Graduate Units / Doctorate

[go_mustangs]

Hello and thank you in advance for any help you can lend.

Age: 55
Location: California
Education: BA Sports Management MA Education
Profession:  Community College Professor / Athletic Coach
Career Goal:  Salary Advancement

I have been a professor/coach for the past twenty five years.  I've been blessed to find a career that allows me to contribute and add value.  I never thought about salary advancement or retirement but an illness in the family has changed the dynamic and I'm now reevaluating priorities.  If I add (any) 84 graduate units, my salary (and eventually retirement) will go up by 20k annually.  An earned doctorate will bump my salary up by 25k annually.  I work 60 hour work weeks but am committed to taking the necessary steps to increase my salary.  I'm interested in a plan that will get me to either 84 graduate units or a doctorate with the least pain possible.  I really enjoy what I do and I don't plan on changing my career in any way.  I'm just looking to advance on the pay scale in the most effort/time/cost effective way possible.  My college requires U.S. Department of Education accreditation listing.

I've looked at the following programs

DPA Valdosta State
EdD Cumberland
DHA Virginia Lynchburg
VESI Graduate Units through Morningside

I'm really open to any suggestions

Thank You

[carrythenothing]

Serious question: Have you considered switching careers or at least employer/institution?

[SteveFoerster]

Given that scenario, I would say the DHA.

[Courcelles]

Given that scenario, I would say the DHA.

Cheap enough if non-RA degrees will count for you OP, but be darned sure they will.

[cerich67]

Hello and thank you in advance for any help you can lend.

Age: 55
Location: California
Education: BA Sports Management MA Education
Profession:  Community College Professor / Athletic Coach
Career Goal:  Salary Advancement

I have been a professor/coach for the past twenty five years.  I've been blessed to find a career that allows me to contribute and add value.  I never thought about salary advancement or retirement but an illness in the family has changed the dynamic and I'm now reevaluating priorities.  If I add (any) 84 graduate units, my salary (and eventually retirement) will go up by 20k annually.  An earned doctorate will bump my salary up by 25k annually.  I work 60 hour work weeks but am committed to taking the necessary steps to increase my salary.  I'm interested in a plan that will get me to either 84 graduate units or a doctorate with the least pain possible.  I really enjoy what I do and I don't plan on changing my career in any way.  I'm just looking to advance on the pay scale in the most effort/time/cost effective way possible.  My college requires U.S. Department of Education accreditation listing.

I've looked at the following programs

DPA Valdosta State
EdD Cumberland
DHA Virginia Lynchburg
VESI Graduate Units through Morningside

I'm really open to any suggestions

Thank You

Also consider South College EdD or DBA, if you think you can do in 3-4 terms can be affordable as well.

[ss20ts]

I wouldn't waste my time on just taking 84 credits without getting a degree of some sort out of it. I would also get it in writing that an NA degree would work. If an NA will actually work then I'd go with VUL. If not I'd keep looking until I found something that works for my interests. There are TONS of EdD degrees out there. There are many doctorates out there that are significantly less than 84 credits.

[freeloader]

Given that scenario, I would say the DHA.

Cheap enough if non-RA degrees will count for you OP, but be darned sure they will.

Looks like NA should be fine. Per “Minimum Qualifications for Faculty and Administrators in California Community Colleges” published by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office:

All degrees and units used to satisfy minimum qualifications shall be from accredited institutions, unless otherwise specified in this Article.

For purposes of this Subchapter, “accredited institution” shall mean a postsecondary institution accredited by an accreditation agency recognized by either the U.S. Department of Education or the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation. (Pages 71-72). 

https://www.cccco.edu/-/media/CCCCO-Webs...C2B852A2F9

Of course, should talk to HR or whoever handles ranks a promotions for faculty at OP’s school…

[bjcheung77]

Welcome to the board, go_mustangs! You've completed the template, brief and concise, but it's missing the info on the addendum. Basically, the more details, the better we can get to know your scenario or situation. I suggest filling in the info asked on the last post here: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...Area-works

My main question or two really is, do you have tuition assistance/reimbursement from work? Since you're a professor at the college level, if that college has interesting graduate courses you can take for free or at a great discount, it may be a great option to use the perk towards the grad credits you need. Have you asked if these can be international credits that have been evaluated as RA credits would do?

[go_mustangs]

Welcome to the board, go_mustangs!  You've completed the template, brief and concise, but it's missing the info on the addendum.  Basically, the more details, the better we can get to know your scenario or situation.  I suggest filling in the info asked on the last post here: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...Area-works

My main question or two really is, do you have tuition assistance/reimbursement from work?  Since you're a professor at the college level, if that college has interesting graduate courses you can take for free or at a great discount, it may be a great option to use the perk towards the grad credits you need.  Have you asked if these can be international credits that have been evaluated as RA credits would do?

Good Morning and thank you all for your helpful input.  I really appreciate all your suggestions.

Tuition Assistance / Reimbursement - No, none available

Budget - Budget isn't a big a concern.  A three year or less break even point is acceptable.

Doctorate Degree - The degree itself isn't a huge priority.  Meeting the advancement guidelines (with or without the doctorate degree) is my main priority.

Time/Energy/Effort - This is a big concern.  I'm seeking the path of least resistance that will meet the requirements for salary advancement.  I may have to end my work life sooner than I planned to care for a family member with health issues so I'm trying to prepare for that possible reality.

Graduate Courses at my College - No, we're a Community College and offer only undergraduate courses

International / Evaluated - There is no mention of that in the California Community College guidelines.  My understanding is that if the units are graduate level and can be traced back to an institution listed on the database of accredited post secondary institutions and programs https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home they'll be accepted.  

Years ago, there was a distinction between regionally accredited and nationally accredited.  Currently, that separation does not exist for the purpose of salary advancement at my college.  This is what prompted me to post because more options are now available.  I'm familiar with conventional online courses and degrees but I've been totally unaware of some of the education methods / paths covered on this site.  Before I enroll in a degree program I wanted to explore some of the alternative methods that members of this site have successfully used.

Again, thank you in advance for any knowledge you can lend.

[bjcheung77]

Basically, if time is of the essence and you want to put the energy/effort into getting this done faster, doing another Masters at WGU would take 1 term of 6 months and then complete the VUL DHA in 12 months, in total 18 months for a second Masters and DHA! The cost for WGU would be roughly $4K, then VUL DHA would be $18K, the total cost of $22K or so...

If you're not in a rush and have the 3 years, I suggest taking the DBA or EDD as those are RA vs the one at VUL is NA, even though the USDOE may have made minor changes to lessen the differences, many employers and institutions will favor RA over NA. Since the cost of education would be slightly more expensive for RA, you may want to decide on that.