A recent article in the New York Times has thrown a harsh light on one of the largest for-profit schools, the University of Phoenix. The article criticizes this school for substandard teaching and admitting students that are not capable of completing a course of college study.

I have myself expressed some rather critical views of UOP's approach to higher education, and today thought I would take a minute to explain what accreditation is, and why it is so important that students understand it before they spend any money on a school.

This is excerpted from my new book How to Make As in eCollege, just available at www.Lulu.com this month.

PART 2: Who Are the Faculty?

Another good measure of a school is its faculty. Most online universities will link you to their faculty website where you can read about the qualifications of those professors who will be teaching you. As you look through the list of instructors, ask these questions:

* What degrees do the faculty have? Do they all have post-graduate degrees (degrees earned after the traditional B.A. from a four-year institution)?

* Do most if not all of them have terminal degrees: MBA, Ph.D., J.D.? A terminal degree means the faculty member has taken his/her program of study to its highest level of completion. The faculty with the M.A. usually only had a two-year course of study in his program. The faculty with a Ph.D. has spent four years or more in her course of study. The terminal degree means there are no more formal programs that person can take in that area of study. So although it doesn't mean there is nothing left for her to learn, it does mean she's completed more formal training than someone who only went as far as an M.A.

* What courses do the faculty members teach? Are they teaching in the same areas in which they have a degree? Most institutions are quite diligent about checking that their faculty has earned quality degrees. However, many schools will hire faculty with degrees for accreditation purposes, then allow them to teach in other areas if they have taken a course or two in that subject. Do you want your teacher instructing you in your major area of study when they have taken less classes in that topic than you have? Probably not.

* How many of your faculty are adjuncts? Many of the online schools (and increasingly more of the on-ground schools) employ part-time faculty to teach the majority or all of their courses. There is nothing wrong with part-time faculty--they are often just as qualified and likely are more enthusiastic teachers than their full-time brothers and sisters. Part-time faculty are eager to prove to the school how dedicated and valuable they are in order to earn a full-time position.

However, some schools look at this rather large group of educators as a freely available pool to which they owe no responsibility or loyalty in return. Most have no intention of ever hiring them full-time. Since adjuncts work on contract, getting paid one fee each class they teach--no matter how many students or how much work that class entails--many adjuncts are over-worked and poor. If they complain, the school will drop them without hesitation and hire one of the many new adjuncts just waiting to teach online classes.

Why should you care if your teacher is overworked and underpaid? Well, think about this: The less a school pays an instructor for each class, the more classes he will have to teach in order to support his family. That translates into less attention for each student (that's you, my dears) and harried, irritable professors. When faculty feel overworked and uncared for by the schools where they teach, they transmit that same feeling to their students.

Wouldn't you rather be instructed by faculty who can take the time to work with you, answer your questions in detail, spend plenty of time reading and commenting on your papers because they are making enough money so they can teach fewer classes? It's in your best interest to attend schools that treat their faculty well and value them as professional educators. The better an institution treats their faculty, the better faculty will treat you!

Rebecca Brown, M.A., has taught more than 3000 courses online, trains faculty for several major online universites, and acts as a mentor for students and adjuncts. Becky also tutors students in study skills and paper writing.