Online universities are a popular choice for students who cannot physically attend regular classes at a campus. The Sloan Consortium did a survey in 2008 which concluded that the number of students taking at least one online course during their fall term was up 12 percent from 2007. Complaints regarding these institutions are beginning to cause concern, with problems of qualifications gained not being recognized by professional governing bodies and problems with institutions which do not exist when investigated.
Time Taken to Complete Courses
Studying online involves self-discipline and a commitment to work for the required number of hours, every week. Online university students are taking years longer to qualify and in some cases, failing to finish courses at all, because of family and work distractions. Jobs and family concerns are the main priorities with many students who attempt "distance learning," only to find they have too little time available for studies. The speed at which studies progress is another issue students find problematic. Courses not tailored specifically to needs of individuals either leave them behind or generate boredom, from being too slow to hold students' interests.
Illegitimate Qualifications
Complaints to the Better Business Bureau regarding misleading or useless qualifications are increasing. While many schools are quite genuine, there are those who mislead students about the validity of qualifications they will receive. A call to the Better Business Bureau or the U.S. Department of Education will verify whether schools have accreditation. Even if the university has received government accreditation, an individual course may not be recognized by its industry's ruling body. To ensure qualifications are acceptable by colleges and employers, check with the governing bodies.
Scams
For some students, experiences with online universities have lead to costly mistakes and wasted time. The Consumer Protection Board (CPB) warns students to look for danger signs that an online university is a scam. These include unrealistic times for completing courses, courses offering credits based on life experiences and those with elusive contact information and no physical address. P.O boxes and suite numbers that cannot be verified by searches are also signs that a university is a fake. If in doubt about the legitimacy of any online university, a search of Internet sites for information on the university quickly reveals any complaints. A lack of contact numbers and an address out of the country should raise suspicions. Report any online universities which are dubious to the BBB, to save other students from losses.
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