Diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and recovering from a grenade attack, Iraq war veteran Ian Newland wanted to pursue a business degree after his discharge from the Army last year. What he didn't want to have to do was set foot in a classroom. And thanks to the Internet, he doesn't have to. The world of online higher education has given thousands of vets like Newland — and active-duty soldiers — the opportunity to work at their own pace. "Being online, I can work on my college work at 3 a.m. if I'm feeling rambunctious," said Newland, 28, who often does homework when he can't sleep. Online education is increasingly attractive for military veterans, according to Denver-based Jones International University, a Web-exclusive institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. About 350 current or former soldiers are pursuing a degree at Jones, three times the number last year. The university has a total of 2,000 students.
What better way to get an education without the usual downsides of college. No professors who don't know the material, no having to put up with professors and students with a political axe to grind, and best of all, you can do it as part of your regular schedule. Working a job around college is never easy, but if you can do your class work at 3:00 a.m. then you don't have to worry about making up lost hours and productivity at work. Online degrees are a boon for our injured warriors also as they can work on recovery and bettering themselves at the same time.
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I am MAJ Brian Davis, currently a student at the Command and General Staff College, ILE, Fort Belvoir VA. I have recently completed my third master degree - my first completely online degree and my second with Troy University. Although these online programs do offer great flexibility, they still have the "usual downsides of college" - contrary to what this article states. For instance, I have fought a losing battle with Troy University for the last year. For a course in Contemporary Japan, the instructor, Reginald Kearney, never responded to any email I sent to him. During the course I submitted 35 pages of written work (research proposal, midterm, final exam, and final paper). I did not receive any feedback/grade on any of these individual assignments. I brought the issue to Troy's administration well before the class was over; I was told to file a grade appeal after the course was over. I did; it was denied. Apparently, I was questioning the instructor's competence. In spite of the $1000 paid, 35 pages of work submitted, and complete lack of feedback, I have no recourse according to JAG. I have sent written requests to the Department Head, the Dean, and the Chancellor of Troy - none were acted upon. The Dean and the Chancellor did not even bother to reply. Short of driving to Georgia and seeking court action, there is nothing I can do about that instructor, or my time and money spent on a course that was educationally bankrupt.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.