Robert J.
01-29-2005, 07:40 PM
Degreeboard.com Asks:
9. During the Senate Hearings on Diploma Mills in 2004, Andrew Coulombe,
said:
"I would like to make a couple of additional observations about the severe
shortcomings of a Kennedy-Western education. Part of my job was to have
applicants fill out applications and list their prior work experiences. I
know that Kennedy-Western made no efforts to verify the work experience
claimed by an applicant. I also know that Kennedy-Western gives applicants a
substantial amount of credit for their prior work experiences, even if they
are inconsequential. I saw this happen numerous times."
Please comment on his testimony and we'd like to hear your side.
Mr. David Gering Responds:
Mr. Coulombe's testimony at the Senate hearings was completely unchallenged, biased
and his assertions are simply incorrect. He was only with the University for three
months, which, in our judgment, didn't give him adequate understanding of our
Admissions process or our educational model.
The Kennedy-Western University protocol for assigning credit for applicable work
experience and training is well documented and consistent. All Students are accepted
provisionally. This means, like many universities, that KWU verifies educational and
training-related transcripts after provisional acceptance. Meanwhile, the evaluation
process identifies specific work-related experience that directly correlates with
program outcomes associated with the applicant's chosen field of study. Only this
type of experience will be considered and there is a limit to the percentage of
experiential credit that will be awarded in this category relative to the overall
credit granted. In fact, prior to the May 2004 Senate hearings, KWU voluntarily
provided to the Senate Committee staff substantial documentation on this practice.
The Senators chose to ignore this and all other material we provided.
We assume students are professionals and recognize that their academic performance
is their own responsibility. Students sign a certification document attesting to
their truthfully describing their work experience. Our Admissions Counselors take a
consultative approach to help each prospective student to decide whether they really
want to be a student at KWU. Our mid-career professional students expect this kind
of service.
Degreeboard.com Asks:
10. Whether as people or corporations or educational establishments, we all
make mistakes, what is the single biggest mistake Kennedy Western has made
in the past?
Mr. David Gering Responds:
While I believe we have made great strides to correct it, I believe our 'mistake'
was hesitating to respond to the criticisms that arose in the recent past.
9. During the Senate Hearings on Diploma Mills in 2004, Andrew Coulombe,
said:
"I would like to make a couple of additional observations about the severe
shortcomings of a Kennedy-Western education. Part of my job was to have
applicants fill out applications and list their prior work experiences. I
know that Kennedy-Western made no efforts to verify the work experience
claimed by an applicant. I also know that Kennedy-Western gives applicants a
substantial amount of credit for their prior work experiences, even if they
are inconsequential. I saw this happen numerous times."
Please comment on his testimony and we'd like to hear your side.
Mr. David Gering Responds:
Mr. Coulombe's testimony at the Senate hearings was completely unchallenged, biased
and his assertions are simply incorrect. He was only with the University for three
months, which, in our judgment, didn't give him adequate understanding of our
Admissions process or our educational model.
The Kennedy-Western University protocol for assigning credit for applicable work
experience and training is well documented and consistent. All Students are accepted
provisionally. This means, like many universities, that KWU verifies educational and
training-related transcripts after provisional acceptance. Meanwhile, the evaluation
process identifies specific work-related experience that directly correlates with
program outcomes associated with the applicant's chosen field of study. Only this
type of experience will be considered and there is a limit to the percentage of
experiential credit that will be awarded in this category relative to the overall
credit granted. In fact, prior to the May 2004 Senate hearings, KWU voluntarily
provided to the Senate Committee staff substantial documentation on this practice.
The Senators chose to ignore this and all other material we provided.
We assume students are professionals and recognize that their academic performance
is their own responsibility. Students sign a certification document attesting to
their truthfully describing their work experience. Our Admissions Counselors take a
consultative approach to help each prospective student to decide whether they really
want to be a student at KWU. Our mid-career professional students expect this kind
of service.
Degreeboard.com Asks:
10. Whether as people or corporations or educational establishments, we all
make mistakes, what is the single biggest mistake Kennedy Western has made
in the past?
Mr. David Gering Responds:
While I believe we have made great strides to correct it, I believe our 'mistake'
was hesitating to respond to the criticisms that arose in the recent past.