Sam Houston State University
E D U C AT I O N E V E R Y W H E R E , F O R E V ERYO N E
YOUR DEGREE. YOUR WAY. YOUR TIME.
Sam Houston State University ranks consistently high in online education in Texas. In fact, recently OnlineColleges.com named SHSU the best online college in Texas and the ranking placed Sam Houston State No. 8 in the nation for top online colleges.
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“SHSU Online, in partnership with SHSU faculty, goes to great lengths to ensure the online classroom mirrors the educational experience found on campus.”
As an early adopter of distance learning, SHSU is at the forefront of merging proven online teaching practices with technology advancements. Today, more than 11,400 students are taking at least one online course at Sam Houston State, with a quarter of semester hours generated online. “While technology has expanded choices, facilitated access and broadened the definition of a student, our commitment to a quality education has not waivered. This recognition is a reflection of that ongoing commitment,” said Bill Angrove, associate vice president for SHSU Online. “SHSU Online, in partnership with SHSU faculty, goes to great lengths to ensure the online classroom mirrors the educational experience found on campus.” According to OnlineColleges.com, “SHSU extends online offerings from the same award-winning on-campus faculty and staff that led to the Carnegie ‘Doctoral Research University’ designation, placing it among the top 7 percent of all U.S. colleges and universities.”
I SHOULD’ VE MA JORED IN THAT!
Many graduate programs offer online degrees in expected fields such as business and education. Sam Houston State University is a national leader in providing a wide spectrum of programming, all staffed by an excellent faculty. With degrees ranging from Communication Studies to Digital Forensics, from Homeland Security Studies to Public Administration, SHSU delivers programs that may seem a bit unconventional to online learning but fill important needs in today’s uncertain job market and for the future. Though there might be heavy competition in the fields of education and business, SHSU online degree programs in those fields stand a cut above. Whether measured by external accreditors such as the American Association of Schools and Colleges of page 2 | Fall 2020
EDUCATION EVERYWHERE, FOR EVERYONE | Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University
Business or the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education or by the trust of employers and school districts across the state, SHSU online programs in business and education give graduates a real advantage. The College of Criminal Justice is a leader online as well. The Victim Services Management program was the first in the nation to focus extensively on victimology, victim service provision, advocacy and advanced topics in the study of crime victimization. This degree is tailored to system advocates who want to assist victims of elder abuse, child maltreatment, violence against women and human sex trafficking and help victims transform their lives. With even just these few examples, you might start to think, “I should have majored in that!” It’s not too late.
GOING THE DISTANCE IN ONLINE LE ARNING
Over the past three decades, most of us can recall sweeping technological changes that had a major impact on our lives: the Internet; email; eBooks; and smartphones. With these shifts, higher education has been part of a powerful transformation, also impacting lives. For students who earned degrees before COVID19, a college experience was limited to the lecture halls and labs of a campus. Today, the physical classroom is no longer the sole center of learning. As developments in educational technology progress, the ways in which Sam Houston State University delivers and receives information continually evolve as well. To accommodate the ever-changing needs of 21st century students, Sam Houston’s educational offerings have moved from the traditional classroom experience to one which incorporates flexible options. SHSU Online continues to expand undergraduate online enrollment. Several undergraduate degrees
To accommodate the ever-changing needs of 21st century students, Sam Houston’s educational offerings have moved from the traditional classroom experience to one which incorporates flexible options.
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have been identified as online programs of focus for adult learners interested in completing degrees they started years ago. Those programs include: Homeland Security Studies: Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science; General Business Administration: Bachelor of Business Administration; Health Care Administration: Bachelor of Science; Liberal Studies: Bachelor of Science. For a complete list of fully online degrees available, visit online.shsu.edu. Online education is no longer a trend in 2020, it is a necessity. In late February, following the CDC’s recommendation for social distancing, SHSU Online developed the Instructional Continuity Guide, designed to provide straightforward guidelines in the event of a rapid transition from face-to-face classes to online courses. Just a few weeks later, the plan became quickly relevant as SHSU announced remote delivery of instruction for the remainder of the spring semester. In addition to implementing the continuity plan, SHSU Online developed an operational strategy to provide virtual, round-the-clock services to the academic community, including faculty, students, and staff as they made the transition from on-ground to remote. What does this mean for today’s college student? Knowledge can be obtained from almost anywhere.
ONLINE PROGR AMS AT SHSU • 50 fully online degree programs • 18 bachelor’s degree programs • 30 master’s degree programs • 2 doctoral degree programs
DEDICATION TO FACULT Y DEVELOPMENT
As we continually adjust our academic needs due to COVID-19, SHSU continues to offer a series of page 4 | Fall 2020
EDUCATION EVERYWHERE, FOR EVERYONE | Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University
hybrid teaching webinars each week to help SHSU faculty provide the best learning experience for students. Since March, SHSU Online has hosted approximately 250 webinars to help faculty as they make the transition to teach in a more hybrid environment. During that same time, we have had more than 1,600 webinar enrollments from SHSU faculty. SHSU Online will continue to provide these resources as we move forward into this new normal. To reduce student density on campus, the majority of Fall 2020 classes are blended. Blended courses allow students to learn as much as possible and spend time with their classmates and instructors while also maintaining a safe distance from each other. In a blended course, more than half (but not all) of the instruction is done from a social distance.
BEHIND THE SCENES OF SHSU ONLINE
With more students logging on every year, SHSU Online has service staff dedicated entirely to bringing the classroom experience to the computer screen. There are 10 employees in the media department alone, led by Charles Henson, director of media support. With more than 250 faculty certified to teach online, Henson’s team oversees the production of hundreds of videos every year.
“We want our courses to be as intimate and close to a campus course as possible.”
“We always fight the stereotypes of online courses from 10 years ago, when the video technology we have today was nonexistent. Many people expect a faceless, text-based course; that is far from what we offer,” Henson said. “We want our courses to be as intimate and close to a campus course as possible,” Henson said. “We have tools available to make any presentation used in a classroom available online.” Online enrollment is the fastest growing segment
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in higher education. Thanks to SHSU Online, the Texas State University System leads the state with the highest percentage of fully online students. At SHSU Online someone is always available to help ensure lesson plans, syllabuses, class lectures and more are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “Online learners cannot afford to lose a day’s work due to technical issues. They are busy people with tight schedules,” Daniel Walker, assistant director for online support services said. “Our support desk is the front line of helping our students in any way possible. We support students over emails or phone calls and work diligently to solve their problem as quickly as possible.” From accounting to zoology, you can find an array of classes in many different disciplines and know you are working towards an SHSU degree earned online, not a dot com online degree.
THE FACES OF ONLINE LE ARNING
“Online learners cannot afford to lose a day’s work due to technical issues. They are busy people with tight schedules,”
The college experience has changed dramatically, especially due to COVID-19. Today’s students are more culturally diverse, older and more likely to work while in school. Many are the first in their family to attend college. Some are finally completing a degree they started years ago before the complexities of life got in the way. Others are expanding their professional careers by working a full-time job while obtaining their master’s or doctorate degree online. Theresa Doolittle first stepped on campus at Sam Houston State University in 1987. In May 2019, Doolittle finished what she started more than 30 years ago by earning her bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies. Doolittle says it is safe to say a lot has changed since the early days of her academic journey.
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EDUCATION EVERYWHERE, FOR EVERYONE | Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University
“ ... I adjusted and soon realized my age afforded me better studying and time management skills and made me a more grounded and motivated student.” “Being in classes with fellow students half my age was daunting,” Doolittle said. “I was behind the technology curve and found all the online learning resources scary at first. But, I adjusted and soon realized my age afforded me better studying and time management skills and made me a more grounded and motivated student.” Doolittle diligently took night classes, online classes and even summer classes to complete her degree with honors, while also being a full-time employee of Conroe ISD and the mother of two teenagers. She credits SHSU Online for helping her achieve this goal on her own schedule, and sees her children as the biggest motivators during those challenging years. “SHSU Online has helped me become a better asset to Conroe ISD, as well as increase my confidence in my abilities with technology and teaching,” Doolittle said. “Today’s classrooms have laptops and interactive projection screens that provide all sorts of resources for students and teachers. With all these new learning possibilities, I feel that future educators will need to have a firm grasp on technology in order to successfully educate their students.”
Academic advising for Spring 2021 term now open!
Theresa Doolittle
SNAPSHOT OF TODAY’ S COLLEGE STUDENT
are 1 in 4 50% are financially take a independent. caring for a year off child. in before is age starting attend college part time at school. or older. some point.
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SHSU ONLINE: SHSU received top ranking for online colleges in Texas by Study.Com Sam Houston State named by Inside Higher Ed as one of the top 100 “biggest movers” in the U.S. Onlinecolleges.Com ranked SHSU no. 1 in Texas for online degree programs
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