Online College Learning Options

Since I work a lot online and do a great deal of writing in
different areas including education, I see a lot of mention
of the University of Phoenix online learning programs.
However, despite it being one of the most prominent,
alternatives do exist.

Obviously if you are considering pursuing a degree online
you will want to check a number of different institutions.
In fact, it would be negligent not to.  You need to be
satisfied that the programs they offer, the particular
approach and the structure meets your requirements. Cost
may also be a factor. And, even if you are pursuing your
degree online the location of physical campuses can be
important.  Accreditation is also important.

If you haven't heard of AIU (American InterContinental
University), you might be interested in looking at their
programs. Accredited by the Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools (one of the six regional accrediting
organizations in the United States) to award Associate,
Bachelor's and Master's degrees, AIU has physical campuses
in Georgia, Florida, Texas, California, London and Dubai as
well as their online program.

Kaplan University is another highly rated online
institution offering a variety of degree programs in Arts
and Sciences, Business, Criminal Justice, Education,
Information Systems and Technology, Nursing and Health
Science and  Legal Studies as well as continuing and
professional studies.  Kaplan University is accredited
through the Higher Learning Commission, part of the North
Central Association Of Colleges and Schools which is one of
the six regional institutional accreditors in the United
States.

Penn Foster is a slightly different type of organization
and has several types of accreditation and is also licensed
by the Pennsylvania State Board of Private Licensed
Schools. If you are looking for specific training for a
particular occupation you may want to check their
offerings. They offer certificate programs, career diplomas
and associate degrees.

As you can see from this short list, you have a lot of
options in pursuing education online.  And you can easily
find more by doing some searching at your favorite search
engine.

Before you even start to look for an online college degree
program or other career-related learning, you need to
carefully analyze your own needs, the time you really have
available to commit to a program and your financial
resources.  These institutions will provide help in
uncovering and pursuing your options for financial
assistance, but the responsibility is yours. You don't want
to get part way through a program and discover you've got a
problem.  If your company will assist with tuition
reimbursement that's great but be clear on exactly how much
it will be, how it works and what the requirements are both
from your company and the institution.

Finally, make sure you're dealing with an accredited
institution. There's nothing more painful than discovering
your hard earned degree won't do you any good because the
granting institution wasn't accredited.


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Despite already being overeducated, Richard continues to
enjoy learning as a part of his teaching, writing and
internet business activities. The growth of the internet as
medium for learning is one of his major interests.  Visit
http://Online-Learning.blgz.info/ for more about online
learning.

Security on Campus

It may surprise you to know that college and university campuses are scenes to more than just socializing and learning. All too often, they can also be the scenes of a crime. Awareness of this problem has grown dramatically over the last twenty years, and many institutions are taking appropriate measures to protect their students from malice. Wise parents do not close their eyes to these issues, but discuss them openly with their students. When choosing schools for their sons or daughters, they consider the security programs and features utilized by the schools. You must do all you can to ensure that your student doesn’t get an education they didn’t plan for.

Drugs and Alcohol

Nine out of ten student felonies involve alcohol or drugs. Annually, 1,700 college students die from alcohol-related causes. On their own for the first time, students often feel a surge of independence that can lead to poor decision-making, such as binge drinking. There are many resources available to help parents discuss substance use with their young adult children. Meanwhile, when choosing a school favor institutions with strict policies regarding alcohol and drug abuse, and effective parent-notification. In this way, colleges and universities keep better control of this problem.

Sexual Offenses

Unfortunately, 25% of undergraduate women nationally will be victims of an attempted or completed sexual assault. Many schools have embraced innovative technological solutions in an effort to protect their students. Residence halls that use electronic key-card systems are superior to the ones still using old-fashioned metal locks, and most commons areas of dormitories are now outfitted with video surveillance. At the very least, residence halls should be monitored, and nighttime access should be limited to residents only. Room doors should be equipped with peep holes and dead bolts. Bathrooms are safer when restricted to floor residents. For peace of mind, you may see if single-sex and “substance-free” dormitories are available. Crime is lower in these halls.

Another important deterrent against sexual predators is awareness. Your student should study the campus and neighborhood with respect to routes between his or her residence and classes/activities schedule. Parking lots should be adequately secured, lit and patrolled. Many campuses offer emergency phones, escort services, and shuttle systems so that students should never have to compromise their safety by walking across campus alone after dark. These are free services that have dramatically decreased crime.

Theft

College students are often the target of fraudulent identity-theft and credit card schemes. Make sure your student is savvy about personal information. They should never leave bill payments, credit card offers, health insurance statements, or any personal mail lying around. Instruct them never to give personal information over the phone to any company unless they initiated the call, and they know the company is reputable. Caution students not to give out their social security numbers to obtain credit cards or memberships, and to keep a personal record of all such cards, with expiration dates and company phone numbers in a locked drawer or cabinet. PIN numbers should not be kept in wallets, and should never incorporate birthdates, social security numbers, telephone numbers or addresses.

The Jeanne Clery Act is a federal law that was signed into effect in 1990, requiring colleges and universities to disclose annual information about campus crime and security policies. It is your privilege and right to know these statistics. This law was passed at a great cost. In 1987 Jeanne Clery was raped and murdered in her dorm room by a student with whom she was unacquainted, who had passed through three propped open doors in order to rob dormitory rooms. Knowing they could never bring their daughter back, Mr. and Mrs. Clery demanded safer campuses for future students. More advice regarding security on campus can be found on their outreach site at www.campussafety.org.

Rob Daniels develops educational material for http://www.security-port.com and http://www.security-protection.net a top resource for locating security related RSS feeds.

7 Tips On Choosing An Online Degree Program

An online degree opens up a world of opportunities
including a new career, better job prospects, skill
enhancement and career progression. Studying online is a
great way to further your education while keeping your
present job and looking after your family.

Here are 7 tips on choosing an online degree.

1. Check the credibility of online colleges or
universities. Spend time to speak with friends and search
for reviews on the internet or in publications. Find out
faculty-to-student ratios and class sizes. Smaller class is
better because you get more attention from a tutor.

2. Make sure you pursue an accredited online degree
program. Otherwise, you may end up with a degree that is
not recognized by your employer. Search for third party
reviews and testimonials on the internet. You should be
able to find out what others are saying about a particular
program. Remember, if a deal sounds too good to be true, it
probably is. Use your common sense.

3. You must be committed to spending the required amount of
time to obtain your degree. Studying online can be
difficult for some students because they can be lacking in
the motivation usually given by close contact with other
students and lecturers.

4. Determine your interests and choice of subjects. If you
choose a degree program that you enjoy, you are more likely
to complete it successfully.

5. You should be able to set a schedule for your work,
study and other commitments. If you can’t find the time to
do so, then you definitely won’t have time to study. Make
sure that you have a quiet place to study. If you have a
spouse, kids or friends in the house, there are bound to be
distractions. Can they give you the time and space you
need? If not, consider going to a nearby library.

6. What is the technology expected from you? Are the
technology requirements beyond your capacity? Do you have
the required level of computing knowledge? Most likely, you
are required to have a computer, printer and internet
connection. You may be communicating with tutors and
students via email or teleconference. Would the technology
or computing knowledge be a barrier to you pursuing an
online degree? Consider taking a computing course to brush
up your computer skills. Make sure there is tech support
from the online college or university.

7. Some programs require occasional attendances at the
college or university campus. Can you fit these into your
schedule? If you don’t show up for a meeting or class, you
can be penalized by losing marks in your overall score.

Copyright © 2006 Alvin Toh
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