Conner Mackowiak, Author at UofL Online Programs

Student Spotlight: Digital Leadership/IT Student Answers

By Conner Mackowiak | March 7, 2023 | Comments 0 Comment

Meet Stephanie Allen! Stephanie is a BS in Organizational Leadership and Learning (OLL) graduate with a track focus in Digital Leadership/IT. She currently works full-time and continues to plot her own course in life through her efforts with her BS in OLL degree. Let’s hear directly from her!

“When most people hear about the digital leadership track, they think of Information Technology (IT), Cloud, or Cyber Security. While those are great digital tracks, my focus is on digital management, marketing, and sales. There are so many careers out there that are digital marketing at their core and the Digital Leadership track is fantastic for this! For those thinking about returning, I want to share that my first semester has been invigorating. As an adult with a busy life and away from college for a few years, I was extremely nervous. But the nerves dissipated after discovering how collaborative the OLL faculty and professors are. Plus, the courses are designed intentionally and are multifunctional. I appreciate that I can take tasks or projects from work and adapt/adjust them to align with my assignments. And, I also really enjoy the 8-week term option.”

The BS OLL degree is designed to equip you with the knowledge required for career advancement or a possible career change in today’s competitive and evolving workforce. We offer 9 specialized tracks to fit your career goals, allowing you to become an even more valuable member of any company or organization. BS OLL students can also graduate faster by earning college credit for work experience through the program’s Prior Learning Assessment component and could earn up to 48 credit hours tuition free – up to $24,672 in savings.

The Digital Leadership/IT track is for business professionals who seek to develop their leadership skills as well as their knowledge in IT. The curriculum focuses on organizational and employee effectiveness, work morale, and more, while providing broad-based technology knowledge.

UofL has partnered with several technology industry vendors including IBM, Google, Microsoft, and Adobe to provide the opportunity to earn recognized technology micro-credentials in certain courses, at no additional cost. Faculty and staff work with individual students to determine which micro-credentials are the best fit for their experience and career path.

If you’d like to learn more about tracks and stories like Stephanie’s, click here and get started!

Student Spotlight: Leadership, Training, & Organizational Development Student Answers

By Conner Mackowiak | February 1, 2023 | Comments 0 Comment

Chrysty Fortner, PMP, BCxP, and BSOLL – LTOD graduate is a UofL Online grad who completed a BS in Organizational Leadership & Learning, with a focus in Leadership, Training, & Organizational Development. She is currently employed at ECHO Power Engineering as a Director of Programs and Special Projects. Today, we’ll be reviewing her answers to some of our student spotlight questions to better understand her program and how it will prepare her for future career success! As Chrysty notes, “At 55 I started this program because I wanted to set my sights on career advancement between 55 and retirement, this program is how I chose to address it. The experience has been one of the most empowering journeys in all of my working years. I am literally ready for anything life has to offer!”

Let’s dive into her responses to our questions!

Q: Why did you select the OLL program?

CF: I researched relentlessly. It’s how I am made. I was searching for two specific outcomes: finding a program that would evaluate credit hours for past work experiences and ensuring the program could utilize my old (old) school credits to shorten the bridge to graduation.

Q: What are you enjoying most about the program?

CF: The courses are highly relevant to today’s professional challenges. Addressing the social dynamics as well as the advances in processes and technology have made what I’m learning at this stage of my career invaluable. I am becoming a more confident critical thinker, while incorporating new and old ideas into my work.

Q: Do you feel the program is providing the skills you need to be successful in your career?

CF: Most definitely, and certainly skills I could have been using the past thirty years to navigate tough people, tough situations, and tough work environments. I can say this with certainty, it’s never too late to validate the tools you already have and learn new skills altogether.

Q: Would you recommend the program? Why?

CF: I highly recommend the program. After reviewing my past college credits with my advisor, it was discovered that I could earn thirty-six credit hours from past experience and needed only twelve program-specific courses to graduate. The BSOLL program was designed to help learners like me attain those credit hours and is flexible enough to allow for a course load to fit my objectives and schedule. Additionally, the obvious mission for both faculty and advisors is to, “…help them cross the finish line!”

Q: What is your new employer’s name and what is your new title?

CF: Director of Programs and Special Projects at ECHO Power Engineering.

Q: Any additional comments you would like to share?

CF: At 55 I started this program because I wanted to set my sights on career advancement between 55 and retirement, this program is how I chose to address it. The experience has been one of the most empowering journeys in all of my working years. I am literally ready for anything life has to offer!

Curious about the Leadership, Training, & Organizational Leadership track? Click here and learn more!

Student Spotlight: Healthcare Leadership Student Answers 5 of Our Questions

By Conner Mackowiak | November 3, 2022 | Comments 0 Comment

Jenna Braden is a UofL Online student pursuing a BS in Organizational Leadership & Learning, with a track focus in Healthcare Leadership. She is also currently employed at Humana as a Manager for HPS Clinical Formulary Administration. Today, we’ll be reviewing her answers to some of our student spotlight questions to better understand her program and how it will prepare her for future career success! As Jenna notes, “This program was designed to transform the learning and college experience, making a degree possible for anyone, at any stage of life.”

Let’s dive into her responses to our questions!

Why did you select the HCL program? I am currently in a Healthcare Leadership role and was looking for a degree program that would directly tie back to my career aspirations. While my college background was in Biology/Chemistry, I didn’t feel that continuing down that degree path would be as meaningful to my future success. The HCL program focus was exactly what I was looking for in a degree, so I knew right away it was the right program for me.
What are you enjoying most about the program? The professors. The support and encouragement from the staff are outstanding. While I also love learning from the courses, I am most driven by how obvious it is that my professors also care about my success. They are great at giving direct, meaningful feedback and are thoughtful and encouraging in their responses. While I am motivated to succeed for my own career and personal growth, the support and motivation from the HCL staff makes it even easier to push myself to get there.
Do you feel the program is providing the skills you need to be successful in your career? Definitely. The content covered in the program is specifically designed to help you develop skills rather than just learn information. The coursework helps you understand how to apply those skills in real ways, and the professors are great at guiding you through the content and application.
Would you recommend the program? Why? I would absolutely recommend the program, and I actually have recommended it to many of my colleagues and friends. The flexibility and applicability in the design of the program make it a great option for anyone looking for a career in healthcare leadership. It is tailored to individuals already in the workforce which is a unique quality of this program. It gives you the freedom to balance your life, job, and schoolwork in a way that works best for your lifestyle. In addition to the schedule flexibility, it is made up of course content that can and will be applied in a healthcare leadership role, another quality of the program that is not always as apparent in other programs.
Any additional comments you would like to share! For anyone out there in the workforce with no degree but wanting more from their career and for themselves, take the leap. I put it off for years, overwhelmed by the thought of being in school while raising a family and working full-time. I wish I had done it sooner. There is no better time than now! Don’t be scared or intimidated. This program was designed to transform the learning and college experience, making a degree possible for anyone, at any stage of life.

Curious about the Healthcare Leadership track? Click here and learn more!

Exciting News: Master’s in Health Professions Education Now Taught Online at UofL!

By Conner Mackowiak | June 23, 2022 | Comments 0 Comment

The University of Louisville is proud to continue our commitment to educating the healthcare leaders of tomorrow with one of our newest online programs, the Master’s in Health Professions Education!

A growing field.

UofL recognizes that the healthcare industry is booming, with expected growth of 2.6 million jobs from 2020 to 2030 (bls.gov). The need for health professions educators is greater than ever and we remain committed to ensuring our graduates are as prepared to succeed in any health organization.

Why try for a Master’s in Health Professions Education?

This degree will allow you to directly impact future healthcare professionals, patients, and organizations. Completing this program will also open you up to greater career earning potential; many graduates become postsecondary health specialties instructors, a profession with an average annual salary of $124,890 (bls.gov).

Who is this program made for?

This program is designed for healthcare professionals who plan to teach in their respective discipline—medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, or other health fields—and would like to become effective educators in a clinical or classroom setting.

Let’s get started.

We want you to continue your career as a Louisville Cardinal! Click here and start your application today! We have multiple start dates available through the rest of 2022, including August, September, and even into December.

Get Started!

Note: Admissions are on a rolling basis. The preferred deadlines help you complete the application process on time, be notified of acceptance, and enroll before the term begins. Although admissions are granted for a specific term up to the day classes start, we recommend you submit your complete application well in advance of the preferred deadline, as obtaining transcripts and other materials may take more time.

Author: Conner Mackowiak