Ed. D. Educational Leadership

Joe-

You have made a very valid and thought provoking point. Marginality and the dissertation process does not mix. Some of the "stalling" experiences I have read are no different than public or private universities who have faculty members that are difficult to reach. 

Thanks for your thoughts...
Steve

These comments crack me up.  My perception of Walden from them sounds like it has "real" faculty - which means that they are just as difficult to work with as faculty at tenure-granting research institutions.  People, I know they are more expensive than going for your PHD fulltime, and that's why - if you had to quit your job and spend 4-8 years as a lab rat at a major university, teaching, writing, reading, meeting, and groveling 12+ hours per day, you can't pay that much!  Mostly I'm glad to hear that Walden requires students to jump through hoops like orals , IRB, committee approval.. a degree that you get just by taking classes is called a BACHELOR'S degree.  I'm investigating them cause I'm looking into teaching online.

Let's face it, it is all about the quality of the faculty members you end up working with. This is the case in any university anywhere. I graduated with a PhD from Walden Universtiy in August of 2009. I had the pleasure of working with some of the most wonderful professionals in my field. Many of the faculty that I encountered were full-time faculty at other universities. My mentor (I think the mentor might be unique to the PhD program, not sure...) and dissertation chair was a wealth of knowledge and always was there with the perfect amount of support. I agree that Walden was rigorous and not for the faint of heart, but what do you think earning a PhD is all about? It is supposed to stretch you to the limits. Furthermore, I was never negatively affected by the policy changes some of the others have mentioned (although I did see a few changes in my four years at Walden). I was always "grandfathered" in ahead of any policy changes. I would recommend the PhD program to anyone. I will say that, based on some negative feedback I have heard from a personal acquaintance who is in the EdD program, I am not sure that the EdD side is as well organized. Overall, I believe in Walden and I had a wonderful doctoral experience there.

I'm not so sure about my "Walden experience". I've not yet decided if it's a good program or not. I have made it to the final class before beginning research on my study. I feel as though I've been led into a topic that I'm not so sure I want to pursue but that's beside the point because I am allowed to change it. I encountered one lost instructor but other than that the instructors do not degrade you even if your assignments are way off base. I've been in left field a few times and they gently brought me back to where I was supposed to be through probing questions. So that was excellent for me. I am probably one of those students considered to be "substandard" but all I know is, I had a dream as a child of receiving a doctorate. Walden is providing me with this opportunity and I'm doing this to the best of my ability. I turn in my work on time. I participate in discussions. I have done what they have required of me. I have been very successful grade wise and feel that I am more knowledgeable as result. Would I recommend this school? Yes, I would! I'm very proud of my accomplishments and I'm sure you will be as well. You just have to be dedicated and committed to achieving your goals.

I must say that I too have been duped by the "stall as long as you can" mentality with the professors and reviewers.  The new URR process is an absolute JOKE, and reviewers are well versed in "this needs a little more work" excuse.  I would not recommend Walden to ANYONE unless you had unlimited funds and patience.  Their process changes too frequently, and the accountability of leadership is non-existent. What a joke!

The comments about Walden range from excellent to the faculty stalls students to make more tuition money for the university. As a doctoral student entering the dissertation phase my observation is that Walden is rigorous. The graduation rate is low, but not because faculty are stalling. It is low because Walden has an open enrollment. Anyone who has a masters degree from an accredited university can get into Walden. Realize, however, that most masters degree are from small state colleges and there is a big difference between the quality of those students and the quality of a student from a major university.

Having graduated in engineering from a Big Ten school, and having taught in such, it is very clear to me that at least 50% of the students who begin at Walden have no business being in a doctoral program. Another 30% are questionable and the remainder have potential. Of those, half are extremely talented. By the time we get to the dissertation phase we are generally commingling with a very intelligent group of students. 

Nevertheless, there are those who do reach the dissertation phase who are marginal. Those are the ones who get their dissertation material rejected many times. One Walden faculty member who is a Walden graduate said he had to completely rewrite his dissertaion five times. He actually admitted that he was in the 14th percentile of the GRE. That adds up. Still, he is a bright man and his perseverence paid off.  

Some of the ex-Walden students who had negative comments about not being able to find committee members are likely those that have been struggling. Word gets around and faculty do not want substandard students. They are a tremendous amount of work. 

On the other hand, quality students have to turn away faculty who want to be committee members. At residency this summer I sat next to a woman who is doing cutting edge medical device research. She had to turn away faculty who wanted to be on her committee. I have had to do the same. Bottom line - This is a serious program that is very forgiving to substandard students. Every effort is made to help them. In the final analysis, however, incapable students will fall by the wayside and it is an expensive failure.

Do not waste your money!!!  My "Walden Experience" has been nothing but a massive headache, and a VERY expensive one. Committee members, Academic Reviewers, IRB reviewers, and URR personal have clearly been schooled in the "stall as long as you can so we can get more money" department.  You receive very little guidance and there is always something new to hold up progress.  Walden advertises the Ed.D program as a 3 year program then tells you at the residency (1/3 of the way through your classes) that to be completed in 3 years is rare.  If and when I finally graduate, I refuse to attend the ceremony because of the disgust I have for the way my peers and I have been treated.  Again, save yourself the time, money, and stress- do NOT waste a minute on this university.  Walden's "ethics" and procedures should be a crime.

The worst educational experience of my life. Dont get caught in this trap. Go to a real school in a real class room setting with live people and have a professor you meet face to face.
Walden is a SCAM!

My Dr Chair did NOT know I was in the class, even though I submitted work.

Walden will stall your completing the program to get more money from you,

ANY ASSISTANCE WAS SUPERFICIAL ASD WHEN YOU GET TO THE DISSERTATION NO ONE WILL HELP YOU AND THE CHAIRS ARE UNAVAILABLE.

Not a diploma mill this is a MONEY mill for Walden and no one else!

What a horrendous experience! Walden prevents you from graduating because too many people graduating would devalue their doctoral degrees. Instructors ill advise you and you work for months in the wrong direction, if they advise you at all.Every time there's a director appointed, policies and procedures change for enrolled students, regardless how much time and money it sets you back. You can't appeal anything and they tell you so. So many of us worked hard toward the finish line , but Walden kept moving and hiding that finish line. They know how to keep you in there until they've extracted all the money they can from you, and you have no choice but to quit, even when  you're so close. They will hold you there at close to finishing indefinitely until they win out. This is not just sour grapes. Walden is so unethical.So corrupt. Go somewhere else!

Walden denies you graduation in the EdD program despite making A's in the "rigorous"  8 out of 9 courses! You get trapped with instructors lying (honestly) and no support from their superiors. Please do not enroll in this online program. They give you a graduation date as you enroll, you follow all the guidelines and milestones, and you STILL can't graduate because it is all subjective. 3 different people at different times have to agree that the paper is ready. Then, there are other obstacles to face. It is a CRAZY cycle. Some people say nice things for fear they will be a target of Walden. One instructor even emailed me to say you have to "play the game." I would NOT recommend the doctoral program.

Overall the educational leadership program at the doctoral level (the EdD program) is actually very good. I met the person who set up the Ed D program and that lady was incredible. The program is great for teachers. I am probably a mismatch because I'm more of a corporate trainer than a teacher. The materials seem well suited to education. In general - and this is NOT Walden specific - too much emphasis is given to traditional learning materials - mostly books and monographs. The online resources are not the best - especially journals - which are lacking. My state library offered a better version of EBSCO than Walden does - and that disappointed me. The technology implementation is very, very disappointing. The classrooms are not set up well. The course curricula are not laid out all that well - it's often very confusing. The course objectives are somewhat broad and there is not a tight tie between the objectives and the strands within the program - the assignments, the readi1ngs, etc. The discussions are often so broad and encompass so much reading material that they're difficult to complete on time. The instructors are very good - and yes they're often not as compassionate as I would like. But wow - what incredibly knowledgeable people. These are seasoned professionals with lots of experience. I feel for them because the program is very large - in terms of student population - and frankly I'm not impressed with the student to professor ratios. At the graduate level - and with the amount students pay - they have a right to more personal relationships with the instructors in the courses. Not every instructor gave you feedback on discussion boards. Assignments featured well structured comments. Honestly the best instructor I had was the first one because she gave you great feedback, she was compassionate, relaxed, didn't pressure you but made sure you stayed on track and met her expectations. You can make difficult material easy, challenge students and still create a relaxed, fun and cooperative atmosphere. Overall Walden is a very good school - but BOY do they need to improve the technology. Very immature technologically.

It's amazing how similar all of the reviews for Walden University, no matter what site, seem to be. And then the fact that they are all written at almost the exact same times. It's like they were written by the same person. Like some organization pays someone to sit down, scour the internet for places to leave cheery, unrealistic, praise, and squash anyone trying to honestly review the school. Very strange.

I am a student at Walden. The classes are hard and as you progress they will get harder but the knowledge gain is great.  I think the world is going to catch up with online degrees. However, we will just have to wait.  I am concerned my degree will not hold water in my state of Texas.  Can someone comment on this for me?  Do you think that my Doctoral Degree in Education will be valid in Texas?

Walden university is a good school.  It is very challenging and just as stated before--if you're looking for a cake walk-this is not the school for you.  I would rate it a 8.5 out of all the schools that offer online courses. They are not there to fail you, they work with you and continually offer advice and suggestions.  This is a rewarding opportunity for me. I am the first in my family to acquire a Doctorate and I believe I will be well prepared to use my degree as a stepping stone.  Go WALDEN

Current student

I am seriously considering this program.  How does that match up to a traditional university PhD program?  Any comments?