admin, Author at UofL Online Programs

Redefining Community: Kent School Distance Learner Joins other UofL Volunteers for Service Project

By admin | May 18, 2015

For some, the idea of online distance learning conjures up images of solitary students, working on their computers in isolated locations, with little sense of community. At the University of Louisville, nothing could be further from the truth. While students do perform their class work online at flexible and convenient times, the expert faculty at UofL go to great lengths to create an online community and feeling of camaraderie amongst students, no matter their locations.

Furthermore, community service opportunities often arise in locations across the country, providing excellent chances for distance learning students to interact with other UofL students, both traditional and online. This was precisely the case for online social work student James Zimmer.

For Zimmer, a husband, father, military serviceman, and distance learning student, the online programs at UofL’s Kent School of Social Work provided convenient learning opportunities that he was unable to find elsewhere. The sense of community that Zimmer felt at UofL’s Kent School while earning his Masters’ degree in social work, helped lead him to choose to take part in the Belk Bowl Service Project, offered to students in conjunction with the 2014 UofL football team’s trip to play at the Belk Bowl in Charlotte, NC.

Zimmer read an email which was sent out to all UofL students about the Belk Bowl Service Project. He did not hesitate to take part in what would become his first opportunity to directly interact with members of the UofL community in person. Zimmer worked along with other student volunteers, both from UofL as well as the University of Georgia. Together, they worked to improve facilities at the Ronald McDonald House in Charlotte. Their much appreciated work served to enhance the total experience of the children and families being served by the Ronald McDonald House.

Zimmer reported that he greatly enjoyed the community service project, which culminated with him and his family attending the 2014 Belk Bowl, alongside other UofL students and fans.

Although a distance learner, the sense of camaraderie Zimmer felt with his fellow students was strong before, after, and during the Belk Bowl Service Project. With the dynamic platform that UofL offers to e-learners, the faculty’s commitment to research and innovation shines through. This allows for all students, even those located in distant locations, to experience the true feeling of the Cardinal campus community.

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

By admin | May 8, 2015

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.

A Monster Under the Bed – The Hidden Fees in Online Nursing Programs

By admin | April 29, 2015

Pursuing a college degree is one of the most important decisions in one’s life and can be one of the largest investments. When dealing with college affordability and the cost of earning a college education, hidden fees can truly be the feared monster under the bed. The extra, unplanned or out-of-pocket expenses can interfere with students’ ability to successfully complete their program of study and can also deter employers from providing integral tuition assistance.

As the healthcare industry continues to grow and to require properly credentialed workforce, more colleges are joining the trend of offering nursing programs and courses online. In an effort to gain a competitive edge, some schools create an artificial affordability perception by only disclosing the tuition rate per credit hour and leaving out the additional charges for use of technology, convenience or online learning platform access. Thus, it is becoming increasingly difficult for future students to navigate through schools’ websites, with their ambiguous or cryptic marketing jargon, in order to find the true cost of specific degree programs.

That is not the case at the University of Louisville (UofL), an accredited, nationally recognized, research university that has built a rich history of collegiate excellence. In the healthcare realm, UofL has always been at the forefront in educating medical professionals, not just simply to perform their jobs, but to excel at their careers and prepare to become leaders in their organizations, both now and into the future.

UofL’s School of Nursing offers highly competitive and quality programs, including the Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing delivered completely online, that are 100% free of hidden fees. At UofL, the published tuition rates represent the actual cost for the programs (plus books), clearly disclosed up front. There are no additional technology, convenience, lab, library, online learning or accessibility charges to be tacked on at a later date. This is a very important differentiator that sets UofL apart from other institutions.

The CCNE Accredited, RN-BSN online program, provides the opportunity for working nursing professionals who currently hold an associate degree in nursing to earn their bachelor’s degree at a reputable research university. This program requires students to pay for 31 core nursing credits, plus textbooks, with no other additional fees. In fact, this program offers valuable, cost-saving incentives, including 30 tuition-free credit hours for new students who create a professional portfolio, financial aid for online students, and tuition discounts for members of the military and the KY National Guard. Also, the lack of hidden fees means far less out-of-pocket expenses for students with tuition reimbursement programs through their employers, who often do not cover miscellaneous additional fees.

The cost for the online RN-BSN program at the University of Louisville is one of the most affordable in the state and in the nation. Also, the online program costs the same, regardless of whether a student lives in or out of state, thus providing equal access to excellent education for all students and not making tuition prohibitive for out-of-state students, as it is the practice at other schools.

While students enrolled in online nursing programs at other institutions may find themselves blindsided by hidden fees that were not immediately apparent, UofL’s online students need not worry about the monster under the bed (hidden fees) – they can rest easy in their choice of a quality and truly affordable online education, and focus on advancing their professional knowledge while simultaneously – and most importantly – utilizing their skills to help the patients in their care.

Visit our RN-BSN online program’s page to learn more about the degree, entrance requirements, benefits and… of course… cost!

RN-to-BSN Program’s Revised Curriculum Results in Cost Savings

By admin | March 25, 2015

Saving future nursing students nearly $5,000 is one benefit of the University of Louisville School of Nursing’s revamped RN-to-BSN online program that reflects the evolving nature of health care. Some courses have been restructured and others, such as population health and nursing leadership and health policy, are new to the program.

“In Kentucky, only 33 percent of the nursing workforce is baccalaureate-prepared. The Institute of Medicine has recommended that 80 percent of nurses receive a bachelor’s degree by the year 2020,”said Marcia J. Hern, Ed.D., CNS, RN, dean, UofL School of Nursing. “It is well documented that baccalaureate–prepared nurses have decreased patient deaths and better outcomes in caring for patients with complex diseases.”

The online RN-to-BSN program provides a flexible, cost-effective opportunity for nurses with an associate’s degree or a nursing diploma to earn a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing at their own pace. Students can finish the program in as few as 16 months, although they may take more time if needed.

Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the RN-to-BSN program requires 31 core credits plus 30 portfolio credits. The portfolio consists of a resume, goal statement, professional development documentation, and other materials to support practice as a professional nurse. These 30 tuition-free credit hours count toward graduation requirements – a value of more than $14,000 in tuition costs.

“The affordability and convenience of the online education platform combined with the strong support of award-winning faculty and access to all university support services makes the online RN-to-BSN program ideal for nurses seeking a baccalaureate degree,” Hern said.

There’s still time to apply for this summer! In addition, July 1 is the application deadline for fall classes, along with December 1 for spring classes.

Learn more about UofL’s 100% online RN-to-BSN program here.

Author: admin