If you want to take college courses to help you advance professionally, to study a new field to prepare for a career change, to go for a degree or to merely indulge a personal interest, the opportunities for lifelong learning have never been so abundant. This summer’s openings of the University Center at TSTC and South Texas College’s eCampus have made advanced, bachelor’s, and associate degrees easily accessible, sometimes as close as your home office.
At the University Center, eight universities are offering 23 bachelor and 23 master degree programs that range from Health Care Management, Technology Project Management and Industrial Engineering to Media Relations and Health and Human Performance. The mix of face to face, teleconferencing and online instruction depends on the course and the institution: University of Texas at Brownsville and Pan American, Texas A&M at Kingsville and Corpus Christi, the University of Houston, Our Lady of the Lake University, Wayland Baptist University and LeTourneau University.
Real world critical thinking
“How many of you have been offered a bribe?” UTB instructor Tom Coyle asked his Principles of Management class as he paced in front of them, boot heels tapping on the new floor. Two students of the 13 students raised their hands, and that gave Coyle a springboard for a lively discussion of workplace ethics. Half of the students in the class are employed, but all of them, he said, would be faced with a bribe at some point in their career. “Would you take a two million dollar bribe? You need to decide now,” what behavior is acceptable, what principles are non-negotiable.
Classes like Coyle’s have stimulated Anna Desjardins, a stay-at-home mom who is working on a business degree that she expects to complete when her youngest starts elementary school in 18 months. Desjardins has taken online courses and classes at TSTC and in Brownsville. “I would like to work for a land developer. A degree would put me in a better position. The fact that I am staying home lets me take advantage of these classes,” she said, acknowledging that her husband encouraged her to go back to school. Coyle, she added is a very good teacher and is strict.
In the University Center’s comfortable lobby, four Ph.D. candidates in Leadership Studies were in a serious discussion with Dr. David Egleston, coordinator of the Our Lady of the Lake University program. Stella Garcia, now Associate VP for Corporate and Community at TSTC, said she three years ago, when she began the four-year Ph.D. program, there were few non-education doctoral programs in the region.
“I thought that one day I would want to be on the faculty of a college and teaching,” she said. “It has really helped us to have such a supportive faculty.” The OLOL cohort program met elsewhere on the TSTC campus eight Saturdays per semester until the University Center opened. Garcia has squeezed comprehensive exams and numerous papers into her schedule, just like the other three in her cohort who also have full-time jobs.
Roy Scheneman of VTCI had a dream to get a Ph.D and complete his education at the highest level. “I just wanted to know more: what makes people effective as leaders; what makes companies successful.”
The e-Campus
In August, a virtual ribbon was cut by South Texas College administrators to launch the college’s sixth site: the Virtual Campus, an e-STC. Attuned to the digital age, the Virtual Campus allows STC’s 30,000 students to enroll in any of 500-plus online courses taught by STC instructors that can lead to 15 degrees and five certificates.
Distance education, in the form of correspondence courses and radio and TV courses, has been available for over 200 years, and for 14 years at STC, according to Dr. Brett Millan, interim dean of the e-Campus. The virtual campus gives access to online library services, admissions, advising, financial aid, bookstore and testing. “The vast majority of colleges do not offer student services online. That takes a mindset change,” Millan said. Last fall over 4,800 students were in distance learning classes, and most were hybridizing their schedules taking some on-campus courses. This year 5,400 are using eSTC. Online instructors undergo training in online best practices for teaching, using video techniques and interactive Web technology.
Statistically, Virtual Campus students are older than the college as a whole. More women than men take advantage of distance education, also.
Convenience is the operative word for student Sheena Faulkner, who has earned about 40 credit hours online at STC. “I have been able to make my studies fit my schedule. I can study at my own pace, which I believe has helped me earn better grades. I can do my class work at 1 a.m. if I need to, and sometimes I have to because I work to pay my way through college. Also, I live 25 miles from the nearest campus and in this economy, taking online classes has saved me a lot of gas money.”
South Texas College expanded its all-online degree offerings to include associate degrees in 13 programs as well as certificates in management or marketing, said Juan E. Mejia, STC vice president for academic affairs.
“We are focused on meeting the needs of every student, from stay-at-home parents, professionals who are employed, and those in the military stationed abroad to the many students who have embraced technology and wish to complete their degree from home. Students can expect the same academic rigor that they have come to expect and appreciate from our traditional courses. The difference is that with eSTC we are eliminating time and distance barriers and making education more affordable and flexible than ever.
UTB and UTPA have continuing ed programs with credit and noncredit courses in addition to their degree programs.
The secret option
Auditing a university class is an amazingly low-cost, seldom-used option to continue learning, if you are not seeking credits or a degree. Last year, I audited an upper level science course at UTB, which required applying for university admission, having the instructor’s permission and paying the $50 audit fee. I did the assigned work and took tests, but the instructor was not obligated to grade my work. The hydrology course was stimulating and tough. I loved it and I’ve since used the knowledge gained in stories.
Academia has changed enough so that you can now arrange to earn a Masters in Interdisciplinary Studies merging interdepartmental interests, such as science and art. The opportunities to create your own unique path of lifelong learning have never been so tempting.
At the University Center, each university handles its own admissions and financial aid applications for prospective students. Call 956-364-4535 for more information or see www.harlingen.tstc.edu/uc. For additional information about STC, visit vc.southtexascollege.edu or call 956-872-2598.
This story by Eileen Mattei, can also be found in the October print edition of Valley Business Report, on newsstands now.