Earning degree online is option |
| Earning degree online is option Posted: 02 Jan 2011 12:34 AM PST Published: 1/2/2011 2:30 AM Last Modified: 1/2/2011 5:47 AM And Smith was building up a pile of student debt to pay her tuition. But Smith eventually got her degree from Western Governors University, which takes a different approach to online education. "I've tried them all and this is great for working folks," she said. "If you don't have the time and you don't have the money, this place eliminates all the excuses. You can do it when you can and it's inexpensive." What makes WGU unique? Although the entire school is online, each student has a mentor who works essentially as a college counselor, helping manage the student's course schedule and checking regularly on his or her progress. The course instructors, who mostly work from their homes, hold webinars and online study sessions, and can be reached to help students having difficulty with their studies. WGU instructors don't get tenure, nor are they encouraged to publish academic papers. Instructors are evaluated based on how well their students do in class and whether their students are satisfied and progressing well in their programs. Even more unusual is what the school terms its "competency-based model." In a nutshell, that means students study at their own pace. A student can go slowly, but one who knows the material can get through a class in record time. The average WGU graduate receives a bachelor's degree in 2 1/2 years.Smith said her classes at WGU were challenging, but she completed one full-semester class in a single week. Because she had been working in a related field for 13 years, she already knew almost everything being taught. That allowed her to write the papers and take the tests in record time. Because the school is a nonprofit that's focused on making education accessible, it keeps a tight rein on tuition. Undergraduate students pay $2,800 per semester. That pays for as many or as few units as they take. The average graduate pays less than $15,000 for a four-year degree. The average age of WGU students is 36. The vast majority - 82 percent - falls into "underserved" categories: poor, minority, rural or students who are the first in their families to pursue a college degree. The National Study of Student Engagement showed WGU as performing equal to or better than other private, nonprofit universities not directly supported by governmental bodies. The ratings were based on academic challenge, quality of advisers and overall educational experience. Another survey found that 97 percent of graduates, like Smith, would recommend the university to a friend. "We're here to demonstrate that higher education does not have to cost $25,000 a year and have double-digit tuition increases every year to be high-quality," Mendenhall said. Contact Los Angeles Times staff writer Kathy Kristof at Personal Finance, Business Section, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St. 90012, or e-mail kathy.kristof@latimes.com. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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