Tag: UofL online criminal justice degrees

Filling the Empty Frame: Virginia Braden and the “Perfect Fit” of Online Education

Filling the Empty Frame: Virginia Braden and the “Perfect Fit” of Online Education

Virginia Braden
Virginia Braden

Selecting the perfect degree program is an age-old rite of passage for students. Historically, 18-19-year-olds would go straight from high school through college before taking on careers and starting families. Students today often detour from that traditional path and blaze their own trails back to the classroom, sometimes later in life, and usually with diverse sets of needs, concerns, and expectations. Cutting edge online degree programs provide the perfect blend of fit and flexibility for the frenetic pace of today’s modern students. For University of Louisville Criminal Justice graduate and non-traditional student, Virginia Braden, online learning was not just simply the right fit for her busy lifestyle; it was the perfect fit.

Virginia Braden completed both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Justice Administration (now called Criminal Justice) at the University of Louisville, and credits the flexibility of online learning for allowing her to accomplish her long-held dream of collegiate success. Though local to the region, the divorced working mother of five children said that traveling to campus each day was, “simply not an option,” given the demands of her personal and professional life.

“The online degree program at UofL made it possible for me to capture a dream that otherwise would have remained forever out of reach,” Braden said. “Most important to me, is that it has communicated to my children the worth and value of a higher education – and that if you are willing to work for what you want, anything is possible.”

Though she’s gone on to complete a graduate degree and is a licensed private investigator and behavioral profiler, one memory still stands out from Braden’s time at UofL.

“The night I graduated with my bachelor’s degree all five of my children were present and as I went on to pursue my master’s degree online with UofL as well, they’ve been my biggest supporters,” she said. “Two of them are now college age and are themselves pursuing degrees.”

Braden said it was UofL’s reputation for educational excellence that first piqued her interest, but credited the quality of the instruction in the online Criminal Justice program for keeping her desire for continued education strong, while obtaining not only one, but two degrees via e-learning.

“The faculty at the University of Louisville are so completely dedicated to the success of their students,” she said. “They are remarkable in their personal attention to the students and though I had all online classes, I was able to develop and maintain relationships with them that have served me so well throughout the years – all without ever stepping foot in a brick and mortar classroom.”

“There is a real sense of community in the online classes and the professors are intentional in their commitment to forging and nurturing that sense of community,” she added.

Braden said that the strong sense of community was especially important as she and her children went through a traumatic divorce and spent time living in a hotel. During this time, Braden’s drive and determination to meet her dream and attain her degree pulled her through.

“Without question, the drive to complete my degree, the ability to continue on towards that goal via online classes in the midst of such a dark time provided me an anchor,” she said.

For Braden, success was not just an option, it was a requirement.

“I remember I had an empty frame hanging on my wall in my home office, a reminder of the goal I was after, and a promise to myself that I would one day have a degree to put in it,” she said. “When we became homeless for that period of time, I packed up the empty frame and brought it with me to the hotel and put it out, determined that though my life circumstances had changed, my goals and vision had not.”

Now Braden’s frame has been filled and although she encountered personal hardships during her journey as a student, she persevered, and ultimately found e-learning to be the best option for achieving her lifelong educational goals. Not only did Braden fill her original empty frame, she also filled a second one by earning her master’s degree online as well. Now her framed diplomas proudly serve as a reminder of the goals and dreams she achieved through online learning at the University of Louisville.

Visit our Criminal Justice online program page to learn more about the courses offered, and to find a program that is the perfect fit for you.

Students Chose: UofL’s online criminal justice program among the best

Students Chose: UofL’s online criminal justice program among the best

image_miniGraduatePrograms.com has named University of Louisville one of the top online criminal justice schools, in a new ranking based on student reviews. The 100% online Master in Science in Justice Administration/Criminal Justice ranked 14th nationally, based solely on ratings and reviews from current or recent graduate students posted on the Graduate Programs website.

Program rankings, compiled using data gathered between September 1, 2012 and September 30, 2014, encompass reviews posted by more than 70,000 students participating in over 1,600 graduate programs nationwide. Ratings are based on a 10-star system (with 1 being the worst and 10 being the best).

According to GraduatePrograms.com, the rankings cover a variety of student topics, ranging from academic competitiveness and financial aid to career support and networking. Rankings are determined by calculating the average score for each program based on the 15 specified categories. No program is ranked until a minimum threshold of graduate student surveys is complete.

To learn more about the program at UofL, including scholarship opportunities, visit the online Justice Administration/Criminal Justice website.

Dr. Gennaro F. Vito

Dr. Gennaro F. Vito

Tagged as one of the 25 Top Criminal Justice Professors in the U.S.

Dr. Gennaro F. Vito
Dr. Gennaro F. Vito

Dr. Gennaro F. Vito, professor in the Department of Justice Administration at the University of Louisville has been recently featured as one of the “25 Top Criminal Justice Professors” by ForensicColleges.com. The list is comprised of outstanding professors in the field of criminal justice and criminology, identified in the top 25 criminal justice and justice administration degrees, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report’s criminology rankings (2009).

This is not the first time Dr. Vito has been applauded for his work and contribution to the field of law enforcement and administration of justice. In 2012, he received the Bruce Smith Jr. Award from the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. The award recognizes a “person who has been actively involved in criminal justice research or other endeavor which has made substantial contributions to the emerging body of knowledge in criminal justice.” It is the highest research recognition awarded by the Academy.

The “Outstanding Mentor Award” from ACJS (2010), “UofL Distinguished University Scholar” (2008-2013), Dean’s and President’s Awards for “Outstanding Scholarship, Research, and Creative Activity” (2002); “Exceptional Performance Award” (1999); and the Southern Criminal Justice Association’s “Educator of the Year Award” (1991) are just a few of the other accolades that make Dr. Vito proud.

As a faculty member teaching online and on-campus courses, Dr. Vito brings a wealth of knowledge to the classroom and infuses each lesson with practical knowledge that students can readily apply to their own work place. His published work includes 11 textbooks, 17 book chapters, 95 refereed, professional journal articles, 9 book reviews, and 43 technical reports on criminal justice programs and policies.

Students describe Dr. Vito and his “on-the-ground” teaching style and personality as a cross between Lewis Black and Don Corleone – strict and fair, assertive and loyal, rigorous and reasonable. His teaching method includes in-depth examination of law enforcement leadership and management issues through analysis of relevant case studies, video clips or articles. Although he allows for an independent study format, he ensures that students adhere to the required schedule of assignments and examinations whether learning online or in the classroom.

Dr. Vito has a Ph.D. in Public Administration, earned from the Ohio State University where he also earned his master’s in sociology-criminology, and has been teaching in the J.A. program at UofL since its inception in 2001. He has also been teaching at the Southern Police Institute (SPI) in the Administrative Officer Course (AOC) program since 1995.

Speaking to the benefits of online learning for all students, undergraduate and graduate, who start by taking the AOC courses at the Southern Police Institute, Dr. Vito said: “Our students are police managers – Sergeant Rank and above – who want to pursue a career in leadership, advance their ranking or increase their earnings. Online Learning at UofL has made it possible for them to complete a Master of Science in Justice Administration degree fully online. Graduates of the AOC course can transfer in 12 credits from this graduate track and finish their degree online when they return home. There was no other way to do this before the online program came along. Undergraduate AOC students earn 15 transferable credits. They also can complete their undergraduate degree online.”

Dr. Vito strives to provide students with knowledge that improves their analytical and practical skills, challenges them to engage in critical thinking and take the classroom-gained information into the real world. He draws from his extensive experience, scholarly research and industry best practices, trends and concepts. His measure of applied learning is quite simple: “I do not ask my students to do anything that I have not done or am currently doing” says Dr. Vito.

There is little doubt that Dr. Vito has gone above and beyond in terms of leadership and professional contributions to his field. His published work in academic journals, his leadership and expertise, as well as his dedication to the world of criminal justice tag him as one of the top criminal justice professors in the country.

We hope that Dr. Vito will enjoy many more teaching years, awesome achievements and significant contributions to the research of the field, preparing current and future law enforcement leaders to change the world.

The Master of Science in Justice Administration is offered to professionals who have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher learning and want to pursue or advance their career in law enforcement, security, corrections, public safety and other areas or criminal justice. Contact us today and learn more about the master’s in criminal justice program at UofL Online.