Online but Not Alone
NEC has educated thousands of students in its online degree programs. As this segment of the College’s overall enrollment continues to grow, those who oversee these programs are committed to helping online learners move forward in a way that offers a quality, connected education.
The concept of earning a degree online has come a long way in the last 20 years. NEC has embraced this new frontier for over a decade, constantly working to improve the learning experience for each student.
“We understand that online students reach their potential in an environment that is rich with application of groundbreaking knowledge and skills,” states Dr. Sharon Sabol, Dean of Online Education and Learning Science. She explains that a subject-matter expert and an instructional designer, both of whom know the fundamental components of quality online course delivery, work together to develop each of NEC’s online courses. These courses are then taught by experienced faculty, experts in their fields who are trained to have maximum impact for online learners. This commitment to quality positions NEC’s online students to achieve their academic and career goals.
The combination of learning from top-notch faculty while reaching their goals is paramount for online learners. “For the most part, online students are professionals who are intensely committed to their educations,” comments Dr. John Callahan, Dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies. “That ranges from our military students to our MBA and Clinical Mental Health Counseling students, as well as our Master of Fine Arts, master’s- and doctoral-level Education students, and the programs in which we partner with Dallas College.” Callahan teaches in NEC’s online International Relations and Homeland Security programs. Many of his students are deployed military members who are able to learn from specialists and scholar-practitioners from deployments around the world.
No matter the location of online students, “we want them to know that they form an integral part of the NEC community,” adds Lisa Conn, Executive Director of Graduate Enrollment. She takes pride in the College’s enhanced efforts to help online students feel connected to NEC and to each other. A more robust onboarding process engages students until their first classes begin so that they know what to expect and are set up for success. “It is very satisfying to see how NEC’s online programs change students’ lives and help them move forward in their careers.
Julie Zhang | BA, Business Administration ’22 | California
“I value education more than anything else, and I had dreamed of having a bachelor’s degree for many years. With my busy full-time work schedule, I decided to pursue an online degree program. I did a tremendous amount of research online, and I had talked to different enrollment counselors at different colleges prior to enrolling in NEC. The admission counselor at NEC took the time to learn my educational goal and made my enrollment as smooth as possible.
Each course is well designed. NEC’s instructors put their hearts and souls into teaching and sincerely hope all students will be successful professionally and personally. I truly believe my degree will open up many doors for me and take my career to the next level. I am very confident and optimistic about my future.”
Rosa Musella | BA, Psychology ’21 | New York
“As a paraprofessional for the New York City Department of Education, online classes allowed me to learn at my own pace, to continue taking care of my family, and to look after my home. I chose NEC because of their helpful support staff who made my admission process and my experience as a whole very pleasant and encouraging. Prior to attending NEC, I completed two years of my bachelor’s degree in my home country of Brazil. With this in mind, the admission counselor guided me through the process of having my foreign credits evaluated and translated to count towards my degree here in the U.S.
I was extremely pleased with NEC’s online program. Earning my bachelor’s degree is one of my proudest accomplishments. I am certain that I could not have achieved this level of success without the help of NEC’s knowledgeable and understanding staff. I believe that my degree will enhance my career and my life, as I feel confident that the education I received at NEC will be an important foundation to enter a grad school and become a successful school counselor.”
Donald Wynn | BA, Business Administration ’22 | California
“I chose an online degree program because it allows me to work and travel for business without any impact to my work and family schedules. I chose NEC because it is an accredited college, the faculty and staff are very supportive of working students, the seven-week courses will accelerate my study so that I will graduate faster, and the tuition is affordable.
As a father raising two children until they graduated from college, I did not have the opportunity to complete my study in the early stage of my life. I restarted my education in my mid-50s. Currently, I am completing my last class with NEC and also attending law school in the evenings.”
Maanasi Radhakrishnan | BS, Cybersecurity ’22 | Texas
“I moved from India to the United States in 2018 and began attending Dallas College in 2019. Around the time I was finishing my associate degree, NEC announced its bachelor’s program in Cybersecurity in collaboration with Dallas College, which was the perfect fit for my academic goals.
Upon communicating with Casey Walker [Associate Director of Graduate Admissions] at NEC, I was convinced that NEC’s program was in depth and would give me the knowledge I need to kickstart a career in cybersecurity. The entire process of moving from Dallas College to NEC was seamless, thanks to Ms. Walker.
NEC’s program has exceeded my expectations. All my professors thus far have been stellar. They’re very knowledgeable and approachable, give great feedback, and are committed to the success of each of us students. In fact, their dedication is beyond praise and a rarity in today’s world.”
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