University of Louisville Online Programs | Student Resources & Feature Stories

UofL online student having lunch with child while working on computer at home

Bringing our campus to you: Wherever you are

By Ashley Jefferson | September 19, 2019

Online programs at the University of Louisville (UofL) deliver the legacy, experience and impact of a traditional UofL education to students around the world. With 40+ online bachelor’s, master’s and certificate programs across various areas of study, we extend the opportunity to earn a nationally-renowned education and join the Cardinal family to all students⁠—no matter where they are. (Fun fact: current students and graduates represent 50 U.S. territories and over 80 countries!)

The new campaign for UofL’s online programs sums up this sentiment in three simple words: “Wherever you are.”

But here’s the thing: this slogan isn’t meant to represent just your physical location. It’s your state of mind. It’s your stage in life. It’s your needs, your priorities, your education.

We empower the single parent. The working professional. The active duty service member. The veteran. The adult learner. Those without a bachelor’s degree and those simply looking to further their education. In other words, no matter where you are in life, or what you’re going through, or what responsibilities you’re juggling, UofL’s online programs are designed to meet you there.

Wherever you are, we’re there too.

THE COMMERCIAL SPOTS

UofL’s Wherever You Are commercial series centers around showcasing how we bring the tradition and legacy of our university to our online students, while also highlighting our diverse online student population and their unique needs. To emphasize the “wherever you are” concept, the second half of the :30 commercial features quick cuts that are designed to both imitate the fast-moving, busy pace of adult life and depict the ability to earn these degrees from wherever is most convenient for you.

The Talent & Locations

Notably, the commercial features significant talent acting as our student personas. First, we landed an actual UofL alumni, who takes on the role of the working parent, returning to further his education and set an example for his son. (Bonus: he plays this role with his actual son by his side!) Next, the woman playing the role of our military student has actual ties to the military herself. You can find her maroon deployment hoodie and her military-issued backpack and workout clothes all featured. We may have shot in areas local to Louisville, but these are locations that could really be in any city around the world⁠—coffee shops, office buildings, parks, home environments.

The Cardinal Family

Through the unexpected surprise of our cast’s connection to their characters, our commercial gained a deepened air of authenticity to help our message take root and grow. That message? You can be from any walk of life, anywhere in the world, and still be part of UofL’s Cardinal family.

Online program student showing son coursework smiles on their faces outside together

Working professional at home with wife working on school work

online program student working during break at work on computer and book

Military woman working at home folding flag

Military woman working at home on computer in military hoodie

online program student working with hardhat and blueprint

online program student reading book on break at work

online student working professional woman giving presentation

online student working professional woman getting ready for presentation

military woman working in coffee shop about online program

military woman working in coffee shop on laptop thinking about online program coursework

online student working professional woman after promotion at work

UofL Online Programs

The University of Louisville is a nationally-recognized research university (one of the oldest in America) located in Kentucky’s largest metropolitan area (pronounced Lou-uh-vulh, for the record). The online “campus” at UofL offers 40+ programs in various areas of study, designed for adult learners who want to further their education while juggling other priorities.

The best part? A degree earned online at UofL is still a UofL degree. The name of your degree will not indicate whether you completed your degree online, on campus or through a combination of both. Not only that, but our programs are designed and taught by real, world-class university faculty, meaning you will get the UofL experience without ever stepping foot on campus. It’s online education. But it won’t feel like it.

Earn a UofL education, wherever you are.

Summer ’19 Newsletter: Online Engineering Management Program

By Ashley Jefferson | July 24, 2019

Faculty Spotlight
Dr. Elizabeth Gentry
Director, Engineering Management Program

What classes do you teach?
I teach Operations Management, Decision and Risk Analysis, Financial
Management, Statistics II, and Effective Communication.

What do you like most about teaching in the engineering management program?
My favorite part about teaching in the EM program is getting to know my students. It is great to hear about how they used a concept that they learned in one of my classes and it is helping them at their work. Even though the program is completely online, the students talk to their classmates and me about their jobs and even their personal life. I had two students this summer who were planning their wedding and using some tools learned in class!

What is your favorite topic to teach?
I am very passionate about six sigma! It is a great process improvement methodology that uses a lot of data analysis. I cover it in my statisics II and operations management classes. I also teach a green belt and black belt class in six sigma for the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers.

Where would you like to travel to next?
I always am up for going to Disney World! I am going there in November to run a half marathon. A place that I have never been and would love to go to is Germany. It is a dream of mine to see the Neuschwanstein Castle. Also, a friend of mine plays basketball there.

What is your favorite TV show?
It is hard to choose my favorite tv show! I love watching college basketball and most sports. On Netflix, though, I love watching Friends and Grey’s Anatomy.

Interested in
joining the online EM program?

Fall Term 1 starts
August 19
Fall Term 2 starts
October 14
Spring Term 1 starts January
6

Click here to get started!

Student Spotlight
Meredith Cooksey ’18

What
was your favorite EM class?
My favorite EM class was Operations Management,
but I really enjoyed all of the classes. Operations Management gave an
introduction to many of the topics covered in the various other classes. Not
only was the class interesting, but the book that was read, “The
Goal”, allowed me to understand bottle necking of processes which I see
everyday in my role. I value using root causes with methods from the book to
really solve the problem at hand rather than band-aiding the many issues
stemming from the real issues.

How are you using EM in
your work?
I think one of the most valuable parts of the EM program was seeing how the
concepts I learned were immediately applicable to what I was working on in my
job. Plus, many of the discussion boards focused around how topics could be
applied to work. This not only allowed me to think, but also to hear from
peers how they applied the concepts. I am using the skills I learned in Project
Management the most in my role now because of a big project for optimization of
downtime I am current working on. I am implementing RACI (Roles and
Responsibilities), GANTT charts, and financial project planning to complete the
project successfully on time and under budget.

What made you choose the
UofL EM program?
The decision was easy in many ways for me. Not only did I already love the
university from years of cheering on the Cards and attending undergrad, but it
also had great flexibility and compatibility with my career goals. The
professors are all incredibly knowledgeable, accessible, and helpful. In
addition, the convenience of online learning allowed me to learn while working
full-time, but also at a pace that gave me time to fully understand the topics
and concepts.

What are you most looking
forward to this summer?
This summer, I am looking forward to some fun trips exploring cities with
friends and family which I have planned. Before the end of summer I’ll have
gone to Milwaukee, Denver, Toronto, and Cleveland. But the rest of the weekends
you’ll find me relaxing on Lake Cumberland, which is something I look forward
to year-round to get away from the stress of work and the city life.

Click here to join our LinkedIn Group!

Career Coaching
The JB Speed School of Engineering at the University of Louisville offers a one stop shop for all students in terms of their professional plans. Our staff can provide career coaching in terms of resume and cover letter preparation, practice interviews (in person or over the phone), LinkedIn profile reviews, graduate school applications, and salary negotiation.

Students that are taking online courses are also eligible for these services. In addition, we can provide information on relocating, new graduate salary statistics for UofL engineering students (mostly local offers), and job search strategies.

If you have any interest in utilizing these services, please reach out to Mary Andrade.

**Mary Andrade**
Engineering Career Services Associate Director
mary.andrade@louisville.edu
502-852-3196

Know
someone who’d excel at the online Engineering Management program?

We’re always looking for new engineers who we can help take their career to the
next level. Refer a friend by emailing elizabeth.gentry@louisville.edu and receive a small prize.

UofL removes barriers teachers face in the path to advancement

By admin | May 31, 2019

The education requirements for teachers in Kentucky may have changed, but that hasn’t altered the commitment teachers feel to furthering their education. In appreciation of their commitment, the University of Louisville (UofL) has reduced tuition by 25 percent for a select set of teaching programs.

Betty Hampton, Director of Graduate Services for the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) at UofL, talked with Insider Louisville about what that means for teachers in the context of reducing barriers they face along the path to advancement.

From her experience helping individual teachers understand their options every day, Hampton knows that teachers face various barriers to earning a master’s degree or certifications—including cost, time commitment and learning methods. According to Hampton, the main reason UofL makes it so easy for educators to go back to school is that the CEHD faculty and staff listen to feedback from alumni and program candidates, and ask, “What can we do to remove those barriers?”

Hampton adds that the state and school districts within the Commonwealth—including Jefferson County Public Schools—regularly provide incentives for teachers to continue their education, such as higher salaries. And now it is easier than ever for Kentucky educators to continue their education—thanks to the 100% online programs at UofL.

Hampton shares three main questions teachers ask, and explains how UofL makes strides to help graduate students overcome them.

Q. How can I afford to continue my education?

A. With UofL’s new tuition reduction program!

Starting summer 2019, teachers enrolled in specific graduate programs at UofL will get a reduced graduate tuition rate of 25 percent off standard graduate tuition, for programs including:

Master of Education in Teacher Leadership
The ten courses in this program (30 credit hours) are designed for certified teachers in Kentucky who want to develop leadership skills that can impact and influence students and peers within their classroom, school and district. Curriculum is structured to strengthen skills in assessment, evaluation, curriculum and instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners. Specialized courses are tailored to specific content areas and grade levels.
Master of Education in Special Education with Moderate and Severe Disabilities (MSD) ConcentrationBetty HamptonThe special education licensure program provides a strong foundation in general education content, special education theory and methods, and teaching experience. Extensive classroom experience allows students to develop the skills, competencies and confidence for successful teaching, including strategies for inclusion, behavior management, social skill instruction and modifying instruction in the general curriculum.
Teaching Endorsements (P-12)
In addition to master’s degrees, UofL offers programs designed to broaden the expertise and knowledge base of educators while adding valuable credentials through certifications to a Kentucky teaching license. Qualifying programs include:
- Classroom Reading Endorsement (P-12)
- English as a Second Language (ESL) Endorsement (P-12)
- Instructional Technology Endorsement (P-12)
View the full list of qualifying program

Q. How can I manage school in addition to teaching and taking care of my family?

A. Through fully online programs at UofL!

The degrees and programs listed above are delivered 100 percent online and offered each semester, including the summer. Endorsement programs can be completed anytime, anywhere, with no set times to meet. For the master’s degree, some courses are interactive webcam sessions that begin at 4:30 p.m. or later. Students can complete their work on their own time and have plenty of opportunities to engage with classmates and faculty. The flexibility to “be in the classroom” from anywhere helps teachers learn around their schedule and family commitments.

Q. Why is UofL the right choice for me?

A. The quality of education and the UofL faculty’s expertise and commitment to students’ success…

“Our faculty members are leaders in their field,” explains Hampton. “They are practicing teachers, experts in their field, and leaders in research. We have a wide scope of educator specialists, from STEM subjects to special education, which other universities can’t offer.”

In addition, faculty and staff in UofL’s College of Education and Human Development are committed to Kentucky teachers and the communities in which they teach. “A master’s degree, Rank I program or certification program not only supports the individual teacher, it supports the students they teach and their families,” notes Hampton.

And… It’s not just the faculty at UofL that are best-in-class. UofL’s Graduate Education online programs have been recognized for instruction quality and learning outcomes by US NEWS & WORLD REPORT in 2019. Also, UofL was ranked as one of the top online colleges in Kentucky for 2018 and 2019 by TheBestSchools.org.

“Teachers are lifelong learners,” Hampton notes. “A master’s degree may not be required, but teachers know the value of quality higher education for their students and for themselves. Graduate programs open up career options for teachers who aspire to enhance their classroom teaching skills, take on principal roles or become specialists in specific educational areas.”

We call upon all teachers to enhance their skills and help lead the way for better education in Kentucky. Our graduate programs are designed to help you excel as a teacher in your classroom and beyond, now and in the future—and help you meet your personal and professional career goals.

Find out more about the online education programs from UofL and start your application today.

This blog post was originally published on Insider Louisville.

Solid Connections are Essential in Franchising

By admin | April 2, 2019

By Kathleen Gosser, Ph.D.

Learning is a continuous process, and can come from many different avenues in franchising. Your franchisor will provide you with the information you need for your brand and formal education can provide the business acumen needed to run a business. But there are also other resources for learning and growth in the franchising industry.

Major Franchising Associations

In today’s online world, there are so many resources to guide you in your franchising adventure.

The International Franchising Association (IFA) produces a robust website, with so much information in general and directly from franchisees. Connecting with the IFA is a great source of education. Further, becoming a member gains you access to experts across the industry, who you can learn from as well.

Peer Support

In my experience, franchisees are always willing to help other franchisees. Some franchise organizations have associations that are specifically organized for franchisees to help one another.

Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), for example, has associations across the country. KFC’s founder, Colonel Harland Sanders, encouraged the franchisees to form their associations to help each other. These associations provide educational programming, mentoring and other forms of support.

Business School Community

Becoming a part of a university business school community also provides valuable growth opportunities. Often times, there is more learning among the students than even from the course materials or the professors. Lifelong connections can be made in this setting. Business school education focused on franchising—such as the Franchise Management Certificate program from the College of Business at the University of Louisville—can provide critical, practical information on running a franchise business.

Being an avid learner is a key to success as a franchisee. With technology driving so many advancements in our world, staying in touch with fellow franchisees and continuing your own learning will make a difference in your business.

For more information on the Franchise Management Certificate from the College of Business at the University of Louisville visit uofl.me/2WCGeMI.

Dr. Kathleen Gosser (PhD, University of Louisville) is an experienced leader in the franchise industry and a passionate educator. In her 30 year career in the franchise industry, she has enjoyed numerous roles, including leadership of customer satisfaction programs, operations measurement, employee recognition, training and team member engagement efforts. She also had direct P&L accountability as the Region Coach of 10 restaurants in Louisville, Kentucky.

This blog post was originally published on Fransocial.