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College & University InformationAre online degrees valid to prospective employers?
by:
Rose Musyoka
Online distance learning has gained rapid quality
with the advent of the internet, which has proved to offer great supporting facilities and convenience for online education. However, simply like everything else with pros and cons, the computer network has besides opened doors for the widespread sale of fake online degrees. According a report by USA Today, there were already 400 sheepskin mills in the year 2003 and the amount are rising. In fact, galore of these unscrupulous operations are run by organizations in an industry that is worth $500 million a year.
However, amidst the negative ballyhoo simply about online education, there are really galore distance learning colleges offering valid degrees and diplomas. These institutions do not sell fake certificates, but really aim to provide quality education as alternatives for on-campus higher education. Valid online courses with online video lectures as well as online library facilities and test examinations conducted are often deployed to ensure that students truly qualify in their areas of study and graduate legitimately. Sadly though, galore employers only see the negative side of things, and easily brush off online education degrees as equivalent to fake degrees.
In view of the confusion, the National Education Board of the U.S. government has authorized 6 certification agencies to provide institutional certification to education institutions, as a measure to differentiate legitimate universities from the crooks. This means that students choosing their universities wish be assured that these universities would-be have met minimum criteria set forth by these agencies for learning institutions.
Additionally, there is besides The Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) which provides certification specifically for distance learning institutions. The DETC is an certification agency that is recognized by the US Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Certification (CHEA).
Furthermore, there is besides specialized certification for specific programs of some areas of specialization. These programs which are found to have earned
excellence wish be awarded certification by various professional accrediting agencies depending on the area of specialization. For instance, the International Association for Management Education (AACSB) gives certification to accounting related programs piece health programs are commissioned by the American Health Information Management Association. It is besides important to cognize that only certification agencies recognized by the Department of Education or CHEA are considered certification agencies which are acknowledged.
What makes certification mean to a student? An institutional certification agency evaluates the various aspects of universities or colleges against minimum standard criteria to determine if the particular institution meets their list of basic requirements. College certification is necessary to ensure that the education, facilities and keep provided by a college or university adheres to basic levels. On the another hand, specialized certification evaluates excellence in individual program regardless of which institution the program is being delivered within. In this type of accreditation, course content and program curricula is evaluated against pre-set standards of the institution.
All certification makes is to assure employers, students and parents that the graduates who are awarded degrees from commissioned colleges have undergone adequate training in their several areas of specialization. This besides means that colleges that are not commissioned by the proper certification body would-be not have met the standards obligatory
by the agencies. However, courses taken by prospective employees that are commissioned by the several agencies would-be have met standards obligatory
on the several specialized areas.
It is wholly up to the judgment and decision of the employers on evaluating the validity of an online or on-campus degree. With the recent hike in fake degrees, employers can’t help but be rigorous in their applier screenings and consider those with degrees that have been accredited. This may prove tedious and sometimes employers may get confused. Therefore, if your certification is provided by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education, then you wish need to explain to prospective employers on the background of the accrediting bodies. This way, you can avoid employers from sidelining your application based on thing
that they may be unclear simply about and increase your chances of being short listed for a job interview.
Just simply about the author:
Rose Musyoka is the editor of www.distance-learning-college-guide.com wherever
you find answers, information and proposal
on distance learning colleges, commissioned online degrees and online courses. See much related information on why college certification is important.
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