[rmiller1959]

You answered your own question.

Thank you, sir! As I understand their philosophy, at least at present, they've made a conscious decision to train rather than to research and publish because they believe that's the mission to which we are called. That philosophy sounded attractive to me when I was recruited to come here, because it sounds like they want the professors to put their energies into the students first and foremost. It could change someday, but I don't think a Sun Belt invite is incentive enough to do so!

[Liberty22]

When can we expect an interview of Benson or someone to let us know the final plans from today? I'm still holding out hope

Sidebar, when should we expect some sort of communication from JR?

[CinciFlame]

I was thinking the same thing liberty22. I would think Jr.would issue something along the lines of we continue to explore every option for FBS and we need to continue to build our programs.

[Liberty22]

Well, maybe no news is good news. We have like 10 days until its impossible for us (June 1)

[Sly Fox]

I may be mistaken but I believe that the meetings continue through tomorrow. If nothing of significance happens in the meetings then I wouldn't expect any news until it is over. Obviously the silence is not a good sign. I suspect the league will be very cautious about the way in which they reveal these decisions. In fact, the discussions may not even be complete.

[Purple Haize]

You answered your own question.

Thank you, sir! As I understand their philosophy, at least at present, they've made a conscious decision to train rather than to research and publish because they believe that's the mission to which we are called. That philosophy sounded attractive to me when I was recruited to come here, because it sounds like they want the professors to put their energies into the students first and foremost. It could change someday, but I don't think a Sun Belt invite is incentive enough to do so!

That's always been their philosophy. But wouldn't it be better to be taught by people who were leaders in their respective field? This is why some Academics look shown on LU. Because all they do is teach what others have researched instead of what they have researched LU used to have 1 or 2 of them on Campus but not anymore. The focus is LUOnline because that's where the money is at. LU is focused more on money than academic pursuits and that's fine, but comes with a cost

(Of course CIDER is a World renouned Quiz Bowl Coach...)

[Purple Haize]

When can we expect an interview of Benson or someone to let us know the final plans from today? I'm still holding out hope :I chortle audibly.:

Sidebar, when should we expect some sort of communication from JR?

I'm sure that was a dog whistle for BJ to go tell 'Dad'....

[Chris Lang]

I spoke to Barber at 4 p.m. today, and at that point, neither he or JF had heard anything from the Sun Belt. Barber will have something to say once there is something to say, and he's down here at the tournament, so I'll get up with him again tomorrow and see if anything has changed.

[ValleyBoy]

I may be mistaken but I believe that the meetings continue through tomorrow. If nothing of significance happens in the meetings then I wouldn't expect any news until it is over. Obviously the silence is not a good sign. I suspect the league will be very cautious about the way in which they reveal these decisions. In fact, the discussions may not even be complete.

I have no way of knowing but I feel the meeting are now over with. SoCon baseball tournament started today in Charleston and App St & Georgia Southern play each other a 10 in the morning. I have no way of knowing but it would surprise me if Georgia Southern AD & President were not at that game tomorrow morning.

[JakeP50]

I was out today and I finally got around to reading all of this and here's what I think: if the Sun Belt doesn't want us, screw 'em they're the ones who missed out not us. Now it's on the teams to beat up on the rest of the Big South like the weak conference that it is and prove that these LU haters in the SBC made a BIG mistake. Who knows maybe this year could be the best in the history of LU football and we somehow make an insane run in the playoffs and give NDSU the biggest scare they've had at the FCS level in a LONG time, maybe even beat them(unlikely but I can dream).

[jbock13]

You can say screw em, but, where else could we possibly go?

[TH Spangler]

My guess is, in the meeting Benson pushes to add us again, based on our readiness. Anything could happen but most likely they just punt again.

One angle I wondered about, was if we if we played in the conference could we encourage an LU corporate supporter to sponsor one of the Sun Belt Bowl games.

[jlread]

I spoke to Barber at 4 p.m. today, and at that point, neither he or JF had heard anything from the Sun Belt. Barber will have something to say once there is something to say, and he's down here at the tournament, so I'll get up with him again tomorrow and see if anything has changed.

Hahaha it feels like a 1year version of Ground hog day the movie.. I could've swore exactly one year ago you posted this exact same comment... Ugh...

[Chris Lang]

Doubtful. I was covering Tech last year at this time and was in Durham for the ACC tournament.

[R i]

Also, many consider LUOnline to be a diploma mill. I tend to agree since I completed my Finance degree through them and the classes were, for the most part, WAY easier than the classes I took on campus.

This is the Number One and driving reason we did not get an invite. IMO.

[R i]

We are loving the money, and loving reaching the goal of 50,000 students, but LU online has started to ruin LU already. Hopefully Jr. will take what all the other Sun Belt Presidents told him about our sustainable future as an Online Diploma Mill, to heart. It needs to be scaled back and be an offering but not our main source of income and driving source of our education.

[Humble_Opinion]

We are loving the money, and loving reaching the goal of 50,000 students, but LU online has started to ruin LU already. Hopefully Jr. will take what all the other Sun Belt Presidents told him about our sustainable future as an Online Diploma Mill, to heart. It needs to be scaled back and be an offering but not our main source of income and driving source of our education.

I've seen quite a few of these posts on here recently and I'm starting to wonder if you people know something I don't (doubtful considering where I'm sitting) or that you are weak-kneed and all too willing to believe the criticisms of a bunch of other schools that represent the old guard of education. There are some issues with LUO, but one of them is not that it's a diploma mill. I could probably spend the next 20+ posts explaining why we aren't a diploma mill, but given the fact that so many people on here are so eager to jump at any chance to trash the university, I won't waste my time.

[Yacht Rock]

As a current LU Online student I can tell you it's not a diploma mill. Some of the courses are easier than others but ask my family and they will tell you the amount of work I put in each week to complete the work that must be done. Just because a large number of people take advantage of it doesn't mean that it can't be or isn't challenging.

I think these days, in this economy, a lot of people can't leave their job and family to adapt to resident courses. While some people jumped into the university when they were 18, some of us others were out in the world gaining work experience. Personally, I don't think the Sun Belt is worth reducing the number of programs available through LU Online.

Overall, if folks have an issue with the online program, they should take that up with the accrediting bodies that say it's a legitimate program.

The only major criticism I have with the online program is that the participation of those teaching the course is uneven. Some classes include a lot of participation and responsiveness, others do not. However, in my experience in taking resident classes at various schools throughout my life, I've had the same experience.

Think of it this way, brick and mortar retail stores like Best Buy have fought against online retailers like Amazon because they viewed their business model as a threat. The only reason that those other institutions may not appreciate our online program is because it is a threat to what they do, not because it lacks credibility. In the end, the resident programs serve people who wish to take advantage of it and the online programs serve people who need that flexibility. If anything, I would like to see the online program grow a bit more.

[PAmedic]

yeah I'm not sure I get the concept behind this mentality

lets put this in business setting: you are a trend setter, succeeding wildly doing something no one else has done. People you are blowing by get angry at/jealous of your success. Rather than them re-thinking how they operate, they talk YOU into doing business the same way THEY do it.

Presto, you are now just like everyone else, mission accomplished, everybody gets a trophy, no one loses

And we are supposed to do this so we can get in the "Sun Belt" conference? (which I'm willing to bet no one heard of 5 years ago)

Yes it would have been/would still be a great step up for us, but lets not kid ourselves: its not exactly the "BIG"

[Purple Haize]

We are loving the money, and loving reaching the goal of 50,000 students, but LU online has started to ruin LU already. Hopefully Jr. will take what all the other Sun Belt Presidents told him about our sustainable future as an Online Diploma Mill, to heart. It needs to be scaled back and be an offering but not our main source of income and driving source of our education.

I've seen quite a few of these posts on here recently and I'm starting to wonder if you people know something I don't (doubtful considering where I'm sitting) or that you are weak-kneed and all too willing to believe the criticisms of a bunch of other schools that represent the old guard of education. There are some issues with LUO, but one of them is not that it's a diploma mill. I could probably spend the next 20+ posts explaining why we aren't a diploma mill, but given the fact that so many people on here are so eager to jump at any chance to trash the university, I won't waste my time.

Way to play the Martyr Card

Obviously, wherever you are sitting is immune to public opinion about Online Degrees. It's not just LU but all online degrees, especially those without a solid academic history. For example, an online degree from Harvard will look more impressive than an online degree from LU. But an online degree from Harvard will not have the same prestige as a 'traditional' degree from Harvard. Secondly, Online Degree programs have the perception of being revenue generators first and foremost. The amount of money LU has coming in to its coffers is evidence of that.
For better or worse, this is the Academic direction the University has chosen to take. And because of that people need to deal with the fall out of that.
Money, as evidenced by our major Athletics teams, doesn't buy respect or victories.

[Purple Haize]

yeah I'm not sure I get the concept behind this mentality

lets put this in business setting: you are a trend setter, succeeding wildly doing something no one else has done. People you are blowing by get angry at/jealous of your success. Rather than them re-thinking how they operate, they talk YOU into doing business the same way THEY do it.

Presto, you are now just like everyone else, mission accomplished, everybody gets a trophy, no one loses

And we are supposed to do this so we can get in the "Sun Belt" conference? (which I'm willing to bet no one heard of 5 years ago)

Yes it would have been/would still be a great step up for us, but lets not kid ourselves: its not exactly the "BIG"

1. You unwittingly make your own counter point. We are comparing the University to a business not an Academic Institution. 2 different mind sets
2. You are spot on about the SBC. I'm not sure I could name all the teams without Google
3. The B1G probably wouldn't want us either

[PAmedic]

1. agreed

and I did it "wittingly" knowing you would undoubtedly call me out on it.

but I bet you Jr (or Godwin???) DOES view it as a business. And maybe that is the crux of the REAL argument here?

I know I read somewhere where the school regards students as "customers" and how we operate on that basis: customer service comes first. Very Business-ish model for sure. Very UN-traditional. Very "Pi$$ off archaic brick and mortar ivory tower types"

[Purple Haize]

1. agreed

and I did it "wittingly" knowing you would undoubtedly call me out on it.

but I bet you Jr (or Godwin???) DOES view it as a business. And maybe that is the crux of the REAL argument here?

I know I read somewhere where the school regards students as "customers" and how we operate on that basis: customer service comes first. Very Business-ish model for sure. Very UN-traditional. Very "Pi$$ off archaic brick and mortar ivory tower types"

You win a free pair of elevator shoes!

And what you read is accurate. But again there is a difference between running a business and a University.

[Humble_Opinion]

Obviously, wherever you are sitting is immune to public opinion about Online Degrees. It's not just LU but all online degrees, especially those without a solid academic history. For example, an online degree from Harvard will look more impressive than an online degree from LU. But an online degree from Harvard will not have the same prestige as a 'traditional' degree from Harvard. Secondly, Online Degree programs have the perception of being revenue generators first and foremost. The amount of money LU has coming in to its coffers is evidence of that.
For better or worse, this is the Academic direction the University has chosen to take. And because of that people need to deal with the fall out of that.
Money, as evidenced by our major Athletics teams, doesn't buy respect or victories.

I noted in my post that there are issues with LUO, including the marketability of the degree and the fact that they haven't done enough to connect it to the resident program. However, it is NOT a diploma mill and that's the point I'm trying to make. The people (academia) attempting to label it as that are simply mudslingers that are both jealous and scared of the fact that it has worked. The irony here is that all of these individuals who attempted to discredit online programs in the past, are now being forced to play catch up in adding their own. And the interesting point I'd like to make is that many of them are marketing, managing and developing them to look just like LUO. You can continue to spew the traditional critiques from the all too snooty academics at these schools, but the administrations and the state representatives are ALL pushing online programs at these public institutions.

And one other thing... whether you want to admit it or not, higher education is an industry and those that participate in the industry operate as businesses. What they sell and market is academics. Regardless of whether they are public, private (not-for-profit) or a for profit, they operate as businesses.

[R i]

I'm starting to wonder if you people know something I don't (doubtful considering where I'm sitting) .

Then you know why we didnt get the invite. Please explain why we couldnt get 9 schools to let us compete athletically with them. Why did they believe that associating with LU would hurt their reputation ?