JCJC to offer bachelor degrees?

[virgo]

JCJC to offer bachelor degrees (http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071023/NEWS01/71023016)




Officials at Jones County Junior College announced today the two-year college will immediately begin offering four-year bachelor’s degrees in more than a dozen categories through an alliance with Ohio’s Franklin University.
“Degrees will fall under three umbrellas – business, computer science and technical majors.” said Bill Chan, director of the Community College Alliance at Franklin University.


What? Can they do this? What does everyone think?

[dasmybaby]

well, people end up staying there 4 years anyway, might as well have better than an AA to show for it ;-) i woulda stayed there 4 years if i coulda....

[wilebill]

They could do it in cooperation with Hattiesburg University in 3 years when that campus is built.

[virgo]

Wonder what this could do to USM. A know a lot of students go to JCJC and then transfer.....and I bet it'll be a ton cheaper, too.

[virgo]

For some reason, the names of all those get a college degree for $25 places/wannabe colleges across the country are suddenly sounding awfully familiar here.

[Pirate_129]

I don't think this is a very well thought out idea. Mississippi already has too many four year schools as it is. The last thing we need is all the junior and community colleges to go this route.

I'd be interested to see the junior/community college and state college board' s opinions on this.

[daisy]

I don't think this is a very well thought out idea. Mississippi already has too many four year schools as it is. The last thing we need is all the junior and community colleges to go this route.

I'd be interested to see the junior/community college and state college board' s opinions on this.

I thought the jr. college would need approval from the college board first. and maybe they don't.

Wonder if they missed a step?

Well, if they can, why not the other jr.colleges such as Pearl River and Perk etc;???/

I thought there was some kind of agreement or boundaries pressed years ago when USM wanted to have a full-time campus on the coast or?????

I bet this isn't all we hear on this.:kekeke:

Oh, I see it looks likes like an extra year thrown in there called bridge course plus the 40 hours online through the other university.

So, 2 years forAA

1 year of bridge courses before


40 hours of online classes through the other college. What would that be a sememster 9-12 hours??? so 3-4 semesters unless you do a summer or 2.



((((Students at JCJC will be expected to complete their associate degrees and then take an additional year of “bridge courses” before completing 40 hours of course work online through Franklin University, Chan said.))))))))

[Guru]

Doesn't sound like much of an improvement for day students but for those working and going to school it could be desireable.
I had expected JC to go to a regular 4 year curriculum by now anyway.

[mi_nombre_es]

ya! stay in 13th Grade to get a 4 yr degree? sounds like the Staples easy button to me!

[mac]

JCJC to offer bachelor degrees (http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071023/NEWS01/71023016)




What? Can they do this? What does everyone think?

Unless I misunderstood what I just read in that article (which is possible since it's 6:30 a.m.), Northwest Community College and Ole Miss have a similar arrangement. The Bachelor's degree is through the university. The cc really just serves as a site. You can go to NW and get your general stuff done, and transition right into junior and senior classes at Ole Miss without ever going to Oxford.

[petalgirl00]

A lot of colleges do this. I'm transferring to a school(brick and mortar) in Wyoming next semester to finish out my degree online. You get your Associates then go on to get your bachelors at a four year. It will be good for working people and the military community.

[bpitt]

They could do it in cooperation with Hattiesburg University in 3 years when that campus is built.
Now that was funny!

[dollfus46]

I'm not sure I understand the concept of a Jr. College if you have to transfer to a 4 year College or University. Would someone 'splain it to me. My Mom and Dad met at Jones County Jr. College. Dad went on the graduate from Miss. State with a B.S.in Business and Mom a B.S. from UT School of Nursing. Why go to Jr. College first?

[Augustus McRae]

It is yet another piece of affirmation that "dollars drive higher education." It is also yet another statement that we adopted about 40 years ago and can't let go of: "Everyone needs a college degree." It is also, if you will indulge me, yet another piece in the belief that "everyone has a right for any accommodations they need to get anything they need."

With all that said, if I were an adult in the working world needing a B.S. degree to get a better job in my workplace or a raise or something better for my family, would I do it? Probably would. And I suspect many will.

Does this speak well for JCJC and for the state of higher education in America? Not at all.

[KingMaker]

All this means is that JCJC and Franklin have worked it out so that Franklin will accept all of JCJC's credit hours. That's the crux of going out of state after finishing a JUCO in MS. Some credit hours don't translate.

This will not be a huge impact on USM or other state Universities. Because, only a small percentage (although growing) want to get on-line degrees. They could basically do the same thing through Univ. of Pheonix or any of hundreds of on-line schools out there.

[Augustus McRae]

Will someone who knows how - probably ALL of you except me - please put up a link for this Franklin University? I'd love to look it over later today. I'd sure appreciate it! Thank you!!!

[Hob684]

I'm not sure I understand the concept of a Jr. College if you have to transfer to a 4 year College or University. Would someone 'splain it to me. My Mom and Dad met at Jones County Jr. College. Dad went on the graduate from Miss. State with a B.S.in Business and Mom a B.S. from UT School of Nursing. Why go to Jr. College first?

i went to a jr college (ECCC,Decatur) because i got a full ride on ACT, band, choir, showchoir, collegians, etc.. (plus MTAG) I didn't have any federal assistance.

so 5 full scholarships at $700/per (+$250mtag) left me with just over $1k back each semester after tuition, books, food, etc.

If i had come straight to southern, which had been discussed, i would have paid around $6k and gas.

No matter where you go you still have to take the "general studies" courses.. ENG101,102, history, algebra, etc... i just chose to get paid for it and party alot.


my wife and i met at EC. she had the same scholarships i did but she lived at home instead of in the dorms. She got $2k+ back each semester, put it in a savings acct and paid for her first year at USM by herself.

[Hob684]

http://www.franklin.edu/


http://alliance.franklin.edu/en_us/alliance.franklin.edu/

[fuzzis]

The segment on WDAM this morning said that Jones has been investigating this for the past three years. I'm not sure that can be called "premature". And...it's not like Jones is going to be the first institution in the country to have made such an arrangement with Franklin.

From an adult ed perspective, I think that anything that opens access is a great thing. I mean, we target programs to military folks, offering specially designed 8 week courses so that they can be completed before a deployment. USM has a program specially designed for teachers that compresses instruction into a 8-10 week course delivery.

Change isn't always a bad thing. The level of instruction is what's going to matter.

[Augustus McRae]

This is really no more than an agreement for transfers between Jones and Franklin and centers around on-line degrees which still do not have the respect as brick and mortar institutions.

Will Jones financial aid still apply once students start to bridge? (i.e. academic and services scholarships like choir and band). JUCOs receive funding from the state based on number of students enrolled. Will these students count towards that during the bridging year and the final year at Franklin?

I get the feeling that much more discussion will be had on this subject. Seems they were a little premature in making this announcement. I think HU has a better chance of opening in three years than this becoming successful at Jones.

This arrangement is in place with at least one other juco in Mississippi and with students enrolled. IMHO it is "embarrasing" for Jones to come forward with this announcement. There ARE "bonafide" institutions of higher learning - including Notre Dame, Auburn, Alabama, and others - that offer degrees through mostly on-line classes. It would have made some sense for JCJC to work toward some kind of "articulation" with such institutions.

I guess this is part of preparing our "high tech" workforce for the future. Pursuit of a degree through Franklin and a number of other such places is an option open to students - ALL students. But those students who pursue it will be "explaining" that choice all their lives and could - with a little planning and forethought - pursue a degree under similar circumstances from a solid institution.

[Augustus McRae]

The segment on WDAM this morning said that Jones has been investigating this for the past three years. I'm not sure that can be called "premature". And...it's not like Jones is going to be the first institution in the country to have made such an arrangement with Franklin.

From an adult ed perspective, I think that anything that opens access is a great thing. I mean, we target programs to military folks, offering specially designed 8 week courses so that they can be completed before a deployment. USM has a program specially designed for teachers that compresses instruction into a 8-10 week course delivery.

Change isn't always a bad thing. The level of instruction is what's going to matter.

I honestly agree with everything you said, EXCEPT: "From an adult ed perspective, I think that anything the opens access is a great thing..." If we really believe that, then there is a GREAT market for "Hattiesburg University."

[fuzzis]

I honestly agree with everything you said, EXCEPT: "From an adult ed perspective, I think that anything the opens access is a great thing..." If we really believe that, then there is a GREAT market for "Hattiesburg University."

Please read that last line of that post. Thanks.

[Kitty]

This arrangement is in place with at least one other juco in Mississippi and with students enrolled. . . .

I hope the students who opt to go this route to degree completion understand that the articulation agreement with Franklin does not change the existing articulation agreement between Mississippi's two-year and four-year institutions.

Hopefully this won't be the case, but I can see a scenario in which a student does the bridge year coursework at Jones, then decides he/she would rather go somewhere else other than Franklin to complete the degree.

Also, students who think online courses are easier may be in for a surprise.

[Augustus McRae]

I hope the students who opt to go this route to degree completion understand that the articulation agreement with Franklin does not change the existing articulation agreement between Mississippi's two-year and four-year institutions.

Hopefully this won't be the case, but I can see a scenario in which a student does the bridge year coursework at Jones, then decides he/she would rather go somewhere else other than Franklin to complete the degree.

Also, students who think online courses are easier may be in for a surprise.


VERY good points you made. Most of the articulation agreements between Mississippi juco's and Mississippi 4 year institutions limit the transfer credits to 64 hours or so. Taking additional work at JCJC in a "bridge" period would not help them if they went to one of the Mississippi schools. Good point!

You are right, well-prepared online work is often very challenging. As a college teacher, I have had several students attempt online courses but abandon them because of the "self-teaching" and self-discipline demands of them.

[petalgirl00]

VERY good points you made. Most of the articulation agreements between Mississippi juco's and Mississippi 4 year institutions limit the transfer credits to 64 hours or so. Taking additional work at JCJC in a "bridge" period would not help them if they went to one of the Mississippi schools. Good point!

You are right, well-prepared online work is often very challenging. As a college teacher, I have had several students attempt online courses but abandon them because of the "self-teaching" and self-discipline demands of them.

I don't think that online classes are any more challenging than classes at the university. Either you're going to have an understanding of the coursework or not. You still have access to the instructor and many times to other students that can help you out.

[Augustus McRae]

I don't think that online classes are any more challenging than classes at the university. Either you're going to have an understanding of the coursework or not. You still have access to the instructor and many times to other students that can help you out.


As I often do, I failed to make myself clear. What I meant to "imply" was that many folks enroll in or pursue "on-line" courses with the assumption that, because there are not classes to attend, the classes will be less challenging. Fact is, they usually require more work. I have served as an instructor in both settings, and you just about HAVE to require more "work" in the on-line courses to validate learning and ensure exposure to the material.

[petalgirl00]

College is work and people need to realize that. I like online because I can do it when the kids are asleep on my schedule and not necessarily someone else's.

[Augustus McRae]

College is work and people need to realize that. I like online because I can do it when the kids are asleep on my schedule and not necessarily someone else's.


Soooo..when you get your degree and get a job with that degree....are you going to be able to do that job "..when the kids are asleep on (your) schedule and not necessariliy someone else's..." ?

[BlueDogDemocrat]

i have never heard of Franklin...is it kind of U of Phoniex?

[petalgirl00]

Soooo..when you get your degree and get a job with that degree....are you going to be able to do that job "..when the kids are asleep on (your) schedule and not necessariliy someone else's..." ?


Yes, I have been doing the job for six years in two different states(child development/daycare). However, when the husband is in Afghanistan or parts unknown for months at a time courtsey of the Navy, it is easier to take classes online at my convenience. That way, I can run the house, work, shuttle kids back and forth, and not have to rely on someone to watch my kids while I'm in class. I learned a long time ago to not rely on anyone so I have to do everything myself. I have been taking classes at USM but their schedule is not meshing with mine. Unless someone wants to volunteer to watch my kids and/or contribute to the household income.

[Kitty]

i have never heard of Franklin...is it kind of U of Phoniex?

Not exactly (http://www.franklin.edu/en_us/www.franklin.edu/About+Franklin/History/).

[Kitty]

Generally speaking, I wonder if an alliance with Franklin University results in a referral fee going back to the referring institution?

The issue of referral fees, in conjunction with institutional alliances/agreements/partnerships, is discussed in this recent story (http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-me-uci16oct16,1,3604404.story?coll=la-headlines-technology).

[Sir Mickey Mouse]

Scholarship/financial aid questions, tuition questions, the subject areas of degress offered, the unmber of juco's in partnership with them, JCJC considernig offering 300 level courses, the web sites for both Franklin University and JCJC, etc. are answered here:

http://www.leadercall.com/homepage/local_story_297091541.html?keyword=leadpicturestor y