Avoiding Problems with Online Schools

Washington, DC, August 06, 2011 --(PR.com)-- 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 America and 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 seeking job security and advancement in a very tight job environment.

Fear of being left behind is contributing to traditional schools growing rush to add online education opportunities. This, says DiUlus, has not been met by overwhelming support from traditional educators. He points out that traditional faculty perceive online education does not measure up to the rigor of a typical faculty to student classroom.

Long established classroom educators pressured by their schools to add online courses 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 as an increasing number of online colleges DiUlus ranks are being added to the marginal category annually. Unfortunately, he says, this supports what is the number one myth regarding online education.

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 Providers is a free download from Global Academy Online, Inc.

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