I’ve always worked in higher education— starting during my time as an undergrad student. Professionally, I’ve been in higher ed for 10 years and my roles have been in enrollment management, financial aid, and admissions. Most recently, I was the Assistant Director of Transfer Operations for the University of West Georgia for four and a half years. I am very familiar with many of the processes from both the student and professional side and can help navigate them all.
When I’m not at work, I’m at home spending time with my husband and 3-year-old son. I enjoy decorating and organizing/planning things so if I wasn’t working in higher ed, I’d likely be doing something with real estate, architecture, interior design or event planning.
What type of services are available as part of eMajor’s Personalized Enrollment Support?
I’m here to be your eyes and ears in navigating the enrollment process including deciding which program and institution is the best fit for you, which typically includes an unofficial transcript evaluation as well as the admissions applications and enrollment forms— all the way up to initial registration.
What are some common questions you are asked each semester?
There are many because navigating it all can be daunting! There are the more detailed questions such as “Will my credits transfer and apply to my major?” to “How does the Credit for Prior Learning process work?” and “What is the online course structure like?” Then, there are more basic questions like “When is the deadline?” and “What documents do I need to turn in?” I can help with all of those plus everything in between!
What is the benefit of an unofficial transcript evaluation to a prospective student?
To me the unofficial evaluation helps to determine a few things:
- Which program will accept the majority of your prior college credits.
- If you have completed Math and/or English, because if not then there is a placement test and possible Learning Support courses needed, which will make a difference in deciding on which institution to apply.
- Whether your GPA is it high enough to meet admission requirements to certain institutions.
You work very closely with admissions offices across the state. How does that help eMajor students?
By my having an established relationship with admissions staff across the state, I know where to locate information on the website, what application requirements and deadlines are flexible (because sometimes there is wiggle room that won’t be stated outright on a website), and can get detailed questions answered for you. Having worked in Admissions for nearly 5 years, I can tell you that Admissions staff are very busy— on the road, at events, or meeting with students in person. It’s not that you are not important to them; it’s just that they can’t be in more than one place at a time. So, think of me as the in-office contact at any of the eMajor partner institutions.
eMajor students are online and likely not located near your physical office. How can they take advantage of these services without coming to see you in person?
The eMajor website is a great place to get the conversation started by either requesting more information or an unofficial transcript evaluation. Then, I am here to support you in the best way possible based on your preferences whether that’s having a back and forth email conversation at your convenience or picking up the phone and having an in-depth conversation. The choice is yours!
Are there any upcoming events or new services that you can give us a “sneak peak” of?
We are currently developing a series of recurring enrollment services webinars to be held at least once a month, or more frequently if needed. We are hopeful that this will be an opportunity to serve many prospective students at once, and answer some common questions that we encounter during the admissions and enrollment process. The webinars will be a great live opportunity to jump on and get answers to questions you didn’t even know you had and ask questions that may not have been covered. So be on the lookout for the first session to be announced!
What do you like most about your job with eCampus?
Having the time to provide personalized support and follow up with students to ensure they're not encountering barriers preventing them from reaching their goals— being an advocate.
If you could give students one piece of advice regarding returning to college, what would it be?
You are not alone and there are no stupid questions! I’m in school myself and am learning that the landscape of higher education is changing. Historically, the majority of college students were right out of high school, but today that is just not the case. High school graduates are taking breaks before entering college and the number of working adults returning to school is growing rapidly. That means that 30-40% of college students are adults who are juggling multiple responsibilities. Online is more conducive for students like yourself. Going back to school can be challenging, though, and a lot has changed since you were there. If you’re uncertain about anything, I am here to help you figure out where to go, what steps to take, and why certain things are being asked of you or taking a certain amount of time. If you’re hesitant, confused, or unsure about what/why to do something, I’m here for you— just ask!
Contact Katie today for help getting started on your path to a degree.
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