Planet eCampus

Download PDF Visit emajor.usg.edu/CPL for information on Credit for Prior Learning opportunities in USG eMajor degree programs. 

The most wonderful time of year is upon us once again and, if you’re like me, you’ve got shopping on the brain. Gone are the days of hitting every big-box store in four surrounding counties looking for the must-have gift of the year. With the power of the internet, you can easily compare inventory and prices among different stores and have that item on your doorstep in two business days. All of the information you need to make the best purchase as a consumer is literally at your fingertips—you just have to take the time to do your research and find it.   The same is true for higher education. If you’ve decided to return to college, either full or part-time, your first step is likely a Google search. Then, you start comparing your options. In addition to the obvious comparisons you’ll make on tuition, online options, and degrees available, one of the most important things you should compare is an institution’s accreditation. Sounds simple enough, right? Actually, there are a ...

Melissa Ray, 41 Dalton State College Major: Organizational Leadership Expected Graduation: May 2019 How did you come to be a student at Dalton State College at this particular time in your life? I'm a working mom of four. I started college years ago, but never finished due to financial circumstances. Over the last few years I've contemplated going back to school. Raising a family, working and attending school is hard. I put it off and put it off. Then I realized that this is a personal goal of mine and I want to be a role model for my kids. Two are already grown, but the other two are still in Elementary and Middle school. Things are changing in the workplace and a degree is a must. Even though it's a challenge to juggle school with work and family time,eMajor and eCore have made this decision easier for me and the cost is not as much as I anticipated.   Why is completing your college degree important to you?   Future job opportunities, it is a personal goal,...

Quteaus Smith, 28 Gordon State College Major: Early Childhood Education Expected Graduation: Summer 2019 After 10 years of job instability, this mom decided to make a change and go back to school. Now, she's working toward a degree in Early Childhood Education and setting an example for her children. Read more about Quteaus, how she balances her time, and what motivated her to go back in the first place.  How did you come to be a student at Gordon State College at this particular time in your life? I [first] attended Gordon about 10 years ago, and got off track due to basically being young and irresponsible. After working job after job over the years I decided that I wanted career stability, so I re-enrolled at Gordon. Why is completing your college degree important to you?   [I want] a better life for myself and my family. I am a true believer that whatever is started should be finished. I want to send a message to my children that no matter how tough thi...

Linda Phillips, 71 University of North Georgia Major: Sociology Expected Graduation: 2019 At 71 years young, Linda Phillips is pursuing a college degree in order to repurpose her life and give back to a cause that is near and dear to her. As a full-time student, grandmother of 7 (plus a great-grand), and a side-gig that keeps her laughing - this retiree is doing anything but relaxing in her golden years!  Why is completing your college degree important to you?   I have always wanted to get my college education but life happened and the years passed.  Now I have the opportunity to fulfill this ambition and I am going for it with gusto.  I would like to use my experiences and education to do advocacy work for the elderly. Why did you choose to take online classes? Up until this semester, I have taken the traditional classroom path but decided it would be beneficial to me to combine online and traditional classroom classes. This frees up time for ...

Haley and her husband, Mason. Haley Norman, 21 University of North Georgia AS in General Studies Expected Graduation: Fall 2017 Tell us about your path to college and how you ended up enrolled at the University of North Georgia. I am a missionary in Tanzania, East Africa. Upon graduating from UNG, I will have taken all of my UNG courses online due to my location. I am thankful that UNG offers all-online degrees for people in unique situations like mine.   Why is completing your college degree important to you? I understand that to be successful in the real world, a degree opens up great opportunities for financial success and stability.   Why did you choose to take online classes? I chose to take online classes because I live in Tanzania, Africa and am not in the position to be a traditional, on-campus student.  eCore offers great tools to learn how to navigate courses, assistance with courses (tutoring), librarians, and more. Some of thes...

With the rising costs of tuition and over-the-top textbook expenses, college affordability in America is always a hot topic. When the Complete College Georgia initiative was launched in 2011, its goal was to increase attainment of high-quality certificates and degrees among Georgians. To do that - college had to be more accessible, and it had to be more affordable. eCore was up for the challenge, and together with 22 college and university partners across the state, we are proudly doing just that! In Summer 2013, eCore introduced its first Open Educational Resource (OER) textbook. For the 22 students enrolled in U.S. History I that summer, they were thrilled to save $45 on their textbook. Since then, OERs have been implemented in all 30 eCore courses . Textbook expenses, ranging from $45 all the way to $289 per book, were no longer required of students, impacting over 50,000 enrollments and saving Georgia college students millions of dollars. The establish...

You’ve already taken the first step. You’ve made the decision to go back to school— to finally finish the degree you started so many years ago. Now what? The process of researching, selecting, and applying for admission can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Follow these five steps to choose the right program for you and get back into school in no time.  Decide what degree you want to pursue.  Consider your reason for returning to school. Are you returning to college for: Advancement in your current career What credential do you need to make you “stand out” for that next promotion? Interested in a management position? Consider a degree in organizational leadership. Are there any industry-specific certifications you can pursue? Opportunities for a career change Research the field that you would like to transition to and the types of degrees required for those positions. Some industries require a particular degree for entry-level positions. Use ...

In an online learning environment, Universal Design focuses on increasing usability and improving the user experience for individuals with disabilities. With more than 18% of the population living with some form of disability, it is imperative that online courses are designed with accommodations to ensure the ease of use and comprehension. Here are our 10 tips for Universal Design that will help to remove barriers and create greater accessibility for all users in a virtual classroom.  Download PDF

Downloadable PDF Whether you’re a current college student, beginning freshman, or returning to college after many years, you’ll probably consider taking at least one online course at some point in your educational journey. Online learning offers many benefits—maybe the biggest being the flexibility to attend class on your own schedule without traveling to campus. However, the freedom that comes with online learning can be difficult to manage if you don’t know what to expect and plan accordingly.  Here are six tips to help you stay on track and be successful in your online class: Take a Course Inventory If you were taking a class on campus, you would make certain preparations prior to the first day of class, such as finding the building’s location on a map, double checking your class time, and reviewing what materials you should have for class. Online classes are no different. You should log into your Learning Management System as soon as possible and familiarize your...

Not only is Dr. Ray Broussard a UGA/USG eCore History professor still teaching in his 90s, but he’s also a World War II and Korean War veteran. eCampus visits Dr. Broussard’s home in Athens, Georgia for an update on his love of life and teaching. We last interviewed Dr. Broussard in 2012 , when we learned about his time in the Navy, his early teaching days, and his genuine surprise when he realized you really could teach History online. Today, he is not only the oldest, but also one of USG eCore’s most engaging instructors and consistently receives gushing comments from students in his course evaluations-- many who are amazed to learn world and United States history from someone who helped make the history. At 91 years old, Dr. Broussard and his wife (a retired high school history teacher), haven’t been up for traveling as much, so he invited us to visit with him at his home. We arrived at his peaceful, quaint little house on the Eastside of Athens where he eagerly welc...

Congratulations to UWG economics lecturer, Kim Holder on being named the 2017 UWG Employee of the Year! Kim received her B.S. in Economics from the University of West Georgia, followed by her M.A. in Economics from Georgia State University. She's actively engaged around campus, serving as an adviser for student organizations and a leader throughout the UWG community. Kim has recently received accolades for her National video competition, Rockonomix , which helps motivate student learning by using popular media to reinforce basic economic principles.  Before she was the Best of the West and resident Economics Queen, Kim was an adult learner balancing a family and online learning in order to complete her bachelor's degree. We're diving deep into the archives today to revisit Kim during her time as an eCore student. *This story originally appeared on the USG eCore website prior to 2008. “As a little girl I often dreamed about what I would ‘be’ when I grew...