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The term “accredited” has been sported by many online institutions and is one of those key words that students look for when choosing online universities. However, how much do really understand by the term accredited and what are the responsibilities that come with the term? Even without knowing the definition of the term its existence have significant influence on the value of your online degree and how much it is accepted by the wider employment community. What is Accreditation?The term accreditation refers to an accepted standard that must be met by online universities to be associated with a particular standard. These standards will vary on the type and level of courses and the stipulation established by state educational boards and peers. It is used to give an insight into aspects such as the level of instructors, amount and type of financial assistance available for students and how much assistance the university receives from industry contributors. These contributions may be in the form of technology, financing or placements for graduates. The Accreditation DebateIt is a fact that not all online universities have received accreditation from any of the many accreditation agencies set up to regulate the educational standards of online universities. There is currently a heated debate on how to weight online universities when compared to traditional universities. Supporters of online universities suggest that online universities provide the same education as traditional instructions and thus should receive the same accreditation. On the other hand, supporters of tradition institutions lament the fat there is no direct contact between students and doctors and so the student loses some amount of influence. In the interim as the debate continues, the Department of Education have appointed agencies in six regions to act as accreditation bodies that spans across state borders to accommodate the various types of online universities. How to know if your University is accredited?The US department of Education does not itself accredit online universities. The task of accrediting online universities is delegated to regional bodies that are strategically located to cover the spans of the United States. These regional agencies have established guidelines as dictated by the secretary of education, industry players and their peers. They carry out various forms of assessments to ensure online universities adhere to the established standards. These may come in the form of tracking student complaints, checking of course work material and monitoring of university accounts. To check on the accreditation of a particular online college, students can visit one of the many websites set up buy accreditation agencies. These include a database established by the US Department of Education @ http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx where students simply enter the name and location of the university to gain accreditation information. What to do if your University is not accredited?If you conduct an accreditation search and found out that your online university is not accredited, the first to do is to contact your nearest state accreditation agency with jurisdiction over that states education affairs. There may be various reasons why any particular online university may not have gain accreditation. These include:
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What Do I Need to Know About Online College Accreditation?
Wednesday, January 20th, 2010Comparison of Online College Student Budget from 1999 to 2009
Wednesday, January 6th, 2010|
Over the past 10 years, we have seen many changes within the online educational community. Competition have increased has increased significantly with many traditional universities entering the market by offering online versions of their on-campus programs. In addition, the general cost of education has escalated due to the effects of inflation and technological advancements. Online universities have had to include marketing departments in their operations to seek out new markets to maintain their market share and most naturally, these expanses are transferred to the pockets of students. The cost of online education is also influenced by the popularity on the university. As online universities become more experienced in the art of online education, they are able to improve their product. This will in turn increase their influence on the market as students who desire the best level of education flock to these online universities that have the most influence within the business sector.  Changes in Student Budget over the YearsTo gain a better understanding of the changes in student budgets we can compare cost of online tuition from 1999 compared to that of 2009. On average, in 1999 that cost of online degree programs stood at around $10,000 for public institutions and $20,000 for private institutions. During that time, online universities were not fully accepted within the business communities as online universities were still going through growing pains and not all had the relevant accreditation from the various boards. Jump 10 years to 2009, online universities now form a vital part of the educational landscape. Many employers are now encouraging their employees to take advantage of online universities as they can improve their qualifications without disrupting their work schedule. As a result, the forces of supply and demand kick in as the increase in demand results in individuals willing to pay more for their education. Statistics show that currently in the year 2009, online students will have to fork out tuitions fees averaging $30,000 for public online institution and $45-50,000 for private institutions. This shows an average of a 50 to 60% increase in ten years. If we conduct a more in-depth study based on the types of online degree programs, we see an even more disturbing trend. The cost of bachelor’s degree stick to the average trends of 50 t 60% but graduate programs see an increase of 102% over the past ten years. This is due to the significant increase in demand for postgraduate degree programs by working professionals. These individuals have to increase their educational arsenal to remain competitive against younger and more technologically advanced kids leaving high school. The fact that they can study without disrupting their work patterns has proven to be a hit among this target group. Another factor that affected the cost of postgraduate programs is that some online universities factored the improved salaries that graduates gain after the completion of a postgraduate degree program. Thus, they decided that these students would be prepared to pay for these opportunities. |
Top 8 Reasons Why You Should Get an Online Degree
Thursday, December 24th, 2009|
Education especially college education is every student’s dream. Getting an admission in one of those best rated colleges is definitely going to be tough. It is indeed a long procedure, right from searching until you get a call from the University. What about those who are into employment or into family? What if they want to complete their graduation? Leaving your job and attending these courses is really not possible, nor can you give up your responsibility in your family to attend a college. What is the solution after all? Online Degree ProgramsWell Online educational system is a boon to all those who just cannot imagine themselves attending a regular college. With the increased preference of online degree programs to regular campus courses, even those students who prefer regular college courses are opting for online degree programs. It is indeed a sea change in the attitude of people and increased appreciation of online educational benefits. Courses are available to cater to the needs of all students. Hence nothing is a hurdle in choosing online educational programs. Online courses are widely recognized by employers. Employers in turn encourage their employees to take up online degree program in their area of study, that offers them knowledge and certification with no disturbance during their working hours. Pursuing any kind of an education involves cost. The question here is about difference in cost between online and campus courses. There seems not much difference between the two, except for those operational expenses. In order to facilitate students, several financial institutions are financing online degree courses. Now, there is nothing to stop you from opting for online degree certification. Top 8 why you should get an Online Degree?If we were to list the reasons why you should go for online degree program, it would be as follows
Given the advantages, I am sure there is nothing which can stop you from taking up an online degree program. |
Top 10 Online Education Myths
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009|
I’m sure you have heard them all before – don’t take classes online because it is not recognized by employers or don’t take online classes because it is not the same as traditional classroom programs. Well, I want to put your mind at ease; these ideas are simply not true. Do not believe everything you hear. If you are considering enrolling in an online degree program you should not hesitate. The following is a list of the top 10 online education myths: Myth #1 Online Education is EasyThe fact is, most online degree programs are identical to on-campus programs because they have to meet certain standards to be approved for accreditation. You will receive the same subjects, assignments, projects and class work that on-site students receive. You will also get the same high quality education online that is found in the traditional degree programs. Studies show that distance learning is at least as effective as traditional on-campus learning. Myth #2 Online Attendance is too Time ConsumingMost online degree programs are flexible, which means you can work at your own pace from anywhere and at a time that is most convenient to you. Myth #3 Employers do not Accept Online DegreesThis used to vary from one employer to another but now employers see the benefits of online degrees. Most employers understand the need for busy professionals to attend a distance learning degree program to improve their qualifications and ability to move up the career ladder. Most employers’ main concern is that the educational institution is accredited and has a good reputation rather than the method you use to obtain your degree. Myth #4 On Campus Attendance is MandatoryOnline learning methods vary from one institution to the next. Some institutions offer 100% online degree program with no on-campus attendance. Other institutions may offer courses as a combination of online and on-campus attendance requirement. So before completing the application process, make sure you know how your program is being delivered and if it will it be a problem if you have to attend class on-campus. Myth #5 The Instructors are not QualifiedIn order to teach at a reputable accredited university faculty members are required to have advanced degrees in addition to some online training programs in online instruction. Online instructors are very qualified and experts in their chosen field. Myth #6 The Traditional Classroom is Better than Online LearningThis is a case of “to each his own”. Online learning is designed for people who want to continue their education but do not have the time to attend the traditional classroom setting. Distance learning makes education more convenient, especially for adults with families and full-time jobs. Many people choose distance learning simply out of necessity. Not everyone can enroll in traditional higher education due to work, commitments and obligations so distance learning provides the flexibility to continue working at a current job while pursuing your educational and career goals at the same time. Myth #7 It is Quicker to Complete your Degree On-CampusThe time needed to complete a degree varies but it is possible to earn an online degree much faster with accelerated programs and the amount of time and dedication you put towards your online studies. A bachelor degree usually takes four years to earn on-site, but online students can complete the same degree in less than three years. Myth #8 Credit Transfers are not accepted at Online SchoolsMost online universities will accept credit transfers from regionally and nationally accredited institutions of higher learning, as long as the credits are eligible for credit transfer and can be applied to your degree program. Myth #9 Online Learning is not Right for EveryoneIt really depends on your learning style; online learning is very different than the traditional on-site learning, I have to agree. Anyone can adapt to online learning, all it takes is a bit of getting used to. Myths #10 Online Degree Programs are LimitedMany degree programs are now available online. Online institutions offer Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate degrees in addition to a variety of non-credit and certificate programs. |
20 Best iPhone Applications for Online Graduates
Friday, November 6th, 2009|
The iPhone has revolutionized the cell phone industry. No longer our cell phones are just for makings calls. Online graduates are now demanding more and more facilities from their iPhones. This has fueled a separate industry of program designers who create programs to benefit iPhone users. Some programs are specially designed for online graduates who are constantly wired to keep pace with school developments and their peers. These applications can be accessed from your iTunes online store. Some of these applications include:  1. Flipr Flash cards:With this application, graduates can simply synchronize their iPhone to their Mac and download flash cards with important exam pointers. They can also visit flashcard exchange via their iPhone 3G network to gain access to over 16 million flash card resources and then view them on wide screen mode on their iPhone. 2. A body of Knowledge:This is a favorite with medical students. This program has over 300 built-in annotated images of all the body’s bones, muscles, vessels, and joints. Graduates can easily test their knowledge by placing their iPhone in quiz mode or simply pinch on an image to get a closer look at an image. This eliminates the need to carry around bulky textbooks everywhere you go without skipping a beat with your study schedule. 3. Free Wi-Fi Finder:Students are always strapped and find it difficult at time to afford wireless network connection to carry out their studies. Free Wi-Fi finder allows them to locate free internet portals that they can log unto to gain access to their universities.  4. I Student:This application allows you to input your class schedule and other important events such as homework, exam dates, and department meetings. This eliminates reasons for students to be late. 5. Tools for School:This application is like a portable library. It entails applications that cover every subject area studied by online students. It also has 2D and 3D graph generating capabilities along with a copy of the New American Oxford Dictionary. 6. iTune U:iTune U is designed specifically for the Online University community. It contains lectures from various courses offered by the leading online universities. Via their 3G iPhone network, students can easily watch and listen to lectures from the over 200,000 available audio and video files. 7. Doc Viewer:Doc Viewer allows students to peruse documents before presentations or just for review. 8. iTalk Recorder:This applications allows students to record anything from lectures, notes read aloud or just their own ideas on the go. They can then replay them at anytime. 9. Writing Pad:iPhone writing pad allows you to use your finger to scratch any word you may want. It then gives you the option to save the word for future reference. 10. Social Networking:All the major social networking sites such as twitter and face book are available directly from your iPhone interface. 11. Fring:Fring allows you to instant message your entire online student peers at once by combining all your registered instant message providers.  12. Wikipanion:This is a direct access to Wikipedia’s unlimited information resources. With this application, you can quickly settle educational disputes between you and other students. 13. iHistory:This is a favorite with history majors. It provides an informative alternative to chugging around heavy history books. Major topics include art, wars, inventions, great cities, and other major historical events. 14. iClckr PowerPoint:This allows you to access and make power point presentations without the use of a PC. It provides students with high-resolution presentations and seamless transition through slides. 15. Current Events:iPhone has access to all the major news networks such as CBS, CNN, NY Times, and Wall Street Journal. This application is a hit especially with online finance students who want to keep wired to the latest financial trends.  16. Word Processing:iPhone allows online students to read documents created by the entire major word processing programs such as PDF, word, Excel and Corel. 17. BookBargain:The BookBargain application seeks out the best online book deals not only in America but also from sources all over the world. 18. Foreign Language Tutor:Graduate students can gain access to their personal foreign language tutor via their iPhone. Lessons are given for all major languages such as Spanish, English, and French. 19. Punch in Numbers:This is a calculator application that gives students access to a fully functional scientific calculator. 20. iTranslate:This application allows translations of over 42 different languages. Students are able to gain information from a different angle by accessing study material from different parts of the world. |
