What is accreditation anyway?

It seems that a university with national accrediation is a good thing but a friend told me that actually, regional accreditation is better when it comes to college and universities. This seems really important because I am looking at online degree programs. Is this true?

Yes, it is true. When exploring colleges and universities, it is a good idea, first and foremost, to make sure they are accredited. This "stamp of approval" if you will, comes from an accrediting body. If a college or university is not accredited, the diploma that you work hard to earn will not be worth much. That's because it more than likely will not be recognized by future employers as a "real" degree.

There are a couple of organizations that you should know about. One is the Distance Education Training Council. This is a single, national accrediting organization that focuses on distance learning universities in the United States.

Regional accrediting is done by a network of six organizations located around the U.S. Which organization that accredits a university depends on what part of the country it is in.

The U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognize both accreditation forms. However, regional accreditation is more commonly accepted and is held by most so-called brick-and-mortar colleges and universities. Think large state universities, for example.

The biggest issue, aside from the quality of the crediential, is the ability to transfer credits. Many major colleges and universities that are regionally accredited have policies that prohibit accepting credits or transfers from a nationally accredited school.

So, if you don’t plan to continue your education with the completion of a degree, the type of accreditation may not matter. However, if you think you may want to change schools, further your education or be employed by a company that does not recognize degrees from nationally accredited universities, applying to a regionally accredited one is probably the way to go.

Curricular flow

When I hear about online degrees, especially those that are designed around liberal studies, it sounds like you have to read some books, write a couple of papers and earn college credit. Is it really that hard to get your degree this way?

One of the biggest misconceptions about online education is that it is easy. It most assuredly is not. Many regionally accredited universities that offer online courses employ curriculum developers who work with faculty members to design courses. Often curriculum developers have advanced degrees themselves.

Online curriculum for liberal studies students is not merely a word document with some reading and writing assignments posted on a website. Curriculum is designed to invite the learner into deep engagement with provocative issues that were germane for the past, present, and future while opening up intense interactions with passionate and deeply knowledgeable professors.

Imagine taking seminars with names such as Roots of Chaos: The Cultural Antecedents of Political Upheaval in the Twentieth Century, Music and Popular Culture During the Swing Era, and the Ethical Frontiers on the Sciences and Humanities and courses from Art and Medicine to Police and Policing.

The rich tradition of liberal studies curriculum continues to inspire students to think using a scaled-up process designed to incorporate a unique blend of structure, technology, and active learning philosophy.

Just as a river has many sources of flow, every person involved in curriculum development contributes to the end product. Each pours themselves into the effort to transfer into a course the knowledge, understanding and passion of the subject matter expert that inspires the student to learn and apply fully their unique gifts.

An online degree program typically offers its courses using a structured process with multiple entry points – internal and external evaluations and reviews across a broad spectrum of people, from faculty members to state regents and chancellors for higher education.

To create significant learning experiences that contain more than just an aggregation of content materials and resources, here are some centered guiding values for online curricula:

• Rigor – Curriculum that embodies strength, depth, and breadth in the content and learning strategies.
• Agility – Curriculum that is pragmatic in multiple ways with a long term view.
• Profitability – Curriculum that adds value to all constituents – students, faculty, college and society.
• Significance – Curriculum that centers on the major constructs, concepts, ideas and issues in the students’ lives.
• Inspiration – Curriculum that exploits the tension between passion and reason through human interaction.

As you can see, there is a great deal of academic rigor applied to the development of curriculum for online courses and degree programs. You want to be intellectually challenged. That is what you should expect when embarking on such a journey.

For-profit education

I have been hearing a lot lately about for-profit universities and now I am confused. They seem to cater to all kinds of students not just the traditional 18-to-24-year-olds but I get the impression that these kinds of schools may not have a good reputation. What is the difference between a traditional university and a for-profit university?

We have been reading and seeing a number of these stories as well and they do raise some alarming issues. On the surface, the mission of for-profit universities seems benevolent because they make higher education available to all. A mission of the current presidential administration is to create a more educated workforce and to make higher education more accessible.

But here-in lays a big part of the image problem for these institutions. Where traditional universities have certain admission requirements which might include such things as official transcripts, minimum grade point averages, academic tests and language requirements, for-profit universities open their doors to everyone.

Sounds pretty good until you look closer. There are some reports that for-profit college recruiters are going in to homeless shelters and halfway houses to lure students in with the promise of a better life and an education. The problem is that by offering financial aid to already disadvantaged individuals creates a huge burden for them when it comes time to repay. For-profit colleges are publicly traded higher education companies. Their revenue comes from federal funds. And tuition is very high.

Rates vary, but can be up to four times the cost of traditional universities.
Employers may be suspicious of a degree from a for-profit university. There can be questions of accreditation. Does the degree bring value? Is it real?

Do your homework and ask questions. As with most things in life, if earning a degree from a for-profit university sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Manage yourself, not time

I would really like to return to school and finish my bachelor’s degree but I am worried about how I will balance my professional, work and academic life.

Many adult students wonder how they will be able to juggle all of their current responsibilities and those demanded of a university degree program. If you have spent any length of time in the working world you have heard the term “time management.” But it’s unrealistic to think that time can truly be “managed.”

Instead, think in terms of managing yourself. This is a skill. With that notion, you certainly can learn to devote the time necessary to complete your degree while attending to the many areas of your life that require attention.

The first consideration is to choose a university with a degree program that accommodates the needs of working adult students. You will need easy access to home, work and school. It also might be helpful to look at how you currently spend your time during the day. Make a list of all you activities and note the number of hours you allocate to each.

For example, your list might include the time you spend commuting to work, how many breaks you take during the day, number of hours watching television or movies, reading, cooking, housework, shopping, home maintenance – you get the idea. Be honest with yourself and account for everything. Then, look at where you might be able to cut back. Everyone wastes time so find these areas. Learn how to sacrifice leisure time for study time. Even 15 minutes is a great deal of time if you can use it on school work. Cross off things like waxing the car and landscaping the yard. These things can wait.

Next, it is important to be highly organized. List things to-do with timelines, deadlines and priorities which will help you not to forget what needs to be done. This list will include your class schedule, class meetings, projects, research, exams, work assignments and family time. Breaking things down into small steps and timelines will keep you on track and feeling less overwhelmed.

Identify your best time for studying. Are you a morning or afternoon person? Choose the best time when you can concentrate well. Use your down time for less demanding tasks. That said, study the most difficult subjects first when you are fresh. This will save you time in the long run.

Distributed learning and practice means studying in shorter time blocks with shorter breaks in between which will keep you from getting tired. Even when you are taking a break, your brain is processing the information.

Being an adult student can be a wonderful and enriching experience. There are a number of resources available to help you manage your time wisely. Start slowly to retrain the brain to study and by managing yourself, you will find the time to you need to devote to your studies. And remember, returning to school is only for a short period of defined time.

Education after job loss

My company downsized a few months ago and I lost my job so I am exploring new opportunities. I would like to return to school to revamp my career path and perhaps create more options for myself in the future. However, I’m wondering if this step will be viewed by potential employers as a safe way to ride out the recession instead of buckling down and looking for a new job.

In a down economy and what seem to be bleak job prospects, returning to school is an appealing option. People site a number of reasons for returning to higher education and creating new opportunities is certainly high on that list. While it does seem that going back to school is an attractive and seemingly “safe” way to ride out scary economic times – and the boom in applications many schools are experiencing attests to that fact – you are correct in examining the appearance of your motives. School is an acceptable way to explain an absence from the work force. However, you might be postponing the inevitable, which is getting a job, and ratcheting up a lot of debt in the process.

Remember that there is a big difference between learning a skill set and immersing yourself in the academic world. If you want to develop in one specific area, it might be a good idea to invest less time and money by finding courses at a vocational or community college, or by enrolling in a professional certification program offered through many colleges and universities.
In the world of academics, you will study broad principles and theories, not technical skills. This will help you develop as a “big picture” thinker and problem solver.

If you have not finished your bachelor’s degree, it makes sense to consider completing this in order to remain competitive. Some jobs in mid and upper-level management might require an advanced degree. The marketplace is crowded with job seekers and educational credentials can certainly help you stand out.

It is wise to know what it is you hope to gain from earning a degree. If you have a solid answer like a career or industry change, or the desire to become more learned for your next job, returning to school is a logical choice and potential employers will benefit from your newly gained educational experience.

What is a liberal studies degree?

I would like to finish my bachelor’s degree and am really interested in history and philosophy, so it seems like a liberal studies degree would be a good fit. However, I am worried people will not understand what “liberal studies” means. Can you explain?

The word “liberal” in education often throws people off because they are thinking in political terms. However, liberal studies are not political, aside from studying this discipline from an historical perspective. Being liberal from an academic perspective means that one is a broad-based thinker who has learned to communicate effectively in a variety of ways. Preparing people for leadership is often the foundation for a liberal studies program.

Not surprisingly, perhaps no single skill is more critical to employers today than the ability to articulate ideas clearly, persuasively, and coherently about yourself, your ideas and your research. This is the hallmark of a liberal studies education.

Learning to think involves reading, writing, listening, speaking and remembering. Liberal studies coursework teaches these skills by centering on academic disciplines that examine the human condition Classes are offered in subjects like literature, history, philosophy, psychology, religion, visual and performing arts, to name just a few.

These disciplines teach analytical and critical thinking. Learning to think and write in this way allows you to solve complex problems and interact in a positive way with colleagues. Surveys have shown that employers believe students with a broad-based education, such as in liberal studies possess strong characters and the intellectual ability to become lifelong learners, a vital component in today’s world.

Liberal studies programs allow students to chose an area of study that is of interest to them so, often no two degree plans are exactly the same. You may hear the word “interdisciplinary” in relation to a liberal studies degree program which simply means that you will study a combination of the various humanities disciplines.

Here’s a few people you may recognize who have liberal arts degrees:
• John F. Kennedy, 35th president of the United States, earned a history degree in international affairs.
• Brian Lamb, founder of and CEO of C-SPAN, graduated with a degree in speech and communication.
• Sally Ride, first American woman astronaut, has a bachelor’s degree in English.

Paying for college

I would like to finish my degree but frankly, I worry about the expense. It seems like tuition is really high and I don’t think I can afford it. Is there a way I can return to school and pay attention to my coursework without being distracted by financial worries?

Commit this acronym to memory: FAFSA. That stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid and this is where the road to paying college tuition all begins. You will need to complete a FAFSA form to apply for financial aid. Go here to do that: www.FAFSA.ed.gov. It looks overwhelming but the site is very thorough, user friendly and easy to navigate. Plus, as the name says, it is free. Do this as soon as you are admitted to a college or university. The earlier you apply, the better your chances for receiving assistance.

Did you know that federal student aid programs are the largest source of student aid in the United States? These programs provide more than $80 billion a year in grants, loans and work-study assistance. Financial aid means lots of things and covers a variety of options, not just loans that have to be paid back. At the University of Oklahoma, 70 percent of its students receive some kind of financial aid.

Types of financial aid include:
1. Grants. These are gifts that do not need to be repaid and come from either governmental or private sources. The amount is based on criteria.
2. Scholarships. Funds given based on academic excellence or talent; scholarships are also awarded based on field of study, ethnic background or financial need. Like grants, scholarships do not need to be repaid.
3. Fellowships. Available to graduate and post-graduate students, fellowships are awarded by private organizations, institutions or the government and are awarded based on merit, need, or the institutional or faculty’s grant. Sometimes you will need to be recommended by a faculty member in order to receive a fellowship and it does not need to be repaid.
4. Assistantships. Similar to internships or work-study programs, typically you are required to work as a teaching or research assistant.
5. Loans. Money awarded based on need from either governmental or private institutions that must be paid back with interest.

As you can see there are a number of ways to pay for higher education and while some colleges and universities are expensive, the cost of attending the majority of them is easily within your financial reach.

Being an adult student

Now that I am in my late 30’s it has really started to bother me that I don’t have a degree. Since I’ve come this far – I am a middle manager in my company – without it and at my age, it’ll take me forever since I only have a few credit hours from long ago. Should I even try?

Here is a true story: A single mom in her early 30’s worked as a bank teller to support her young daughter. Wanting a better future for them both, she quit her job, lived on student loans and after three years earned an undergraduate degree in zoology.

Then, she applied for, and was accepted to, medical school in 2004. After graduating in May 2009 she is a doctor and resident in emergency medicine. By the time she completes her education she will be in her early 40’s. So, what’s the morale of this story? You are going to be 40 anyway. What are you waiting for?

Sure, you might be older than a number of your classmates as was our friend the medical student. But then again, maybe not. There is an entire field of academic study devoted to continuing and adult education and a number of colleges and universities cater primarily to the nontraditional student. The largest segment of the population on a college campus is not the 18-to-24-year-olds as you might expect. In fact, between 1970 and 1993, the number of students aged 40 and older who enrolled in college has increased by 235 percent.

Being an adult student could not be any more convenient than it is today. Think about the nontraditional student even 10 years ago. Although some colleges made attending classes easier for adult working students by meeting in the evenings and on weekends, students still had go to the library, do research and spend hours taking notes out of books.

Today, you can do so many things online, even earn a degree. This option eliminates all worries about age differences because you are communicating online with professors and fellow students in chat rooms.

You can always start slowly and ease back into the rhythm of school. And remember, your birthdays will keep coming. When you turn 40, the choice whether your degree will be hanging on your wall is entirely up to you. Re-entry as an adult student has never been easier.

Online, on-site, hybrid...what it all means

As I research degree options for nontraditional students and working adults, I see a lot of different course delivery methods. What do terms like “hybrid” mean and can you be enrolled in both an online class and an on-site class at the same time?

It does seem a little overwhelming when looking at the many options are available to students who want to return to school while attending to work and family responsibilities. However, providing these many options is at the heart of degree programs designed specifically for nontraditional students and working adults. This does not mean that the work will be easier, just that you will have the flexibility needed to meet the other demands on your time.

Here is a breakdown of some of the terms you are probably seeing.

Self-paced independent study courses are completed in a one-on-one environment with a faculty member and student. This option is particularly beneficial to people who have unpredictable or heavy work schedules, those who travel, or who have family commitments that may keep them from meeting deadlines associated with online and on-site classes.

Students need to have the self-motivation to complete courses with potentially long periods between the beginning and ending due dates. In addition, self-paced courses are not tied to the traditional academic semester calendar, so once you are enrolled you can begin to work immediately. You can take up to two classes at a time and complete them in as little as six weeks or within a six-month time period.

On-site classes were at one time the foundation of degree completion programs for adult students and are still an important option. Classes meet in a traditional classroom setting in the evenings and/or on weekends. The format is accelerated and courses are completed in eight weeks.

Online courses enable students to receive instruction, complete course objectives and interact with an instructor and fellow students in a virtual environment. Most online classes are split into four, two-week units. For each unit typically there is a brief lesson, reading assignments and a few writing exercises. Online classes use course-specific Web sites and a Web portal called Desire2Learn.

Asynchronous means that you may have deadlines for course assignments but you will not need to be online at the same time as your instructor and classmates.

Hybrid is a combination of two delivery methods: online and face-to-face and is intended to offer students the best of both worlds. A hybrid course creates a learning community where students interact online in discussion forums, as well as in classroom discussions and small groups.

As you can see, degree programs for adult students are specifically designed with their needs in mind. You can mix and match delivery formats in whatever way suits you to accomplish your educational goals.