L eading Ladies Online Drive Many women in need of practical education for ministry are finding exactly what they need online. Internet-based study options have grown in popularity over the past decade, with more and more online educational programs gaining both accreditation and respect. Even Ivy League brickand-mortar colleges are increasing their online presence, offering everything from single courses to full degrees. Given the flexibility of online study options—which allow study at any hour of the day or night and anywhere from waiting rooms to commuter trains to the kitchen table—it’s not surprising that women make up the majority of online students. According to the American Association of University Women (AAUW), over 60 percent of those currently studying online are women, most of them over 25 years old. Education options for women are exploding online, including opportunities for women to prepare for various roles in ministry. Steven Douglas, president of Campus Crusade for Christ International, said that “the future for leadership training is Christian distance education that is not dependent upon location, schedule, or having everyone physically present, but the education is taken to where ministry is taking place.” Without the online option, I highly doubt that I would have been able to achieve my terminal degree. Why? Because I have a husband, two kids (one with special needs), a job, and a ministry—and I wasn’t about to relocate to become a full-time, financially stretched, on-campus student! Seems that women everywhere feel the same: A report by the AAUW Educational Foundation states that women—already recognized
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for their multi-tasking ability—are now adding what is being called a “third shift” to their day. Not content with just being employees, mothers, and churchattenders, women are taking advantage of the current online learning trend to earn degrees that will enhance their personal growth, long-term job security, career, ministry, and even calling. While accessing the classroom via a laptop can pose a variety of challenges—pedagogical, technological, and/ or social, depending on the learning style, experience, and/or temperament of the student—the benefits usually outweigh the difficulties. Online learning is a preferred education option for women because of these factors: Family. Women love the fact that they can eat dinner with the kids, help them with homework, and then bundle them off to bed before sitting down to their own studies. They appreciate not being forced to choose between parenting and being a student. Flexibility/comfort. Not having to cope with the travel and time constraints of the traditional classroom makes online studies highly attractive. Older women also say they feel less out of place learning from home than in a classroom full of 18-year-olds. Finances. While tuition and fees may not be substantially less than traditional classes, online learning means women save on babysitters, parking, gas, tolls, and meals on the run. Fulfillment. Many women set aside their personal goals early on to start a family or to support one by entering a career field that isn’t fulfilling. The number one rea-
Elizabeth Rios son women cite for going back to school is not only to increase their knowledge and expertise but also to walk towards a dream or calling they felt obliged to postpone at one point in their lives. I earned my master’s degree at Regent University (Regent.edu), which is ranked number two in the nation for its online degree programs. They offer more than 30 fully accredited college programs both on campus and online. But it isn’t cheap. Those looking for a more wallet-friendly program might want to check out City Vision College (CityVision.edu), where I serve as the academic dean. This term 31 percent of the students are people of color, and 60 percent of the students are women. An accredited, degree-completion school, it has two major undergraduate programs: Missions (with a choice of concentration in urban ministry or nonprofit management) and the less common Addiction Studies. Students can also pick up an individual course, taught in eight-week terms. What I particularly love about this school is that courses are approximately $500 per class (not per credit) and free for students who qualify for a Pell Grant. The urban ministry practitioner’s dream is located where affordability and accessibility converge! I mention here only those with which I am familiar, but many other online options exist to help clear the hurdles for women wanting to return to school. While it can be challenging and stressful, most women who earn an online degree are proud of their success and recommend it to others. If you’ve been contemplating a return to school but were worried about how you would fit it in, consider learning online. Chances are good that it will lead you in your journey to becoming a leading lady. Rev. Dr. Liz Rios, a mom and wife, serves as academic dean at City Vision College, executive pastor at Save the Nations in Davie, Fla. (SavetheNations.com), and is founder of the Center for Emerging Female Leadership (CEFL.org).