Archive for the ‘Colleges and Universities’ Category
Posted by Jen Zeman on November 3rd, 2008
It’s general knowledge that a MBA or a bachelor of science in nursing are admirable and trustworthy degrees that have stood the test of time, but what if are interested in something outside of mainstream? There are many colleges and institutions that offer creative degree programs, but I found these degree programs to be most unique (http://www.bspcn.com/2007/10/19/top-10-most-unusual-college-degrees/):
- Master Ranching offered at Texas A&M-Kingsville
- Astrobiology offered at the University of Glamorgan in the UK
- Retail Floristry offered at Mississippi State University
- Professional Nanny offered at Sullivan University
- Sports Ministry offered at Campbellsville University
- Adventure Recreation offered at Green Mountain College
- Golf & Sports Turf Management offered at Mississippi State University
- Comedy: Writing and Performance offered at Humber College in Canada
- Organic Agriculture offered at Washington State University
- Fishing Sciences and Management offered at Colorado State University
So if you are looking for an educational experience beyond mainstream, take the time to do some research online. As you can see from the list above, if you have an interest in it, there is a good chance someone offers a degree in it. Just be certain that it is a career field you are passionate about before plunking down $25,000 - $50,000 for a degree that may not help you anywhere else!
Posted by admin on October 31st, 2008
As the price of a college degree continues to rise, there’s growing evidence that the monetary payoff isn’t quite as big as often advertised. The best estimate now is that a college degree is worth about $300,000 in today’s dollars—nowhere near the $1 million figure that is often quoted.
“That $1 million number has driven me crazy!” says Sandy Baum, a Skidmore economist who studied the value of a college degree for the College Board last year.
Baum’s research showed that college graduates earn, on average, about $20,000 a year more than those who finished their educations at high school. Add that up over a 40-year working life and the total differential is about $800,000, she figures. But since much of that bonus is earned many years from now, subtracting out the impact of inflation means that $800,000 in future dollars is worth only about $450,000 in today’s dollars.
Then, if you subtract out the cost of a college degree—about $30,000 in tuition and books for students who get no aid and attend public in-state universities—and the money a student could have earned at a job instead of attending school, the real net value in today’s dollars is somewhere in the $300,000 range, a number confirmed by other studies.
But, especially these days, that still makes a college degree one of the most lucrative investments a person can make, Baum notes.
Better yet, college graduates can go on to earn advanced degrees, which return even bigger payoffs. The average holder of a bachelor’s degree earns about $51,000 a year, Baum calculates. But those who’ve gone on to earn MBAs, law degrees, or other professional degrees earn about $100,000 a year.
In addition, Baum found that there are plenty of other rewards for a degree. The quality of the jobs college graduates get is far better, for example. College graduates are more likely to get jobs with health insurance. And it is easier for them to find and hold jobs. The unemployment rate for college graduates was just 2.2 percent last year, half the unemployment level of those with only high school diplomas.
There are lots of other nonmonetary benefits as well. College graduates are healthier, contribute more to their communities, and raise kids who are better prepared academically, studies show.
Other researchers have found that the payoff of a degree is especially lucrative for students from low-income families, since the education and credential give them a chance to break out of low-paying careers.
Article posted from USNEWS
Posted by Sharon Cece on October 28th, 2008
Discipline is the key to any success in life, but especially in regard to an online education. For those attending college on campus, degree seekers receive notices to arrive at campus locations where information is provided immediately by a campus representative. Books are purchased in line at the bookstore, student fees are paid at the Bursar’s office, and social activity takes place en route to any of these destinations in addition to the Student Union. Coursework is learned in classrooms according to the university’s and the professor’s schedule. Discipline of course is required; however, guidance and information are more easily obtained and identified on campus comparable to the online milieu.
Online learning is a wonderful and innovative way to obtain your degree, and certainly the primary benefit is flexibility. Yet, success occurs most often when flexibility on one end is pared closely with discipline on the other. Since specific schedules are not set by the professor, the student must set them and be diligent in keeping up with the coursework and classroom discussions and virtual class participations. Financial aid as well as billing is handled exclusively online, and while this is convenient it sometimes requires a bit of e-sleuthing to locate the information and websites you are seeking. Often there are no reminders of testing and projects ongoing as might happen in a campus classroom; for this reason the student’s best friend is a good planner.
The first semester online can be a bit daunting, as the student will discover that much of the information must be located online and with perhaps a bit more work than just walking into a building and asking questions. It takes time to learn to navigate “Blackboard”, the e-Education platform, as well as the threaded discussions and virtual classrooms. However, after the first semester or two, the student finds he or she becomes quite adapt at online navigation. The technology can be challenging but is also very exciting and opens the student to a new world of learning. One college graduate, Francesca, shares this experience:
“My college had more and more distance learning. Having had done it, I say that it is actually harder in some subjects. It is accelerated and a lot of the learning is your own understanding of the discipline. If the discipline is one you are interested in - like psychology - then you do well. If it is statistics, then some on campus or tutoring can help. My son does distance learning with MIT and now they have chat rooms and the teacher may have a web CAM and you can see her and if you have CAM they can see you. Sometimes the teacher has a white board and can draw diagrams for the class. It’s really neat. In any and all events, you have to have discipline, discipline, discipline”.
For the student who wants to attend college but needs more flexibility than the campus can offer, online learning is a wonderful alternative. Discipline in study and scheduling will ensure the success that is necessary to complete curriculum goals.
Posted by admin on October 23rd, 2008
Western Governors University is helping place more highly qualified teachers into classrooms, especially in the high needs areas of math and science, by offering the WGU Scholarship for Urban Mathematics and Science Educators. These scholarships are designed to help working adults attend college online to become mathematics or science teachers in America’s urban schools.
These scholarships are specifically aimed at individuals living in urban communities who wish to earn a license to teach math or science in their school districts. Also eligible for the scholarship are licensed teachers living and teaching in urban areas who want to earn a master’s degree. Each scholarship is valued up to $3,000.
The WGU Teachers College is one of the largest providers of online teaching degrees, with graduates who have become licensed teachers in nearly every state. It is the only exclusively online teacher education institution to be accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
WGU’s online degree programs focus on the needs of adult learners by providing flexible, technology-based instruction. WGU’s competency-based education approach makes it possible for students to complete the requirements for their degree at a quicker pace and accelerate their program based on their prior experience, academic background, and time commitment to study.
Multiple scholarships will be awarded. However, this is a competitive program and scholarships will be awarded based on a candidate’s academic record, readiness for online study at WGU, and current competency, in addition to other considerations.
For more information or eligibility requirements on the WGU Scholarship for Urban Mathematics and Science Educators, please visit www.wgu.edu/urbaneducator.
Posted by admin on October 22nd, 2008
As the class of 2012 heads off to university this fall and new high-school seniors start the admissions process, some may wonder if their college of choice fits with their own environmental ideals.
Recently, the Princeton Review added a green rating to its annual ranking of the best colleges. This score measures how “environmentally friendly, responsible, and committed the institutions are.”
The schools that scored 99 (out of 100) are:
- Arizona State University, Tempe
- Bates College
- Binghamton University
- College of the Atlantic
- Emory University
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Harvard University
- University of New Hampshire
- University of Oregon
- University of Washington
- Yale University
The complete list is in the 2009 editions of three Princeton Review college books.
But what really makes for a “green college”? Different organizations have their own criteria, so if the environment is an important factor in where you’ll be spending the next four+ years (and a boatload of money), compare lists and do more research.
For two years, the independent Sustainable Endowments Institute has published a Green Report Card. The full report is available as a PDF online, and it evaluates 200 public and private universities.
The Green Report Card looks at more than just green buildings and recycling. It asks how the schools are using their substantial endowments to support sustainable efforts and fight climate change.
Overall college sustainability leaders on the report card include:
- Carleton College
- Dartmouth College
- Harvard University
- Middlebury College
- University of Washington
- University of Virginia
Check out the complete report card for more high-ranking green schools.
And then there are more subjective lists, like the Daily Green’s top 10 colleges, Grist’s 15 greenest colleges, the Sierra Club’s 10 cool schools, and Campus Corner’s greenest college towns.
You’ll see some overlap in all these rankings. For example, everybody loves Harvard’s green campus initiatives, and how can the tiny College of the Atlantic go wrong with a 100% focus on human ecology and sustainability?
But lesser-known schools and not-obviously green schools are looking to reduce their carbon footprint too. Over 550 university presidents have signed on to the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, which pledges to eliminate campus greenhouse gas emissions. Signatories include Boise State University, Eckerd College, Indiana State University, Temple University, and University of North Texas.
Seems like every school has its own take on what’s earth-friendly, and the efforts are often run by the students. You might find co-eds timing their showers in a “sustainability” dorm like Oberlin’s Student Experiment in Ecological Design house. Or you can do it in the dark with students at Williams College — they turned out lights for the whole month of April as an Earth Day experiment.
No matter what the campus is doing, you can make the college years more eco-friendly on your own. Work in some of these environmentally friendly tips like putting CFLs in your dorm lights and using your printer wisely. The Green Student U site has more ideas, plus you can post your own suggestions.
Posted by admin on October 13th, 2008
As Internet users become more savvy and social media sites dominate, colleges are taking a second look at the structure of online courses.
Just two years ago the typical online degree course involved mostly reading assignments. Students were able to interact with each other through discussion posts and chat rooms, but now that is all changing.
Several colleges offering online coursework are now incorporating the assets of social media into their platforms. Widgets, interactive programs, and digital media are helping engage students with different learning styles and allowing them to network with other students and instructors.
Rasmussen College, a private, regionally accredited college with campuses across the Midwest and Southeast and online college, is one of these schools.
“Students have different learning styles,” Rasmussen College Director for Online Course Development Steve Wettergren said. “By providing these cool new tools, students can learn by interacting with the media, by watching videos and listening to audio samples, by observing digital lectures, and much more. We are making the courses a more engaging experience.”
For the past twelve months, Rasmussen College has increased its focus on delivering these new tools for online classes. Some of the additions have come from working with the publishers who provide supplemental media. Rasmussen College also has an instructional design team and a development team that has been able to build its own custom media pieces based on the needs of faculty and students.
“To provide a more realistic approach to learning, the development team has built widgets, which enable students to take practice quizzes and perform exercises to help them learn,” Wettergren said.
“One of the coolest things we have done for our online Medical Administration students recently is that we built a virtual hospital. They can do through the hospital and look through patient files, meet financial personnel, and get a realistic view of what working in a health care facility is like.”
So far student feedback about the new interactive elements has been positive. Faculty has appreciated the new addition as it gives them a new way to present material and a better method for networking with students.
Many online colleges are now moving away from curriculum that is too text heavy. Utilizing the new technologies allows them to engage students in a dynamic manner.
“Online coursework is evolving rapidly,” Wettergren said. “More colleges are offering online programs, and to stay ahead of the game we have to continue to invest focused attention on providing the latest developments in online learning to our students. We are just getting started.”
Posted by Jen Zeman on October 11th, 2008
Unless you have been living under a rock or in the remote regions of the Appalachians, you realize the United States is in a serious credit crisis. This crisis is affecting all markets, including higher education. If you are contemplating going back to school, you may be worried with the economy in its current state it doesn’t make much fiscal sense to attempt financing college. While it’s true that because of the credit crisis the cost of student loans, especially private loans (i.e. loans by such companies as Sally Mae or your local bank), are more expensive because of an increase in interest charged, college still remains a sound investment in your future. Federal loans are still reasonable and are always an option. According to www.education.yahoo.net, those who obtain a bachelor’s degree earn an average of 88 percent more a year than high school graduates! It is true that there are infinitely more opportunities for individuals with a college degree than just a high school diploma, so invest in yourself. If you are still uncertain if you can afford to back to school, I strongly encourage you to make an appointment with a financial aid counselor at your school of choice. They will be more than willing to explain the financial aid process and how educational loans can fit into your budget.
Posted by Benae Lambright on October 8th, 2008
While attending class online there are a few proactive approaches that can be taken to make your experience more effective. These approaches can range from meeting deadlines to having adequate computer skills and tools to developing relationships with your classmates.
With more opportunities available for people to attend school in the comfort of their home, some students may feel that their learning experience is lacking something. Usually it’s the one-on-one interaction that makes distance learning challenging. From Kindergarten to Twelfth grade, you were always exposed to a group of students, teachers and administrators. Now your only physical interaction is between you and your computer. But this does not mean you have to feel isolated. Creating a learning environment that is engaging will help you to benefit from this non-traditional learning experience.
Before making the decision to attend an online college or university, or even to just take a class online ensure that you have the proper equipment. Having a computer is not enough to enable you to be a successful student. Check with the admissions department to see what software will be required. You may also want to confirm that you have an up-to-date operating system on your computer and Internet speed that will not allow you to get frustrated because the many images, sounds and papers take forever to load on your computer.
Once you are enrolled in class, find out the best ways to communicate with your classmates and instructor. Most schools will utilize discussion boards to share ideas, thoughts and the material learned but another resource usually available is the Student Lounge. Not all schools call it the same thing but the majority of online courses will have an area that allows students to communicate or “chat” about topics that might not be class related but helps you to get to know your classmates better. You may find that you have a study partner that lives not to far from you. You can also develop friendships with people from all over the world.
There are many benefits to online learning. Some of the biggest include time and convenience, but it is up to you as a student to make it a positive learning opportunity. So begin by establishing an environment that is conducive to learning and then respect the deadlines given by your instructor. Keep the lines of communication open with your instructor and classmates, but most of all enjoy learning.
Posted by admin on October 6th, 2008
The Online Education Database released its second annual Online College Rankings of the top 41 undergraduate online degree programs in the country. The OEDb rated online programs in eight categories, including acceptance rate, student-faculty ratio, and availability of financial aid.
Upper Iowa University ranked number one on the OEDb’s list, followed by LeTourneau University at number two and Liberty University at number three.
Best Online Colleges for Availability of Financial Aid
In addition to its overall rankings, the OEDb provided rankings in each of the eight individual categories that make up the overall rankings. In the financial aid category, the OEDb ranked schools based on the percentage of the schools’ students who receive financial aid.
Of the top ten schools in the financial aid availability category, nine schools offer financial aid to at least 95 percent of their students, with three schools offering financial aid to a full 100 percent:
1.?? Salem International University 100%
2. Upper Iowa University 100%
3. Westwood College 100%
4. Fisher College 99%
5. LeTourneau University 99%
6. Liberty University 99%
7. Post University 97%
8. Tiffin University 96%
9. Florida National College 95%
10. Nova Southeastern University 94%
Posted by Jen Zeman on September 28th, 2008
If you are interested in pursuing an online degree but are more interested in a liberal studies program versus business, you are in luck! Many colleges and institutions now offer their liberal studies programs online, whether you are pursuing an associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree. Simply type in “online liberal studies degree program” in your search engine to find a program that suits your needs. I used Google in this instance. In searching, “liberal arts” and “liberal studies” is often used interchangeably. A plethora of information will then be delivered to you. Two sites I found to be helpful included:
http://www.worldwidelearn.com/liberal-arts-humanities/liberal-arts/
This site lists different institutions across the country that offer online liberal arts/studies programs.
http://education-portal.com/liberal_studies_degree.html
This site also lists different institutions offering online degrees, but also provides useful articles such as what kind of career can one have with a liberal studies degree. This site also has a search engine within it to narrow your search even further.
The Google search also provided links directly to colleges and universities offering an online liberal studies degree program. With a little legwork, I am confident you will find the perfect online liberal studies degree program!
