VUL introducing new doctorate in May

[PurpleReign]

I've only read a small collection of graduates complaining about diplomas and transcript delays over the last year, which one would imagine several universities had shortcomings trying to balance the pandemic and processes. Most read a little theatrical to me, and I am open to understanding that if I had graduated, I might have a heightened sensitivity to waiting for an extended period. Outside of one professor, I have never read anything negative about the program and learning journey.

Talking with VUL  back in Mach 2022, I agree this is a different tone to the likelihood of anything coming soon. Their DHA offering is substantial, so they should do just fine even with no new additions.

There were several graduates who waited 8 months to get their diplomas and have their transcripts recorded. I wouldn't call that theatrical. IT wasn't due to the pandemic. It was due to EXTREMELY poor communication from the university who kept telling students numerous stories and not really explaining anything. They were also promised graduation regalia which only ended up being given to those who attended commencement which is not what was communicated at all. 

I have read from several people problems with the program and it's not just 1 professor. I've been following along since the DHA was announced. Even their Facebook ads have people asking questions that the school never responds to which is really bad marketing and says a lot to potential students about the school.

Regalia as in cap & gown? We have to order it ourselves in UK & if you don't go to graduation you don't get or need it. Do you have to go to graduation to actually graduate in America? We get our diplomas sent not at graduation (correct me if I'm wrong', pretty sure the scroll isn't the diploma).

Is graduation and staying in touch with a uni/college important for American's?

I had an online graduation and my name wasn't even read out lol

Regalia is typically not provided and is an additional cost for students. Last summer candidates for graduation were instructed to pay $160 for graduation fees which VUL committed to cover regalia costs for all graduates (regardless of attendance). Graduation is not mandatory but you do have to pay the fee in order to be formally cleared and receive your diploma. Members of the first graduating cohort who didn't attend graduation weren't given regalia and had to purchase them separately. VUL choose to have customized regalia from a vendor that charged the school nearly $800 (bulk rate) and then charged students who ordered later over $1000.  I get that the school had a tradition of ordering high-quality regalia for their School of Ministry doctoral grads as many will be wearing their gowns in religious or other academic ceremonies.  Honestly, if the school had used the policy from the previous DHA graduation there would not have been really any uproar. But once the school committed and then the stories of them passing out regalia that was earmarked for the non-attendees to folks who didn't pay graduation fees and later outright lie and claim there weren't funds for those not attending you should now understand the outrage. Furthermore, you add in the reports of regalia being taken at will as the university staff didn't monitor this at rehearsal, and then when faced with a shortage quietly decide to announce 3 days after the ceremony that no regalia will be provided you should see how unethical and unprofessional this behavior has been viewed by many. Materials were supposed to be mailed out 2 weeks after. But fast forward almost 6 weeks later and nothing has been mailed and the school does an about-face on promised regalia and still could at times provide an eta on diplomas you now see why this blew up into a major issue and why many complained on Facebook as that was the only outlet (there was an email chain on the school's internal email system that was completely ignored by the administration as well).

I would say for many that it is somewhat important to have a bond from a school they have finished after graduation. Typically this is most important at the undergraduate level than the graduate level and for those attending in person rather than online. However, for many graduates of programs that employ a connected cohort model, it's not uncommon for a strong alliance with an institution to develop as many have an alumni association in place to help continue the connection. I have 2 master's degrees and I'm very connected to the alumni association of my first Masters (earned at a top research school) while not so much from my 2nd master's (a for-profit online school). Also, most African-American HBCU graduates tend to want to have a connection as well with their alma maters since HBCUs played such an important part in our history and were the only place for education thru the 20th century.   I left a For-Profit doctoral program to come to VUL in hopes to help the school as well as thoughts of also having that HBCU connection after graduation. My dad attended Edward Waters College (an HBCU in Jacksonville Florida)  back in the late 1950s but was forced to drop out due to finances (he was drafted into the army, got married, and never went back to school) so earning a doctorate at an HBCU was a way for me to honor his dream.  The HBCU culture post-graduation for many is huge in the African American community and in many ways allows for informal networking in business.

I would say based on how VUL mistreated many in my situation along with the lack of outreach and communication I don't see much of a connection going forward with the school formally. However, I do hope to continue to connect with my cohort and other graduates. Networking is very important and I would be happy to help another graduate and I hope vice versa.