e-Insights

Student Perspective: The Story of a Drexel Online Student

Jessica Davey, a Global and International Education student from New Jersey, decided she wanted to continue her education while living and working in Kigali, Rwanda. She currently has 58 students from more than 20 countries including Africa, Europe, Asia, North American, and Latin America. "Working in Rwanda has been quite an eye-opener. It is a fascinating mix of several worlds from local Rwandese and expatriate professionals to the United Nations," said Davey. "Living in this context takes what I learn in the Global and International Education program out of the realm of theory and research, and makes everything I learning instantly applicable." Davey hopes to one day work in policy development or an education program with a major international agency, such as UNICEF, in Rwanda. At first Davey was skeptical of online courses, but then found it to be very challenging and academically rigorous. "The online classroom has been impressively interactive. I enjoy meeting students from very diverse backgrounds and locations," said Davey. "For someone who needs the flexibility of time and location or for someone who simply prefers to work more independently, this is a great choice."

A Drexel Education More Attainable than Ever for Military Vets

The Post-9/11 GI Bill, which will go into effect in August 2009, introduced some of the most robust education assistance to military veterans ever provided by the federal government. Under the new legislation, eligible servicemen and women can receive funding equivalent to the highest undergraduate tuition and fees rates at a public college or university within a particular state. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs released a preliminary list of colleges participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program, a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008.

The program allows colleges to enter into dollar-for-dollar matching agreements with the federal government to pay veterans' educational costs above those covered by the base GI Bill benefit. Participating schools decide how much they are willing to contribute toward the program - up to 50% of additional costs - and the federal government matches this contribution dollar-for-dollar.

For example, in the state of Pennsylvania, eligible veterans can receive up to $700 per credit hour and a maximum $8,205 in fees per term. In New Jersey, the maximum is $437.50 per credit hour and $5,102 in fees. Click here for a complete list of in-state tuition costs and fees.

Drexel is proud to be included on the list of 1165 U.S. colleges and universities participating in the program.

Click here for more information on the Yellow Ribbon Program

Click here for more information on the military benefits offered by Drexel University Online

Chemist and father of three revisits dream of a career in the classroom

When his doctoral studies at SUNY Buffalo were interrupted, Derek Dunn opted to finish graduate school with a master’s degree and pursue a career as a chemist. Fourteen years later, Derek has decided to revisit his dream of teaching chemistry through Drexel’s online Post-Bachelor’s Teaching Certificate program.

“[My career] has been great but my love of teaching is still there,” he says. “Plus, the unstable nature of the pharmaceutical industry has driven home the importance of a fall back plan.”

A husband, father of three, and full-time research scientist at Cephalon, Inc., in Frazer, PA, Derek says two things fell into place that made his decision easy – a friend’s advice to look into online programs and a scholarship opportunity that would help cover the cost of his courses.

“I absolutely needed the convenience of an online program,” he says. “After the kids go to bed, instead of watching boring TV shows I’ll work toward my teaching certificate.”

Derek also says he would not have applied to the program if he hadn’t recently learned about the ACS-Hach Second Career Teacher Scholarship. Endowed by the Hach Scientific Foundation, the award is distributed through the American Chemistry Society to chemists interested in pursuing a master’s degree or becoming certified as a chemistry or science teacher.

The requirements for the Hach Scholarship are:

* a bachelor's degree or higher in chemistry, biochemistry, or chemical engineering
* work experience in a chemistry-related field
* must be accepted into an education master's program or teacher certification program
* must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident

“Let’s face it - the convenience of Drexel’s online program coupled with the Hach scholarship cut down on the time and money it takes to become a chemistry teacher,” he says. “I think if more people knew about these types of opportunities, more would be inclined to go back to school.”

Find out more about the ACS-Hach Second Career Teacher Scholarship.

Find out more about Drexel’s online Post-Bachelor’s Teaching Certificate program.

Student Perspective: The Story of a Drexel Online Student

Jeremiah Staropoli is a unique example of a Drexel University Online student. Although he works literally across the street from Drexel, he chose to enroll online. "If it weren't for taking classes online, I would never have been able to complete this program," Jeremiah says. "With my schedule, family, and work, it would have been impossible for me to attend on-site classes."

The President of Thompson Institute chose Drexel Online because of ease of course delivery and ability to work with his demanding schedule. With a child at home and another on the way, flexibility was important to Jeremiah. When first starting the program, he faced some challenges scheduling and transitioning to an online environment. "Learning how to come together with my cohort and utilizing technology while ensuring a great performance was a definitely bonus to the online program," he says. "The sheer amount of work that an online degree program demands was a difficult balancing act."

However, Jeremiah successfully graduated in 2008, and even hired three of his classmates to work alongside him at the Thompson Institute. He plans to continue his education and move forward with his goals. "I plan to get my doctorate in Higher Education: Leadership and Administration at Drexel University. It is my plan and I hope to continue making an impact in higher education throughout the rest of my career."

Student Perspective: The Story of a Drexel Online Student

Kerri Cummings, an online student studying in Germany, is a rare breed. Although she already has a B.S. in German and an M.B.A., with seven years of management consulting experience, she decided that her ultimate goal in life was to help those around her by becoming a therapist. In order to meet her goal, Kerri realized that a Bachelor's in Psychology would help her land in a PhD program. "My ultimate goal is to help others in challenges they face in this world, and I hope to earn the academic experience I need to start doing that as soon as possible," Kerri says. Although studying across the globe could present potential problems, Kerri has adjusted to the demands of being an online learning. "I am somewhat introverted, which leaves me relatively quiet in group-situations," she says. "The online experience has helped me get my thoughts, questions, and suggestions out there for everyone to hear." She has some words of advice for potential online students. "Make sure you are studying at a respectable university, like Drexel. Online students should see their studies like a job, and not put assignments off to the last minute. Drexel's program gives you a unique opportunity - you have to access to everyone in your class including the professor and the assistant, which is something you do not always have offline."

The Online Classroom – A Teacher’s Perspective

In a recent commentary in The Chronicle of Higher Education, Gena Grecco, an English professor with both on-campus and online experience, explains the differences and nuances between the two, and how the online classroom can be just as rewarding—and in some ways even more so—than the traditional classroom.

The students
In online classes, students tend to be older, multicultural, and have work and family commitments. Many are in the military or have a spouse enlisted. Many are single mothers. Some see an online degree as the only format that allows them to achieve their goal of a higher education.

Far apart, yet close
In an online class, students and professors can literally be hundreds of miles away from each other. It’s important to establish a common ground and supportive arena early on. Students need to feel comfortable not just with the professor but with the other students in the class as well. A sense of community is an important component in successful online learning.

Choosing words carefully
Without the benefit of tone, facial expression, and body language, communication takes on a whole new light and can be challenging at times.

- Give careful consideration to word choice so that meanings aren’t misinterpreted and when in doubt, use parentheses for clarity. “It is amazing how even an emoticon like ‘:)’ at the end of an e-mail message can defuse a tense situation,” says Grecco.

- Online conversation, particularly in live chats or discussion forums, doesn’t necessarily have to be proper, and in fact sometimes the most engaging conversations occur when you write the way you speak. Use bold, italics, and even online lingo like “LOL” to relate the feelings behind your words.

Getting personal
In order to parallel the support one might find on campus, it helps when students and professors share aspects of their lives that are not class-related but that may affect their success in class.

Read more of Grecco's insights here:
Teaching Online: 2 Perspectives - A Reaffirmation of Why I Became an Educator (Subscription Required)

The College of 2020: Students - a report from The Chronicle of Higher Education

The Chronicle of Higher Education published a report this month (titled "The College of 2020: Students", in which the author projects, based on present and future demographics and economic conditions, what America's higher education will look like in ten years.

The author predicts that of the three business models colleges currently use to attract and keep students, only two will continue to work: the elite college model (the private colleges with the brand names and the flagship state universities) and the flexible model of the for-profits and the community colleges. The colleges "in the middle" are likely to face significant challenges. "Many colleges that have focused on a residential, four-year model will find that they need to attract more adult students, more part-time students, and more students who will want all or many of their courses online", states the report. The report goes on to state "many of these colleges are historically and constitutionally unequipped for such a major shift."

Drexel University Online saw this trend coming many years ago, and now has nearly 70 degrees and certificates fully online; making it one of the largest providers of online programs of any private, non-profit, university in the country.

A free executive summary of the report is available at: http://research.chronicle.com/asset/TheCollegeof2020ExecutiveSummary.pdf

Global education and study abroad flourish despite US economic challenges

According to a recent article in The Chronicle of Higher Education, the number of students who study outside their home country is projected to increase from three million this year to eight million by 2025, making international education one of the fastest-growing sectors in higher education.

Consequently, business opportunities surrounding study abroad programs are expected to hold steady or even increase during the global economic downturn as colleges see a greater need to engage globally.

Some of the industries spawned by study abroad programs include:

• Recruitment
• Support personnel
• Student housing coordination
• Insurance and healthcare providers
• Regulations compliance
• Administrative software
• Evaluation of foreign academic credentials

Drexel University's online Master of Science in Global and International Education degree provides a broad and solid foundation for anyone with an interest in the fields of study abroad, global trends in education, and comparative research of diverse approaches to teaching and learning.

Click here to read the full article, "Internationally, the Business of Education is Booming."

Click here to visit the program webpage for the Master of Science in Global and International Education

In Memory of Dr. Constantine Papadakis 1946-2009

In this article from Inside Higher Ed, Dr. Constantine Papadakis, is remembered as a University Builder and much more. Click here to read.

Dr. Ken Hartman Speaks About the Conficker Worm on NBC 10 - Philadelphia

Dr. Ken Hartman speaks about what the new computer worm, Conficker, exactly is and what it can do to your computer. He gives you ways to find out if your computer has the virus or if you don't, how you can prevent it.

Click here to view.