The Online Degree Dorm Room

Posted by bposton on June 25th, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Just the other day I was blogging about the US Pell Grant and how it was being “beefed up” so to speak to help more students struggling to find the funds to finish college.

Well here is another avenue that you can consider. Grants offered by the institution itself.

Case in point. Ellis University, has announced what it calls an “Opportunity Grant Program” to make its degree programs more affordable to students across the globe.

The Opportunity Grant Program offers qualified students funding on a per credit basis, and is available to eligible new or continuing students for coursework that begins with the June 29th term.

The thing I like about this particular Grant program, is that it’s available for the student through the completion of his or her degree program. Of course, to remain eligible, the student must be and remain in good academic standing with the University.

Who is Ellis University?

Ellis University is an online university that offers certificates, undergraduate and master’s programs in a variety of disciplines. Based in Chicago, Illinois, they are regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and they are a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The University is also nationally accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council.

For more information, visit www.ellis.edu or call (877) 355-4762.

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Arizona High schoolers can get credit for college online

Posted by bposton on April 27th, 2009 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Hi there my little dorm room buddy.

I hope that your exams go well, and that your plans for the summer are shaping up nicely.  

If you are still a high school student, or know someone who is, then this information may be of great importance. There are a lot of high-school students out there who have no idea what to expect of college. In fact even if they have some expecations, many are intimidated at the thought of pursuing a college degree, and that keeps them from acheiving higher goals in life.

Yes, a lot of high schools due offer advanced classes that can be used toward college credit, but the big difference between high school and college is the experience of being taught by a college professor instead of a high school teacher. 

So to help students who otherwise might not pursue a college education feel a sense of ease and comfort in pursuing a degree, the Arizona Charter Academy (ACA) and Grand Canyon University (GCU) are collaborating to offer online concurrent- and dual-credit programs for high-school students, taught by GCU faculty on the high-school campus.

It’s a know fact that if a student can get college credit in high school, then they are much more likely to consider going on to college. There are many students who have had no exposure to college so this concurrent-credit program can help them get a feel for the college experience in an unobtrusive way and help them come to understand that for them a college degree is actually achievable.

Online classes are taught by GCU faculty in ACA’s computer lab for $60 per credit hour, which is less than community-college courses. ACA even provides scholarships for students who can’t afford the tuition. In addition, next semester the school will be offering on-site college courses for students who prefer more structured classes.

Getting credit for college in an online environment is certainly the least intimidating and most affordable option for most students, and this credit program at ACA is taking that and offering up a great opportunity for high schoolers.

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Do You Need an Online Associate Degree?

Posted by bposton on November 10th, 2008 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Hey there my dorm room buddy. Hope that you’re having a great fall.

Somebody stuck their head into the online dorm room a few days ago and asked:

“What can you tell me about online associate degrees?”

They came to the right place, of course  

OK, so here is a primer:

Online associate degree programs are two-year general programs that are accessible completely over the Internet.

This degree is best for people who want to give their college careers a head start or wish to complete their two year degree prior to moving on to a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
There have been studies that show that folks who start out by getting a two year degree and then move on to a 4 year college tend to have a much better transition into the college world. Most even finish on time!

You don’t need any previous college credits to start your quest for an online associate degree. But if you have them, great - you can try to transfer them to your online college or university in order to acquire your degree quickly. The basic requirement for enrollment in an online associate degree program is that you must possess a high school diploma or G.E.D.

At a traditional campus-based college or university, it takes about two years to earn an associate’s degree, while the same can be earned in merely six months through an online or distance education process (assuming you can handle the workload). This major difference in “study time” is beneficial for those who aspire to enter the job market as early as they can, or those who do not have money to spend on a traditional college. All that is needed for an individual to study via online education is a computer with an Internet connection that can download software and study material.

Much more to come…

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online degree programs psychology | Did you hear about “the list”?

Posted by bposton on August 1st, 2008 — Posted in online degree programs psychology

Hey my little dorm room buddy!

The hot summer days of August are here again, and that means back to school sales and
move in plans for those who attend on campus universities.

For those who are in the cyberworld of higher education, or just thinking about getting that
sheepskin via an online degree program, here’s some interesting news about a diploma mill that
was shut down in 2005, and a list of folks who could (I emphasize COUILD) have attended!
Eight people have been convicted so far in the federal case that was brough against the diploma mill,
with at least two people sentenced to time in prison. It appears that this mill produced degrees
under the auspices of several nonexistent universities, including: 
St. Regis University
St. Lourdes University
All Saints American University
Hartland University 
Concordia University

Even more this mill evidently offered fabricated diplomas from real institutions, such as the University of Maryland, Texas A&M University and George Washington University.

WOW! :-0

This mill launched in 1999 and sold some $6 million of high school, college and graduate diplomas to customers around the world. Man, what a scam!

Anyway, it seems the Feds accumulated a list of almost 10,000 names of people “believed” to have purchased degrees
from this illegal diploma mill. And a newspaper got their hands on the list.

The problem was that it became clear that dozens of the names could be traced to e-mail addresses that end in “.edu,” which meant the possibility that there could be instructors in academe who were hired under false pretenses — a degree from an unaccredited, or worse, nonexistent institution.

So far, that hasn’t been any evidence found that any lecturers or faculty members knowingly purchased degrees from the company. But you have to wonder, don’t you?

You also have to wonder about the accuracy of any list that the Federal Goverment creates… I heard that there where people on this list that had legit degrees and only contacted the mill out of curiosity.

So let this be a lesson. If you go down the diploma mill path it will eventually catch up with you.

JUST SAY NO! 

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Associate Online Degree Programs | Drexel offers new online degree program

Posted by bposton on November 30th, 2006 — Posted in associate online degree programs

One of my daughters is a senior in high school and she’s going through that wonderful process of selecting the colleges she wants to apply to.

She wants to major in Communications. I give her credit, because most high school seniors don’t have a clue what they want to take in college

So this announcement from Drexel university Online caught my attention.

They’ve added a Communications degree program to their offerings.

Here’s a snippet from the press release:

The new online Bachelor of Science Degree in Communication provides a common core of courses that emphasize communication theory and methods, followed by a concentration in corporate communication and public relations.

Program content teaches students how to address the communication and relationship challenges that arise when organizations deal with their various publics. This comprehensive approach successfully prepares students for senior-level Corporate Communication and Public Relations positions in any corporation or organization.

Just like Drexel’s other online degree programs, this is a fully-accredited program and is done entirely online. Students will have 24/7 online access to class materials, group discussion, instructor feedback and exams. Drexel mentioned that these courses are taught by the same world-renowned faculty and offer the same well-respected credentials as their on-campus courses

Applications for Drexel’s online Bachelor of Science Degree in Communication are now being accepted. The next term begins in January 2007, with a December 8, 2006 deadline. For more information about this online program, visit Drexel’s online degree website, or call (877) 215-0009.

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