I came across some good data on the age old question of how employers look at people with degrees obtained online. If you read back through the year and a half I have been posting here, you will see several posts that analyze some of the stigmas associated with distance education. This applies to both the employer and to the (potential) employee.
Hot off the press is a free white paper from Western Governors University that provides some great feedback and statistical data that show that some employers might actually be warming up to the idea.
The whole idea of ‘acceptance’ is something that will take time. Over a period of time and as more and more people earn online degrees, employers will come to realize that those who succeed at this thing we call distance learning are very dedicated people who are self-motivated and can accomplish big things with little guidance. People who get a degree online are usually people who like to continually learn new things (in the classroom and elsewhere). They also tend to be critical thinkers, which is a characteristic that employers are looking for and one that is very necessary in today’s workforce.
In this white paper titled "Online Degrees Make the Grade: Employer Acceptance Now Common," researcher George Lorenzo, publisher of Educational Pathways, reveals that online education now receives wide support among businesses.
Excerpt from Marketwatch: Online learning has become widely accepted. Online courses and degrees are widely available through both traditional and online universities. Both students and employers are less apprehensive; hence, the quality of online education is seldom an issue. "If you ask employers about their sense of the quality of online education -- is it of equal quality to traditional -- the response you typically get is a growing adherence to it being of equal quality," says Richard Garrett, a senior research analyst for Eduventures, an education research and consulting firm.
With almost six consecutive years dedicated to distance education, Scott has the experience to answer any questions you may have about the topic. Please feel free to contact Scott about anything having to do with online education. You can also check out his photo blog or his LinkedIn profile.
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About WheelCipher
Scott is a strategic consultant in the customer care industry and an avid amateur photographer.
You can see his work at http://gallery.scottdavis.info
He has experience in the high-technology industry in management, engineering, and support positions with Time Warner Cable, Dell Computer Corporation, UUNET Technologies, Wayport and others.
Scott started his degree program in 2003, and had no prior college credit before jumping into the distance learning environment. He graduated in October 2007 having attained an A.A.S. in Information Technology and a B.S. in Management from Kaplan University.
In 2009, he graduated with his MBA from Norwich University and is now a student at Gonzaga University.
Scott LOVES fan mail. You can e-mail him any questions about distance learning at sdavis@wheelcipher.net