re: LSUS Online MBA Reviews

Just entered the program in Spring AP2. Taking Fin701 with Dr. Shi for my first class.

I would love the content, but the structure of the class is beyond frustrating. Just this last week I spent nearly 20 hours on this class alone (which seems excessive given other classes and reports here, and my own expectations of this class). The lectures are death by PowerPoint with very little additional context or explanation. He spends about 20 seconds on a bullet point (I've timed it and mathematically a good average given the number of slides and length of each video). There is no why or how, just a sentence or two on what. They are recorded with Apple earbuds, in a very echo prone office, and when combined with Dr. Shi's thick accent, make for a difficult experience. The study problems are full of errors (copy and paste errors or referencing problems that do not exist with needed information to solve). Many of the solutions make assumptions or jump vital calculations. Many of the concept problems were never covered in the lecture and the solutions act as additional factoids. The quizzes and exams do not reflect much of the material. You cannot discuss any of the quiz or exam questions with the professor as it is a non-refundable class. I'm not sure how that logic flows that because the class is nonrefundable you cannot discuss what and why question was wrong or even what the right answer was. Remember, the exam and quizzes do not follow the lecture much at all. The group project was unsolvable with course materials and required additional instructor intervention.

I'm an undergrad graduate from LSUS in 2012, graduating 3.96 in Computer Science and spending most of my electives obtaining a Business Minor in preparation for an MBA. I loved my time there, making many relations with students and faculty that persist to this day. Excel is my job and life (I'm a technology architect) and no spring chicken (just turned 43). I work directly with VPs and CTOs at Fortune 100 organizations in the Seattle area. I love studying, learning, and business. Knowledge is my life.

And yet this class has ruined any desire to continue on with the program.

Did I mention the Dean of Business has now threatened me with honor code violations because I was raising concerns to her about this issue? Apparently if you raise concerns, receive canned responses that do not even address your concerns, then show multiple structural issues with course materials, they'll just threaten you with an honor code violation to shut you up. They also refer you back to the professor, but overlook that in many cases the instructor can't respond because it's a nonrefundable class. And if you say you want to contact other students to see if they are having similar issues, that is also an honor code violation. Also, apparently I need to learn diversity and cultural differences (I mentioned I'm from, and currently live in, Seattle, one of the most diverse locations in the United States) because I questioned Apple earbuds in an echo prone office. I made no mention of his accent, but diversity and cultural difference was thrown immediately. As if saying diversity and cultural differences was a terminal stop to any criticism of production quality.

Anyone else taking this class, or have, and experiencing similar issues?