trying to sell. For-profit online education will never be equal to traditional education and the CEO of Walden said it loud and clear.

BTW... that comment about Walden being well regarded is only in context to other online programs and it was made long before the big named schools started offering online degrees. Today, it is a bottom feeder degree in the same catagory as UoP and Kaplan.

Walden=< January 17, 2009 at 8:40 p.m.

"Dr. John Nirenberg. He is a scholar of a very unique breed;"

Very unique, the nut walked almost 500 miles hauling a sandwhich board that said impeach the president. Not that I was opposed to the message, but for someone who is responsible for dissertation committees he does seem to have alot of free time.

Double Standard January 17, 2009 at 9:03 p.m.

It's funny how this idiot Walden=< talks negatively about Dr. Nirenberg for what he did, but a professor from a traditional university who has tenure would be seen as a "great hope" for doing the same thing.

Walden=< January 18, 2009 at 5:10 a.m.

For someone to take a couple months to walk to DC sounds like someone who is mentally unbalanced. It must be rather hard to chair dissertation committees and hold classes if he is busy sweating on I-95. lol

Also....... January 18, 2009 at 11:58 p.m.

If Walden graduates were having "SUCH A HARD" time getting their degrees recognized, unsuccessful at getting employment and promotions.....why would their only be 50 reviews on this board (not sure about other boards) which out of those 50 maybe 10 or 15 or so are negative compared to hmmmmm..... 38 years of Walden being around which means THOUSANDS of graduates who if they were so unsuccessful would have shown up here(or anywhere on the net) to complain... where are they...on skid row????

Simone January 19, 2009 at 12:03 a.m.

Man oh man, now people are impersonating me. That is just sad. I never wrote the previous comment.

What I did write was simply I would/have/will never consider Walden a real degree. I like how it angers people though. It just goes to show even these Walden people know nobody takes them serious and their degree is as useful as one bought from Lacrosse University. Oh, and on that subject, since a school is really the conglomerate of the faculty, Walden really is like Lacrosse since they have a faculty member who has a Phd from there! What a joke.

Walden Looking January 19, 2009 at 4:39 p.m.

Please don't respond to this with some quick witted remark about how stupid I am....

I have a question for anyone who attended a Walden Doctoral program.

I have my MBA from Phoneix with concentration on Technology Management. I want to go to Walden for either a DBA or Phd in Applied Management and Decision Making.

My question is which program I would have a better chance at getting in on. I talked to an admissions person who said admission in not guaranteed and it depends on your qualifications. I had a 3.5 GPA and scored a 940 on my GREs. From what I'm picking up, the DBA is harder to get in than the Phd.

Anyone have any insite on this?

Simone's Mama January 19, 2009 at 6:39 p.m.

Here is the deal honey.

The Ph.D. is different from the DBA. The Ph.D. The
Ph.D. provides an opportunity for you to advance the field of management by contributing NEW RESEARCH. The D.B.A. prepares you to make immediate and practical contributions to your organization and community. One is research intensive, and one is more applied. With the Ph.D., there is a dissertation. DBA brings a doctoral study which is usually an applied study.

Ph.D. = 20+ days of residency
DBA = 8 days of residenty

Admissions. While everyone knows that Walden has a pretty liberal admissions policy, they make it very clear that admission is not guaranteed. If the admissions counselors do not think you will be a good fit, they will not forward your admissions packet to the faculty chair for review. I have seen some people get admitted conditionally, fully, and not at all.

You must have a good goal statement, 4-5 years of professional experience, and a well structured application. Your MBA GPA meets the requirement for admission.

Keep in mind that no institution can guarantee you admission. However, if you meet the minimum req, you should be fine. You will at least be admitted conditionally.

"Part of Walden University’s mission is to extend access to a broad group of individuals who are able to benefit personally from their educational experience, and in turn bring benefit to those they serve. The university values the unique educational backgrounds, life experiences, and professional accomplishments of its applicants. It recognizes that in some cases applicants who do not meet the admission requirements bring a wide variety of educational and professional experiences to the university that taken together may predict their success. It also recognizes that applicants who have been away from school for some time may be missing certain prerequisites or may have difficulty acquiring official documentation in a timely manner."

"Accordingly, applicants may be offered conditional admission to the university with a stipulation for academic performance at the level of B or better, the successful completion of academic progress requirements during the initial term(s) of enrollment, the completion of prerequisites, or other stipulations (including receipt of official records). The university will work closely with applicants admitted in this way to make a plan for meeting the required stipulations and achieving regular admission status."

Good luck!

Walden Looking January 19, 2009 at 7:34 p.m.

More questions:

I have about 15 years of experience in IT, mainly in database and data W/M (Warehousing/Mining). I meet the standards for both, but the admissions seems to be pushing me more to the Phd than the DBA. She said I could get into either, but is promoting the Phd.

To all the people who say this degree is worthless, go hide* yourself (*opted a more favorable word). Once you are in a career, you network and your reputation carries you, not your schools reputation. I know Phoenix is pretty worthless if I want to teach after a Phd, but in industry, its valued. I was told by my professors at Phoenix to consider Walden if I want to teach. These were Harvard and MIT grads. So its not like they had anything to hide or lie about. The degree to me is a credential and a personal endevour, not something to make everyone else happy.

Now to the questions:

Do I fit in with a "cohort" or is it more traditional where you take classes that fit. Also, during the residency, will it be with the same pepole? Do you stay in a hotel near other people to interact with them a lot? Do they allow virtual conferencing if I was in the UK for a couple of years and didn't want to fly back (<- this question is because I'm going to the UK for two years for work soon).

Thanks!

Walden Looking January 19, 2009 at 8:33 p.m.

I'm asking serious questions. I went to Phoenix. Why on earth would I bash somewhere I went. I already stated I'm happy with my degree and I don't care what others think of it. I really want to know about the questions I asked from someone who attended a Walden Doctoral program.

Walden PhD Student January 19, 2009 at 9 p.m.

To Walden Looking:

>during the residency, will it be with the same people?
It depends on who is coming. Not necessarily the same people.

>Do you stay in a hotel near other people to interact with them a lot?

Walden offers hotel rooms at discount to all students, though in some cases the number of rooms can be limited. It is possible to share rooms with classmates. You will also enjoy communicating with your classmates during the residencies.
I went to the Walden residencies and brought my family with me. I stayed in hotels different from what Walden offered. It was my option since I liked to travel with my family.

>Do they allow virtual conferencing if I was in the UK for a couple of years and didn't want to fly back (<- this question is because I'm going to the UK for two years for work soon).

You can live in any country and be a Walden student. Walden offers residencies in Europe too - Liverpool, UK, and in Spain.

Walden Looking January 19, 2009 at 9:12 p.m.

Thanks Walden PhD Student. I didn't know they offered anything in Europe. The Admissions people are not the best people to ask questions to. I should have talked to the faculty there, but I was stupid and didn't ask to.

The question about the hotel wasn't to share a room, it was really to ask if the students met up outside of class during the residency and went out for drinks and food. I think that would be a good time to bond and meet people. From the students I talked to, its really nice to meet good people and learn what they do. I was told this is a better learning experience than the classroom and you get a lot out of it. Which is why I also wondered about the residency.

Maybe the admissions were steering me toward a Phd because I want to teach. The DBA seems more for industry.

I did talk to many local colleges, all of whom said a Walden Phd is qualified to teach at those universities (including some well known ones). So I don't see any reason why people keep saying crap about it.

Walden PhD Student January 19, 2009 at 9:51 p.m.

To Walden Looking:
>it was really to ask if the students met up outside of class during the residency and went out for drinks and food.

Yes, of course, it is possible.
In the morning, until noon or 1 pm we usually attended classes. These classes are mandatory. You get a credit for attending them. After these mandatory classes we could choose optional classes we needed to attend. I personally liked the ones organized by Jeff Zuckerman and his team (inside.waldenu.edu/c/Student_Faculty/StudentFaculty_562.htm).

>I was told this is a better learning experience than the classroom and you get a lot out of it.

I also think that residencies are a better learning experience; you also can meet with any professors at residencies and talk to them. At the Minneapolis residency you will be able to use University of Minnesota library computer system. If you bring your laptop you will be able to connect to wireless internet for free in the residency rooms.

I think you will enjoy being a student at Walden :)

Walden PhD Student January 19, 2009 at 9:55 p.m.

> I did talk to many local colleges, all of whom said a Walden Phd is qualified to teach at those universities (including some well known ones).

I think that is right. But you need substantial devotion to research and published papers to teach in well known universities.

Dr. B. January 19, 2009 at 10:39 p.m.

To Walden Looking. I commend you on your efforts to achieve a higher degree. I also commend you for seeing through the negativity that keeps circulating throughout these boards.

You will find that the residencies can definitely seal your Walden experience. Even though I am an alum, the bonds that I made during the residencies were life changing. We are still friends and call on each other periodically to do research. And yes... Walden students do hit the bars after class. lol (I took stats face to face in the summer and that was the only way we could fight the tears... lol)

Even though tons of industry experience and a DBA will allow you to teach, Ph.D.s are better favored for teaching appointments... On the other hand, if it's a teaching school and not much of a research institution, a DBA will do you just fine. Your title will still be doctor. The DBA program will take you much less time as well.

If you're in the UK, you will love the Walden residencies there. Walden has an extremely diverse student body and you can learn so much more. Most traditional programs lack diversity because they only recruit students who would "be a good fit" for that institution. The define diversity by race and not by class, culture, or experience. But you'll soon learn that amongst those students at residencies, you will find CEOs of major corporations, high ranking officers in the military, university and college deans and professors..etc.

Best of luck to you!

Please read this January 19, 2009 at 10:50 p.m.

Some of you on here don't have the academic ability to understand what is being stated in this blog (Simone, Joe, Walden=<; etc.) but I want you to try it anyway.

fish.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/18/the-last-professor/

Powerful. Powerful.

Walden is serving its purpose!

Walden=< January 20, 2009 at 12:46 a.m.

Good article, it shows that Walden does nothing to expand your mind. lol

“Coming here is not a rite of passage. We are not trying to develop value systems or go in for that ‘expand their minds’ nonsense'... it is a model that begins and ends with the imperative to deliver the information and skills necessary to gain employment."

Actually January 20, 2009 at 1:06 a.m.

That statement alone high lighted the antiquated machinary that higher learning has become. This is the exact reason so many "traditional" graduates leave college and graduate school and lack the necessary skills they need to get a job and be successful.

Actually January 20, 2009 at 1:28 a.m.

It is an opine regarding the dumbing down of America.

PSUhD January 20, 2009 at 4:46 p.m.

I've been reading through these posts and reviews and wanted to say something to all MS and Phd Students. This applies more to the Phds than the MS students. If you enrolled in Walden under either of those degrees and you "later found out" something bad, your to blame.

The advanced degrees are not something you simply go out and decide one day to get. You need to research the institution you are going to and understand why you want that credential. If you went to Walden and claim you cannot get a job teaching in tenure with a Phd, your the moron that didn't do the research to discover you need to publish, the type of institution you want to teach at might no take your degree (which can happen from ANY school), you did not network, and you did not really see if Walden was the best option. When I say option, I don't mean "option for you", I mean "option for your future". Sometimes convenience cannot override qualified.

In no way am I saying Walden is worthless. I'm saying if I wanted to teach at Penn State, I would not have went to Walden's management program and expected to teach in the school of business. Penn State is research centered and has that snobbish AACSB accreditation, immedialtely disqualifying many applicants due to the annoying strict standards. But if I wanted to teach at a private school starting up an MBA program, maybe Walden would be suffice, but the only way to know, is to TALK TO THE PEOPLE HIRING. Academics are a bunch of snobbish jerks who will tell you up front, without candy coating it, what you need to do to get in. MIT told me research. Plain and simple. Penn State told me qualified degree, publications, past (work experience), and teaching background. A local private college told me teaching background with some publications.

I hope you can see the difference and understand it. When we put all the colleges and universities together and choose which ones are "the best", its like putting 20 meals in a basket and choosing them. Your breakfast, lunch, and dinner will all be different depending on the day, time, and your mood. The day, time, and mood are the institutions. They change their focus, change programs for degrees, and change strategies for the future. You have to adapt to them, because they will not adapt to you.

Take this for how I feel. The degree you get matters. The schools reputation matters. The research you do matters. Your advisor and professors matter. Your publications and networking matters. Your experience matters (both industry and academics). Your personal reputation matters. How you got your degree matters. What your degree is in matters. The schools accrediation matters. What you want to do in the future matters.

But above all else, all of those things listed above TOGETHER matters. Not a single item from that list will land you a job or disqualify you from a job if you don't meet that single criteria.

Dr. B. January 20, 2009 at 6:02 p.m.

PSUhD,

Thank you for your honesty. Thank you for being objective. I stand with you and echo your sentiments.

Walden Fan January 20, 2009 at 6:31 p.m.

...ditto

Academic Fan January 20, 2009 at 6:32 p.m.

here here...

Academic Freedom January 20, 2009 at 7:08 p.m.

....well said

Simone January 20, 2009 at 9:15 p.m.

Are you kidding me? The name of your school will immediately disqualify you. Just like you said, if I put Walden as my Phd on any application to teach at an AACSB school, it will disqualify me. Also, what about schools like Lacrosse? When people found out that these are bought degrees, a lot of people got fired for having them and putting them as qualifications. So that means I proved you wrong PSUhD with that one line. Walden is not far off from being a diploma mill. The only thing that seperates them is that Walden figured out the longer they keep students, the more they make!

PSUhD January 20, 2009 at 9:35 p.m.

Really Simone? Really? Did you really miss the entire point of that previous post?

First of all, a Walden Phd will nto make you disqualified to teach at any AACSB school. It will make it harder, but not disqualified. AACSB has multiple parts to accreditation, one of which is professional faculty. If you had someone in business for 20 years as a CEO with a Walden Phd, that surely qualifies. Also, someone with 5-10 years of experience in business consulting would also qualify. This also assumes they had a solid reputation and publications.

Second, Lacrosse will cause many of my points to be missed:

The degree you get matters - Lacrosse isn't respected
The schools reputation matters - See above
The research you do matters - Chances are, you lack this with a Lacrosse degree
Your advisor and professors matter - You have neither at Lacrosse
Your publications and networking matters - See research above
Your experience matters (both industry and academics) - Might be okay with Lacrosse
Your personal reputation matters - This would be called into question with Lacrosse
How you got your degree matters - With Lacrosse, you buy, not earn
What your degree is in matters - Unknown with Lacrosse
The schools accrediation matters - Lacrosse is unaccredited
What you want to do in the future matters - Personal Question

So several points were violated. The people fired for those degrees were mainly due to accreditation (at least that would be the one legal piece to fire over). Also, the schools that hired these people (MIT included) were at fault for not checking references.

This is what strikes me odd about Capella (fueling the fire that I already dislike both Capella and UoP). Capella knows and displays a qualification of one professor from Lacrosse. I can't understand why she was not fired immediately and terminated from academics all together for this. She is not respected and never will be. That much I can stay from an academic standpoint.

PSUhD January 21, 2009 at 2:20 p.m.

I would doubt Simone actually attended a Phd program, or many others for that matter. Its just as unlikely that I, myself graduated with a Phd from Penn State. Typically we wouldn't be crawling the internet on a site like this to argue. I found it while searching for Walden information to teach online (not full time, adjunct). I could have just as easly wanted to teach at Phoenix or Capella, but Walden has a background and I have met graduates at conferences.

I think people reading this board need to understand that everything you read here, both good and bad, needs to be taken with a grain of salt. This site is not an academic site or affiliated with any repuatable institution. What this does provide is some extra insite on the University to integrate with other information obtained, and better yet, to use to formulate questions when interfacing with the school (any school on this site, not just Walden). If you believe Simone, great, use that information posted and formulate an intelligent question to ask admissions or faculty at Walden. If you believe Dr. B, great, STILL use that information to formulate a question to confirm everything.

Just understand, like my last post, it is totally up to the individual to decide what is best for him/her and to use any information, no matter how it was obtain, to get facts from the University.

Dr. B. January 21, 2009 at 8:47 p.m.

Well stated, PSUhD.

SJ PhD January 21, 2009 at 8:58 p.m.

I find it interesting that there is a "for profit vs quality" debate that is going on regarding Walden. The real categorization would be Walden=for profit, private sector vs. Universities that are for profit that get public/state funding vs. Universities that are for profit without state funding (yep, three groups). I have worked for the University of Minnesota which depends partially on state funding, partially on donation, and partially on tuition and fees from students. Hate to tell you but all universities are for profit--they need to make a profit in order to exist and to expand. I don't know of any university that is in the business (yes Virginia, it is a businees) to give everything back to the students and not make a profit.

I can tell you that my PhD (in psychology) from Walden was the determining factor in my attaining a position at the U of M. I was told that the Walden degree was what pushed me over my competitors and that my experience as an online student was something that they wanted as they are expanding into offering more online courses.

I have also experienced those who are close minded about online education and who believe that the traditional educational forum is the only acceptable one. I have a background in education as well and I can tell you that I learned (at a traditional university) that everyone has different learning styles and no one style is the best for everyone. This means that some individuals will get the most out of the traditional route while others will get the most out of an online experience.

SJ PhD January 21, 2009 at 8:59 p.m.

In regards to the GRE...I believe that this is just one of the hoops that the traditional educational machine has invented to weed people out of possibly attaining a higher education (elitist). I have known people that did extremely well on their GRE who couldn't research and write their way out of a wet paper bag! How you perform on a standardized test is not always a true indicator on how you will do in higher education.

When it comes to graduation rates at Walden--people drop out of the programs when 1) they realize how much writing is involved and they don't have the skill set (due to education gained at the high school level and at traditional universities); 2) they realize that they cannot handle the materials; 3) personal things happen and; 4) when they are asked to leave programs because they cannot master the material or are obviously not suited to the career that they are studying for.

I also wanted to address APA accreditation and licensure--no university can guarantee licensure. APA accreditation seriously limits the type of classes and specializations that people can have and how many people can get into the program. If you want to go to a university where only 12 people are let into the program every year then go to an APA school. Walden's curriculum is considered "APA equivalent". I have read all of the licensure legislation from all of the states and, if you have any question about licensure, the information is laid out clearly in those documents as well as with the licensing boards.

PSUhD January 21, 2009 at 9:29 p.m.

A few things strike me as odd SJ PhD.

First, there is nothing on record of a Walden Phd working at University of Minnesota. A simple google search should pull that right up.

www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Walden...

Second, APA is in place to guarantee quality standards when dealing with human subjects. This is mandatory for any respectable psyc program. Even Psy D's are accredited through it now. You are right about licensure, nobody can guarantee simply because you have to take exams. But the APA curriculum follows what is on the licensure exam. APA accreditation does not limit the classes you can take or the amount of people in a program. The reason for less people is simply because the professors who have advisees only select 1-2 a year for entry. This is because APA mandates research and publications. Too many advisees spells out disaster for the advisor.

I whole heartedly agree with standardized tests. The reason for them is simple though. It gives another determining factor during a selection process. This is like my previous statement. It alone should not count, and most innovative schools (CMU, MIT, U of Penn, Harvard, etc) will not even count the GRE unless it down close between applicants.

Graduation rates you stated are for many places. Walden has more dropouts because they take in more people. I'm still mixed on the open admissions. I don't personally think open admissions should be an option beyond the BS level. Your BS helps determine how you will do in an MS. A Phd, however, cannot be determined by previous grades, but previous research as a grad student and classes taken can help. A Phd is a different breed and typical classes don't matter anymore.

Finally, about the APA not mattering, this article is a bit outdated, but still sums up the importance.
gradpsych.apags.org/apr04/accreditation.cfm

Am I calling you a liar? No. I am just saying that post is missing something for me.

Mike January 21, 2009 at 11:05 p.m.

PSUhD: In a new education paradigm, students should be allowed to enter graduate programs at certain schools based on open admissions but the standrds for passing courses should be very rigorous. Intense rigor should be on the other side of open admissions. I have a friend in Walden who is working on a MPH and a PhD at Walden She is smart but she stays in constant worry of being ejected from Walden due to its high standards coupled with open admissions, which is how it should work. Walden has a high reject rate because of its standards. However, I am told that once you're in an IVY you are assured of graduating as long as you submit work regardless of quality.

States will come to extend licensure as Walden becomes a global academic powerhouse.

Dr. B. January 21, 2009 at 11:08 p.m.

A simple google search will not always pull the results you want. You will do a better job searching the institution's "google" connection. It's there. I assure you.

Based on my experience, Walden University is well regarded by UMN. I'm not sure if it is because of the close relationship between the two, or because they're minutes away from each other in the Twin Cities area, or from the interaction of faculty and students that take place on the UMN Twin Cities campus throughout the year.... I know a few Walden graduates who teach and/or are on staff at UMN. Chris Donahue and Kathleen Bernard are two off the top of my head.

The UMN holds a conservative faculty senate meeting every year to assess its position and offerings at the state's largest and only public Ph.D. granting institution. It never fails that they make mention of Walden each year and do a comparison and decide whether or not to proceed in expanding offerings. (www1.umn.edu/usenate/scfp/06-12-19.html) You can find these dating back almost 20 years on the web. The older ones are in doc format.

I'm not saying they use Walden as a single deciding point, but since the institutions are so close, they use Walden doctoral graduate numbers as an indicator that UMN is not meeting a "need" area. Also, MN accepts Walden Ph.D. in Psychology for licensure and UMN accepts Walden students for practicum..etc.

Walden's reputation has grown over the years. Going private was a good move. There are talks of going not-for-profit, but maintaining a for-profit goal, as with all universities (ex: Franklin U).

Professional accreditation, especially APA, does significantly reduce the number of clinical students admitted into the program. Without grants and/or endowment funding, this shoots tuition sky high. If one were to take Walden's clinical psych curriculum and compare it apples to apples with APA, there will not be a difference. In fact, Walden's practicum and internship hours, plus face to face requirements double what is required by APA.

Also, the article posted from APAGS pushes the same story behind every accrediting body's justification for having accreditation. If the big institutions were to ever pull out, the these bodies would fall from the domino effect. For example: Johns Hopkins doesn't have AACSB..

Ex-Faculty January 22, 2009 at 1:50 a.m.

Hey Mike, the problem with your assessment is that Walden's grading rubrics are not that rigorous. It leaves lots of leeway for inflated grades in the papers. DQs i.e. participation, count way more than they should. Upper level classes are way too short. If the instructor attempts to clamp down on the grade inflation built into Walden, they just get their grades overturned when the students complain. The reject rate at Walden is not high at all. The reported graduation rates are not the true measure as the federal IPEDS database only requires those with no college experience be reported.

PSUhD January 22, 2009 at 3:43 p.m.

Yes, I truly enjoy the impersonations, which is why I posted the comment about taking it all with a grain of salt and use it for other research.

I'm torn about accreditation and always have been. The original idea for it is good. It basically needs to stand for a quality program and helps the program stand out. But its become more than that and now, some accreditations (AACSB is a bit one) dictate the entire program. So we are releases hundreds of drones each year with the same education and lack of diversity. ABET has not done this yet, but mostly because it doesn't force specific classes to be taken (again, I stress yet, I'm fearful of this happening).

As for admissions and entrance rigor, I totally disagree with you on that. Allowing people to take classes they are likely to fail out of anyways is bad. You can take a persons portfolio and application items, included with an interview etc etc and get a good idea if they will succeed. Some schools are too hard and others are too easy. I like it somewhere in the middle. But again, a Phd is a different breed. I understand just because someone does good on entrance exams they won't pass, but the same is true that if someone does good as an undergrad, they won't be good in grad school. It boils down to (hate to put this back on faculty but) having the faculty advisors making sure the student knows and can do future research.

I agree with the domino effect on accreditation. It happened to ACBSP (and now the same person has a new accreditation out). From what I understand, a big part of the accreditation pull out there is because a lot of schools did not want to be put in the same basket as Phoenix so they pulled out. AACSB is a long term commitment and expensive, so its not really an alternative. It also, I hate to admit this, causes lack of innovation for the program.

Mike is right about the IVY acceptance. I have heard this from over 50 people (seriously). But understand something there. A Phd at those schools is pure research. Grades are based on publications. The idea is basically if you get a blind peer review, you get a "C", if its in a B journal, you get a "B", if its in a top journal, you get an "A". The school doesn't really determine grades, your research does. Your advisor typically reviews all your research too, and its unlikely the advisors name will accompany low quality research at those schools. So most of the time, the work is quality. At the Ivy's, you take maybe 6 courses MAX. The rest is research.

I didn't know Walden was in MN (I've always had the mental model of purely online, I forget its been around much longer which is likely the reason its known around there).

PSUhD January 22, 2009 at 3:44 p.m.

(Continued from above)

Finally, in summary, I understand both sides of accreditation. But in its purest form, it is a good idea. What pushes it harder and harder is that schools want to be singled out as having it, so they make the entrance to get it harder (and its even harder starting from scratch, rather than modifying the program). Second, I don't know much about APA except what I do as a consultant for accreditation on ABET and AACSB, and I've read about APA but declined to help on it because it is not so clearly spelled out (for example, it actually differentiates between Psy D and Phd in Pscy, and Phd and in Pyc counseling). I don't understand the field well enough to be considered an expert. But I do understand general accreditation.

OH, and I am curious to see what Walden does with its status. The one thing that I know has helped them very recently is lack of public shares on the open market. Since there is no stock to watch, academics think it will help the quality of the education (just a small circle of people I know) since they are not being monitored by 100,000 people who own a share.

Dr. B. January 22, 2009 at 6:10 p.m.

I appreciate your statements PSUhD.

Let me clarify one thing. Walden does not have a physical campus. It has what we call "academic offices" that house the President, Chief Academic Officer (Provost), VPs, Assoc Deans, Student Support Center, Research Center, Fac. Center for Excellence..etc. (to name a few) The for-profit side of Walden/Laureate is all the way in the DC/Va/MD area. So, when you visit Walden, you actually see an institution. You can actually speak with an administrator, full time faculty, student, or staff. Faculty, students, administrators, and staff are in and out of the building all the time.

I echo your statements on research..etc. A lot of people don't believe it, but in its short 40 years, Walden has developed a successful research agenda. This statement just came in to faculty, students, and alumni today:

Dear Walden Community,

Walden University’s Center for Research Support is pleased to announce the launch of the Walden Participant Pool Web site. The Walden community includes people from diverse professional fields, geographic communities, and stages of professional development, making it an ideal source for recruiting research project participants. The Participant Pool Web site will allow researchers to connect with participants online.

Researchers will have the opportunity to post descriptions of studies on the Web site. Members of the Walden community who have registered as potential participants can then decide to participate in the studies of interest to them.

The Walden Participant Pool Web site allows researchers access to a very large sample size that may be difficult to find elsewhere. Yet, at the same time, participants can easily view the studies they qualify for—and are interested in—by adjusting selective demographic criteria.

To access the site as a participant:

Either click on the following link, or copy and paste it into your Web browser address bar: OMITTED. This will take you to the login page, where you will see “New Participant?” with a link underneath it to request an account.

To access the site as a researcher:

Researchers interested in posting a study on the website should e-mail OMITTED for information.

The Center for Research Support is very excited to launch this important new research tool because it can enable Walden students and faculty to take advantage of our very diverse community to conduct research. However, the key to the site’s success is for participants to log in to the site regularly to participate in student and faculty research.

Please, check out the Walden Participant Pool Web site today to see how members of the Walden community are using research to promote social change. If you have any questions about the Walden Participant Pool, please email OMITTED.

Sincerely,

OMITTED, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Center for Research Support

Dr. B. January 22, 2009 at 6:15 p.m.

One more thing.

Walden's move to "private" was definitely a big move. For it to be so young, the university has accomplished what many 100 year old institutions has not in its history. I think we will see greater things coming from Walden.

I sit content. lol

PSUhD January 22, 2009 at 7:53 p.m.

Dr. B, where do the residencies occur?

The research pool is definitely a huge asset to any Phd student or faculty member. If it works and brings participants to researchers, it will be something I would think many places will follow. Several schools have similiar things in place, but usually not at a University Wide level, it is at the academic department level.

Second, do a lot of students at Walden publish with their advisors? I know its not manditory to do so (pretty much anywhere, but some places its "highly reccomended" or AKA unforced but you won't graduate unless you do).

Third, how many advisees does one person have at a give time at Walden?

Fouth, who does the funding for faculty research at Walden?

Fifth, do you get to select your own advisor, or do they select you incoming (I've seen it both ways at different schools).

I know you might not know all of this, but its just my curiousity on how it works (I've never done online teaching).

Dr. B. January 22, 2009 at 9:38 p.m.

Hi PSUhD. I will be more than happy to answer your questions.... and fortunately I know the answers to all of them. lol

Residencies? All doctoral and some master students must complete residencies. Residencies are held throughout the year. You will find the residency schedule at this link: www.waldenu.edu/c/About/About_9597.htm

Student publishing? In terms of being a large university (30,000 +), a small percentage of Walden students publish. However, this number is growing. Announcements are made every month in the Ponder. Publishing is not mandated... but it is highly encouraged. Most faculty (full-time and part-time)are involved in research. Walden actually has a full course called Publishing Option.... great course.. and the sections stay full. Also at residencies, there is an intensive on publishing.

Advisors? I am not sure of the exact number... BUT.... Doctoral mentors are limited to how many students they mentor. In my research cohort, there were about 10 of us. At the end of my matriculation, there were only two to get to the dissertation. (downfall of open admissions). Some dropped due to family and health issues. Students in the KAM based programs are assigned a mentor upon completing their research skills course (known as the dishwasher.. lol). Students who make it through are matched by their program advisors and faculty, but can choose their own. A positive working relationship is extremely important. I chose both of mine. The first relationship did not work out. My second one was a Godsend. Doctoral mentors are paid per mentee... so the number is kept pretty low. Upon completing coursework, students who are not in KAM affiliated programs must be matched or either find a mentor who best fits their research needs and goals.

Funding? Walden has a Center for Research that handles grants. The university uses some of its "profits" to sponsor research. The university also solicits private donations (endownments) and corporate donations to help sponsor research. Some funding has come from family of deceased Walden faculty, students, and alumni. The grants department also finds external funding sources for faculty and students: inside.waldenu.edu/c/Student_Faculty/StudentFaculty_1489.htm

PSUhD January 23, 2009 at 3:49 p.m.

Intersting how that works. Just to compare

2) Publishing in most Phd programs is not manditory. If you are at reserach intensive school (tier 1), you won't graduate unless you do, but you know that going in the program. Tier II-III its reccomended with more people each year doing so, but its really the end result (if you want to be in academic or industry) that drives it.

Advisees is school dependent. Tier I usually an advisor has about 6-10 advisees depending on funding. These advisees are mostly research assistants who don't do much of their own research until year 2/3. Tier II is about 4 advisees since more time is devoted to teaching, and Tier III ironcially is 1-2 students.

Funding in Tier I is all faculty dependent. Faculty is expected to go out and get funding from sources like industry and government. The University usually does not budget out lots for research. Tier II is a mix of faculty and university, tier III is all university.

Advisor selection in Tier I typically happens immediatly on entry. In order to be accepted to a Tier I Phd program, you have to be interviewed like its a job by the faculty who has the budget, and if you get accepted, that is your advisor, and your under his/her budget. Tier II happens after a year of classes. The student asks someone who they work well to be on board. Tier III is either asking or assigning.

The reason I point this out is that Walden falls under a II/III designation for my terms. A lot of lines are being blurred though between the tiers. I still believe tier I schools stand alone. But you can still have a mix of I/II, II/III. Again, this is because visions change. Walden is focusing more and more on research at higher levels, but that is doctoral programs. It seems their focus is coming off of MS students and more on higher level students.

This comparison is also set in place to show the difference of Walden and its generally compared peers (Phoenix and Capella). Neither Phoenix or Capella focus much on research and in fact, the faculty is not manditated to publish. Advisors are assigned, research is not encouraged, and the biggest deal is enrollment (I have friends that work there). Notice the difference? You can tell just by looking at the websites alone.

I'm curious if I'm the only one who really dislikes Phoenix and Capella for what they do and stand for (well, really once they pushed beyone an MS, I stopped liking them, they have no business in doctoral programs).

Dr. B. January 23, 2009 at 4:52 p.m.

I must admit my bias.... I have an MBA from Phoenix. The academic side is okay, but the for-profit side has a much stronger hold on academics than necessary. But the programs (IMHO)are quality. Phoenix is a teaching institution...focusing only on industry related teaching.....and until recently research has never been part of its agenda. Phoenix is slowly seeing the error of its ways. It recently launched a national research center to help focus on research and doctoral studies. It knows that in order for its doctoral graduates to be "worth anything" it must hire more full-time faculty and push more research. Most people had never heard of Phoenix before it went online and started aggressive advertising and recruitment campaigns. It really worsened the perception of the university and cheapened the degree.... hiring the wrong people and having the wrong people in charge. Those student loan issues didn't help either.

While Phoenix (1976) has been around for a while, its online component made it greedy. Capella (1993)is extremely new and (IMHO) hurt itself by going public. Capella's intent is to help its students "maximize their personal and professional potential". Northcentral (1996)was recently sold to a company and was recently issued under an IPO... more damage. NCU also does not have a research focus www.ncu.edu/about/mission_vision_culture... . Walden's public stance worried me from the beginning... but quickly died once it went private.

One thing I appreciate about Walden is faculty governance. The faculty has a lot of say-so and are respected for their opinions, credentials, and professional practice. Walden has had full time faculty that have been around for about 35 years (Walden celebrates 39 this October)They are golden and really care about research and student success. The for-profit side, other than in tuition, is hardly ever noticed. It's kinda like having a franchise and you just pay the corporation royalties for the name. lol

Walden (1970)has a greater existence and meaning to education than NCU, CU, and UOP. (www.waldenu.edu/c/About/About.htm). You can read more about Walden's curricula, mission, vision, and research agenda by going here.. inside.waldenu.edu/c/Student_Faculty/StudentFaculty_12975.htm

Dr. B. January 23, 2009 at 5:08 p.m.

More........

I know for a fact that you're not the only one who has a strong dislike for those other institutions. They have given much reason for this disdain. And I believe that even though they have open admissions (like Walden) the only ones who make it out would still be the only ones who would make it out if they were selective with (GMAT, GRE..etc.) It's just one of those things that support my premise that the desire to learn is personal and GRE GMAT..etc are not indicators of success. But why not offer them an opportunity to try?

Walden's 2009 Winter Commencement will be tomorrow at 1:30pm in Dallas, TX. Winter commencement is always held in conjunction with the winter residency and is always held in a warmer climate due to the rough winters that hit the northern and eastern areas. You can watch it live by visiting www.waldenu.edu right before the start of the ceremony. You should also hear Walden's classical alma mater being played in the background. Summer commencement is held on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities' campus in the grand hall. You should check it out! You will be impressed.

Just Curious January 23, 2009 at 5:11 p.m.

Dr. B: I have a question. The Walden faculty is seen on this webpage too: www.baker.edu/doctorate/faculty.cfm
Are they moving to Baker college, or just doing an extra job?

Dr. B. January 23, 2009 at 5:39 p.m.

I just want everyone to know that today is a slow day for me.... which is why I am spending so much time on here. lol

I know these guys well. Dr. Vinton use to be Dean of the School of Management at Walden. Dr. Stahley use to be associated dean and chair within the School of Management. Vinton left to FOUND the DBA program at Baker. Vinton took Stahley with him. (Made him an offer he couldn't refuse) All of the part-time faculty in this program at Baker are still on faculty at Walden. Dr. Hoehn is full-time faculty at Walden and has been for nearly 20 years. He has the reputation of being a powerhouse and has chaired more Walden dissertations than any oher faculty member. Ruth Maurer is right up there with Hoehn. She has been a jewel at Walden. Alamadas, Lyncheski, and Babb are very active at residencies.

I've heard this over and over.... Baker College is a great organization to work for... Non-Profit and has several campuses.. including online.

Just Curious January 23, 2009 at 6:16 p.m.

Dr. B, thank you - it was interesting to know.

Ex-Faculty January 23, 2009 at 6:21 p.m.

As having served at both Walden and UoP dissertation committees I dare say they quite similar. UoP actually has better filtering of topics that actually make it through the processand the students are not taught bad habits by writing KAMs. Unfortunately UoP dissertations are often low quality simply because of the poor writing skills of the students who only try to keep up with an APA standard.

Walden Fan January 23, 2009 at 6:48 p.m.

Dr. Barry Persky and Dr. Marcia Steinhauer are tough task masters and worked at B&M schools for years in graduate level programs. These two scholars are amazing and they are on Walden's faculty. Ex-faculty, I do not know what you're talking about because KAMS are written in APA format. Part of the training for creating a quality dissertation comes in the practice of writing KAMS.

PSUhD January 23, 2009 at 7:22 p.m.

If you follow my logic from my first few posts on, you can see I clearly like Walden, but only because of the alumni I have met and worked with. There is a huge difference for a school that offers doctoral programs with facutly that can support it and those that do not.

You also missed my last comment about "once they pushed beyone an MS, I stopped liking them, they have no business in doctoral programs". In industry, Phoenix is actually accepted pretty well. It stems from a lot of upper management going there to get an MBA quickly. Other people see those credentials and it helps the reputation. However, in academics, its the exact opposite.

Again, I am against open admissions. I feel people have the chance to prove what they can do during the BS (which I think a BS open admission policy is ok). If they don't prove it during that time, well, then, they shouldn't go forward. It makes it harder when someone returns 20 years later, sure, but there should still be some type of entrance requirements (not a single exam score either, that is just bad too). This is one area we will have to disagree on.

I also wanted to point out Walden is hiring now around its doctoral Pysc programs. Intersting because it was talked about in recent posts. A friend of mine talked to someone about it. It seems Walden IS headed towards APA accreditation and wants people who know and have experience with it.

Dr. B. January 23, 2009 at 8:08 p.m.

Your counter was welcomed. But please note... I did not miss any comment. I simply provided you with what I know.

I understand your position on post BS admissions..etc. We will just have to agree to disagree. :-)

Just Curious January 23, 2009 at 8:14 p.m.

Ex-Faculty, you wrote:
"the students are not taught bad habits by writing KAMs"

Can you let me know what bad habits students learn by writing KAMs?

Dr. B. January 23, 2009 at 8:21 p.m.

Just Curious.... that's a great question! Other than Ex-Faculty still being bitter about not being invited back to teach at Walden, I too want to know his MO.

My KAMS not only helped to teach me discipline and theory, but also how to critically analyze and write.

So I am waiting to read his/her response.

Ex-Faculty January 24, 2009 at 7:42 p.m.

What do you want to know that hasn't already been discussed? Scroll up to my first posts if you didn't already read it. I don't feel like repitition.

Just curious January 25, 2009 at 12:49 p.m.

Ex-faculty:
This is what I found (see below). Is there anything else you would like to add?

“Ah yes, the 133 page KAM. 33 pages of content and 100 pages of fluff. Which then had to be reorganized and edited to a valid statement of purpose. Your KAMs were not published. Your edited and revised new edition was. They are two different things.

You now nothing about my committee participation so your speculation is just that. You seem pretty intent on trying to belittle me which only assassinates your character. Teaching at a university you initially know little about is one thing. Deciding to go there as a student, if applicable, after seeing the shortfalls first hand would only be foolhardy.

What a KAM is said to be and what the final product often ends up being are two different things which I have stated here already. Having had access to the KAM database I can attest to the majority of them being junk. It really isn't the fault of the student but the lack of guidance they recieved during the entire process. It has plenty of potential if the mentors and assessors would have them carry out a project that was more than just learning how to write a pile of garbage.”

….

“A KAM is largely learning how to write/research a paper and documenting what you have done, so it is mostly garbage. If you wrote a KAM that had good methods and outcomes, at most it would be 30-40 pages of quality material. The rest is just stuffing that documents bringing yourself up to speed on the topic.”

…..

“The dissertations are a mixed bag. People who know how to write a traditional thesis usually end up doing fine on the Walden dissertation. The people who are being exposed to heavy writing for the first time only have their KAMs as the basis of experience. Many will do the