Harvard Extension School Students Rally for Degree Name Change

[SweetSecret]

Here's a thought, if HES is technically issuing Harvard degree (no separate business was setup), then HES is essentially one of Harvard's schools the same as the school Harvard School of Law, or Harvard School of Medicine. Therefore, shouldn't everyone who applies and is admitted to HES be counted in Harvard's overall admittance rate - therefore changing their 2% claim? It's ridiculous to say "we are exclusive" just because we "want to look exclusive" especially if the classes are taught by the same professors and students are co-mingled. Maybe what the current and past students should do is take Harvard to court for false claims.

Havard's tagline for HES is "division of continuing education", which at any other school would offer CEUs rather than formal college credits. This also is rather misleading. HES bachelor and master degrees or no more continuing education than any other mainstream college or university schools that also offer formal credits.

I agree that I find the whole random degree names ridiculous. I think HES offers some great programs but when I wanted to pursue an MBA I realized I did not want to have to explain how an MBA and their HES Management degree (with the option for electives that essentially bring the credits up to the same as an MBA) are essentially the same thing.

I see no reason to differentiate people who earned their way in through the initial classes than anyone taking the regular Harvard college courses. If anything I would say that this could be a form of classism because some students simply cannot do well because of the situations they live in, and thus need an opportunity to control their own environment better in order to succeed. There's no reason that needs to be listed on the degree though.

In my opinion the fact that the students are simply doing a petition to the school is the nicest way to go, but I would also say I think they have valid reasons to take it to court.