just_ducky
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« on: November 23, 2009, 04:05:29 PM » |
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My department is currently in the process of doing a search for a position - we are a SLAC (small, not selective) with a good reputation. About 75% of the applications we've received so far are from
candidates with PhD's from Capella. The transcripts they are providing are pitiful in comparison to what a traditional PhD student in the field would take. Additionally, I'm finding that many of the applicants cannot follow instructions (ad says to submit cover letter, vita, references, etc. and several of these are missing).
Is this a trend that others are seeing?
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systeme_d_
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« Reply #1 on: November 23, 2009, 05:07:12 PM » |
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I've been on seven or eight search committees so far, and of hundreds of applications, I've only seen one application from a Capella PhD. The Capella degree was in a discipline far outside of the one in which we were hiring.
I was forced to conclude that this Capella grad couldn't even read a job ad.
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Systeme_D is right. <rah rah RESEARCH!> |
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georgiaprof
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« Reply #2 on: November 23, 2009, 05:12:46 PM » |
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I see them frequently. The degrees are usually unrelated to the field of hire. Sometimes there is a second degree that is in field that will work, but often they are tossed out because they don't meet qualifications.
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der_gadfly
SSOB-hatin', snarklet-writin'
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oy vey
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« Reply #3 on: November 23, 2009, 05:14:15 PM » |
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Depends on the field. I would not be so quick to criticize the Capella experience: I know many highly qualified folk who went to Capella, and some even ended up in the final cut for Fulbright Scholarships (not sure if any GOT one) and a few who got great grants.
Look at your ads: are they quite specific? or do they say "...or related area..."? I will go back to my prior stance that if you want something specific, then bloody well ask for it in clear fashion. If you are vague, you cannot complain. Think about how you would ask the genie in the bottle to get your candidate......
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systeme_d_
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« Reply #4 on: November 23, 2009, 05:21:37 PM » |
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The job ad specifically said we were looking for a person with a degree in Religion with a specialization in Rabbinics , and we got an application from a Capella grad with a degree in "Leadership" (whatever the hell that is).
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Systeme_D is right. <rah rah RESEARCH!> |
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georgiaprof
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« Reply #5 on: November 23, 2009, 05:23:42 PM » |
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(Educational) Leadership is a common Capella program. I get a lot of these. We are mostly looking for adjuncts. Some of these folks can teach education courses for us, but we don't really need a lot of these.
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der_gadfly
SSOB-hatin', snarklet-writin'
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Posts: 1,844
oy vey
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« Reply #6 on: November 23, 2009, 05:29:28 PM » |
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The job ad specifically said we were looking for a person with a degree in Religion with a specialization in Rabbinics , and we got an application from a Capella grad with a degree in "Leadership" (whatever the hell that is).
So, what you wanted was a D.DIV, or a D.MIN from a Jewish Seminary...... perhaps a retired Rabbi? |
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(and I bow before der_gadfly) Don't forget, that cat hair can come in handy as a good luck charm! |
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systeme_d_
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« Reply #7 on: November 23, 2009, 05:30:00 PM » |
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No, actually, the job ad specified a PhD.
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Systeme_D is right. <rah rah RESEARCH!> |
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der_gadfly
SSOB-hatin', snarklet-writin'
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 1,844
oy vey
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« Reply #8 on: November 23, 2009, 05:37:38 PM » |
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No, actually, the job ad specified a PhD.
How about an ScD? Automatic rejection? What if you had received an application from a DDIV, someone with extensive teaching and research/field experience? I can see that the application from someone with a degree in Ed. Leadership would be a throw-away, but to categorize all grads from that institution as unqualified is a pretty big step. And just to add to the complexity, I was on a SC and we were looking for a program director, doctorate required (no specificity) and we got applications from JDs, MDs, NDs - all of whom had the required managerial experience, plus a bunch of them from some Internationally-Recognized-Ivy-Schools with only an MBA: I will go out on a limb and state that these grads from Internationally-Recognized-Ivy-Schools cannot read a simple ad..... |
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(and I bow before der_gadfly) Don't forget, that cat hair can come in handy as a good luck charm! |
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just_ducky
New member
Posts: 24
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« Reply #9 on: November 23, 2009, 07:13:33 PM » |
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The ad is for a psychologists - with an emphasis in experimental psych - something Capella does not even offer a course in. One of the applicants had the gall (after inquiring about salary range) to say he required $10,000 above our range (at the minimum) and that he should be considered at the Associate level! Note: he just received his PhD a year ago and has only taught as an adjunct at online schools - no publications (at least none listed on his vita).
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systeme_d_
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« Reply #10 on: November 23, 2009, 08:04:18 PM » |
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No, actually, the job ad specified a PhD.
How about an ScD? Automatic rejection? What if you had received an application from a DDIV, someone with extensive teaching and research/field experience? I can see that the application from someone with a degree in Ed. Leadership would be a throw-away, but to categorize all grads from that institution as unqualified is a pretty big step. And just to add to the complexity, I was on a SC and we were looking for a program director, doctorate required (no specificity) and we got applications from JDs, MDs, NDs - all of whom had the required managerial experience, plus a bunch of them from some Internationally-Recognized-Ivy-Schools with only an MBA: I will go out on a limb and state that these grads from Internationally-Recognized-Ivy-Schools cannot read a simple ad..... I believe that what I wrote was that this Capella grad couldn't even read a job ad. And no, we would not have accepted someone with a a DDiv or ThD or other non PhD degree. We were not looking for someone trained in Theology, but in theory and methods in the study of Religion. Yes, the job ad specified this as well. |
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« Last Edit: November 23, 2009, 08:05:12 PM by systeme_d »
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Systeme_D is right. <rah rah RESEARCH!> |
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sibyl
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« Reply #11 on: November 24, 2009, 09:48:00 AM » |
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My department is currently in the process of doing a search for a position - we are a SLAC (small, not selective) with a good reputation. About 75% of the applications we've received so far are from
candidates with PhD's from Capella. The transcripts they are providing are pitiful in comparison to what a traditional PhD student in the field would take. Additionally, I'm finding that many of the applicants cannot follow instructions (ad says to submit cover letter, vita, references, etc. and several of these are missing).
Is this a trend that others are seeing?
Is which one a trend? A flood of applicants from grads of Capella? No. They're always present, and growing as they continue to graduate, but not disproportionately more so. Fairly underwhelming applications from virtually all grads of Capella, especially compared to R1s? Yes. But again, this is a constant feature of the landscape, not a trend. Applicants who appear to be ignoring instructions? Yes. This, I think, may be a trend relating to the economy; applicants are so concerned with applying that they are skipping the steps that get their applications read. |
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"I do not pretend to set people right, but I do see that they are often wrong." -- Jane Austen, Mansfield Park
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