American Aentinel Unversity ASU anybody ?

[Unregistered]

Only one teacher seems to instruct all the computer science courses, so as you can imagine, if you receive a response to a question it will take at least a week. The other "instructors" seem to be in name only because no reponse was received to any email inquiries regarding assingments/lessons/material. I randomly emailed two students to see if they were having similar issues and they were. I filed a complaint with the BBB, but even before I did the company "has an unsatisfactory record with the Bureau due to failure to respond to a complaint." Any questions to the administrators/registrar also went without response.

You will be cheated out of your money.

[Starlily]

I am sorry to hear about your experience with that school...that sounds really frustrating!! Thank you for posting it on this board.

[ShotoJuku]

Only one teacher seems to instruct all the computer science courses, so as you can imagine, if you receive a response to a question it will take at least a week. The other "instructors" seem to be in name only because no reponse was received to any email inquiries regarding assingments/lessons/material. I randomly emailed two students to see if they were having similar issues and they were. I filed a complaint with the BBB, but even before I did the company "has an unsatisfactory record with the Bureau due to failure to respond to a complaint." Any questions to the administrators/registrar also went without response.

You will be cheated out of your money.

What options do you have now?

[Unregistered]

Just wondering where you got your information from the BBB. I just looked at their site, and there have been no complaints filed against American Sentinel in the last 36 months....

[Unregistered]

I have taken about 12 courses at American Sentinel. I haven't taken a programming course, but some of them were quite challenging such as Biology and Economics. I have generally found the professors and faculty to be responsive. My professor in Business Law in fact gives lengthy responses to assignments and direct email questions, but he doesn't answer the message board at all, so it just depends on the professor. I think you could also find professors at traditional high-ranked schools that are virtually unhelpful. For example, if you don't understand the material from their lecture and assignments, then tough luck for you because they are too busy with their own research, or writing a book, or doing PR, whatever. I have also taken some courses at regionally accreditted schools, both online and in the classroom, and I have found American Sentinel very comparable. The variances seem to mostly depend on the particular course, combined with the professor and course materials, and your own ability, rather than the school as a whole.

I took a C++ course from the University of Massachusetts, and it is the only course I ever dropped because it was too difficult for me at the time and I didn't think I was getting enough help, so I can understand your frustration. I just wanted to share my positive experience with ASU. I hope things work out better for you.

[mokonzi]

:)
would you recommend ASU ?

[mokonzi]

:rolleyes: Does anyone have bad or good experience with American Sentinel University? or maybe heard anything about the school's reputation? :rolleyes: I've tried to look it up online, but I couldn't find anything bad about the school or the degrees offered. Only thing is, since I'm looking for an MBA, a profesional accreditation such as AACBS, AND they DON'T have it, would be nice but at what price?? After all, once you start working, your experience matters more then the school you came from. Thanks in advance for your inputs, and I truly appreciated that ;)

[ShotoJuku]

This comes from the DETC website. They look a little pricey...


American Sentinel University
(formerly American Graduate School of Management)
385 Inverness Parkway, Suite 310
Englewood, CO 80112
Phone: 303-991-1575 or 1-800-566-8774: Fax 303-991-1577
E-mail: info@americansentinel.edu
Web Site: http://www.americansentinel.edu
Founded: 2000
First Accredited: 2005
Next Review: 2009

Offers Master and Bachelor of Science degrees in Computer Science, Information Systems, and Business Administration; Bachelor of Science in Management of Information Systems, Executive Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Nursing.

[mokonzi]

Thanks but, do you have anything on the school's reputation? As far as their accreditations, ways of gradings etc....? :rolleyes:

[ShotoJuku]

Thanks but, do you have anything on the school's reputation? As far as their accreditations, ways of gradings etc....? :rolleyes:

Ok, the DETC is their accreditation and a fine one at that.

You seemed quited hooked on ASU, is there a particular field or degree you are searching for that you can possible attain somewhere else, somewhere CHEAPER??

[mokonzi]

:) Thanks for your reply. I'm looking for a MBA in IT. And as far as the cost, they are one of the most affordale out there. The avrage MBA cost is $20K for two years, but ASU only charges 12k. http://www.americansentinel.edu/Adm-Tuition.php. So beside the cost I would like to gather as much information on their reputation and accreditations, because when shopping for an MBA, a professional accreditation like AACSB is nice to have but most of the schools that have that credential are very expensive, and the truth is after awhile, you experience matters more than the school you came from.;)

[smilo33]

I recommend American Sentinel to anyone who wants a quality education at a reasonable tuition rate. There are several things that make me feel good about choosing ASU.

1.) I personally have had a great experience with them. I am in the Bachelors of Science in Information Systems program, and I have taken about 15 classes so far. The classes have been challenging and relevant. They have been responsive when I need help, and I feel that I'm getting a lot for the money. My opinion comes from comparing them to three other regionally accreditted colleges I attended both online and in class. They are very comparable in every regard. Where they got the others beat is in the tuition and flexability of completing classes---the two biggies for me!

2.) Check out their site. IMHO, they have the most intuitive and open informational site of all the distance Ed schools. They seem to want to help you make an informed decision, rather than forcing you to contact them. They freely post tuition, policies, ISBN for textbooks, and much more.

3.) They continually improve the usability and technology of site and student section. I really appreciate the thought and consideration they put into the design and functionality.

4.) They have an impressive Academic Advisory Board, Management Team, and Board of Directors. These folks seem to really care about the quality of the education and its delivery. This page sums up their philosophy best:
http://www.americansentinel.edu/ASU-IsDifferent.php.

5.) Comparing it to other schools, I like their format best. Get your lesson plan, read the textbook, turn in assignments, take online progress tests, and then the final exam. Other schools offer video lectures or online text, but I don't like those because you can't highlight or bookmark, or easily refer to points of information. If you like learning of a textbook, as I do, then ASU is perfect. Most of the time, exams need to be proctored. Also, many times, but not always, final exams are open book. That doesn't mean the exams easy, but it was nice that I didn't have to memorize hundreds of statistics formulas or accounting rules, for example. It's more important that you know how to correctly analyze a problem and then apply the correct problem solving solution, just like real life.

My overall plan is to get my BSIS and MCS through ASU. I will probably look at American Public University for the MBA because they have more concentration options, and it's good to show that you weren't confined to one school for every degree earned.

ASU is DETC accredited, but not currently regionally accredited. The regional agencies have just begun to recognize a few distance only programs such as Western Governors University and American Public University. I know ASU has a goal to become regionally accredited, so I anticipate that it is only a matter of time until ASU earns this. In any case, I can transfer to a school such as WGU or APU that accepts both DETC and Regional when I pursue a Masters degree. In spite of this, the fact that ASU isn't regionally accredited actually motivates me to prove that I am a great product of the education. The regional accrediting bodies have been, until very recently, notoriously biased and anti-competitive against distance Ed programs, so it's up to the students to show how good we really are.

[smilo33]

I am a current student a ASU. I highly recommend them as you can read in my post here: http://online.degree.net/showthread.php?t=704

I recommend ASU above the others for their IS and CS programs. However, for an MBA, check out American Public University. http://www.apu.apus.edu/index.htm. I think you will find they have more options for the MBA concentrations at a lower cost. They are regionally accredited, and they allow more time to finish classes and the program since they were originally founded to serve military students via American Military University.

Good luck!

[DRJ]

:) Thanks for your reply. I'm looking for a MBA in IT. And as far as the cost, they are one of the most affordale out there. The avrage MBA cost is $20K for two years, but ASU only charges 12k. http://www.americansentinel.edu/Adm-Tuition.php. So beside the cost I would like to gather as much information on their reputation and accreditations, because when shopping for an MBA, a professional accreditation like AACSB is nice to have but most of the schools that have that credential are very expensive, and the truth is after awhile, you experience matters more than the school you came from.;)

Your words about AACSB are very true unless you want to pursue a career in education at some point. This web site is a good indicator of the price range for MBA ( you are not far off unless one of the schools is in your state)

http://www.geteducated.com/rankings/best_mbaaacsb.asp

On the other hand there are some other MBA programs out there that may be of interest. You have already found the DETC site with all the schools that they accredit ( http://www.detc.org/degree.html ) but you can also have a look at some other MBA programs through another Get Educated option

http://www.geteducated.com/rankings/best_mbareg.asp

You may find these quite reasonably priced as well.

Good luck in your hunt for a quality school. Sorry I cannot comment on the reputation of ASU but if they have achieved accreditation standing then they have something to offer.

[Alexus]

I'm currently obtaining my Masters in Computer Science from ASU. I've been enrolled since '05 and I have nothing but positive experiences with the school. It is accredited by the DETC, making it quite legitimate. I have friends who obtained degrees from ASU who have been admitted to law schools around the country. I was hired by a law firm in silicon valley last year, and they fact that I was obtaining a Masters was all they cared about. No concern in the slightest that my degree would be from ASU.

It's a very challenging program and if you should enroll, consider it just as reputable as any other school. It's a great program. I'm also in law school part-time and can't attend a B&M. I'll be a lawyer in 2 years and the fact that I will have obtained my Masters from ASU does not diminish my credentials in the least.

[Tedmeister]

:rolleyes: Does anyone have bad or good experience with American Sentinel University? or maybe heard anything about the school's reputation? :rolleyes: I've tried to look it up online, but I couldn't find anything bad about the school or the degrees offered. Only thing is, since I'm looking for an MBA, a profesional accreditation such as AACBS, AND they DON'T have it, would be nice but at what price?? After all, once you start working, your experience matters more then the school you came from. Thanks in advance for your inputs, and I truly appreciated that ;)American Sentinel University www.americansentinel.edu is a perfectly legit school accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council www.detc.org . They were formed out of a merger between the American College for Computer and Information Sciences and the American Graduate School of Management.

[Alexus]

I'm currently attending ASU and a few classes away from obtaining my Masters in Computer Science from the school. The program has been exceptional and I have learned much. My work in the program helped me obtain a job with a law firm doing patent engineering work. Great school and very much reputable.

[Alexus]

Only one teacher seems to instruct all the computer science courses, so as you can imagine, if you receive a response to a question it will take at least a week. The other "instructors" seem to be in name only because no reponse was received to any email inquiries regarding assingments/lessons/material. I randomly emailed two students to see if they were having similar issues and they were. I filed a complaint with the BBB, but even before I did the company "has an unsatisfactory record with the Bureau due to failure to respond to a complaint." Any questions to the administrators/registrar also went without response.

You will be cheated out of your money.

This is incredible misinformation. ASU is a legitimate online program, accredited and approved by the DETC. The instructors have been very accessible and excellent. I have been in the program to earn my Masters in Computer Science since '05, and it has thus far been a a very challenging and rewarding experience.

I would recommend the school to anyone who wants to earn their degree in a legitimate online program.

[cklapka]

5.) Comparing it to other schools, I like their format best. Get your lesson plan, read the textbook, turn in assignments, take online progress tests, and then the final exam. Other schools offer video lectures or online text, but I don't like those because you can't highlight or bookmark, or easily refer to points of information. If you like learning of a textbook, as I do, then ASU is perfect. Most of the time, exams need to be proctored. Also, many times, but not always, final exams are open book. That doesn't mean the exams easy, but it was nice that I didn't have to memorize hundreds of statistics formulas or accounting rules, for example. It's more important that you know how to correctly analyze a problem and then apply the correct problem solving solution, just like real life.


May I ask what other schools you have attended to make the comparison? I think this will help other make a better informed decision. I think that video lectures are nice, I wish I had them for my online classes.

[nyquistuk]

Only one teacher seems to instruct all the computer science courses, so as you can imagine, if you receive a response to a question it will take at least a week. The other "instructors" seem to be in name only because no reponse was received to any email inquiries regarding assingments/lessons/material. I randomly emailed two students to see if they were having similar issues and they were. I filed a complaint with the BBB, but even before I did the company "has an unsatisfactory record with the Bureau due to failure to respond to a complaint." Any questions to the administrators/registrar also went without response.

You will be cheated out of your money.

I had a similar experience years ago when the school was AICS and then ACCIS which were the predecessors of ASU... I was accepted into their MSCS program with their full knowledge that I had no prior CS training at the bachelors level, and they assured me that I would get any and all of the help that I would need to succeed... Until they got my money and once that happened I would ask a question and then get referred back to read the book over again and no explanations to my specific questions.

Currently, I am attempting to get them to honor my student agreement, and they are telling me it has expired, where as it is stated in writing that it had no expiration. Once that fact was presented they then stated that they had never purchased my specific student contract, and that I could pay tuition all over again, to study under ASU, or seek out the Blue Sky Acceptance Corporation (the name change of American College of Computer and Information Science) to teach me and get my degree from. They have made it difficult to discern the structure of ASU or the relationship that it still has with ACCIS or Blue Sky Acceptance Corp. However, on the Alabama Secretary of State Website for corporate records (http://arc-sos.state.al.us/CGI/SOSCRP10.mbr/output?PGM=2&P01=470181M) , you will see that the nature of their business is to operate ACCIS.

I am sure the folks at ASU have good intentions, but they have surely turned me off with their policies and attitude towards me when I have made inquiries to them, and in fact their last email almost said that it was a final communication and my remedies all lie with Blue Sky unless I wanted to enroll with them and file a new application for admission.

Anyone needing further information, or can add anything to this please feel free to contact me by email...

[nyquistuk]

If the DETC is a fine accreditation agency, then tell me why is that when complaints are filed against these schools through their official channels, they do not even acknowledge that you have even filed one less alone investigate it or do anything about it...

I have filed a complaint against ASU, and have had no answer what so ever, in more than 6 months... each month I write to a specific person who has direct responsibility for that region of the country, and she has never even given me the courtesy of saying I have received your letter and will look into it...

The degree may be a bargain, but you will get what you pay for...

Buyer beware!

[scaredrain]

If the DETC is a fine accreditation agency, then tell me why is that when complaints are filed against these schools through their official channels, they do not even acknowledge that you have even filed one less alone investigate it or do anything about it...

I have filed a complaint against ASU, and have had no answer what so ever, in more than 6 months... each month I write to a specific person who has direct responsibility for that region of the country, and she has never even given me the courtesy of saying I have received your letter and will look into it...

The degree may be a bargain, but you will get what you pay for...

Buyer beware!

Have you actually called DETC, instead of writing to them? I refuse to believe that they will not settle your issues with ASU. Colleges change their policies all the time, and I find it hard to believe than enrollment agreement doesnt expire. I know that at even RA colleges, if you dont enroll or are not an active student, they have the right to withdraw you from their school.

[nyquistuk]

Have you actually called DETC, instead of writing to them? I refuse to believe that they will not settle your issues with ASU. Colleges change their policies all the time, and I find it hard to believe than enrollment agreement doesnt expire. I know that at even RA colleges, if you dont enroll or are not an active student, they have the right to withdraw you from their school.

Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to this forum but I had lost the link to it when my old computer crashed...

But yes, I never did get any satisfaction from DETC, they are as insulant as the folks at ASU, in not providing any answers... long story but essentially they did nothing, and the State has never replied at all either. With the exception of another State agency, that told me that ASU was not their jurisdiction and referred me to the correct agency... the director actually called me personally, after reviewing my documentation and said that my complaint was perfectly valid, and I should speak with this other agency.

It looks like someone left me a personal message, so i am going to see if I can open it and reoly to it... although I suspect it will be a late reply as well!

[nyquistuk]

The only thing that you will ever rrceive from this school is a world of indifference...

As far as I am concerned is that they ripped me off for my tuition and i neve received what I paid for... Whatever you do don't trust them, as they are a den of thieves! That is their reputation! the tuition is cheap and you basically get what you pay for... also the the number of students that they claim that thay have is a figment of their imagination... I checked with my home State 's commissioner on education who has direct access to their enrollment and he told me their enrollment is less than 200 students, and it kind of makes sense now as to how they treated me in having to give up some revenue... they just could not afford it! But that is a whole another story of how we got there...