Distance learning doctorate degree

The authors discuss the growth of distance learning via the Internet, list a number of relevant web sites, and relate both to the institutional accreditation issue.

Introduction

How do Pacific Western University (www.pwu-hi.edu) and Phoenix University (www.uophx.ed/online) differ? Both claim to be accredited, but one may not be. Wording is cautious here to avoid litigation. However, looking at their web sites, one can not see any difference. In terms of long distance learning, web sites give the appearance of legitimacy. Thus, business colleges become virtual universities and trades school transform into colleges. It is very difficult to know if the college is accredited and it's educational value.

According to the OMAHA WORLD HERALD and a recent story in U.S. NEWS&WORLD REPORT, this was the problem for Nila Nielsen, a Principal of an elementary school in Omaha, Nebraska. She was hired even though her Ph.D. was not accredited. She retains this leadership position because of her accredited master's degree. The web site and the printed literature and catalog obtained by the authors from Nielsen's non-accredited university cleverly disguises it non-accreditation.

Parenthetically, one of the authors has been involved in analyzing alternative and distance learning since the 70's. Further, the primary author has discussed non-accredited programs by phone with presidents of non-accredited schools, traveled 1100 miles to visit a non-accredited school and joined a non-accredited university by paying a non-refundable $200.00 entry fee and remaining a student for one month. All the authors have been involved in teaching distance learning and creating courses for this educational medium. So it would appear that the authors have some knowledge pertaining to this arena of education.

Relative to non-accredited schools, in every instance, the web site and supporting catalog literature are excellent. In other words, distance learning means that determining lawful accreditation has grown that much more difficult for a new student. To further complicate matters, numerous industries are now creating their own educational curriculum and certification system by utilizing accredited schools. Although the schools provide the education, the ultimate certification is by the industry. Much of this, can be done with distance learning.

Further, a best selling author has a non-accredited doctorate from a school with an excellent web site and supporting print literature. It advertises that it does not want accreditation, because it wants employer to judge the applicant by their talents. Thus, this gives further credibility to non-accreditation.

Last, non-accredited schools with their web site listing are now advertised in some of the most credible glossy, large circulation periodicals (magazines.) Their advertisements are intermingled with accredited schools and their website logos.

It would appear that education is once again in a quandary because of the new technology of the computer. Distance learning and web site promotion sully the issue of accreditation.

Internet

By the very nature of distance learning, the protocols are similar to non-accredited schools. The difference is one of rigor. How can one determine if the school, web site, and literature portray a lawful accredited school?

The authors suggest the following: 1) check (www.chea.org) this should give you the latest schools that are accredited by some 35 bogus accreditation systems 2) check (www.degree.net) will give you Dr. John Bear's home page. He is the premier authority in these matters and 3) check all the numerous search engines such as infoseek, lycos, excite, and yahoo. A good example is (yahoo>education>distance learning> colleges and universities.)

Supporting Literature

The authors recommend that the reader look at these sources for more information.

Distance Learning Websites:

(wested.org/tie/dlrn/)(usdla.org)(petersons. com/dlrn/)(caso.com)(hol.edu) (DETC.org/)(utexas.edu/world/lecture) (webpages.marshall.edu/jmullens/edlinkslhtml) (uidaho.edu/evo/dist.glanhtml) (uwex.edu/disted/home/html) (icdl.open.ac.uk/) angelfire.com/EmirMohammed/index, html/)(hol.edu)(tgdlc.org) (alabanza.com/katmcooff/Inter-Links/education/ distance.html)

Assume that "www" shall precede all the web pages listed previously.

Ellsworth, Jill (1994) EDUCATION ON THE INTERNET (Indianapolis: Sams Pub.) WORLD WIDE WEB YELLOW PAGES (1997) (Indianapolis: New Riders Publication)

Alternative Education

Bear, John and Mariah P. (1995) BEAR'S GUIDE TO EARNING NONTRADITIONAL COLLEGE DEGREES (Los Angeles: Bencia Pub.) Smith, Walker and Thomas Canara, (1996) ACCREDITED COLLEGE DEGREES BY CORRESPONDENCE(Philadelphia: Crenshaw Publishers) Green. Donald, Snell, Joel C., Corgiat, A. & Antony Parimanath (1990)The professionalizaton of the paralegal, Journal of Paralegal Education, 78-86 see also the same authors in Legal Assistant Management Association Manager, May-June, p. 10-11. See the value of additional degree work in distance and non-distance education in: Barkhume, Megan (1997)The job market for Ph.D.'s Occupational Outlook Quarterly, Winter, 3-1.5. Snell, Joel C., Webb, Vincent J., Hoffman, Dennis, and Bill Wakefield (1976) The college student teacher in hard times:junior faculty in age of scarcity ,College Student Journal, 245-252. Snell, Joel C. & Bill Wakefield (1977) The college professor, the college student, and credentialism, College Student Journal, 243-252 Snell, Joel C. (1990) Reforming the Ph.D., The Chronicle of Higher Education, 4 Snell, Joel C. (1993) Those Who Did Not Succeed in the Ph.D. program: how many are there? what went wrong? how did they resolve their dilemma? College Student Journal, 223-233. Koretz, Gene (1997) Degrees are golden fleeces, how degrees ratchet up earnings, Business Week, July 28, 4 Garmon, John F. (1998) Community College Week, September 7th, 4.

Personalities in the News and Non-Accredited Schools

Carlson, Margaret (1997) Lies My Ambassador Told Me, Time, Dec. 22, 31 Glieck, Elizabeth, (1997) Tower of Psychobabble, Time, June 16. FOR NILA NIELSEN, OMAHA PRINCIPAL, see Goodsell, Paul (1998) Principal's doctorate may be just a book mark, Omaha World Herald, March 17, 1998, 1 Lord, Mary (1998) Sheepskin fleecers: when those ivyclad towers are nothing but a diploma mill, U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, September 28, 72-74.

Rigors of Distance Learning

There are those who are critical of distance learning but do not provide any empirical data. This includes Palinchak, Robert S. (1998) Higher education's chameleons, Community College Week, May 4, 20. Van Dusen, Gerald C, (1998) Technology :higher education's magic bullet, Thought & Action: The NEA Higher Education Journal, 60-61 On the other hand, Ridley, Dennis and James E. Husband (1998) Online Education: a study of academic rigor and integrity, Journal of Instructional Psychology, 184-188, this study supports that online education is as rigorous or more rigorous than traditional class room education. As of this writing, the primary author sees "Greenwich University, Summit University and Graduate School of America" as non-accredited schools that have the potential to become good online fully accredited schools. The first author also strongly supports Governor's University as an excellent accredited online university. None the authors have any financial ties to any of the institutions just listed

Conclusion

This has been a discussion of distance education, web sites, and accreditation.

JOEL C. SNELL LINDA ALLEN SAUL MEKIES Kirkwood College