As online degrees become ever more popular and accessible, Concordia University is striving to help students navigate what may be unfamiliar waters for many.
Designed for working adults with busy schedules, Concordia’s programs offer a unique opportunity to earn highly-respected degrees, but also offer a dedicated faculty and staff to help students meet the required expectations.
Strategies for maximizing your online experience
In two sessions designed to improved the delivery of courses and to better support online students, members of Concordia’s faculty and staff recently met to discuss strategies for assisting students. These ideas expressed may be extremely helpful to students pursuing degrees online at Concordia:
- Prioritize study time by establishing a daily routine for completing assignments and readings.
- Take every opportunity to get to know classmates and instructors with meaningful and insightful communication through chats and discussion groups. Follow up personally!
- Reach out to your instructors. Get to know them and allow them to get to know you!
- Attend any optional zoom sessions offered by your instructors
- Notify instructors immediately to discuss assignment due dates and any complications that may arise – work with them and they will work with you!
- Value communication with and the expertise of your Academic Advisor. Do not hesitate to ask for guidance in using the student portal, Blackboard, and Navigate as tools to help your progress.
- Never hesitate to uses the Academic Resource Center – Pear Deck for online tutoring, the Online Writing Lab, and Zoom tutoring. And if you are local, feel free to visit them in-person!
Insights from the “insiders”
Here are more valuable insights from online instructors and advisors who work with online students every day:
Dr. Brad Alles
CUW School of Education
“Allow me to repeat some wisdom from others: plan your work and then work your plan. Realize that the assignments are not all due today. Take one week at a time, and schedule when you are getting that week’s assignments done. Inch by inch, life’s a cinch. Yard by yard, it’s very hard.”
Dr. Tim Macafee
CUW Communications Department Chair
“Even I as a faculty member teaching in the online format, I have in the past felt unsure about how to navigate some aspects of the online course experience, so you are not alone. Someone on campus, either the faculty member or another university representative will be able to solve any issue. No issue is unsolvable.”
Shelly Venema
CUAA Instructor & Admissions Counselor for the School of Education
“The Pray and Chat function is enabled on Blackboard, you may chat with your classmates. Ask questions and help each other.”
Rev. Dr. Brian German
CUW Theology Department Chair
“Remember, you are working with a terrific faculty! Our online courses are designed to accommodate students who come from a variety of backgrounds, and our online Theology instructors are experienced pastors who care deeply about the academic and spiritual well-being of our online students.”
Elyse Parks
CUW Academic & Career Advisor
“You are commended for taking on a college degree! You have the potential to be successful in your online program. It takes hard work and dedication, but with strong time management and study strategy skills you can reach your educational goals.”
Earning degrees online still requires hard work and perseverance, however, Concordia’s Online format can bring these degrees in reach to students unable to attend traditional, day-time classes!
Want in?
CUW’s Online classes are offered year-round, with students beginning courses in two eight-week mini-terms during the Spring, Summer, and Fall for most programs. Take action and connect with Concordia University’s admission team by visiting CUW Accelerated Admissions for undergraduate degrees or Graduate Admissions for the master’s degrees or by calling 262-243-4300.
—This story is written by Jon Cain. He serves as Post-Traditional Admission Counselor for Undergraduate Education and Theology Programs at CUW.