General Discussions: Re: Universities

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Re: Universities
Posted by: Joe Buckley (PID_358), E-mail: Address, on December 08, 2008 at 00:51 :
In Reply to: Re: Universities posted by : Nigel Armstrong , E-mail: Address, on December 07, 2008 at 21:06 :
"numerous companies in the US are called Acme! "
I agree, as long as all Marks courses teach operator checks using an ACME eye test chart
(http://home.nc.rr.com/tuco/looney/acme/eye.html)

and use an ACME X-ray machine "used in hospitals and physician offices all over the world"
I think we could let him off...
More seriously, this usage may seem arrogant in the extreme to those of us with a European academic background, (Mine was number 25 on the 'old' list) but in a US context it is perfectly normal. The word simply does not have the significance in America that it has come to have in the rest of the world.
There are many extremely diverse institutions in the US that call themselves universities. McDonalds "Hamburger university" springs to mind. I don't like that it is so, but it is.
So I guess I don't have a huge problem with the "UU" name at all - Its fairly catchy, and I doubt anyone will be misled. Yes of course it completely destroys any possibility of international operations, but I guess that's not a major issue.
Joe
----------- Start Original Message -----------
: Ed
: Perhaps the cultural values of Canadians are much closer to those of their European cousins than those of US citizens.
: Herr Dr Metzko's response is, in my opinion, appropriately European. Certainly naming a short-course vocational training school as a university, no matter how advanced beyond the norm the material is, would be considered classic hubris in Europe. But I suspect the attitudes of US citizens may be somewhat more liberal than our own in allowing (even expecting) commercial enterprisesto choose a self-aggrandising name, numerous companies in the US are called Acme! I think US forum readers will know that this is essen tially a training establishment and accommodate the nomenclature.
: However there is also the phrase "caveat emptor" (buyer be aware). Personally, I would not rule out attending a course at any institution which I judged would stretch my capabilities and extend my knowledge and understanding, no matter how it styled itself. Mr Davis has posted some interesting and challenging concepts regarding ultrasonic testing - but he is not alone - and i recognise also that you, Ed and Herr Doctor Metzko have done much to enlighten the less academically inclined (and I count myself amongst that group).
: By the way there is also "The Penetrant Professor" (Met-L-Check) in the US.
: Best regards
: Nigel
:
: : Of late I have noticed that Mark Davis has used the title University of Ultrasonics for his UT training facility in Alabama. I would like to ask the forum members for their opinion and at the same time ask Mark Davis for an explanation why he thinks it is OK to use the word University as a descriptor for his training facility (considering the nearly 1200 year history of the word ...see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_oldest_universities_in_continuous_operation)
: : By definition a university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects.
: : This forum is composed of a broad cross section of the NDT community, but a quick glance at the membership indicates a strong representation from the academic community. I am concerned that such a loose reference to the term university, for what amounts to just a trades training facility, is a misrepresentation of the institution of academic excellence (notwithstanding the American unregistered form of trademark associated with the term) and denigrates my degrees and the university I obtained them from.
------------ End Original Message ------------

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Re: Universities Jim Stuckless 00:03 Dec-24-2008 (0)

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----------- Start Original Message ----------- : "numerous companies in the US are called Acme! " : I agree, as long as all Marks courses teach operator checks using an ACME eye test chart : (http://home.nc.rr.com/tuco/looney/acme/eye.html) : : and use an ACME X-ray machine "used in hospitals and physician offices all over the world" : I think we could let him off... : More seriously, this usage may seem arrogant in the extreme to those of us with a European academic background, (Mine was number 25 on the 'old' list) but in a US context it is perfectly normal. The word simply does not have the significance in America that it has come to have in the rest of the world. : There are many extremely diverse institutions in the US that call themselves universities. McDonalds "Hamburger university" springs to mind. I don't like that it is so, but it is. : So I guess I don't have a huge problem with the "UU" name at all - Its fairly catchy, and I doubt anyone will be misled. Yes of course it completely destroys any possibility of international operations, but I guess that's not a major issue. : Joe : : Ed : : Perhaps the cultural values of Canadians are much closer to those of their European cousins than those of US citizens. : : Herr Dr Metzko's response is, in my opinion, appropriately European. Certainly naming a short-course vocational training school as a university, no matter how advanced beyond the norm the material is, would be considered classic hubris in Europe. But I suspect the attitudes of US citizens may be somewhat more liberal than our own in allowing (even expecting) commercial enterprisesto choose a self-aggrandising name, numerous companies in the US are called Acme! I think US forum readers will know that this is essen tially a training establishment and accommodate the nomenclature. : : However there is also the phrase "caveat emptor" (buyer be aware). Personally, I would not rule out attending a course at any institution which I judged would stretch my capabilities and extend my knowledge and understanding, no matter how it styled itself. Mr Davis has posted some interesting and challenging concepts regarding ultrasonic testing - but he is not alone - and i recognise also that you, Ed and Herr Doctor Metzko have done much to enlighten the less academically inclined (and I count myself amongst that group). : : By the way there is also "The Penetrant Professor" (Met-L-Check) in the US. : : Best regards : : Nigel : : : : : Of late I have noticed that Mark Davis has used the title University of Ultrasonics for his UT training facility in Alabama. I would like to ask the forum members for their opinion and at the same time ask Mark Davis for an explanation why he thinks it is OK to use the word University as a descriptor for his training facility (considering the nearly 1200 year history of the word ...see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_oldest_universities_in_continuous_operation) : : : By definition a university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. : : : This forum is composed of a broad cross section of the NDT community, but a quick glance at the membership indicates a strong representation from the academic community. I am concerned that such a loose reference to the term university, for what amounts to just a trades training facility, is a misrepresentation of the institution of academic excellence (notwithstanding the American unregistered form of trademark associated with the term) and denigrates my degrees and the university I obtained them from. ------------ End Original Message ------------

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