University of Phoenix...

[ginnboonmiller]

Many reputable schools are beginning to offer online degrees, although the ones I've looked at were just as costly as UOP. When I was researching schools five years ago, very little was available online, particularly in my field of work. For some people, brick-and-mortar is not an option, and until recently, online offerings have been limited. What if UOP is the best you can manage?

Well, personally, I don't have a problem with online teaching per se at all. What I have looked at has been numbers, journal articles, lawsuits, that kind of thing. But you're answering your own question within your post -- if you look at the numbers and results, you see pretty clearly that more established schools with longer traditions and higher standards are better than for-profit schools that maximize profit. It has worked out this way historically, and I won't try to guess why. Anyway, it seems to me that UOP is NEVER the best someone can manage (if the online degree from the better school is a similar price, there's not a lot of thought necessary about which is better). There's always better value-for-dollar for education available elsewhere. Online, evenings, whatever - Phoenix has a problem (a lot of them, actually), and a degree from there means very little to people evaluating resumes as a result of these problems.

[ginnboonmiller]

One more thing. Two, actually:

I remain FAR better looking than bloke. I am ruggedly handsome (and quite charming), and bloke is a poor dresser, to boot.

There is a way to work Chinese tuba manufacturers into this debate. I haven't found it yet, but it's just a matter of time.

[sloan]

Ask your teacher.

[Uncle Buck]

I don't have much to offer on this issue, and I recognize that there are some aspects of education that don't translate to online programs (clinical courses for nursing, for example).

But, I think it's interesting to watch the degree to which traditional universities get defensive about "other" online programs.

[windshieldbug]

Online, evenings, whatever - Phoenix has a problem (a lot of them, actually)

Yes, but it's a dry heat!

[PMeuph]

“I still don't see much of an apples & oranges in comparing the two educational systems as a lot of American trained PhDs work in Canadian universities and a fair amount of Americans to study in Canada.”

Well, accreditation does not equate with “a lot of American trained PhDs work in Canadian universities and a fair amount of Americans to study in Canada.” Apples and Pine Trees, not even as close as oranges. (Or perhaps I should have said Maple Trees.) The international (or simply Canadian student population) at a US school also does not equate with accreditation.

You're right... What I find peculiar is that while I am looking at schools in the US or if I see someone post something here for their school, I inevitably have to look it up to gather whatever information. I also find it odd that myself, or any of my friends, acquaintances, etc... could take their foreign(Canadian) degree and and enter a US school without the validity of their degree coming into issue.

“...not that Government approved" is better... It is that it is more uniform and consistent”

Be careful of what you cite. Perhaps ensure your facts are backing you up: are you talking federal or provincial government? Provincial involvement (by definition) yields involvement of more than one body. (That is, if my Cdn civics understanding is correct – no one province rules the rest, correct? There is no such ‘dominion.’) Look deeper into the provincial funding formulas and what they “have a say in” – and how that relates to provincially funded (in part) universities and their “say” in standards and accreditation. If nothing else, look at provincial/university relationships regarding undergraduate education degrees and provincial teaching licenses.

Education, at all levels, is a provincial responsibility, with the exception of the First Nations. It the former case it is a federal responsibility. (The is a nice table explaining how funding is broken down by province on the Statcan webpage, but I can't find it, I'll keep looking). Funding varies across the 10 provinces and the biggest difference is in tuition costs for students. Some students, even at a number one ranked school in Canada (McGill) pay less than $3000 a year (for now) in tuition. Most degrees leading to an association job (Engineer, Doctor, Accountant, Law (Except Quebec) etc...) are pretty similar across the country and obtaining your degree in one province will allow you to work in another. Education on the other hand is a tad different. But even so, earning an Ed degree in one province, then earning 3-4 years of work experience will usually allow you to work anywhere else in the country.

http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/govt41c-eng.htm" target="_blank

“How you can have, national, or regional, or private, or religious accreditation and state that they are the "same" is something that I don't see the point of.”

Look at the histories of a variety of well-established Cdn universities, and you will see exactly what you describe. Historically, (and geographically) look to the East Coast and to Quebec for examples.

Historically, yes. Affiliation, yes. I spend a year in a school that had been Anglican in it's foundation. Later (in the 1960's) it became non-denominational. This has happened to many schools. There are however still some religious affiliated schools, and I have no problem with that, since the curriculum for each of their degrees is regulated by the provincial board of education and is coordinated across the country. I don't know of any school in Canada that offers a Degree, recognized as such, that is issued by a church authority. It might be approved by such, but ultimately it is backed by the same organization as any other degree issued in that province.

........(or 'programme' for you, eh?)........

…Not sure if you were going for the French spelling or the Canadian English one. In the later case, it doesn't really matter. American English is (mostly) acceptable in Canada.

[rodgeman]

I have my Bachelors of Science in Information Technology from U of P. It was paid for by my employer IBM. It worked for my schedule as I worked full time and went to school. Yes I went to classes.

As for accreditation of U of P here is a listing by the group for Arizona:

http://www.ncahlc.org/component/com_dir ... it,Search/

That group accredits all of the Maricopa Community Colleges as well as ASU; NAU; and UofA.

While I would no go to U of P for music performance or education I did find the technology degree and programs to be better for me.

[toobagrowl]

Who is the tuba instructor at the University of Phoenix?

Dr. Oat Meal

[windshieldbug]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Doctor-Tattoo-A ... 0656782786" target="_blank

[Mark]

So, if a young tuba student went to a university that had a tuba studio of 30+ students instead of going to the University of Phoenix, how much better are the prospects of getting a job playing the tuba?

[windshieldbug]

So, if a young tuba student went to a university that had a tuba studio of 30+ students instead of going to the University of Phoenix, how much better are the prospects of getting a job playing the tuba?

30+ times better, because they would have that many REAL people to compete with. It only goes up exponentially from there.