EDUCATION 
 How colleges are adapting for today’s students 
 Today’s college students bring a wide variety of  
 needs and manage a constant juggle of responsibilities  
 while pursuing a degree. 
 According to the Department of Education, 74 percent  
 of undergraduate students, described as the “new  
 normal,” have at least one nontraditional characteristic  
 such as being a fi rst-generation student, having  
 at least one dependent, or working either full or part  
 time. Further, nearly half of students enrolled  today  
 are age 25 or older and are working to complete an unfi  
 nished degree, returning to advance their career or  
 re-skill for a new opportunity. 
 As students are redefi ning  their roles, higher education  
 is reimagining pathways for today’s rapidly  
 growing number of nontraditional students who are  
 committed to earning a degree by offering more robust  
 support programs, new technologies and fl exible  
 course schedules. 
 Supporting students beyond the  
 classroom  
 Considering today’s college students are seeking  
 a work-life-school balance, there is an increased demand  
 for student support services to deliver helpful  
 tools, resources and programming designed to aid students  
 from enrollment to graduation. 
 Many online students are stepping back into school  
 after years of taking time off and greatly benefi t from  
 personalized resources and support like those offered  
 at ASU Online where students are paired with an online  
 success coach from day one. Success coaches are a  
 lifeline as these learners juggle life with studying and  
 coursework. By proactively reaching out to students,  
     
   
    
   
    
    
      
  
    
    
  
      
  
                    
    
   
  
  
  
  
     
    
      
    
      
    
     
      
      
     
     
  
     
       
     
      
 coaches can quickly assist in overcoming obstacles  
 and work to ensure online students stay on the path  
 to graduation. 
 Technology in the classroom  
 A recent study found that the number of students  
 taking online courses grew to over 6.3 million students  
 in the U.S. and that number continues to rise.  
 More degree specializations are now available as universities  
 scale and expand to meet the evolving needs  
 of students. ASU Online offers more than 200 degree  
 programs ranging from traditional degrees to specialized  
 programs - many of which are infusing emerging  
 technologies bringing forward an entirely new kind of  
 learning environment. 
 New technologies are also changing the way professors  
 deliver information and how students can apply  
 key learnings in real time. Virtual reality tools  
 enabling completion of lab sciences courses are helping  
  
     
     
   
  
  
     
  
  
     
     
      
      
  
 Caribbean L 40     ife, May 31–June 6, 2019 BQ 
      
  
   
     
    
     
     
     
    
  
  
      
     
 to expand the types of degrees available to online  
 students. At ASU Online, courses are designed using  
 state-of-the-art technology and tools providing students  
 with a direct connection to the knowledge and  
 expertise of university faculty. 
 Introduction of fl exible class  
 schedules  
 Universities are now designing fl exible  learning  
 models and accelerating course offerings that better  
 fi t the modern-day student’s schedule as they balance  
 work, parenting, education and family. Online learning  
 provides an opportunity for students to design  
 their own path - putting them in control. Being able to  
 study at a time that’s most convenient - whether it’s late  
 in the evening, early morning before kids are awake or  
 over a lunch break - is a game changer for many busy  
 adults. Dealing with a commute or missing class is no  
 longer an issue as students can manage their time and  
 create a schedule that works best for their lives. 
 The  fl exibility  allows  online  students  to  be  anywhere  
 in the world while studying or attending a lecture. 
  Further, online learners are now able to log into  
 class at their convenience, which allows students to  
 work at a pace that best suits them. 
 Online  learning  allows  universities  to  meet  students  
 where they are both academically and personally. 
  The power of innovation in online learning is  
 visible with each new program, each new tool and the  
 promise of each student that is able to complete a degree  
 in a way that was simply not possible before. For  
 more information on Arizona State University’s online  
 offerings, visit asuonline.asu.edu.  — BPT 
     
     
  
  
  
     
    
     
   
     
  
     
  
      
    
  
       
  
     
    
  
    
  
     
    
      
     
  
  
    
     
     
       
      
      
  
     
     
     
      
     
   
     
      
      
        
  
   
    
      
    
     
     
  
      
     
  
     
    
    
     
     
     
    
     
 sps.nyu.edu/appliedUG/bachelors55;  
  nyusps.appliedUG@nyu.edu;  
  
 Complete Your Bachelors Degree 
 
				
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