Information Security

Listen totj, you make very valid points but I fear you once
again misunderstood me, never once did I try to pass WGU of as the premier
institution in the country I believe I actually said comparing it to some other
brick and mortar schools is akin to comparing a bicycle to the space shuttle.
All I have ever said and continued to say is that the IA program the school
offers is not, as you put it, crap simply because they chose to teach CCNA at
the Masters level of an IA program. You made my point for me by saying "Most
of IA simply comprises getting systems compliant and standardized on a baseline
vetted security postures and implementing policies and controls which keep them
there once mitigations are discovered. They implement and audit such information
systems for baseline compliance and consistency. They review the policies
written by the CISSP's that ultimately establish the IA framework, and review
this in a regular system development lifecycle to constantly refine and implement further controls on a needed basis."

As it relates to getting a real masters degree from Carnegie Mellon, or
Syracuse University, I live and work in Korea so right now my choices are
limited regarding Masters programs, of the schools available to me University
of Maryland was the only other online institute that had its IA program also
accredited by the NSA and I do not want to go to University of Maryland. It
does however bear mentioning that both schools you listed also have their IA programs accredited by the NSA (http://www.nsa.gov/ia/academic_outreach/iace_program/iace_certified_institutions.shtml#pa)
and (http://www.nsa.gov/ia/academic_outreach/iace_program/iace_certified_institutions.shtml#ne).
I ask you other than what we have been discussing in this forum, what have you
done to further your knowledge of their IA program (WGU that is), because you
rally against them with some degree of passion and I would like to know where
it stems from. Online Universities will most likely never compete at the same
level as traditional brick and mortar schools, but it is at least comforting,
IMO, that before they simply give you a degree they have you take industry
certs which legitimizes the knowledge you say you have, and they also have
traditional University classes. But it is hard to strike a balance between
traditional learning and true proof of knowledge. I love certifications that
challenge me, I would love it if they offered CISM, CISA, or even CAP for that matter but who knows that may be coming down the pike.

Having said all that because the university is a not-for-profit they keep costs
low, there are not that many schools that have ALL the necessary accreditations that you can get a Masters from for under $10,000.

Listen WGU is not the best school in the country by far, but
it is not what you think it is, do not take my word for it but please take the time and review the following links.
http://www.detc.org/accred.html (Distance Education and Training Council)

http://www.nwccu.org/Directory%20of%20Inst/Alpha%20Cluster/w_z.html  (Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities)
http://www.ncate.org/tabid/177/Default.aspx?ch=106&state=ut (National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education)
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/CCNE/reports/rptAccreditedPrograms_New.asp?state=UT&sFullName=Utah (CCNE-Accredited Nursing Degree Programs)
http://www.cahiim.org/accredpgms.asp
(Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education)
http://www.nsa.gov/ia/academic_outreach/iace_program/iace_certified_institutions.shtml#ut (National Security Agency)
http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/SearchResult.aspx?6d6f64653d5365617263684279496e737469747574696f6e267264743d372f31382f3230313120393a30323a303420504d (Department of Education)

The point I am trying to make is simply because you have
your personal feelings about an institution does not mean that you are
automatically right, I would take the word of, Department of Education, the
NSA, and every accrediting body in the continental United States over a blogger
on Federal Soup any day, please do your research next time when you want to write on topics with some semblance of accuracy.

I have actually followed a number of your posts and I have to say you come across as intelligent that is why I was shocked when you wrote something off without researching it.
Where do I start,
"If you want to pursue certs then self study. If you want an education, pursue a quality (or better than WGU) University. You don’t have to go to the crème de la crème Universities. But you don’t have to go to diploma mill for-profits either."

A simple search of the Department of Education’s website (http://www2.ed.gov/students/prep/college/diplomamills/diploma-mills.html) Defines Diploma mill as such.

“DIPLOMA MILL- The term `diploma mill' means an entity that--
(A)(i) offers, for a fee, degrees, diplomas, or certificates, that may be used to represent to the general public that the individual possessing such a degree, diploma, or certificate has completed a program of postsecondary education or training; and (ii) requires such individual to complete little or no education or coursework to obtain such degree, diploma, or certificate; and
(B) lacks accreditation by an accrediting agency or association that is recognized as an accrediting agency or association of institutions of higher education (as such term is defined in section 102) by--
(i) the Secretary pursuant to subpart 2 of part H of title IV; or (ii) a Federal agency, State government, or other organization or association that recognizes accrediting agencies or associations.”

Now I have shown you that the school is accredited by all accrediting agencies, also by the Department of Education, so by the definition of the Department of Education, I am sorry to say but you have no clue what you are talking about.

Now as previously stated you appear to be an intelligent person, so please do your research and ask yourself why all these accrediting agencies do not satisfy your requirement, as I said earlier you are entitled to your opinion but not your own set of facts, please drop this because you have not listed one credible source (other than your brain) that supports your argument, I on the other hand have listed several sources not only credible sources but legitimate organizations that accredit universities all over the United States accept reality, you are way out of your depth on this one.

I am still waiting for your source, and please let it be backed by any of the recognized accrediting agencies to include but not limited to the United States Department of Education; you have made it clear that you do not like their approach to higher learning, but I think that the word of every agency I cited carries more weight than yours. Long and short do not deal with the school at all because you do not like their approach, but to claim that they are a diploma mill is simply misleading and false. Please tell me other than what you believe what standards of education are you willing to accept, because you obviously do not accept anything that is legitimate in the United States of America and note I said legitimate because they ALL have accepted the University but you. Come on as I said you appear to be an intelligent individual, can you let this particular battle go as you cannot counter anything that the Department of Education, or any of the not for profit accrediting agencies have laid out as educational standards. Now if you want to argue that the standards are too lax because they WGU was so easily able to meet them, that is a separate argument, but now the more you write you are seeming like an educational idealog, which is fine but please base all your assertions on facts not feelings.

But I do not expect that you will be willing to accept facts as they are laid to you because you are too entrenched in your position, but I think it bears mentioning that I did say that traditional brick and mortar schools will always have an advantage over distance learning, but to discredit one simply on your say so is ludacris, you are not the Secretary of Education.

Thank you for finally accepting that you are basing everything you have said in pure fantasy, not in the reality that everyone else bases theirs. I continue to ask, if you have such bad feelings towards the school what are you basing it one other than personal feelings; you cannot provide me one credible source to back your assertions but you call the school a joke. If you say it is a joke please define and cite your assertions backed with facts, not only feelings.

I would prefer if you state one organization with credible sources that backs your assertions about the school being a joke because so far all you have are personal feelings.

Look I have already told you based on your certifications and degree, you are well credentialed to work in your field, but please for the love of God cite one credible source that backs what you claim because if you don’t, all you have written so far is a colossal waste of time and energy, get to the point cite one, I have cited numerous of which I note you have not challenged.