Planet eCampus

Jamal Sharrieff is Executive Chef for Dine West at the University of West Georgia where he is also working toward a double major in Business and Finance.  Jamal Sharrieff, 53 University of West Georgia Double Major, Business and Finance As Executive Chef for Dine West at the University of West Georgia, Jamal Sharrieff has a front row seat for the journey that is the traditional college experience. From catering new student orientations, graduations, and even alumni events, Jamal has witnessed first-hand the value of a college degree and the hard work and determination it takes to earn one. What the students at these events don't know is that they and Jamal have more in common than they may think, as he himself is a rising Junior at UWG. After coming to the University of West Georgia from New Jersey in 2016, he wasted no time at all transferring roughly 30 credit hours of previous college credit to UWG, and is currently taking a combination of online and even...

If you are taking an online college course, chances are you will have to take a proctored exam at some point. A proctored exam means that the online student must arrange to take the exam under the supervision of a designated “proctor”. Online programs often use proctored exams as a way to ensure the academic integrity of the student’s performance in the class.  In eCore classes , for example, students are required to take at least one proctored exam per course. This is dependent upon the instructor, and can include the course midterm and/or the final exam. The proctored exam is a crucial part of the student’s success, and therefore there are a few things students should consider before making an appointment.  Register Early Although the designated testing window for your class may be later in the semester, registration for the exam typically opens in the second week of class. We highly recommend that students make a testing appointment sooner rather than later. Why, y...

2018, Vol. 2 Since Spring 2013, implementation of eCore Open Education Resources (OERs), resulted in an estimated cost saving of 10M dollars. OERs improve access to course materials and reduce barriers for students; no book purchase and just-in-time availability (University System of Georgia eCore Factbook, 2017).  OERs influence learning by increasing opportunity and can dramatically impact lives of millions of people around the world, through high quality, locally relevant educational materials (Bliss, Robinson, Hilton, & Wiley, 2013; Cape Town Open Education Declaration, 2007). Bliss et al. (2013) provided the following quotes from college faculty; "I am able to refer to material knowing that all students will have access to the same material." and "The materials were free to my students, which reduced a barrier to their chances for academic success."  Hilton (2016) reviewed 16 OER studies that involved over 46,000 students and concluded that OE...

Last year, the U.S. Department of Education announced that the award window for the Federal Pell Grant would be extended to include the summer semester . This is in contrast to the previous policy, which restricted eligibility to the Fall and Spring semesters , when college students have traditionally taken the bulk of their classes.   This is great news for adult learners who do not typically follow the “traditional” schedule but, instead, prefer to take courses in shorter accelerated terms with minimum breaks in-between. This accelerated schedule allows students to take more classes within the same amount of time, shortening their path to graduation. As Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said herself, “this decision is about empowering students and giving them the flexibility and support needed to achieve their goals. Expanding access to the Pell program, so that students who need additional resources can graduate more quickly and with less debt, is the right thing to do."...

2018, Vol. 1 Georgia’s dual enrollment non-need based grant has resulted in increased dual credit participation. According to University System of Georgia (USG) enrollment reports, the increase in dual enrollments over the last two years was over 50 percent, representing a 3,500 student gain across the system. These students are earning college credits face-to-face and online. Dual credit eCore students achieved ABC rates at over 90 percent!   2,100 Courses Taken, 90% Earned College Credit Research indicates that students participating in dual credit programs show an increase in college persistence, grade point average, and college graduation (An, 2015; Hoffman, Vargas & Santos, 2009: Hughes 2010). Most USG dual enrolled students attend courses face-to-face at around 88 percent for FY17. There are several reasons why a high school student may require an online option to attend a USG institution. The state of Georgia has over 100 counties that are de...

Online Learning allows students the flexibility of continuing their educational journey from anywhere in the world. Online classes are an excellent option for students who are studying abroad for the semester, military members and families who are stationed overseas, or even those who want to take classes while traveling for pleasure. While online classes can usually be accessed from anywhere with a reliable internet connection, there are some things to consider before registering for class if you intend to complete the course while located outside of the U.S.  Availability of a Reliable Internet Connection To access most online classes, students must have a reliable internet connection. This may be a challenge in some areas of the world due to various issues such as local network instability, outages, firewalls, or restrictive local internet policies. Before registering for an online class, research the internet accessibility situation in the area in whi...

Stephanie Lampp, 36 Georgia Southwestern State University Major: Criminal Justice With 15 years of police experience under her belt, Stephanie had started to see opportunities for advancement come and go because of just one thing: her lack of a 4-year degree. Now, she’s starting the new year by tackling one of her biggest goals (and fears) and going back to school online through Georgia Southwestern State University. Read more about Stephanie, and the journey she’s taken to get to this place in her life.   Tell us a little about yourself. Other than being a brand new college student, what do you spend your time doing?   I am a Lieutenant in the Police Department at Middle Georgia State University. I oversee day to day operations on our Dublin and Eastman Campuses. I am the Training Coordinator, Assessment Coordinator, & Clery Coordinator. I am married (10 years) to a Drug Agent and we have an 8-year-old daughter. Our schedules are often hectic and never the...