Kaplan University Online
I recently received a degree from Kaplan University Online. Like many people seeking higher education that fits their schedule, I turned to the internet. There has been a large insurgence of online educators over the past decade, due to the overwhelming success of sites like The University of Phoenix Online. I can not stress enough, the need to thoroughly research your chosen educator before you decide to use their services. I did do some research into the options available, and thought I was making the right decision with Kaplan, but my judgment was not adequate in preparing me for what was about to happen.
I was 50 credits shy of the degree I wanted, from prior learning at a traditional college. All of my previous credits transferred in with no problem, and I was in my first class in no time. Over the next year, I worked hard to finally realize the degree I was seeking. At first, things went smoothly, despite the fact that in my first 3 terms, my Academic Advisor changed 8 times. It was difficult to go through my entire history each time I needed the services of my AA. But it did not affect me enough to speak up. I just chalked it up to the inevitable volatility of a new and mutable service.
My real trouble started with the Capstone class. The final class before attaining my degree. In all of my time in various colleges and universities, I have never encountered such a poor excuse for an educator. Her obvious political slant was glaring, and little did I know that this prejudice would set in motion a series of events that almost cost me my degree. Our first assignment seemed innocuous enough, albeit strange. We were to write a short paper from our opposite point of view regarding the war in Iraq. There were 10 people in my class, and 9 of the 10 wrote a paper condemning the war, the president and his administration. Which of course was our opposite point of view. Not that anyone was pro-war, but were supportive of the president, despite his alleged failings. In the end, the one student who wrote here opposite point of view paper supporting the president was also the only one who made it through the class and passed. The others, save myself and one other, dropped out for unknown reasons soon after. The three of us struggled to understand her ramblings. Since her answers to our questions were condescending and sometimes even scathing, we refrained from asking too many questions. The rest of the term was spent writing one single paper. Each week we turned in parts of our paper in an "as-is" state, for her to pick apart and tell us how inadequate we were. When it came time to turn in the second half of our draft, to my surprise I and the other student on "my side of the fence" received 0's for plagiarism. She said we plagiarized from the internet. My understanding was that the papers were drafts, and therefore not final. I was still working out the wording on much of paper, and those parts that I had used from my research on the internet were properly cited and even had notes that they were not complete. Not only did would she not help me understand what I had done wrong, but would not engage in any sort of communication with me at all. I was devastated, but still decided to tough it out, chalk it up to experience and work even harder to turn in an outstanding final paper, even without her guidance. When the time came to present our final work, I posted my project with confidence. Weeks later, without a word, I received my work back with nothing but a report from an online plagiarism site that my work was 75% plagiarized from the internet. What had happened was that the system she used picked up on my prior draft, as if it were someone else's work. She didn't even bother to check that, and automatically failed me for that. When I disproved her theory that my paper was plagiarized, I was then told that I didn't rephrase it enough to be considered my own work. So first, I plagiarized myself, then I plagiarized someone else. Then I didn't paraphrase enough. It seemed that no matter what I did, another excuse was offered for the failing grade. Throughout this whole ordeal, my Academic Advisor, who is supposed to be my advocate was MIA. I was automatically re-enrolled in the class by another AA who was filling in. My response was intelligent, but firm. I would not be retaking this class. I explained my reasons, and recounted the entire experience to her, the Provost and the Dean of the school. The only response I received was from the Dean, who promised me that she would investigate. After 3 more months, my final paper finally went to a review, and it was decided that the plagiarism charge was to be reversed, my paper graded, and the proper credits issued. I never received an apology, nor an explanation for the lack of professionalism on the part of my instructor, nor the absence of my advocate. Merely that the decision was reversed, and to be more careful in the future because plagiarism was a serious issue. I held back my rage, and accepted the judgment. I am full aware of what plagiarism is, and its detrimental affect on society. But I am also aware of the detrimental affect of the lack of common sense, especially among instructors, can have on those seeking an education.
Therefore, I offer this bit of advice to anyone seeking an education online. Look at it as a service being provided. You have rights, and privileges. With so many choices available, just as in any free market economy, your dollar has power, and how you decide to spend your money has an effect on those seeking your financial support.