TERRE HAUTE —
\A wife, mother and special education preschool teacher, Carol Crawn doesn’t have time to “go” to college to pursue a master’s degree.
So, she’s pursuing her master’s in special education at home through WGU Indiana, a nonprofit, online university.
She has two young children, one with autism, and “attending a traditional college was not an option,” said Crawn, 31, who teaches at both Lost Creek and Franklin elementary schools.
The master’s will expand her teaching opportunities in special education.
Before she began her coursework in December 2010, she was somewhat skeptical. “I’ve done other things online to maintain my license,” she said, but she’s not received the timely feedback or support she needed.
That’s changed with WGU Indiana, she said. She recently emailed a course mentor with a question late one night “and I got an answer back within an hour,” she said.
She also has a student mentor through WGU Indiana and they talk every other week “to set goals about what I need to accomplish,” she said. Still, when pursuing an online education, “You have to be self-motivated,” Crawn said.
Because of her knowledge in her field, she’s been able to test out of quite a few classes, and she hopes to complete her degree in May.
“It’s work, but it’s enjoyable,” she said. “The information I’m learning is very practical” and will help her improve her classroom instruction, she said.
She said the tuition is affordable and she has received financial aid.
WGU Indiana, a competency-based online university established by the state of Indiana in partnership with Western Governors University, recently achieved some milestones. Created in June 2010 with an executive order, it enrolled its 2000th student last month and now has had students or graduates in all 92 counties.
According to its web site, WGU Indiana “provides affordable access to quality higher education for working adults.” It offers more than 50 accredited bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education, business, information technology and health professions, including nursing.
WGU Indiana is aimed at working adults who “have some college but didn’t have a chance to finish or need a master’s to go further in their career,” said Allison Barber, WGU Indiana chancellor. The average age of its students is about 36.
WGU Indiana tuition is charged at a flat rate for six-month terms, not per credit hour or semester. Tuition for most programs is $2,890 per term.
During each term, students can complete as many classes as they want. The faster students complete a degree program, the more money they can save.
Gov. Mitch Daniels developed a partnership with Western Governors University to boost the numbers of Hoosiers earning college degrees. WGU Indiana is not state funded, although its students can receive state of Indiana financial aid.
WGU Indiana has 33 students from Vigo County currently enrolled, including Crawn.
Another is 50-year-old David Wright, who is pursuing a bachelor’s in business management. He is branch manager of First Financial Bank’s Sycamore Terrace branch and has worked for First Financial since 2001.
Prior to that, he worked for the machine tool industry — the majority of the time in management — and had an associate’s degree in tool and die.
He’s pursuing his bachelor’s to set an example for his two children and also to open up opportunities for advancement, although he’s “thrilled” with what’s he’s doing now, he said.
Wright said he was impressed with WGU’s curriculum and requirements, and he also can test out of those classes where he already knows the material. “I don’t have to spend months in a classroom rehashing stuff I already know,” he said.
Students must get a B or higher to test out of a class, he said. “They have pretty high standards.” He also received some credit for coursework he’s completed at other colleges.
If he’s having difficulty with a class, there are course mentors he can contact by phone or online.
He started his WGU degree work Jan. 1, 2011 and hopes to complete the program in December 2013.
Michael Shannon, 28, also from Vigo County, is pursuing a master’s in business administration.
He works full time as a project manager for a local company, and he likes to keep his evenings to himself. “I wanted something flexible,” he said. He typically gets up at 5 a.m. weekdays to study before he goes to work.
He obtained a bachelor’s in marketing from Indiana State University in 2005 and then went to work as an investment officer at a bank. For the past four years he’s worked for another employer.
He said he read about WGU and talked to an adviser to learn details. He passed an entrance exam and began his course of study Sept. 1, and he hopes to finish in 18 months.
In pursuing a master’s, he’s doing it for both personal reasons and career advancement, he said.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Getting cozy with a good book: Lost Creek Elementary School special education teacher Carol Crawn reads a book to Abby Goodall during class Thursday at the eastside school. Crawn is pursuing her master's degree online through WGU.
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Hands-on snowflake building: Lost Creek Elementary special education teacher Carol Crawn helps student Jacey James create a snowflake pattern during class Thursday at the school. Crawn is pursuing her master's degree in special education online through WGU.
Discussion
Non-traditional students turn to WGU
Online school recently enrolled 2,000th student
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