Re: Re: Re: Westbrook University

Posted by Li Wei on 01/24/05 at 05:30 AM

Westbrook University\'s Naturopathy program is sound so long as the learner is aware of its limitations and what the graduate will be able to do or legally identify as in the practise of naturopathic healthcare...and the university could certainly do a lot for its credibility by having more complete information for the prospective learner on what their graduates will and will not be professionally qualified for upon graduation. Omissions of detail and lack of complete information to the prospective learner pertaining to the profession and its practise...and lack of clarity on the mish mash of organisations and so-called accreditation bodies listed on their accreditation/affiliation and licensing page... may amount to misrepresentations and border on less than noble educational services in the minds of many. The prospective learner would be well advised to do their homework on what they\'d like to do with their education in naturopathy, researching all major schools, accrediting bodies, communicating to licensed providers, etc.. The fact of the matter is though, the N.D. who graduates from a regionally and \'properly\' professionally recognised and accredited school...e.g. like those on the upper U.S. West coast...where the graduate is a qualified and licensed (primary) healthcare provider like any M.D., D.O....etc....is in a COMPLETELY different league in terms of professional training and service capability...an N.D. from any other program, such as Westbrook, are seen by many as \'fakes\' and \'frauds\', even though they are not in an academic or philosophical sense...but when you put the letters N.D. behind your name after you graduate, and Jane and Joe public see these initials behind your name expecting that you are a \'real\' licenseable N.D....then you may easily be dismissed as a phony want to be...and the university you graduated from just as phony for not changing their degree program professional qualification in naturopathy to something like \'Naturopathic Counselor\' or N.C....to differentiate a different and integral role in the field. So...why not? Why keep it the pompous and/or pretentious N.D. as it appears to many...why not change it to N.C.? Questions to ponder.