The Online Distance Education Learning Resource for Adult Students ~ www.edsurf.net |
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The Online Distance Education Learning Resource for Adult Students ~ www.edsurf.net |
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by: Linda L Lewis Following the trail of many immigrants, Richard Dumag came to America in the company of his parents searching for the American dream. When we think of this scenario, we tend to see visions of Ellis Island. But, the dream is still alive today. At age 13, Dumag moved from the Philippines to have opportunities for a better future. He just accomplished a big part of that goal by working with the University Alliance to earn his Bachelors Degree in Computer Information Science from the Saint Leo University Center for Online Learning. Dumag went to high school in Delano, California. He went on and got his first bachelors in Accounting from California State University in June 1994. Then he went on to work as an accountant at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Home, a non-profit mental health service for the mentally challenged. Accounting, though it was a great profession, was not where his heart was. Dumag really enjoyed working with computers. After a change in senior staff, and reorganization, Dumag was given the opportunity to work in the I.T. department. But, this alone was not going to guarantee him the raises and promotions he desired. At 33 years of age, he decided that he would have to further his education. Working a full-time job with odd hours and company travel made attending school very difficult. Dumag turned to his beloved computer and found the answer. After a 3 or 4 word search on the Internet, he came across the University Alliance http://www.universityalliance.com/edsurf . He was impressed with the Saint Leo University Bachelors in Computer Information Systems program. He compared the University with other similar programs and found it has better prices. So he enrolled and in 10 months he had earned his 2nd Bachelors. Attending classes online proved convenient for his busy life. Equipped with his laptop, he could do his course work on company trips away from home. Dumag did his term papers and studied at night and on the weekends. “I liked the freedom to attend anytime and anywhere I wanted” Dumag said when asked what he liked most about the University Alliance. Recently, while on vacation in Florida, Dumag stopped to see the actual campus at Saint Leo, just north of Tampa, FL. He was impressed with the 100 year-old buildings and the surrounding lakes. He was quite proud to see where his degree was coming from. Dumag is currently working as I.T. Specialist for Good Shepherd. But he hopes to one day to start his own I.T. consulting firm. He is also contemplating going on with the University Alliance to get his MBA through Regis University. For now, he values the education he has been able to earn so far, and feels fortunate to have been give the opportunities so many of his Philippine countryman were never afforded. University Alliance is able to bring regionally accredited degree programs to adult learners around the world in a high-tech, high-touch way. Bachelor’s degrees available through St. Leo include CIS, Accounting and Business Administration (Accounting, Management or MIS). There is also an MBA degree program available through Regis University. Each course is made up of sections capped at 15 students and one faculty member each. In addition to the section professor, each student is assigned an evaluating faculty advisor. Such a model ensures close and frequent interaction between students and faculty, unlike an on-campus situation where hundreds of students may compete for one teacher’s attention. Additionally, time-challenged and geographically-challenged professionals, as well as the oft-transferred members of the military, find the University Alliance degrees-at-a-distance are a convenient, flexible form of study which allows them to take the university directly into their home or office. Through chat rooms and message boards, students and teachers interact in posting assignments, responding to questions, and learning about each other. Videotaped or streaming lectures and textbook reading supplement online assignments. All tests and quizzes are taken online, making it unnecessary to travel to a testing location or make arrangements for private proctoring of any exams. Furthermore, degrees earned online are the same as those earned on the university’s main campus. You can learn more about degree programs through the University Alliance online. Classes begin every eight weeks. For more information or to download an application package, please visit http://www.universityalliance.com.
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