August 3, 2011, Washington DC...The most problematic online colleges and universities according to the recently released 2011,
8th edition of the Best Worst Online Degree Providers are all found in the USA. The book shows
that nearly 80 higher education institutions fall into this category. The author is online education pioneer and the father
of online education ratings and rankings, Dr. Fred DiUlus.
In addition to the marginal schools, Dr. DiUlus also identifies the top 20 online universities
and rates and ranks several hundred other online institutions on a ranking scale of 1 to 5. Schools rated a “1”
are at the bottom and those rated “5” are at the top. Most schools, DiUlus says, fall comfortably in between.
“Learners need to be cautious of the marginal schools before paying for an education that may or may not advance their
careers.”
There
are two reasons according to Dr. DiUlus for the recent surge of interest in Americaand the exponential growth of online degree
programs from outstanding to marginal schools. One is economic and the other is fear of being left behind. The first he says
is the depressing state of the national economy. It alone, he offers, is driving the demand by non-traditional students primarily
for job security and advancement in a very tight job environment. Fear of being left behind is greatly contributing to the
growing rush by traditional schools to implement online education opportunities. This, says DiUlus, has not been met
by overwhelming support from traditional educators.
Long established classroom educators pressured by their schools to add
online programs share a concern that such programs will contribute to a declining value of their schools and their own reputations.
The criticism is not without merit. According to Dr. DiUlus¸ traditional faculty overwhelming perceive
that any online education does not measure up to a typical faculty to student classroom. This he says supports the number
one myth regarding online education. Nine out of ten students who have experienced both agree that online education is as
good as traditional education. Almost seven out of ten say it is better.
With endowments and legislative largesse for universities on the wane, DiUlus observes many schools are being forced
to adopt online protocols. They are seeking ways to supplement revenue in spite of traditional faculty objections.
The Best Worst Online Degree Program Providers is a free download from Global Academy Online, Inc.
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