Nova Southeastern University

Date: Dec 31 1969
Major: Computer Science (This Major's Salary over time)
I am a 2013 graduate of Nova Southeastern University, completing one of its doctoral programs. I have read many StudentsReviews on Nova Southeastern University, quite a few positive, and about as many negative as well. But one theme that keeps resounding in the review forums is Nova being labeled as a distance learning school. This is somewhat misleading and possibly inaccurate. Nova Southeastern University, in my assessment as one of their alumni, is a traditional brick and mortar university that built its reputation on distance learning. They were pioneers in distance learning long before it was acceptable and commonplace today.

Nova Southeastern University really needs to resolve this issue and make a declarative statement as to what kind of institution they really are…whether a traditional university, or an online university. Again, I disagree with the latter, and if Nova feels the same way, they should promote themselves as a traditional university and distance themselves from the for-profit online universities that they are often compared with. I think it would be better to be a traditional university that offers some online degrees, than to be classified as a purely "online" university.

The "online" stigma is harmful and counterproductive to all doctoral graduates of the school, as the perception of online, or even "perceived" online doctoral degrees are severely frowned upon by academics at premiere U.S. colleges and universities. Therefore, we do not command the same level of respect deserving of one who has completed a doctoral degree.

PhD candidates engaging in more student-based research and specifically publishing in top-tier journals would also be a major step in a positive direction. This, along with the online perception limits and impedes our ability as Nova doctoral graduates to secure employment at major colleges and universities, at least outside of Florida. Granted it has been over ten years since I completed my coursework at Nova Southeastern University, things may have changed there for the better since my departure that I am not aware of.