The eLearners News Blog : eLearners News

Online nursing programs prove skeptics wrong!

AndriaL — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:54:00 GMT

Online Nurses Prove Skeptics Wrong

Traditionally, online nursing degrees weren't offered frequently due to the practical nature of the occupation. After all, how can you major in such a hands-on subject at a distance? Pratt Community College (PCC) of Kansas is showing that a) it is possible, and b) one can achieve equal or greater success than someone earning a nursing degree at a brick-and-mortar school.

Because the area surrounding the college is so rural, many students aren't close enough to a campus to attend college in the traditional sense. Enter online learning...

In 2006, PCC instituted an online nursing program and, since its inception, four classes have graduated with an average first-time pass rate of 85 percent, which is above state and national averages! And the numbers have only improved since — in November 2008, 94 percent of the students enrolled in the online nursing program passed the test on the first try.

If you're wondering how a nursing program can be done solely online, it can't. Students must go to campus for labs, and they have to complete clinical hours like all prospective nurses. But studying and learning theory at a distance is a huge help to those with jobs, families, or just busy schedules.

While online nursing degrees gain in popularity, some are still wary of the concept. Jim Stratford, Vice President of Instruction at PCC, has this to say to the skeptic — "The way to counter [them] is to demonstrate a high level of student learning outcomes." With pass rates like those at PCC, I'd say they're doing exactly that.

Read the article about PCC in the Pratt Tribune online.

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When Recession Hits, Enrollments Soar!

AndriaL — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:10:00 GMT

College enrollment soars as jobless seek new skills

Though Brian Campbell of Massachusetts calls the present economy an "equal opportunity unemployer," he acknowledges how difficult it is not to take it personally when you're laid off. Because he has savings and his wife's income to hold them steady, he's enrolled in online courses to get his MBA from Western New England College. He feels the MBA will ensure he's in a better position when the economy bounces back, and we at eLearners wholeheartedly agree!

Massachusetts is seeing an upswing across the board in registration for continuing education classes, and Kimberly Tobin, dean of graduate and continuing education at Westfield State College, credits the increase to the recession. At her school, continuing ed enrollments were up about 5 percent in the spring semester. At Western New England College, applications last fall for online graduate courses were up 50 percent, while those for online undergraduate courses were up 40 percent, compared to a year earlier. At University of Massachusetts, online enrollments were up about 28 percent!

"The days of people being able to take a weekend or a night during the week off to go to school are disappearing. So they're studying online when the kids go to bed or when they are on the road on business, sitting in a hotel room at night," says Eric Berkowitz, associate dean of the Isenberg School of Management at UMass in Amherst.

Read College enrollment soars as jobless seek new skills at http://www.masslive.com/metrowest/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-18/1236842200229920.xml&coll=1.

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New site section! Recession & Your Education

AndriaL — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:44:00 GMT

Hi all!

As we're making our way through this recession (especially when the nightly news seems to exist just to scare everyone), it's super important to be properly informed. That's why eLearners put together a comprehensive recession section, complete with articles, tips, and quizzes to make you totally recession savvy.

Here are just a few of the questions you'll be able to answer after visiting the eLearners.com Recession Section:

What does "recession" actually mean?
Are recessions normal? How often do they happen?
How "recession-proof" are you? What can you do to help?
Why does online education make sense during a recession?

Give the banner below a click and tell me what you thought!

-Andria

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eLearners welcomes Palm Beach Atlantic University!

AndriaL — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:54:00 GMT

Palm Beach Atlantic University is now an eLearners partner school! Palm Beach Atlantic is a Christian university located in West Palm Beach, FL that equips students to lead fulfilling lives through learning, leadership and service.

PBAU stresses small class sizes to ensure you get the personal attention from your professors you'd expect from an in-person class. And best of all, the school is really committed to helping students out when it comes to financial aid; they'll work with you to develop the best financial aid package that'll meet your needs.

Request info from Palm Beach Atlantic University now to get started with your online degree!

Degrees Available

	Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management
	Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management with a Minor in Early Childhood Education and Care

About accreditation: Palm Beach Atlantic University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

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Western Governors U on Time.com — Way to go!

AndriaL — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:23:00 GMT

Hi All!

Western Governors University was just featured in quite a lengthy writeup on Time.com praising its quality, growth, efficiency, and affordability. Here are few things you'll find in the article:

Brief history of the founding of WGU
Accreditation information
Who's hiring WGU graduates?
A bit on the faculty perspective
How WGU costs compare to other schools

The article can be read here. If you're already a WGU student, then pat yourself on the back. Time applauds your decision. If you're just starting to consider online schools or are, perhaps, looking to switch — click to read more about WGU on eLearners.com.

Way to go, WGU!

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