As Undergraduate Dean of Online Learning at Herzing University, I understand the commitment and dedication it takes to be a student, especially in an online classroom setting. I have seen firsthand how hard students work to enroll or re-enroll in classes while remaining in the workforce.
I’ve experienced these challenges myself. I completed both my masters in organizational management and master’s in business administration as a hybrid student. Afterward, I completed my doctoral education degree entirely online.
I’m sure you’ve noticed all the “back to school” campaigns going on at stores across the country. There’s no reason why you can’t tap into your own goals, dreams, and aspirations and consider going back to school as well. It’s never too late to change careers, go after a promotion, or complete the degree work you started years ago. No matter your story, education is a key ingredient in helping you achieve continued success in both your personal and professional life.
Even though work seems to dominate our lives constantly, don’t let it stop you from achieving the degree you’ve always dreamed of. The flexibility of online learning helps many students balance work and school seamlessly, especially since improved technology allows information to be accessed almost anywhere. In fact, research by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center found that 3.5 million students enrolled in online programs in 2016 and of 1,500 surveyed, 59 percent reported using mobile devices to complete some coursework.
Online education has become more popular for the adult learners who have various needs and responsibilities that accompany them as a student. The advances in technology continue to influence the possibilities of how we can educate students and the learning experience structure we can provide within the virtual campus community. The online classroom grants additional flexibility and comfort that may be better suited for the adult learner. Here are some of the benefits:
Flexible class scheduling and lectures
Coursework that can be accessed anywhere
No commuting, which saves time and money
Controlled learning environment
Coming back to school can be exciting and maybe even a little scary, but know that you can do it! It can pave the way to a meaningful career and provide you opportunities to continue to enhance your skills and expertise. Let us know how we can help you on your journey.
Kelly May is the Associate Provost; Undergraduate Dean of Online Learning for Herzing University Online.
* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 2022 / Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.
