Arkansas Times posted two interesting articles this week:
The Battle of ASU
Arkansas Times
5/12/2009
KAIT in Jonesboro reports that Arkansas State University has completed its first year of a distance learning program that lets students take master-level classes over the internet. The courses are designed by faculty, but the large number of students requires "coaches" to do most of the grading and interacting with students on a day to day basis. ASU administrators say the program has been a success. That depends on who you ask. The program was started by a private company called Higher Education Holdings and has created quite a stir on the campus. Companies like HEH are able to offer schools huge class sizes (which means more $$). Some professors think it's akin to outsourcing a master's degree. Others say it will hurt the school in the future because students who graduate from the program will have no physical connection to the campus, and might not make donations to the university's endowment. According to an article in Inside Higher Education that appeared a couple of months ago, faculty at ASU were not consulted about the decision to use the compnay. If the fight over Higher Ed Holdings at Toledo was an all out brawl, the debate at Arkansas State University has been more of a boxing match -- but gloves are still optional. The concerns Toledo faculty expressed are shared by many at Arkansas State, where professors fear they’re being forced to develop cookie-cutter courses that can be used by thousands of students at a time...“I simply refuse to be part of this HEH scam,” wrote Rowe, who is president of the university’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors, as well as vice president of the state chapter. “ASU-[Jonesboro] has decided on quantity over quality and I will not participate in this ‘pending’ fiasco.”
Arkansas Times
May 14, 2009Cyber degrees
Arkansas State University is calling its distance learning program, which lets students take master's-level classes over the Internet, a success. The program, offered by a private company for ASU, Higher Education Holdings, just completed its first year at the Jonesboro university.
But the on-line program is creating a stir on campus, where, according to an article in Inside Higher Education, it was implemented without consultation with professors. They've compared the program to outsourcing a master's degree.
One ASU professor told the Times this week that ASU's partnership with HEH may end badly. “At the very least, the university's reputation will be a casualty. It could result in investigations into how ASU is funding this degree through state appropriations and sending 80 percent of student tuition fees to a corporation in Texas,” he said.
Companies like HEH are able to offer courses for a lower cost to a huge number of students, sometimes numbering in the thousands. “Coaches” do most of the grading and interacting with the students.
Markham Howe, executive director of public relations for ASU, says that students enrolled in the HEH program count toward the school's total enrollment, which has an impact on state appropriations. School officials say they have the full support of the governor and their board.
American Veritas wonders why the governor of Arkansas would support a state university sending 80% of its tuition to a private Texas coporation?
Showing posts with label arkansas state university. Show all posts
Showing posts with label arkansas state university. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
The Metamorphosis of American College of Education
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
The Metamorphosis of American College of Education (from stophehcorporateplundering.blogspot.com)
Before there were "Academic Partnerships" (HEH partnerships) within publically funded universities, Randy Best's vision focused on the American College of Education (ACE) as the first national college of education. The Dallas Morning News, in May, 2006, featured native son, Randy Best's dream for an educational empire.Since 2006 Best's plans have expanded to include the concept of academic partnerships with public universities, embedding ACE within the public higher educational system. Public institutions should be forewarned: Best's aspirations are grand:http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/052906dnmetbestplans.d8b4622.html"When ACE officials met with Texas regulators last fall, they produced a document titled "The Big 'To Do' List." It outlines the company's plans to expand, including offering a full bachelor's degree program.Then comes an expansion "in all 50 states" and a broadening of ACE into other subjects, from engineering to law. The final step on "The Big 'To Do' List," the only item in bold print: "Expand everything internationally."In addition, ACE has hired two lobbyists from the Dallas law firm Locke Liddell & Sapp to work on its behalf in Washington, particularly on the Higher Education Reauthorization Act. The version of that bill passed by the House in March includes $300 million in federal grants for teacher training programs – many of which ACE could be eligible for in partnership with states and school districts." Three points should be noted: First, Best plans to expand his company's services to include 4 year bachelor degrees. Second, Best plans include expansion to international markets. Since his plans for ACE have been morphing into embedded "Academic Partnerhip" private/public partnerships, will we soon see public universities allowing HEH to commandeer their 4 year degrees and programs targeting international students? After all, that's apparently the target population for Best's profit machine.Third, note Randy Best's practice of hiring "big names" to further his cause. Does the name Arne Duncan ring any bells? Prior to his new job running the federal Department of Education, Duncan was superintendent of Chicago Public Schools and a big supporter of Randy Best and ACE. Am I the only one alarmed at the discussion of Best's lobbying efforts to capture federal grant funds to support his venture capital projects? Remember, the Dallas Morning News article was written in 2006. Since then Arnie Duncan, has been placed in a position to be of great assistance to Randy Best. Cronyism?
The Metamorphosis of American College of Education (from stophehcorporateplundering.blogspot.com)
Before there were "Academic Partnerships" (HEH partnerships) within publically funded universities, Randy Best's vision focused on the American College of Education (ACE) as the first national college of education. The Dallas Morning News, in May, 2006, featured native son, Randy Best's dream for an educational empire.Since 2006 Best's plans have expanded to include the concept of academic partnerships with public universities, embedding ACE within the public higher educational system. Public institutions should be forewarned: Best's aspirations are grand:http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/052906dnmetbestplans.d8b4622.html"When ACE officials met with Texas regulators last fall, they produced a document titled "The Big 'To Do' List." It outlines the company's plans to expand, including offering a full bachelor's degree program.Then comes an expansion "in all 50 states" and a broadening of ACE into other subjects, from engineering to law. The final step on "The Big 'To Do' List," the only item in bold print: "Expand everything internationally."In addition, ACE has hired two lobbyists from the Dallas law firm Locke Liddell & Sapp to work on its behalf in Washington, particularly on the Higher Education Reauthorization Act. The version of that bill passed by the House in March includes $300 million in federal grants for teacher training programs – many of which ACE could be eligible for in partnership with states and school districts." Three points should be noted: First, Best plans to expand his company's services to include 4 year bachelor degrees. Second, Best plans include expansion to international markets. Since his plans for ACE have been morphing into embedded "Academic Partnerhip" private/public partnerships, will we soon see public universities allowing HEH to commandeer their 4 year degrees and programs targeting international students? After all, that's apparently the target population for Best's profit machine.Third, note Randy Best's practice of hiring "big names" to further his cause. Does the name Arne Duncan ring any bells? Prior to his new job running the federal Department of Education, Duncan was superintendent of Chicago Public Schools and a big supporter of Randy Best and ACE. Am I the only one alarmed at the discussion of Best's lobbying efforts to capture federal grant funds to support his venture capital projects? Remember, the Dallas Morning News article was written in 2006. Since then Arnie Duncan, has been placed in a position to be of great assistance to Randy Best. Cronyism?
Which Public Universities have Signed Contracts with HEH?
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Which Public Universities have Signed Contracts with HEH? (from stophehcorporatplundering.blogspot.com)
Lamar University, Randy Best's alma mater, was the first publically funded university to partner with HEH. University of Texas at Arlington offers several HEH programs. Arkansas State University offers at least one HEH program. Sam Houston University is currently negotiating with HEH. The University of Toledo successfully blocked a partnership with HEH.All of the aforementioned HEH programs reflect the offerings of Randy Best's American College of Education (ACE). As a matter of fact, it's interesting to note that ACE's website is almost indistinguishable from the websites for the HEH programs (labeled "Academic Partnerships") embedded within their respective public university partners.American College of Education: http://www.ace.edu/University of Texas at Arlington: http://uta.academicpartnership.com/default.aspArkansas State University: http://www.astate.edu/academicpartnerships/default.aspLamar University: http://www.academicpartnership.com/lamar/Note the predominance of the primary selling point: $4,950 price on the banner of each website. It's sort of like a car dealer posting the sales prices of the cars at the front of the car lot. Cheaper cars are great. What if only half the engine were inside, however? Not so great. These cheaper programs are "lite" degrees. The online classes are 5 weeks in duration (about 1/3 of a typical college class) and taught by academic coaches who are often assigned to work with more than 100 students at a time. Randy Best's sales force at HEH must be very, very good at their jobs to get universities to enter into contracts that, in effect, invite the pirates to live on the ship, share space equally with the crew, while, at the same time, plundering for profits. Randy Best's mission is to have the first national college of education. He is well on his way.How many more universities will sign on the dotted line and embed ACE within their public institutions?
Which Public Universities have Signed Contracts with HEH? (from stophehcorporatplundering.blogspot.com)
Lamar University, Randy Best's alma mater, was the first publically funded university to partner with HEH. University of Texas at Arlington offers several HEH programs. Arkansas State University offers at least one HEH program. Sam Houston University is currently negotiating with HEH. The University of Toledo successfully blocked a partnership with HEH.All of the aforementioned HEH programs reflect the offerings of Randy Best's American College of Education (ACE). As a matter of fact, it's interesting to note that ACE's website is almost indistinguishable from the websites for the HEH programs (labeled "Academic Partnerships") embedded within their respective public university partners.American College of Education: http://www.ace.edu/University of Texas at Arlington: http://uta.academicpartnership.com/default.aspArkansas State University: http://www.astate.edu/academicpartnerships/default.aspLamar University: http://www.academicpartnership.com/lamar/Note the predominance of the primary selling point: $4,950 price on the banner of each website. It's sort of like a car dealer posting the sales prices of the cars at the front of the car lot. Cheaper cars are great. What if only half the engine were inside, however? Not so great. These cheaper programs are "lite" degrees. The online classes are 5 weeks in duration (about 1/3 of a typical college class) and taught by academic coaches who are often assigned to work with more than 100 students at a time. Randy Best's sales force at HEH must be very, very good at their jobs to get universities to enter into contracts that, in effect, invite the pirates to live on the ship, share space equally with the crew, while, at the same time, plundering for profits. Randy Best's mission is to have the first national college of education. He is well on his way.How many more universities will sign on the dotted line and embed ACE within their public institutions?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)