A community college is typically a trade or prep college where students either take prerequisites prior to entering a bachelor’s degree program at a four-year college or they study for a diploma, certificate, or associate’s degree that will enable them to obtain a job in a trade industry. Community college is also known as your undergraduate study.

There are many popular undergraduate online schools that offer online courses, including PCDI and Penn Foster Career School. Besides offering high school diplomas and associate’s degrees, these schools specialize in awarding career diplomas.A career diploma is not an official degree. Rather, it is much like an educational certificate that shows that the student has received some form of formal education in their field. Often, the careers that are pursued by those holding a career diploma do not require that employees hold official degrees. Instead, they generally require that their employees have some experience in the field. However, this represents a problem for people who are interested in the field but have no prior work experience in it. They can’t get a job because they don’t have the experience, but they can’t get the experience because they can’t get a job.

This is where a career diploma can help someone get the job they want.Many employers will allow an employee to substitute a career diploma for the required experience. Holding a career diploma shows that you were interested enough in the field to pursue an education in it. Furthermore, even though you do not have hands-on experience in the field, you do have a formal education in it.

This will make you much more marketable to employers because some prior knowledge will make it easier to train you than someone who has no knowledge of or experience in the field.There are hundreds of different undergraduate fields that a person can enter with a career diploma. Some of the most popular fields include carpentry, auto detailing, bookkeeping, and floral design. Most community undergraduate online schools & courses do not have any educational prerequisites, though some may require that students hold a high school diploma or GED. However, because these schools also offer high school diploma programs, you can simply finish your high school education prior to beginning your career diploma program. Search undergraduate online schools today!

Course Title:
Certificate in Early Childhood Education

Description:
The Early Childhood Education certificate program introduces students to a broad base of theoretical and practical knowledge about the intellectual, emotional, social, and physical development of children from birth through the preschool years. Students participate in an internship thus gaining valuable first-hand experience. Upon completion of this program, students will meet the requirements for teacher certification by the Massachusetts Office of Child Care Services.
 
Category:
Education, Early Childhood Programs

School:
Fisher College Online

Click here for more information on Certificate in Early Childhood Education

Other Recommended Education Programs

Not interested in Certificate in Early Childhood Education? Look for similar programs from Fisher College Online.

• Associate in Arts in Early Childhood Education (A.A.)
• Certificate in Early Childhood Education

Course Title:
IT Pathway Certificate

Description:
If you seek entry-level employment in IT or want to advance your career within the field, you should consider this program. It provides you with foundational knowledge of key information technology areas, including computer hardware, the Internet, databases, computer programming, and networking.
 
Category:
Computer Science Degrees, Information Technology Degrees

School:
Kaplan University

Format:
Online

Campus:
Yes

Other Recommended Computer Science Programs

Not interested in IT Pathway Certificate? Look for similar programs from Kaplan University.

• A.A.S. in Computer Information Systems
• A.A.S. in Computer Information Systems/Java
• A.A.S. in Computer Information Systems/Programming

While just about any traditional university will allow students to take only a part-time course load, a traditional school will not always have class schedules that will work for students who need to take care of other responsibilities in addition to their schoolwork. If you need to work during the day and take care of your kids in the evening, you’re going to have a hard time finding a part-time college that offers classes during the night hours when you’re available. For this any many other reasons, many people who want to attend a part-time college have chosen an online school as a great option. There are many benefits of online colleges:

Flexibility

In an online college class, you are not required to be in the virtual college classroom at any specific time of the day. Instead, you simply involve yourself in the class discussion and do your schoolwork at any time that’s convenient to you, even if that means you’re typing away at the computer at three in the morning after you’ve gotten the kids off to bed. You can take as many or as few classes as you can handle. While there are still deadlines in an online class, the times you choose to devote to your work is entirely up to you.

Work Experience

Most college students find that it’s nearly impossible to go to school and work a full-time job. However, the flexibility of an online school can allow a student to work full-time and go to school part-time without all of the time restraints of having to be on a campus four times a week for three hours a day. This can lead to valuable work experience in your field that will set you ahead of traditional college students after you graduate. Because you’re able to go out and get a full-time job, you can pursue a career in your field even before you have your degree, and you won’t have to worry about your work and school schedules conflicting. This will make your degree much more marketable than it would be for someone with just a degree and no real world experience.

When you’re shopping for an online school, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind in order to find the best online college for you. Here are some tips on how to find the best online college:

Look for Schools with Accreditation

In the U.S., there are six main college accrediting agencies: Middle States, New England, North Central, Northwest, Southern, and Western. When you looking for a school’s accreditation, make sure that they list one of these agencies or provide contact information for one that is not listed here. Some schools list fake accrediting agencies and even create websites for them. This is not good for you for two reasons: one, schools that are accredited by national accrediting agencies have been deemed competent to offer postsecondary education, and two, some employers and graduate schools will not accept degrees from non-accredited colleges. Therefore, it’s important to choose an accredited school.

Take Note of the Program Requirements

If you want to finish your online degree as soon as possible, then you’ll want to look for a program that allows students to take as many courses as they want each semester or quarter. If you want to take very few courses a semester, then you’ll want to choose a school that has a program that doesn’t have a graduation time limit. Furthermore, if you can’t commit to being online at a certain time each week, then you’ll want to make sure that the school you choose doesn’t have class times in which its students are required to be present in their classroom.

Consider the Student Amenities

The best online universities will offer online students the same amenities as campus-based students. This includes things like financial aid, professor office hours, a career services department, job placement services, an online bookstore, an email account, and access to an online library. Ideally, studying at an online college should not be much different than studying at a campus. If a school that you’re considering does not offer these amenities to their online students, then you may want to consider applying to one that does.

A scholarship is a form of financial aid that is awarded to a student based on certain qualities such as financial need, educational merit, involvement in community service, or membership in a certain group. However, each scholarship will have its own specific requirements. Scholarships vary in amount and do not have to be repaid. Often, students are required to submit certain things in order to be considered for a scholarship, including an application, FAFSA results, and an essay.

There are literally hundreds of thousands of scholarships out there, and many go unused year after year. This is because finding a scholarship requires a significant amount of time and research. This is true for online college scholarships as well as traditional college scholarships. Often, a student’s school will have a list of scholarships that are school or area specific, but these scholarships are generally difficult to obtain because of the school wide competition for such a limited number of scholarships.

However, there are many ways to find online college scholarships. First, students should check with their online school and find out if the financial aid department has a list of scholarships that are awarded solely to students of that school. This is a good way to investigate available scholarships because students know that they already meet one of the scholarship’s requirements. However, if you cannot find or receive a scholarship through this means, you’ll need to venture out into your community and the Internet.

Many websites offer scholarship databases where students simply fill out a few pages about themselves, their parents, and their program of study and career goals. The website will then compare their answers to the requirements of all of the scholarships in their database and display the scholarships that the student qualifies for. Generally, the same scholarships that are available to campus-based students will be available to online students. It’s best to check the organization’s website when you find a scholarship you’re interested in so that you get the most recent information.

Other places to find online college scholarships include through your employer, through individuals or organizations in your community, through your parent’s employer, or through any clubs or groups that you or your parents belong to. It may require a lot of work, but it will be worth it in the end when your online education is free.

Filling out an online college application is not so much different than filling out an application for a traditional college. You’ll need to include basic information such as your name, phone number, address, social security number, etc. You’ll also need to include the names and addresses of any other postsecondary schools you’re earned credits in as well as the name and address of your high school. Depending on your age, you may even need to offer some information about your parents.

You’ll need to obtain a copy of your high school diploma and transcripts or GED scores in most cases, though some career diploma schools don’t always require that their students be high school graduates. In some cases, you’ll need to send a copy of your high school writing portfolio. You’ll also need to send transcripts of the work you completed at any other college, even if it was just one college class you took while you were still in high school.

Some online college applications require that you submit an essay along with you application materials, though this is rare for a continuing education college. For financial aid purposes, you’ll probably have to fill out a FAFSA as well as any supporting documents that the college will need in order to process your financial aid awards. Some students may be required to send in copies of their tax returns for review by the financial aid committee.

Some online colleges may also require that a student complete an entrance exam. Sometimes these exams are simply meant to assist the college in placing you in general education courses that are appropriate to your level of education, and sometimes they’re meant to determine if a student is educated enough to attend a college. Colleges that have a limited number of student slots available may use low placement test scores as an excuse to not accept a student into their program. These placement tests generally occur over the Internet and have a time limit.

While most of the forms you’ll need can be found and filed on the school’s website, you should plan to have to submit additional materials by postal mail. Make sure to read the application information section carefully on each of the websites of the schools that you are applying for because each will have different requirements.

Dr. Caroll Ryan, President of California Southern University joins us today to discuss distance education.

Tell us about the distance learning programs offered at California Southern University.

CalSouthern has been offering degree programs since 1978. We have degrees in Behavioral Sciences, Law, and Business. All degrees are earned completely online with the help of our web-interactive platform and learner resources.

Specific degree programs include:

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (BA)
• Master of Arts in Psychology (MA)
• Master of Science in Psychology (MS)
• Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)
• Juris Doctor (JD)
• Master of Science in Law (MSL)
• Associate of Arts in Liberal Studies (AALS)
• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

CalSouthern is unique! In addition to the numerous degrees that are approved for state licensure, we also offer every new student the opportunity to take single courses. If you are looking to take a few classes for personal growth or needing to take a few units to complete a degree or test the waters before committing to a degree-based program, our enrollment advisors will guide you to find the right classes.

What is the typical duration of each of your programs?

Each degree program is different, based on state licensure and guidelines set by state boards. Bachelor’s degrees will take the average student four years to complete. Your MBA can be earned in as little as one year with learners completing one course per month, while the Master’s degrees in Psychology and Law can be completed in two to three years. The doctorate degree in Psychology and Business Administration can be realized in only three years with the Juris Doctor completed by our students in four years.

What would you say makes California Southern University programs different and better than other comparable online programs?

CalSouthern is committed to continuing our rich history of personalized attention and prompt service to every student. We realize that our online students expect a personal touch from enrollment through graduation and our goal of creating a community for you is accomplished through our online and interactive learner website.

Another point where we differ is in the cost of education. Affordable tuition is one of the most important factors when students are deciding on which university to attend. With tuition as low as $140 per unit, you are able to start earning your degree without tuition cost keeping you from realizing your dreams.

There is some debate as to whether or not online degrees are as worthwhile as traditional degrees. What steps does California Southern University take to ensure that online students are receiving the same education that they’d receive in a classroom?

You wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between CalSouthern and a traditional brick and mortar facility when looking at different course syllabi and our list of approved textbooks. Our deans and faculty are highly respected leaders of the education community and many of our faculty members are professors and lecturers at the traditional universities as well. They are also working professional practitioners in their fields. Although brick and mortar has been the tradition in higher level education, major universities are now looking to us as a model to creating their own Distance Learning programs.

What would you say are some of the benefits of earning a degree online rather than in a traditional classroom?

Flexibility and personal attention are the top reasons to choose CalSouthern over a traditional institution or other distance learning universities. Flexibility is the basis of any online degree program and CalSouthern realizes that every learner is different when it comes to study time and staying in contact with Faculty Mentors and Advisors. As a student you can balance your study schedule around work responsibilities and family time by eliminating the need to commute to school, parking costs, and the time it takes to walk to classes. In addition, new classes start every month, so you don’t have to wait for the beginning of the semester.

Where CalSouthern differs from other online universities is that we pride ourselves in maintaining a high-level of communication with each and every student. Advisors, Faculty Mentors, and University Staff are available by phone and by email. Our Advisors are committed to helping you reach your degree goals.

Online universities can also be less expensive than traditional facilities and CalSouthern has proven to be one of the most affordable universities as compared to traditional and other online programs. Many of our students find the low cost of our programs as an added benefit and a major reason they choose CalSouthern.

Is financial aid available to students in your programs?

CalSouthern provides a number of payment options including interest-free monthly payments. In addition students are able to obtain financing from Sallie Mae. With the low cost of the tuition at California Southern University, students have found our options to be very attractive for their budgets.

Do you have any advice for students enrolling in online classes for the first time?

When enrolling in any online program, you want to make sure that you are receiving the kind of personal attention that will help guide you through your educational goals. The Enrollment Advisors and Academic Advisors are proud to represent CalSouthern as leaders in personal one-on-one attention with all students.

To Request more information about the distance learning programs available through CalSouthern, Go here to visit them online.

Thank you Dr. Ryan, for sharing and participating in this piece for Online Degrees 2.0

That concludes our interview!

Edward J. Latessa, Professor and Division Head at University of Cincinnati Divison of Criminal Justice.

Tell us about the distance learning Criminal Justice programs offered at University of Cincinnati.

UC began its online master’s program in criminal justice in 2001. This program is designed for working professionals; students take two courses per term, back-to-back so that they can focus on one class at a time, and complete the program in two years. 

A new one-year accelerated online program began in Fall 2007. This option enables highly-motivated students to take four courses per term and complete the program in half the time. It is intended for students who do not plan to work full-time while completing the program.

Both programs use the same curriculum: 16 courses covering theory, administration and policy, research, and special topics. Within the curriculum, students select four elective seminars, ranging from White-Collar Crime to Community Corrections. They also complete a demonstration research project, which serves as a capstone experience.

What would you say makes University of Cincinnati Criminal Justice programs different and better than other comparable online programs?

The reputation of the program sets us apart from others. The University of Cincinnati’s Division of Criminal Justice is one of the premier criminal justice schools in the world, currently ranked #3 among all Ph.D.-granting criminal justice universities by U.S. News & World Report. No other top-10 criminal justice school has a fully-online program. Additionally, our faculty are #1 among criminal justice faculty in publication of research, according to a study in The Journal of Criminal Justice.

How important would you say accreditation is when choosing an online college?

Accreditation is a critical consideration when researching and selecting any higher education program, whether online or on campus. Regional accreditation is the most widely-accepted form of institutional accreditation, and our admission standards reflect this fact. An applicant to any graduate program at the University of Cincinnati must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited institution. The key here is that accreditation ensures standards. Universities, employers, and students recognize the value of regional accreditation.

There is some debate as to whether or not online degrees are as worthwhile as traditional degrees. What steps does University of Cincinnati take to ensure that online students are receiving the same education that they’d receive in a classroom?

Most importantly, our on-campus and online programs have the same faculty. Some programs hire adjunct professors to teach online students, while their full-time faculty teach campus students. Because UC’s faculty teach in both programs, they ensure that the educational experience is comparable.

UC is committed to ensuring that online and on-campus students experience the same learning outcomes. In fact, the degree earned online is identical to the degree earned on-campus, and every year we welcome online students to our graduation ceremonies. For most distance learning students, graduation is the first time they visit the UC campus. But their connections to their fellow students, facilitators, faculty, and support staff during the program are as substantial as their on-campus counterparts.

What would you say are some of the benefits of earning a degree online rather than in a traditional classroom?

Results from surveys of our students indicate that the three most important benefits of UC’s online MCJ program are flexible scheduling, the prestige of the institution, and the length of the program. The Blackboard learning management system enables students to interact with classmates, facilitators, and faculty at any time. We have students in every U.S. time zone, and even some living abroad, and the learning platform ensures that they can balance their studies with their work and personal responsibilities.

Additionally, UC’s reputation as a leader in applied research in criminology and corrections helps students and graduates to open doors to new professional opportunities. And the flexibility of one- and two-year options enable students to achieve their educational goals while balancing personal and professional responsibilities.

Does University of Cincinnati offer any job placement services to your students and graduates?

The two-year program is designed for working professionals, most of whom already work in some capacity in criminal justice or protective services fields. UC does not provide formal job placement services for students in their distance learning programs. But it is worth noting that the programs provide opportunities to network with peers, facilitators, and faculty. And the university’s reputation in criminal justice is also a strong “door-opener” for graduates seeking to change jobs or enter a new field.

Is financial aid available to students in your programs?

The program is eligible for all forms of Title IV federal financial aid, including the Federal Stafford Loan and Perkins Loan. The program cost is reasonable, so federal loan programs usually cover students’ program costs. Many of our students also receive tuition reimbursement from their employers.

Do you have any advice for students enrolling in online classes for the first time?

It is important for students to understand that graduate-level work, in any program, should focus on honing students’ critical thinking skills. So it can be very different from undergraduate work. Along with critical thinking skills, students should be prepared to hone their writing skills.

One additional piece of advice for online students is to look for opportunities to apply your newly-acquired knowledge in your workplace. Students note that they often learned a new concept or framework over the weekend and used it to solve problems in their jobs the next week.

What do you enjoy most about your position in the University of Cincinnati?

I enjoy working with students, both in the campus and online programs, and continuing my research. My staff and I have assessed over 450 correctional programs at facilities across the country, which enables me to bridge the gap between theory and practice. We have a robust doctoral program on campus as well, and it is good to watch our graduates earn teaching appointments at other institutions. So I enjoy the variety of my work.

To request more information on this Criminal Justice program at University of Cincinnati, go here to visit them online. 

Thank you Edward, for sharing and participating in this piece for Online Degrees 2.0

That concludes our interview!  

About Edward J. Latessa
Edward J. Latessa, PhD, is Professor and Division Head for the Division of Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Latessa has published over 110 works in the area of criminal justice, corrections, and juvenile justice. He is co-author of seven books, including Corrections in the Community, which is now in its fourth edition, and  Corrections in America which is in its 11th edition.. Dr. Latessa teaches the Corrections in the Community course online and on campus.

Larry Gould, Provost/VP for Academic Affairs at Fort Hays State University joins us today to discuss distance education.

Tell us about the distance learning programs offered at Fort Hays State University.

Currently, Fort Hays State University (FHSU) offers one associate’s degree, 14 bachelor’s degrees, 9 master’s degrees, and nearly 20 undergraduate and graduate certificate programs, all available completely on line.  One of our most popular undergraduate programs is the Bachelor’s of General Studies, which is designed to be a degree completion program for the adult learner who needs a baccalaureate degree for career advancement.  Students find this program to be a highly flexible option, particularly if they have already completed several years of college.  Currently, FHSU offers nine different concentration areas, but students may also work with an advisor to build a custom program of study.

Several of FHSU’s online programs have been designated as a “best buy” in distance education by GetEducated.com, including the BBA in Management, MBA in Leadership, BS in Justice Studies, the Masters of Liberal Studies-Justice Studies emphasis and the BA in Sociology.

Detailed information about each program can be found here.    

What is the typical duration of each of your programs?
 
Duration of any program depends on the individual student’s enthusiasm, the time available for study and course status.  Some students begin with a significant number of credit hours and need only 30 hours to complete a bachelor’s degree.  Some students come in with very few credit hours.  Most fall somewhere in between.  Also, students may choose to enroll on a part-time basis, while others enroll full-time.  Some students may enroll for a semester or two, but then need to sit out due to family or work obligations.  Others are able to complete their degrees uninterrupted.

FHSU believes it is important to offer students great flexibility in completing a degree.  On the other hand, it is important to understand there are some time limits on the validity of course work and programs.  We do not set a minimum number of hours or classes per semester to remain in good standing.  We do require acceptable grade point averages each semester to continue in a program.   Time limitations are liberal and can be found in the university catalog. We know that for the majority of online learners, earning an undergraduate or graduate degree requires a significant investment of time and effort.  Our goal is to enable students to complete their degree on their time schedule, not ours.  This is why we offer extra online tutoring and writing assistance that other institutions do not offer. 

What would you say makes Fort Hays State University programs different and better than other comparable online programs?
 
First of all, unlike a lot of online programs, all degree-seeking Virtual College students have an academic advisor in their program of study.  In addition, all non-degree seeking students have the option of working with an advisor if they feel it would benefit them.  Advising happens at the departmental level, often by faculty who also teach online.  They understand the academic needs of students, but they also know what it takes to be an online learner. 

Second, the majority of our online courses are taught by the same faculty who teach on campus.  Many are tenured or tenure-track faculty whose main focus is student learning – not research, not their “day job” in corporate America.  We think that’s really important to ensure online students a comparable experience online to what they’d get in a traditional campus.

Third, for its 105 year history as a regional, state-supported institution, Fort Hays State University’s mission has been to provide students access to a high quality, affordable education, and it has always been dedicated to meeting the educational needs of first-generation college students.  We believe a well educated citizenry is important to democracy.  As technology made higher education available to almost all who seek it, we have maintained our mission of keeping education affordable and accessible to all, including the online learner in Kansas or anywhere in the world.  We believe you will be hard-pressed to find a more affordable tuition and fees price-point that what we offer at FHSU. 

Finally, we stay with you personally, professionally, for a lifetime when it comes to job placement and the need for new credentials.  We help you find not only your first job, but the second, third and so on.   We know you want to advance in your career and we want to be a part of that lifelong learning process.

How important would you say accreditation is when choosing an online college?
 
Accreditation is absolutely critical.  Not only does it guarantee students some minimum standard of quality, as determined by an accrediting agency, but it’s also important to employers.  FHSU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, one of the premier regional accrediting organizations in the country.  Within the HLC accreditation options, FHSU has selected the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) track.  This quality management accreditation track has been recommended by the US Department of Education.   As one of the seven regional accrediting associations in the US, HLC accreditation means your coursework will transfer to other institutions with almost no difficulty compared to national or other distance learning accreditation agencies.  
 
There is some debate as to whether or not online degrees are as worthwhile as traditional degrees. What steps does Fort Hays State University take to ensure that online students are receiving the same education that they’d receive in a classroom?

FHSU believes we offer better education in many cases than what is offered in the classroom. That’s because we start with a carefully thought out course development process that is reinforced by a nationally recognized quality assurance rubric known as Quality Matters.  Add to this specially constructed course development process the fact that FHSU ensures that a majority of the classes we offer online are taught by the same faculty who teach traditional, face-to-face courses on our Hays (KS) campus.  We reinforce 0ur faculty with the best technology and course management systems and allow every student to express his or her satisfaction with our services.  Student satisfaction is important to us because the feedback provided helps us to improve and change. 

What would you say are some of the benefits of earning a degree online rather than in a traditional classroom?

First and foremost, an online degree gives students ultimate flexibility and convenience. Asynchronous learning (different time, different place), which primarily happens through Blackboard, the university’s course management system, enables students to study and interact with their classmates at times that best suit their schedule.  Most, if not all, distance degree programs will tout this feature, but its importance cannot be understated.  

Furthermore, place bound students have great choice in the marketplace today for what degree program they select and where they choose to enroll.  For a student located in a rural community, with no two or four-year institutions close-by, it means access to higher education that has never existed in the history of higher ed.

Another benefit is that online learning is geared for the adult learner, which means that learning isn’t nearly so instruction based.  Through online discussions, students learn from one another, and the instructor can serve as more of a facilitator or mentor.  The goal of much online learning is to bring the student into the experience in a way that can’t always be done in the classroom. 

If a student enrolled in one of your programs was interested in finding an internship in their field in their area, do you have any means of assisting them in acquiring an internship position?

That is a fabulous question.  Because the majority of our students are non-traditional, meaning they are at least 25 years old and already in the workforce, most enroll for career enhancement or progression within their current field.  However, students enrolled through the Virtual College can take full advantage of the resources available through our Career Services office.  Because many students are place bound in distant parts of the country, it can be more difficult to help them find internship experiences.  However, our professional staff is always eager to assist Virtual College students over the phone, by email and through the web site.  Also, Virtual College students can also work closely with their program advisor, whether in business or INT or sociology, to find or create an internship experience.  Several of our online degrees actually require an internship and, often, faculty will encourage students to find an internship with or without the university’s help because of the valuable work experience acquired.

Does Fort Hays State University offer any job placement services to your students and graduates?

Certainly!  FHSU invites online students to use any and all of the services available through Career Services. The Career Services web site serves as the primary resource for students, including sample resumes, cover letters, interviewing tips, and an interview video that can be used for both internships and full-time employment, and job search sites.   Also, online students are eligible to register with our new Careers for Tigers program, which gives them access to job postings.

Is financial aid available to students in your programs?
 
Yes, financial aid is available to Virtual College students as long as they are admitted as degree-seeking students or are admitted to our Teacher Licensure program.  Students must be enrolled in at least six credit hours to qualify, which is the federal requirement. A high percentage of students who apply for federal aid qualify because almost all students are able to borrow through the loan programs.  Since many online students have careers and are working, they tend to qualify for less Pell Grants but, unlike loans can be awarded to less than half-time students.  Even so, 30 percent of the undergraduate Virtual College students qualify for Pell Grants. 

Because the Virtual College student population is so diverse, it would be difficult to provide any meaningful averages as to dollar amount a student should expect to receive.  Because of this, we think it best for a student to apply for aid and make financial decisions based on the circumstances specific to them.  While the aid side of the question is very important, it’s also important to emphasize that FHSU has worked hard on the other side of the financial equation–costs.  FHSU has succeeded in keeping tuition prices down in the first place, making the aid a student receives go much farther and keeping loan debt manageable.

Do you have any advice for students enrolling in online classes for the first time?
 
Absolutely!  Online learning (when it’s done right) isn’t a quick and easy way to a degree.  As you transition back into the world of higher education, you need to be sure to plan your time carefully.  In that first semester, it may take longer than you might have expected to get your work done – partly because you might have been out of college for a while, but often because life happens.  As an online learner, you’ll be entirely responsible for ensuring that you keep up on the readings, review the online lectures, participate in discussions, and turn in assignments.  It’s important to set a schedule and keep to it.  We have a quick quiz on the Virtual College web site to “test” your disposition toward online learning and a list of frequently asked questions to help you after you begin your class work.   We also recommend you learn about our online tutoring services, our fantastic library assistance and the many other academic support services available to get you through that first semester or year. 

What do you enjoy most about your position at Fort Hays State University?

The friendliness and caring FHSU faculty and staff is what makes my job so enjoyable.   I’m surrounded by people who care and believe in constantly improving what we do.   This attitude is contagious and is carried over into the online and campus learning environments in a way you will not find at other institutions.   As a chief academic officer, it’s important to have the “right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats on the bus.”  Believe me, at FHSU, we’re all about great customer service and people helping people.  It’s a joy to come to work in the morning when you’re surrounded by staff and faculty who truly believe that education is the most important path to the American Dream.  

To Request more information about the distance learning programs available through Fort Hays State University, Go here to visit them online.

Thank you Larry, for sharing and participating in this piece for Online Degrees 2.0

That concludes our interview!