TakeEducationAnywhere.com

Taking AJU...ANYWHERE

Andrew Jackson University — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:49:21 GMT

It’s not just our motto, it’s our mantra...We do Take Education Anywhere.

Last week, Tammy and I went to Bon Secour Bay (on Alabama's Gulf of Mexico coast) for a long-planned vacation.

We had rented a condo for the week and were really looking forward to the time away. However, with the popularity of the just-hatched Sponsored Tuition program, taking a week off from work turned out to be “not in the cards."

Our son Mike turned 12 last week; he's about to start middle school and had been looking forward to his birthday trip for most of the summer. So instead of canceling our vacation, we did what AJU students do: we took our education with us.

Armed with two laptops, two air cards and a briefcase full of paperwork, Tammy and I set up at a kitchen table overlooking a beautiful inlet. As dolphins frolicked beneath us - and while our son slept in - we would jump on the internet about 7:30am, upload our email and “crank away.”

We'd knock off about noon for lunch, then go to to the movies or enjoy some shopping. Mike and I played in the pool - I felt like 42-going-on-12, dunking my preteen son. Late in the afternoon, back to the laptops to check out messages and process enrollments. Evenings, we'd take another swim before enjoying dinner and a nice bottle of wine, sitting on the deck watching the incredible sunset over the bay.

By the end of the week, we began to think that maybe we should just buy the condo and establish an AJU extension campus. Next time, I'm thinking of renting a boat to see if we can work while actually on the bay!

Happy studying,

Don Kassner

Now you can find AJU on Twitter!

Andrew Jackson University — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 07:14:15 GMT

At Andrew Jackson University, we are committed to staying in contact with our university community. The blog you're reading now is just a step along the way of our keeping a dialogue open with our students, faculty, and those interested in our institution.

We now have a new place you can check us out online:

Follow us on twitter.com! Get the latest information from AJU - even before it hits this blog - by clicking HERE to visit...

THE AJU WAY

Andrew Jackson University — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 07:07:06 GMT

Andrew Jackson University was established in 1994 and gained accreditation in 1998; this is a fairly impressive feat. To go from establishment to accreditation in the span of four years means the founders of the University had done an excellent job of putting together a good school with strong programs.

The founding management team also took the University through its first successful reaccreditation in 2002, once again proving the school was solid.

In 2004, the founders came to the conclusion they did not have the time or the resources to take the University to the next level. At the time, AJU was a 100% correspondence college and was not well-marketed, nor savvy in the technology of the growing online learning environment. The founders feared the market was passing them by and they didn’t have the answers.

On June 10, 2005, Joe Schmoke (AJU'S CEO) and I came on board, along with a group of investors who brought in much needed capital. Joe and I are seasoned business veterans who know how to market, operate and build businesses.

Since June 10, 2005, we have moved forward with a strategy that is, I believe, unique to education. We are not interested in using the same online education playbook almost everyone else is using – you know, the one calling for extensive internet marketing and expensive lead generation. Our strategy since 2005 has been to develop and foster strategic partnerships which allow us to reach potential students at a very low to zero cost.

Our first partnership was with Brian Tracy International, an entrepreneurship and training organization with over 400,000 email list partners. The second partnership was with Jeff Rubenstein and his company Advanced Public Safety. Both of those companies became early education “sponsors" and we launched the Brian Tracy and APS scholarship programs.

On the technology side, we have had a coherent and solid strategy since we took over in 2005. With a background in software and web development, we've spent a significant amount of time developing our own software and LMS tools to enable us to be 100% online and 100% paperless in our operations. Simply put, our technology strategy puts us ahead of the market. So far ahead, our 2007 accreditation site-visit team struggled with our paperless record-keeping concept because they had never seen such used before.

As a business, we have not stopped there – we have continued in the "forward-thinking" mode.

In 2007, we changed our business “mantra” and created the Take Education Anywhere program. The idea here is online education is yesterday – it is static, using technology to do the same thing the same way. We are interested in moving beyond that. Much of the Take Education Anywhere program has been developed in-house by our Technology Coordinator, Jarrod Morgan. Jarrod is a veteran of the social network community, having run his own company (Slamwire) and a real estate social networking company (realtorclix). Since late 2006, Jarrod and I have been planning the next steps to Take Education Anywhere through the use of handhelds, social networking, cell phones, webcams, and the other tools that technology offers us today.

So – is there a catch? No. This is simply the “AJU Way”. We provide high quality and affordable education! And...not charging tuition was the next logical step in our evolution.

So jump on board and let the "AJU Way" help you Take Education Anywhere...

Happy studying,

Don Kassner

The hidden costs of college

Andrew Jackson University — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 09:07:12 GMT

Earlier this month we launched our new sponsored tuition program and it's generating a lot of buzz.

The biggest buzz we get is the question: “How can you do that?” Well, it’s a really simple answer.

We can offer a high-quality, low-cost education because we have identified and eliminated most of the hidden costs of running a University.

If you've watched my video presentation http://www.viddler.com/explore/AndrewJacksonU/videos/60/ , you've heard my indictment of the cost of marketing; it's one of the largest costs in the business of higher education. Universities are tripping over each other to generate leads on the internet. This competition drives the cost of lead generation through the roof, to the point where it costs a typical institution around $6,000 in upfront costs to attract each student who will end up graduating.

Our sponsored tuition program drives our cost of acquisition to less than $100 per student; that's less than $300 for a student who will ultimately graduate from our program. This savings is passed on to you.

Another huge cost to universities is the administration of federal student aid. There are at least 32 specific and lengthy regulations to which institutions must adhere in order to participate in federal 'Title IV' aid programs, including elaborate costly tracking and record-keeping requirements. And even if we did offer Title IV - as a DETC-accredited school, AJU would be allowed to generate no more than 50% of total revenue through Title IV funding. (Non-DETC schools can generate 90% of their revenue through Title IV.) In order to maintain a 50/50 ratio, we would have to spend even more on marketing to keep our student body 'balanced,' considering the demand for aid. By opting out of 'Title IV' funding (with the exception of helping you defer student loans you may already have incurred), AJU avoids infrastructure to administer the programs and saves thousands of dollars per student.

By keeping your educational cost low now, you can avoid the 'hangover' of a decade of student loan payback after you graduate.

A third area of cost is infrastructure. AJU supports no athletic programs or other expensive frills; we don't even maintain a campus, with the high costs of building maintenance/utilities/insurance/security...well, I could go on. In addition, AJU has based our technology infrastructure on open-source technology (myClassroom, configured in Moodle) so we avoid those massive annual technology licensing fees.

All of these cost savings are built into our pricing model – and the winner is the student.

We only spend money on the things that add value to education: The curriculum, the faculty, and the support staff who are here to serve the students.

We do it differently – we do it better – we do it for less. We will be the best at the lowest! Take Education Anywhere...because you can afford to go!

Happy Studying,

Don Kassner

AJU's New Commercial

Andrew Jackson University — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:53:22 GMT

Take a look at our newest commercial, starring AJU's very own Tammy Kassner!

Taking Education ANYWHERE....

Andrew Jackson University — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 07:46:18 GMT

If you're on the go and would like to pack in a bit of coursework on the fly, here's a website to help you locate wifi hotspots...not just in your hometown, but in 135 countries worldwide: www.jiwire.com

In about ten seconds, I was able to locate seventeen locations near AJU headquarters here in sunny Birmingham, Alabama...

Hope you're having a great summer, and happy travelling!

~ Anna ~

17 Wi-Fi Locations near Center of Postal Code 35244

Sponsors with service in this area

Location Info	Access Options
McDonald's 11899 1195 Greenmor Drive Bessemer 35022 Proximity: 3.2 miles (5.1 km) Map Directions	iPass, Boingo, and 1 more 802.11b Wi-Fi, 802.11g Wi-Fi Connection Options
Starbucks Hwy 150 & I-459 Fly 3032 John Hawkins Pkwy Hoover 35244 Proximity: 4.1 miles (6.5 km) Map Directions	iPass and 2 more 802.11b Wi-Fi Connection Options
Big Mountain Coffee Company 4085 Helena Road Helena 35080 Proximity: 3.1 miles (5 km) Map Directions

Location Info

Access Options

McDonald's 11899

1195 Greenmor Drive
Bessemer 35022
Proximity: 3.2 miles (5.1 km)

Map Directions

iPass, Boingo, and 1 more

802.11b Wi-Fi, 802.11g Wi-Fi

Connection Options

Starbucks Hwy 150 & I-459 Fly

3032 John Hawkins Pkwy
Hoover 35244
Proximity: 4.1 miles (6.5 km)

Map Directions

iPass and 2 more

802.11b Wi-Fi

Connection Options

Big Mountain Coffee Company

4085 Helena Road
Helena 35080
Proximity: 3.1 miles (5 km)

Map Directions

The Cost of Textbooks

Andrew Jackson University — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 07:26:44 GMT

I was reading the paper this weekend and noticed an article about custom textbooks in The Wall Street Journal (http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB121565135185141235.html) that I wanted to share with you.

It seems as if many colleges and universities are working with publishers and distributors to create "custom" textbooks. While the concept sounds pretty good - tailoring the book to the course instead of the course to the book - the article claims that the impetus behind the move is mostly profit-related.

By customizing textbooks to fit specific courses, publishers cut out choices that college students have. Custom textbooks eliminate the possibility for students to look to the used textbook market to buy books. In economic terms, this only strengthens the monopoly that publishers have in the college textbook marketplace (and thus the high price of textbooks).

To date, Andrew Jackson has been approached various times about the implementation of custom textbooks. We have given it serious consideration because of the benefit of creating a better learning experience for the student; however, so far we have rejected the concept because it does not fit our current direction.

Our goal is to be the best provider of higher education at the lowest possible price. Everything we do must meet those two requirements: Best & Lowest.

With regard to textbooks, we have decided to take another path - working with the publishers to implement e-book options in our coursework. The e-book is a great concept, maintaining the level of quality existing in our current textbook choices while reducing the cost to the student.

We want to give AJU students more options instead of fewer options.

As an AJU student, you will have the choice between buying an e-book (if available from publisher), a hard-copy textbook, or even - yes - a used textbook if you wish.

We've also noticed a new trend toward creating free online textbooks. Although we have concerns about the provision of quality in the initial stages of these "free" options, we plan on monitoring the developments of this particular market and will move in that direction if we can meet our stated goals: Best & Lowest.

Happy Studying,

Don Kassner

Lowering the cost of attending college

Andrew Jackson University — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:51:54 GMT

Starting this week, Andrew Jackson University is testing a new method of financing a college education. We will be utilizing the private market with 21st century marketing techniques to completely eliminate out-of-pocket tuition for our students.

To take advantage of this new and unique opportunity, students need only to apply to Andrew Jackson University through one of our marketing partner sites. Applying through a partner site makes the applicant eligible for a 100% tuition sponsorship for their entire program at AJU. Once enrolled, the student will only need to pay a per-semester student fee, a per-course proctoring fee, and for textbooks. The net effect of this program is that a student can reduce out of pocket expenses by 50% or more while studying at AJU.

To date, AJU has entered into two sponsor partnerships. The first is with an up-and-coming Social Learning Network called PupilCity (www.pupilcity.com); the second is with a local Alabama magazine, Birmingham Parent.

'Take Education Anywhere' has another meaning. At AJU, we make education accessible and affordable - Anywhere!

For more information, contact admissions at 800-429-9300, opt 1.

- Don Kassner, AJU President

Got change?

Andrew Jackson University — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:29:40 GMT

When considering your educational options, you have two choices:

Do you have enough change (nickels and dimes)?

Or: do you need a change?

For years, higher education institutions have been increasing not only their tuition rates - student fees are becoming more prevalent and more costly for the average student. According to College Board (quoted recently in the New York Times), fees have been rising faster than tuition rates in over half the nation’s four-year public colleges. In addition, fees are rising at an average rate of 8 percent to 11 percent per institution – much more steeply than the national rate of inflation.

At the University of Oregon, some of these fees are attributed to the following (per student):

   - Energy surcharge, $51
   - Campus Health Center, $371.25 (maintenance only, regardless of any actual health center visits)
   - Incidental Fee, $624 (miscellaneous)

While tuition rates at the University of Oregon are approximately $3,984 per semester, university fees such as these (not even including the fees for specific courses/degree programs) add up to an additional $1,542 per student – adding almost an additional 40 percent to the university’s tuition rate. This ratio of tuition to fees may seem steep, but it’s actually not the most drastic difference between fees and tuition for four-year institutions. At the University of Massachusetts Amherst, various fees add up to around $4,100 per semester – nearly five times the tuition rate of about $857 per semester.

Why is this important? Because the schools mentioned above are not exceptions – they are now the standards in the educational world. State schools, public institutions, private colleges, various universities are all forcing students to pay exorbitant fees in addition to rising tuition costs. Most of us are aware of the price of tuition when deciding on a school. But these “hidden” fees aren’t charged until after one has enrolled at a typical university and has begun courses. By attending school online, you will never be forced to pay for a cafeteria plan, a student recreation fee, a health center fee – or my personal favorite, a “Parking Too Far Into The Parking Space” fee (which actually cost me $50 for the fee plus one night a week for three months to defend my case in student court).

So I ask you – Got change? Or are you ready for a change? You can either shell out your nickels and dimes for all the fees associated with a brick and mortar campus, or you can find the change you’re looking for at Andrew Jackson University (AJU).

~ Ashley

Article referenced above can be found at: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/04/education/04fees.html

Fourth of July Tribute

Andrew Jackson University — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:25:06 GMT

Since I’m a part of the Military Education Initiative here at AJU - and since the 4th is right around the corner - I want to take a moment to thank all of the service members for keeping us a safe and free country and also to thank their families for supporting servicepeople in their efforts to keep us living in the home of the brave.

I googled “fourth of July” on the internet and found many websites which describe what this great day means; such statements as “we claimed our independence from Britain and Democracy was born,” and “It's a day of picnics and patriotic parades, a night of concerts and fireworks, and a reason to fly the American flag.”

...But it was hard to find one that said anything about the military or thanking the military for keeping us free another year...

The 4th of July seems to have had change in meaning, kind of like Christmas. My parents used to tell me not to focus on the presents received, but on the religious aspect of the holiday; in contrast, parents now stand outside of stores at 3am to get the latest gaming system for their kids (who by March will not even play with the gift). Similarly, July 4th - our soldiers are the reasons we can wave the American flag any day of the year without question and shoot those fireworks, admiring the color and size of them unfolding across the sky.

So why are we not saluting those who actually make all of the above possible?

On behalf of the staff here at AJU, we would like to say thank you to all those who currently serve or have served (and to their families): Have a great Fourth of July holiday because you are what make it possible to celebrate our country’s independence for another year.

~ Andrea

And on the lighter side...A quick shout out to Amy, Taylor, Scott, and Haley on the North Park team in the Trussville softball league who so graciously stayed after their own slow pitch softball game to play for our AJU team at 7:30 last Tuesday night. Y'all were a great asset toward our team’s victory and we appreciate your helping us out when we were in need!

That is a LOT of Pizza

Andrew Jackson University — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:36:26 GMT

If your tuition were compared to a weekly pizza delivery, that would sound great – right?

Well, what happens when you’re on a Ramen noodle budget, just like the rest of us adult students with mortgages and a declining economy?

I’m referring to a comment made last week (http://www.al.com/birminghamnews/stories/index.ssf?/base/news/1214036172220521.xml&coll=2) by the University of Alabama at Huntsville’s President, David Williams. When questioned about the recent increase in tuition for all three University of Alabama schools (Tuscaloosa, Birmingham and Huntsville), Williams compared the increase per semester to the equivalent of ordering an extra pizza a week.

This kind of comment has to make you think: “Who orders in pizza once a week? And if every family does so, who orders an EXTRA pizza every week?” Hey, that’s the equivalent of the monthly water bill in my house.

Don’t get me wrong; I love our state schools. I attended one. And I’m still supporting that school – by paying my ten years of student loans. But things are so different and have changed in just a matter of a couple of years. In order to pay bills, one must have a job. In order to have a job, one must have at least some college. In order to have a “good-paying job,” one must have at least a degree or multiple degrees. But here’s the catch: degrees cost money. The old saying, “To make money, you have to spend money,” has never been any truer.

While the cost for everything is skyrocketing, what are some simple ways to enhance your bank accounts while still maintaining your usual quality of living? One way is to consider attending an online university like Andrew Jackson University. Here's three reasons:

1. It’s ONLINE. Your gas consumption to attend school is zero; no wear-and-tear on your car and no parking fees.
2. Your tuition at AJU will NEVER increase. Once you enroll at the current rate, your tuition will be locked in. Are there any other schools who can promise that?
3. Cost of attendance for four undergraduate courses (one semester) at AJU is only $1,498.50; if you attend one of the University of Alabama campuses, a similar four-course semester will cost between $4,664.00 and $6,400.00.

That’s a lot of pizza.

Ashley Jasman

Here's some reasons why a proctor via webcam is more reliable than a regular proctor...

Andrew Jackson University — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:07:28 GMT

Recently we have had students reporting experiencing various 'Issues' with their proctors.

To provide relief from these issues, we created the option to take your exam with online proctoring via webcam, with an AJU staff member doing the honors.

This eliminates reports such as “My proctor says s/he didn’t receive the code,” “My proctor can't get the exam code to work,” "My proctor can't turn the popup blocker off," and (my own personal favorite), “My proctor had to cancel.”

Taking your exams online via webcam proctor assures you that your proctor will be present and if there’s an issue with exam codes or the exam itself, your 'live' AJU staff member is right there to assist you.

Another benefit of taking your exams with a proctor via webcam is that you don't have to shell out from your life savings to buy gas to drive to your proctor's location. Simply turn on your computer from the privacy of your own home or office and take exams there. You can bring a snack/cold drink - and smoking won't annoy your webcam one bit!

It's super-easy to get started. To learn more about how to sign up for online proctoring, email me at studentservices@aju.edu and I will be more than happy to answer your questions and email you the proctor approval form.

~ Andrea Pierson

Writer's Reference Guide

Andrew Jackson University — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:15:36 GMT

I always knew to get comfortable when my dad started a story “When I was in school…”

Now that I’m out of school, I have my own stories to bore people with. Although I won’t do that now, I will just mention that the most useful textbook I had in college was one I bought my freshman year; I still keep it at my desk today. A writer’s reference book.

Anytime I can’t remember where to place a comma, or how to use the possessive apostrophe, I pull out my writer’s reference and - in just a few page turns - I’m back on track. Sure, MS Word has spelling and grammar check, but it doesn’t catch everything so don’t depend on it.

I strongly recommend you purchase a writer’s reference guide - the one textbook that comes in handy in all your classes.

Amanda Findlay

Amanda’s Pick:

Prentice-Hall Reference Guide for Professional Writing by Muriel Hall
ISBN-10: 0131789155 ISBN-13: 978-0131789159

Check it out at: http://wps.prenhall.com/hss_harris_phrefguide_1/

Online Degrees - Take Education Anywhere

Andrew Jackson University — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:32:19 GMT

As you read this, look around - you are sitting in the classroom of the 21st century.

Now get up and look out the window - you're still in the classroom.

On your ride home, look around - yep, still in the classroom.

Today's classroom is all around us. We live in a time of great change and incredible technology. We've gone past information and now deal in experience. We have instant access to information and we learn every day as we experience its use.

They - whoever the all-powerful "They" were - used to say that 'Knowledge is Power.' Today, knowledge is merely a tool toward power - experience is fast becoming the new power. Networking, relationships, collaboration (the "wiki" world) and innovation: these are the power of today.

So come join us, experience education and take it with you. At AJU, you can "Take Education Anywhere" and experience the world as you grow and learn.

Don Kassner

6 ways AJU makes it possible for those in the Military to go back to school!

Andrew Jackson University — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:31:16 GMT

Many people think that once they join the work force it will be really hard to get back to school, especially if they've joined the military.

AJU has come up with 6 important things to make it easier (and less stressful) to help service members get back into the education world.

• Credit for military training through AARTS or SMARTS transcripts.
• Self-paced courses that are 100% online and available 24/7.
• The ability to take a military leave of absence in case duty calls and not be penalized for serving active duty roles.
• Additional services to support service members through their education at AJU - including additional training on how to succeed as a distance education student, mentoring services, and tutoring.
• Acceptance of VA benefits.
• Waiving of all application and enrollment fees, and a textbook scholarship to cover textbooks.

All of these benefits are for anyone on active duty, veterans, and the armed forces’ active reservists status. For more information, visit our website at http://www.aju.edu/mini/military/index.asp Also, check out this link for a press release issued on how AJU gives back to those who serve: Veterans and those serving in the military deserve better

Hope you're looking forward to a great weekend!

~ Andrea

Gratitude For Our Military

Andrew Jackson University — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 09:14:49 GMT

Regardless of our various views on politics, every American should be grateful for the service of our military men and women. In Iraq, Afghanistan, and many other places in the world, people are giving the best of themselves in the service of freedom.

At AJU, we have several initiatives in the works to honor our military, in addition to our Center for Military Spouse Studies. But you do not have to be a university to say 'Thank you.' We recently came across a new website that is promoting a new way of expressing our gratitude. The Gratitude Campaign (www.gratitudecampaign.org) presents the following video (seen below) to show you how sign language can be a simple, yet powerful gesture to show you acknowledge a soldier's sacrifice.

Every soldier needs our support in their lives. Please use this gesture to show your respect next time you encounter one.

Jarrod Morgan

Ideas for Father's Day

Andrew Jackson University — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:21:17 GMT

Father’s day is just around the corner...when I was younger, my brothers and I used to make our dad a pot of coffee (sometimes a little thick, other times watery) and his favorite Pillsbury cinnamon buns for breakfast.

After college, I decided to stay where I went to school and not move back to my home state; the impact of this decision didn’t really hit me until the first holiday away from family. Being 'Daddy’s Little Girl,' I always made sure that I sent my father a card (and called) on Father’s Day (and other special occasions) to let him know how much I appreciate him and how I wished I were there to have coffee and cinnamon buns with him.

While standing in the card aisle this week at the local grocery store trying to find “the card” that says it “All”, it dawned on me: how do children of deployed dads celebrate Father’s Day? Recently I read an article on www.milspouse.com which offered some good ideas for state-side spouses and children to cheer their deployed loved one on Father’s Day. Cards and letters are always good, but one thing I thought was neat-o was the “Family Gram,” a short (40-word) video message that families put together and send overseas just to say hi and send their love.

Another cool idea in using video streams would be to set up webcams if possible, providing interaction between the two sides so that a conversation can be developed. I just found this article so helpful and thought that it would be good to share with everyone! There are a few more ideas and stories of what people have done to send loved ones messages; check it out at: http://www.milspouse.com/fathers-day-on-deployment.aspx

Just curious: I would love to know what you guys have done - or are planning to do - for your loved one who's deployed overseas this Father’s Day!

Have a great weekend and a HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!

~ Andrea Pierson

Serving those who serve us

Andrew Jackson University — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 06:46:05 GMT

I just returned from an education conference hosted by the American Council on Education which focused on the military students and veterans. As I was sitting through the sessions, the message was loud and clear: Are we doing enough for those who have sacrificed for us?

On the plane ride home, I decided that our University needs to do more. In order to make sure that we are truly serving those who serve us, we are making the following improvements to our military students program:

1. Providing a 100% book scholarship to all active duty personnel and veterans
2. Waiving all application/enrollment fees and simplifying the enrollment process
3. Providing tuition deferrals for those students who are eligible and awaiting their VA benefits
4. Providing additional services to this group to support them through their education at AJU including additional training on how to succeed as a distance education student, mentoring services and tutoring.

These services are to be provided at no cost to the student (and are only available to this group of students).

I'm so thankful to all those that have served our country and kept America safe. There is no way that I can ever repay you for what you have done, but I can make certain the Andrew Jackson University does everything it can to support you as you attain your educational goals.

Thank you.

Don Kassner

Finding yourself in between a rock and a hard place

Andrew Jackson University — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:20:58 GMT

I realize that for the last few go-rounds, my posts have been turning into the "AJU Benefits Package" scoop, but I do feel that we have so much to offer students who are in the market for online (distance) learning.

Let’s talk about life for a minute, shall we?

So...after high school, you enrolled in college and - long story short - presently you decided you needed to do [XYZ] to help benefit you (and maybe your family) and you put college on the back burner. "That’s fine," you said, "because I can always get back to it once I get situated - right?"

And here you are, a few (or maybe quite a few) years later with a family and job and no way to squeeze in going back to school...or so you think. You’re at the point in your life where you make the decision to go back to school and get that degree you have always dreamed of having - which in the great picture of life will be the last piece to make you whole.

AJU understands that those wanting to complete a degree started when they were fresh out of high school shouldn’t have to sacrifice their family time and their already established careers.

As a student, you have many options on how to approach your coursework. Let’s say you enroll in your course and the first few weeks go smoothly. Then your boss throws you a project that will take up all your time for the next few weeks. Hey, it’s cool - at AJU, there are no set log-in times to which you must adhere, and your coursework isn’t due on a certain day or time (as long as you finish up by your course's completion date). You pitch your energies into your project, not worrying about your course, returning to your course after you have taken care of the project. Great! Your boss is pleased!

The project is now done, but now little Suzy has her 8th birthday coming up and she wants you to coordinate a sleep-over! That’s fine, too! You can put off your coursework again - even though your course is coming to the end and you haven’t really done much. All you need to do is ask Student Services (That's ME!) via email/fax for an Academic Extension (click HERE for more info), so you can get extra time to complete your course. Suzy's delighted and you have a great time, too.

Now that all that is taken care of, and you get down to work. You complete a few courses and realize, it's summertime and the kids are home ALL THE TIME! You think you're going to need a break for a month or two. You have the option to take a Leave of Absence (LOA) from 1 to 6 months. Once again, ask Student Services (that’s me again!) for assistance! (Click HERE for more information.)

As I've said before - and I will, I'm sure, say this many more times - you shouldn’t have to sacrifice what’s going on is your life just to finish the degree you already started! If you want to know more about your options or - as I like to call them, benefits - shoot me an email at studentservices@aju.edu and I will be glad to explain how all of the options work!

Hope you're having a WONDERFUL day and week!

~ Andrea

Looking for reference material for that research paper?

Andrew Jackson University — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 08:45:18 GMT

Have you tried Google Book Search recently?

http://books.google.com/

Thousands of books each week are added to the online libary, according to The New Yorker.* Could come in handy for the next paper you're researching, hmm?

Wikipedia outlines the situation concisely for you at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Book_Search

You can read more about the opportunity - and the controversy - by browsing the links found at: http://www.digital-scholarship.org/gbsb/gbsb.htm

DON'T FORGET TO CITE YOUR SOURCES APPROPRIATELY AND CORRECTLY!

Anna Young

* Toobin, Jeffrey. "Google's Moon Shot: Copyright and the Universal Library." New Yorker, 5 February 2007, 30-35. http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/02/05/070205fa_fact_toobin