There is a lot to look at there, but let me start on page one, the “about WGUW” page. Over on the right they list two Washington state students who have praise for WGUW. Here is one of these:
“WGU has been the perfect solution for me as it is very affordable, flexible, and responsive to my needs with their extensive mentor system. I have received excellent support at every turn and with this help I expect to graduate in 2 years instead of the usual 4 while still being able to provide for my family.”
—Scott Fladgard
College of Business Student, Kingston, WA\
So who is Scott Fladgard? The name is easy to Google … try this link:
The results are surprising. Mr. Flagard, who claims to be taking advantage of the wonders of WGUW to complete a college diploma in teo years instead of 4 is a corporate president:
54 years old.
- President at Investment Construction LLC
- CEO at Pacific International Tool & Shear LTf
- President at Gateway Const LLC
Mr. Flagard is CEO of, Pactool, in Kingston, WA. They have 21 to 60 employees and sales of two to five million dollars.
or how about looking up some of the faculty they list:
I looked up the credentials of the faculty listed in “information technology.” As far as I can tell, none of the “faculty” have credentials in IT beyond, possibly, a masters.
Yolanda Dupree, A.B.D. Nova Southeastern University
For those who. like me, did not know what degree an “A.B.D.” might be, I am told ABD means “all but degree.” That is convenient because when I went to the Nova website, apparently they do not offer a doctorate in “information technology” or any similar term I could find.
Rebecca Johnston, Ph.D. Texas Tech
The only record I found on the web was of “Rebecca Johnston, online Ph.D. student in Technical Communication and Rhetoric in the Department of English.” Nor a credential for IT?
Junhua Jia, Ph.D. Wayne State University
I was able to find a CV. Again, the credential is not in IT. Junhua has a doctorate in education from Wayne State. His main academic credentials, however, have been as a mentor at WGU, and his work experience seems mainly as a computer support person with some occupational certificates from Microsoft.
Jackie Brewer, Ph.D. Capella University
Based on credentials listed at “National American University”, Dr. Brewer does not have a doctorate in IT: What she does have is : Computer Information Systems, Ottawa University (1998); M.A., Human Resources, Ottawa University (1999); Ph.D., Organization and Management, Leadership, Capella University (2006). Capella, like WGUW itself, is an online university.
Leslie Vance, Ph.D. Pennsylvania State University
Leslie Vance also lacks a doctorate in IT. According to his CV. Dr. Vance’s doctoral thesis, in education, was on “The Effect of Question Response Mode in Complementing Self-Paced Verbal Instruction.” (Unpublished dissertation, The Pennsylvania State University, 1986. ) Dr. Vance did work as network support professional at Accenture bit other than that, his primary employment has also been at WGU as a “mentor.”