A week ago I recommended Don’t Get Down, Get Up to Speed or basically, to use some of the time you have while looking for a job to enhance your employ-ability.
Since then there’s this: New Meaning for Night Class at 2-Year Colleges. In short, the American Association of Community Colleges Schools reports enrollment booms at community colleges in nearly all US states. I had no idea so many people took this blog so seriously!
In California enrollment is up 35%. Ohio’s university system is taking on its greatest increases in enrollments in the past five years—triple the growth of the recent past. Enrollment at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College has hit an all-time high, up 23.5% from 2008. Summer term was up 32%.
“Students are coming to Cincinnati State in record numbers,’’ says interim president Dr. John Henderson in an online press release. Cincinnati State enrollment jumps 23.5 percent.
Ginny Hizer of Raymond Walters College reports huge increases. This fall’s enrollment counts nearly 5000 students. And she expects RWC’s highest-ever winter session this January. As of now winter enrollment is up 10.6%, while the non-metriculating student population is up 14.6%. Hizer has noticed also that students are taking on more credit hours.
She explains that unemployed people with jobs are earning certifications to enhance their chances of finding a job. And people with jobs are doing the same as back up, should they lose their jobs, or as a way to win their next promotion.
Forced to find ways to deal with the numbers of people clamoring for classes, some educational institutions have rented extra space in order to accommodate bigger student populations. The Times story reports tents in parking lots, midnight classes, classes going till 2 a.m. and classes starting as early as 6 in the morning. RWC has added three mobile trailers to give students six classrooms.
Despite these creative solutions, enrollment waiting lists are growing longer. So if you’ve decided to add certified skills to your portfolio, you just might have to stand in line. Or study online. When you consider the second option, several advantages present themselves. You can study with schools from just about anywhere and work your online time into your schedule.
Since 1976 the University of Phoenix has pioneered online higher education. Today they offer programs in Information Technology. According to the Education Degree Source, the top online educators include Phoenix (at number one) along with the following:
American Intercontinental University lists a School of Marketing, School of Visual Communication, and School of Information Technology.
The School of Information Systems and Technology at Kaplan University offers a long list of Information Technology Certificates.
Raymond Walters College offers online courses in Administrative Information Technology, Business Management Technology: Sales/Marketing, Communication Design, Computer Support Technology, and Interactive Web Multimedia, to list just a few.
To enter an online program at RWC, you need to be enrolled, qualified, and admitted, just like going to college. But you don’t have to wait for fall quarter to begin your course work.
Is Online Education Right for You?
Ginny Hizer says that some students have apprehension about online learning. They wonder if they will have the discipline and motivation to do the work without the structure of a classroom. Some students need face-to-face or in-class reassurance and feedback.
If this fear of freedom is holding you back, you might want to consider easing yourself into online learning with hybrid classes, which at RWC may require a number of on-site classroom appearances and attendance at scheduled online events.
