Anyone gone to Champlain College?

[lyngx]

Is anyone currently in or done the BS in Computer & Digital Forensics program at Champlain College? Let me know. I'd like to get some opinions from the student level.

[DoDForensics]

I started going there before I realized how much of a joke it was. I wouldn't recommend anyone waste they're money by going there.

[lyngx]

Why did you think it was a joke? And what do you recommend for someone trying to get into this field then? I currently have my associates degree and am working on my bachelors and thought this would be a good start.

[PreferredUser]

Have you looked at Purdue?
cyberforensics.purdue.edu

[lyngx]

I just looked at it and it looks pretty good but it looks like it's only offered as a masters program and no online.

I've heard good things about Champlain College though. I just don't want to waste my money.

[DoDForensics]

The teachers there in my opinion didnt have a clue, although if you have no clue about forensics, Im sure they would "seem" really good. And when your spending almost 3k a class for online, it was a total waste! I would suggest looking into the CCE bootcamp at Kennesaw.

[Link2187]

Champlain College is a great choice if you are looking to get into the Computer Forensics field. I've been going there for 3 years and I can't imagine being anywhere else. I'm sad to see that DoDForensics had a bad experience with us, but that is just one experience. It may be because you attempted to do the classes online where when you deal with forensics, you really need to be one-on-one with the teachers in a hands on lab.

All the faculty how teach have had years of real world experience. The head of the major was recently at a HTCIA conference and he had to hide like a celebrity because everyone was trying to ask him his opinion on different things. I have professors who are retired police, as well as active police. The LT with the Burlington Police Dept. taught my Criminal Investigations class. One of my professors taught interviewing at the national police academy while my Computer Forensics teacher is the current commander of the cyber forensics unit of the NY national guard.

I don't really know how you could think the teachers don't have a clue about forensics when they have such a background, but if that is your opinion, you are entitled to it. If you are interested in Champlain though, I suggest you come for a visit. It is a great, small school where you will get tons of one-on-one time with your teachers. Our largest class size is in the low 30s with an average of 20 students per class (I had one class where I was 1 of 3) so it is very personal with the teachers. And since there are very few schools out there that have an actual BS in Computer & Digital Forensics, Champlain looks very good to potential employers. Certifications in the software look good, but a degree looks better. Getting those certifications shows that you are adequate in using the software to complete a task where a degree shows employers that you are an educated individual who has more experience that just forensic software.

So come on up to Burlington and have a look at our school. The area is amazing and the views are breathtaking. Overall, I have not has a single bad experience here.

[DoDForensics]

When you state that a degree looks better than REAL forensics training and certifications, thats a clear indication that you've never worked in this field and ever more of a sign of the brain washing they do there.

If you honestly think that someone coming out of college with just a degree has a better chance of getting a job over somoene who has certs and actual training....you'll never make it in this field.

[Link2187]

Ah, but I never said it takes the play of a certification or experience. However, if you have all the same certifications and experience as I do, then the degree will make a world of difference.

And if you are already in the field, a degree may not make much sense (except for the fact that you will make more money with a degree). But if you are new to the field, getting a degree before going for your certifications will help greatly. The program at Champlain is designed to give you a very broad knowledge of the field in order to prepare you for your career. As with any career, a degree can never replace experience. It does, however, allow you to have a start.

So I'm sure that what has worked for you is great, but please don't trash what I and many others are going through. We all have a great respect for our major and our college. Gary Kessler, the head of our department, is one of the most well known and established figures in this field, and I feel that the experience I get from him prepares me more than any CCE bootcamp ever could. It's alright to have an opinion, but please try and remain objective rather than subjective in your analysis of a school.

[mskittle2010]

I too attend Champlain College. I agree with the fact that certifications will aid in getting employment, not to mention job experience as well, especially for high paying jobs...But that also depends on where you are in life. It would be rare to find a college grad with a bachelors degree in some corporate $100,000 a year job right out of college, that's where the experience, and the certifications kick in.

All that any degree does is get you started, giving, like Link said, a broad perspective on the field. From there you would build your resume with with certifications, and then you will be in a better employment position. Certifications are a great way to go, but without a degree to back you up, they don't mean as much.

I'd be curious to learn about the degree's that people currently have in this field, compared to what Link and myself are getting. This major in itself is new and I think that many professionals in this field have started with a degree in either networking, or some other IT related field, and then somehow broke into Computer Forensics. But I could be mistaken.

I would also be curious to see what you feel our professors are lacking at Champlain being that many of them come directly from the industry itself.

We are college students coming directly into this field tabula rasa, what would you suggest to us if we wanted to get into the computer forensic field? Is there something better than a formal bachelor's degree? I'm curious to read more.

Cheers!

Me

[DoDForensics]

Since I'm the director over computer forensics and electronic discovery, I've already told our HR people that I won't accept anyone from Champlain. I know the types of things they teach and who teaches them, so I dont feel like reteaching proper procedures.

Now on to the instructors. I do know that most of them either work for the PD and have prior "experience"....it sure doesn't show! But if you actually worked in the field, that would be blatanly obvious. Or maybe its because they just cant teach?

If your absolutely new to the field and think what Champlain is teaching you is valuable, then more power to you.....

[Link2187]

Now you are just being biased to say that you would never accept anyone from Champlain. Who are you to say that we don't know proper procedures? I'm sorry, but I thought we were having an intelligent discussion about our common interest in this field, but now you are putting us down for where we are attending school. I've read your posts about Champlain and from what I can tell, you only have experience with our online classes anyway (if I'm wrong, please correct me).

But to say that you won't hire someone based solely off where they attended school is not only prejudicial, but it's illegal. You can't discriminate like that. It's like saying that you would never hire a woman because they aren't as good at computers so you don't want to have to teach them procedures.

If you could site specific examples of why you don't like my college, that would be one thing. However, using a vague statement saying our teachers are inexperienced and we don't know procedure just shows you have a preexisting bias. I'd like to hear about your experiences with my school, its faculty, or its graduates. If you can deliver an appropriate response that isn't a simple "you suck" argument, then maybe you are worth the time to talk to. If not, then please stop criticizing my school and swaying possible attendees with your lack of knowledge.

[mskittle2010]

Mr. Slavick, you make me laugh. You have not given Link or myself one SOLID reason why Champlain has a poor reputation with computer forensics, or for that matter, any constructive criticism on what could possibly make our program better. Perhaps by contacting Gary Kessler you can provide suggestions as to how he may improve our education for this field. The only thing helpful that you have done is allowing me to figure out where NOT to send my resume for fear that I may have to work with pompous know-it-alls.

I will give you the fact that some professors at Champlain have come from local PD backgrounds, but many of them are Criminal Justice professors. The folks that teach our computer forensics classes have done a great amount of work in the Computer Forensic field, and have many degrees and qualifications, otherwise the school would not have hired them.

I would be more than willing to discuss with you the finer points of my education at greater length if you wish. I want to understand why my degree won't cut it, especially with your employer.

Now that I'm done bashing your position, can we have a positive discussion so I may understand the reason that my degree may not work? What would make me a better candidate in this field? Why don't you want to hire Champlain Grad's where you work? Right now this is just a flame war where we are trying to beat each other's ego's into submission. Obviously we are not going to convince eachother, and the least that I can offer is to hear you out.

Champlain wants graduates who are going to be successful, and I want nothing more than to be successful. The only way that I can achieve that is by obtaining positive feedback from someone that actually works in this industry. What can I do better? What is your educational background? What about your employees? I need to know this information since I will be working in this field.

Cheers!

Me