Photo courtesy of The Ohio State University
Back to School
Refresher courses, professional development and more in central Ohio
Learning doesn’t have to end once a bachelor’s degree is in hand, and it certainly doesn’t have to go on hold when a career or family enters the picture.
Many are finding alternative ways to further their education, such as taking online or audited classes, while others are looking for ways to expand their skill sets for their careers.
Here’s a look at the ways some area institutions are accommodating those striving to extend their education.
Photo courtesy of Columbus State Community College
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Online Options
With all the commitments and responsibilities that come with adulthood, from raising a family to holding a full-time job, it’s no secret that online options are preferable to non-traditional students and those looking to continue their education in hopes of better job prospects.
Columbus State Community College defines its non-traditional students as those over the age of 24. The average student at Columbus State is about 26 or 27 years old, says Angelo Frole, dean of business programs and engineering technologies.
The college makes alternative learning opportunities available “because we have a number of students that come to us that are not exclusively full-time students,” Frole says. “They have families, they work, so our faculty is very understanding. … The online feature that we have is certainly convenient. They don’t have to fight the traffic at five o’clock.”
One program that tends to resonate with Columbus State students is the business management program, Frole says. Most courses are offered online.
“(The program) is so general and provides a lot of knowledge that someone can use in a number of fields,” Frole says. “We have a lot of older students who take advantage of that program.”
The business management program is especially beneficial to someone who wants the experience and credentials to run his or her own business, he says.
Photo courtesy of Otterbein University
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Secondary Degrees and Returning Students
Hank Wilson, communications director of the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University, says he sees many non-traditional students coming to the college for the Master of Arts in Public Policy and Management program.
Students in this program stand at an average age of 38, and many are returning for secondary degrees to obtain additional experience in their field.
“These are people that have been working in the public sector and want to advance their careers or gain more knowledge with a master’s degree,” Wilson says.
The program, he says, has flexible scheduling to maintain a work-life balance.
“You can maintain your full-time job, take classes during the evening hours, or you can take a year off work to complete the program full-time in one year,” Wilson says.
Photo courtesy of Columbus State Community College
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Tom Habegger, dean of health and human services division at Columbus State, says he has seen a 2-5 percent increase in students in his unit, some of whom are aiming to return to the workplace.
“The majority of (the students) are returning students this fall,” Habegger says.
He has seen a difference in the way returning students position themselves for future employment and education opportunities.
“You have a lot of individuals who hold degrees that have realized they need to reposition their skill set,” he says. “They come back to Columbus State to get a very specific skill set.”
The same can be said for Ohio Dominican University. Project Management Professional Boot Camp and the Insurance and Risk Management program are two of the more popular options for returning students, says Karen Gray, executive director of adult education.
“Students are attracted to these programs because there is such a strong industry need for individuals with these credentials,” Gray says. “The attractive option for both of these programs is that they offer quick attainment. Students can earn a credential that can help them pursue a new career opportunity or advance in their current position.”
Mark Moffitt – director of adult, transfer and graduate admissions at Otterbein University – says he sees much of the same from the nearly 200 non-traditional students who attend the university.
“They may be coming back to complete a degree that may help them move ahead in their current career,” Moffitt says. “(There may be) students coming back for a career change.”
Otterbein’s nursing, education and business administration programs are some of the most popular programs for non-traditional or returning students, Moffitt says.
Photo courtesy of Otterbein University
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Education Beyond a Degree
At Columbus State, refresher courses are offered in areas such as the EMS/fire science field. Notably, non-students can sign up for EMT and paramedic refresher courses.
There are also online non-credit courses offered through the college’s partnerships with online vendors, such as ed2go and ProTrain.
ed2go’s catalog offers courses in a variety of subjects, such as accounting and finance, business and health care and medical. ProTrain’s courses offer training in in-demand job skills. Its catalog includes career and hospitality, Spanish in the workplace, technology and computer programs.
Columbus State has also seen significant interest in some of its certificate programs, such as baking. Credit hours earned while completing the certificate can also be applied to an associate’s degree. Participants learn how to work in a variety of environments, including in-store bakeries, commercial bakeries, hotels and restaurants.
“I think that some of the media and network television programming has developed such a following (for the baking industry), and (participants) want to become certified to become a pastry chef,” says Habegger. “Our hospitality unit is one of the strongest we have at this institution.”
OSU’s Program 60 is designed for Ohio residents over 60 years old who want to continue their education without earning a degree. Through Program 60, students are able to attend undergraduate, graduate-level and distance learning course – while having access to OSU’s research and other resources.
Program 60, named Program 65 at the time of its launch in 1974, is offered tuition-free and dependent on course availability. Each fall semester, Program 60 brings in about 390 students, says Lauren Evans, program coordinator.
Otterbein sees a substantial number of students who are not interested in pursuing a degree, Moffitt says. Like OSU, Otterbein offers a program – Senior College – for anyone over the age of 60 who is interested in attending classes without completing a program.
“Maybe they just want to come back and refresh in certain subject areas,” Moffitt says. “What (Senior College) allows students to do is audit the course so they can gain the knowledge.”
Photo courtesy of The Ohio State University
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Professional Development
Internships and other development and networking opportunities are the foundations to success in any field. At Columbus State, Habegger says, each program has advisory committees made up of business professionals that meet twice a year.
“Columbus State, I think, is doing a remarkable job in reaching out to individuals with businesses and providing them an opportunity to communicate directly with the college on what their training needs are – what the company wants us to deliver here at Columbus State, or what they want students to deliver there at their location,” Habegger says.
Frole adds that 60 percent of students who complete an internship end up getting a job.
“That internship can cause a change in career opportunities because another company gets the chance to see the student and provide an opportunity,” Frole says.
Over the past five years, more than 90 percent of graduates from OSU’s Fisher College of Business have secured jobs. The college connects its students with business leaders in Columbus through programs such as its Corporate Mentor Program.
The mentors come from all over, from local startups to Fortune 500 companies. Through a mentorship, students learn what qualities area businesses are searching for, how to apply what they have learned in the classroom and how to grow their network.
Through Otterbein, students have the opportunity to interview with various businesses and industries that come to campus, Moffitt says. Meanwhile, the university’s Center for Career and Professional Development assists with preparing students’ resumes and offering interview techniques.
“We really feel it’s important that our community comes together and stands together to make sure students are gaining experience they can use outside the classroom so when they graduate, they are ready to go,” he says
Hannah Bealer is an assistant editor. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
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