At first glance, Jamie Gergen and Jennifer Kasse-Wanzer have little in common. Gergen hasn鈥檛 been to a college campus in a couple of decades. Kasse-Wanzer works at one every day.
What do they share? Both are pursuing bachelor鈥檚 degrees. And neither can attend college like a traditional student.
Kasse-Wanzer has two associate鈥檚 degrees, and she works full time to help support her family. Gergen entered the workforce before earning his undergraduate degree and has a medical condition that limits his mobility.
鈥淭here are a million individuals in Virginia that have some college credit but no undergraduate degree,鈥 said Michelle Marks, vice president for听at 亚洲AV.
Which is why Mason, a founding member of the Online Virginia Network and a partner with Wiley Education Services in offering graduate-level online courses and programs, is expanding its online offerings.
A return to college can happen for a variety of reasons. Students might need to re-skill or up-skill or might want to complete a degree that, for whatever reason, was unfinished.
Gergen, who worked in information technology for 20 years, including at AOL, PBS Kids and as a federal consultant, said he had reached a professional standstill.
Without a bachelor鈥檚 degree, he struggled to get interviews after losing his job in 2016. He chose Mason, he said, because of the university鈥檚 location, reputation and its mission to听听for all students.
Online classes were a bonus.
鈥淚 have a genetic heart condition that limits my ability to move around,鈥 said Gergen, an 听听major and senior. 鈥淸Online classes] allow me to earn my degree from the comfort of my home office where I have everything set up.鈥
Gergen said he also enjoys the 鈥渓earn-at-your-own-pace鈥 structure of online learning. The flexibility allows Gergen to attend class at any time and set his own schedule if he鈥檚 out of town or has an appointment.
That flexibility is also helpful for Kasse-Wanzer, a mother of two children who is an administrative assistant at Mason.
Her secrets听to success?听
Lots of coffee, wise time听management and online classes, she said.听
鈥淭aking online classes has really helped me push forward,鈥澨齮he听听major听and senior听said. 鈥淭he best thing about taking classes online is that I can do it on my own time; I can听take听my son to swimming lessons,听and,听while he鈥檚 taking the classes, I can听work on my听homework on my phone or on my tablet.鈥澨
Both听Gergen听and听Kasse-Wanzer听said they feel supported听even听without the traditional classroom.听
鈥淓very [online professor] I鈥檝e had听is听very responsive鈥攁lmost immediately,鈥澨鼼ergen听said.听听
Mason provides an extensive catalog听of听online听undergraduate and graduate classes听and plans to expand to 15 online graduate programs over the next few years听in partnership with Wiley.听听
With new technology hitting the scene,听student听experiences will continue to advance, Marks said.听
鈥淥nline educational tools are learning how to build in mentoring experiences, learning how to bring in virtual internships听[and] learning to build community in the online space,鈥澨齭he said.听鈥淲hat鈥檚 available now is helping us create an authentic, web-based experience for online learners.鈥澨
Gergen听takes in-person and online classes and is grateful for both opportunities.听
鈥淚 was very nervous when I went back to the classroom,鈥澨齢e听said,听because he didn鈥檛 fit the traditional college-student mold.听鈥淥ne听of the things online classes allowed听me to do听is still get the college experience of knowing there were other people in the same class as me, but also, I eased into going back to school.鈥澨
鈥淥nline classes open so many doors that someone with my condition wouldn鈥檛 have opened 10听or听15 years ago,鈥澨鼼ergen听added.听听
Online learning is also听a game听changer听for听Kasse-Wanzer,听who听previously worked at HBO Latin America and Telemundo听networks听as a听behind-the-scenes production听assistant, but believes a bachelor鈥檚 degree听will听open more doors for her in a highly competitive job market. She also wants to show her children that they can achieve their goals with patience and hard work.听
For听learners听like听Kasse-Wanzer听and听Gergen,听achieving听their career aspirations听requires听鈥渇lexibility, accessible pathways听and providing education on their time in a way that makes sense for them,鈥 Marks听said.听鈥淥nline education is the solution.鈥澨