Bexar County Sheriff's Office's Archaic Policy on "Internet Degrees"

[sanantone]

What is an "internet degree?" Who uses that term? I knew about this educational incentive pay policy several years ago, but I thought they'd eventually catch up to the rest of the world. Are they saying that they will not recognize an online degree from Texas A&M, one of the best universities in the state, but they will recognize a Devry University degree earned in a strip mall? Are they saying that an Excelsior degree won't be accepted, but they'll accept a University of Phoenix degree because they rented space in an office tower? 

Qualifying degrees must be from a college or university accredited by one (1) of the six (6) nationally recognized regional accreditation boards. Internet degrees, degrees from institutions without physical campuses, degrees from diploma mills, or similar institutions shall not qualify.

https://www.cleat.org/wp-content/uploads...ntract.pdf

[MSK9]

Old school. Wow. Hopefully, they'll get with the times. They must not realize what a disservice they're doing themselves.

[sanantone]

Old school. Wow. Hopefully, they'll get with the times. They must not realize what a disservice they're doing themselves.

The funny thing is that they won't be able to tell if someone earned an "internet degree" unless they know the school is 100% virtual. No one has ever guessed that I attended Angelo State University online. I'm from Texas, and it's a Texas school, so everyone assumes I attended on campus. It's kind of awkward when I have to tell them that I don't know anything about San Angelo. 

[cookderosa]

What is an "internet degree?" Who uses that term? I knew about this educational incentive pay policy several years ago, but I thought they'd eventually catch up to the rest of the world. Are they saying that they will not recognize an online degree from Texas A&M, one of the best universities in the state, but they will recognize a Devry University degree earned in a strip mall? Are they saying that an Excelsior degree won't be accepted, but they'll accept a University of Phoenix degree because they rented space in an office tower? 

Qualifying degrees must be from a college or university accredited by one (1) of the six (6) nationally recognized regional accreditation boards. Internet degrees, degrees from institutions without physical campuses, degrees from diploma mills, or similar institutions shall not qualify.

https://www.cleat.org/wp-content/uploads...ntract.pdf

So it seems as if they use having a physical campus as the filter?

[Sapientes]

The interesting part for me is that it was agreed to as part of a collective bargaining agreement. Still funny how they phrased it

[sanantone]

What is an "internet degree?" Who uses that term? I knew about this educational incentive pay policy several years ago, but I thought they'd eventually catch up to the rest of the world. Are they saying that they will not recognize an online degree from Texas A&M, one of the best universities in the state, but they will recognize a Devry University degree earned in a strip mall? Are they saying that an Excelsior degree won't be accepted, but they'll accept a University of Phoenix degree because they rented space in an office tower? 

Qualifying degrees must be from a college or university accredited by one (1) of the six (6) nationally recognized regional accreditation boards. Internet degrees, degrees from institutions without physical campuses, degrees from diploma mills, or similar institutions shall not qualify.

https://www.cleat.org/wp-content/uploads...ntract.pdf

So it seems as if they use having a physical campus as the filter?

The way I'm understanding it is that they won't accept Internet degrees (online degree from any school) or a degree from a school without a physical campus (this would have disqualified correspondence, television/videotape, and satellite programs at schools without physical campuses when they existed).

---

The interesting part for me is that it was agreed to as part of a collective bargaining agreement. Still funny how they phrased it

This means that the members of the union voted on this. BCSO is not a highly-educated department, so you have people with GEDs and high school diplomas making these decisions. Their deputies are always in the news for being arrested and accidentally releasing inmates, so that kind of tells you what kind of department it is. Most college students these days are aware of online classes and how they work since most current college students have taken at least one online class.

[davewill]

So it seems as if they use having a physical campus as the filter?

That's the way I'm reading it. It kind of sounds like the list after "Internet Degree" is almost defining what they mean by it. The part I find interesting the the phrase "accredited by one (1) of the six (6) nationally recognized regional accreditation boards." It sounds like NA schools are completely out, but by putting the word "nationally" in there it makes it hard to interpret. It DOES seem ridiculously rigid.

[sanantone]

So it seems as if they use having a physical campus as the filter?

That's the way I'm reading it. It kind of sounds like the list after "Internet Degree" is almost defining what they mean by it. The part I find interesting the the phrase "accredited by one (1) of the six (6) nationally recognized regional accreditation boards." It sounds like NA schools are completely out, but by putting the word "nationally" in there it makes it hard to interpret. It DOES seem ridiculously rigid.

They strictly mean regionally accredited. Regional accreditors are nationally recognized; they're more recognized than national accreditors. There were some now defunct state accrediting bodies that were classified as regional accreditors. In Texas, it's not uncommon for police departments to not recognize national accreditation because the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement will not award continuing education credits or substitute work experience for education if the college credits come from a nationally accredited school. 

Applicants must have a minimum of 60 college earned hours from a regional accredited college or university.

https://www.dps.texas.gov/trainingAcadem...cation.htm

Must have a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution of post-secondary education as certified through a commission on higher education of a regional educational agency for colleges and universities recognized by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement

https://www.arlingtontx.gov/city_hall/de...qualifiers

211.1(3) An institution of higher education that is accredited or authorized by; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS-CC); Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA); North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA); Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU); Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC); New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. (NEASC-CIHE).

https://www.tcole.texas.gov/sites/defaul...2.6.16.pdf

[bjcheung77]

Hahaha, that was fun. They're a few years behind. Since their document is from 2016, I would guess they are at least coming of age in the next year or so... maybe, maybe later...

[sanantone]

Hahaha, that was fun.  They're a few years behind.  Since their document is from 2016, I would guess they are at least coming of age in the next year or so...  maybe, maybe later...

The contract is from December 2016 to September 2020.