Submitted by Bob Edwards
Public Relations Dept. Asst.
Glenville State College
Glenville, WV - Every year, thousands of eager students enter college with the intention of earning a degree in their chosen field. Most earn a Bachelor's Degree and head off into the work force. Some choose to continue their education in graduate school. However, there are other students who, for one reason or another, leave school without completing their degree.
Some quit for financial reasons, some simply lose interest, and others drop out for medical reasons, family hardships, job opportunities, and a host of other justifiable circumstances. Many of those that drop out are very close to earning their degree, but simply did not finish because life got in the way. Glenville State College offers students like these an innovative program that makes it possible to complete their degree.
The Regents Bachelor of Arts Degree (RBA) Program, offered at GSC, was developed by the institutions of higher education in West Virginia and is specifically focused on the adult student whose pursuit of a college degree has been interrupted. Through this program, college credit can be awarded to students for work experience and alternative learning experiences that can count toward degree requirements. Rigid specialization requirements are not imposed for Regents Degree candidates.
"Sometimes life circumstances simply prevent students from completing their college degree. The RBA is perfect for those students. It affords them the opportunity to obtain a college degree and allows them to use life experiences to fulfill some of the requirements. It is very fulfilling for me to have the opportunity to work with students in the RBA Degree Program," said Mary Alltop, GSC Educational Counselor and Coordinator of the RBA Program.
In this program, college equivalent credits may be earned by either submitting a portfolio that documents and validates that the learning outcomes of life experiences are equivalent to academic college courses or presenting appropriate documents for which standard equivalents have been adopted. The RBA is designed as a viable accredited and efficient avenue for degree completion that recognizes the legitimacy of all appropriate educational experiences.
Adult students have taken advantage of the program to finish their college degree and open doors in their career field. Thirty-year old Zach enrolled at GSC in the fall of 1994. The history major left school after completing more than three years of study and just nine credit hours short of earning a degree. He found work as a water testing technician with an engineering firm, then as a News Director for a radio station. In 2005, he accepted a position working with after school programs. As part of his contract, he was required to work on completing his degree. When Zach contacted Glenville State College to inquire about finishing his degree, he was delighted to learn that GSC offers a Regents Degree for students in his situation.
Working with counselors at GSC, he put together and submitted a portfolio of his work experience. After being reviewed by GSC faculty members, his portfolio was approved for six hours of Education course college equivalent credit and six hours of Environmental Science course college equivalent credit. He was awarded his Regents Bachelor of Arts Degree from Glenville State College in 2007. "This is a great program. Glenville State College made it possible for me to complete my degree without having to interrupt my career. Having my degree will certainly give me more options in life," he said.
Chad of Charleston, West Virginia, is thirty three. He graduated from GSC in December of 2007 with a Regents Bachelor of Arts Degree. He also left school before completing his degree. A friend encouraged him to contact GSC and inquire about the RBA program. "Completing the RBA program at GSC has been a very rewarding experience. The counselors worked with me to find classes that I needed at times that fit my schedule. The ability to take classes online not only saved me a lot of money but time off work as well. The RBA Program is just what adult students need to get ahead in their careers," he said.
Anna was enrolled at Glenville State College in 1982-84. In 1988, she completed an Associate Degree at Parkersburg Community College (now West Virginia University Parkersburg). Her employer, where she had worked for twelve years, required her to get a Bachelors Degree. "I was unaware that Glenville had a Board of Regents Program until a friend told me to check into it. Before that, I was trying to work with WVU-P and was getting nowhere. GSC was very prompt in looking over my transcripts and then letting me know what hours I would need.
I chose to take classes since I didn't need very many hours, and GSC was good to work with me since I had a full-time job that required travel. The instructors/professors at GSC were very understanding to my needs. When the time came to do an internship/portfolio, I received excellent information and help from Mary Alltop. I work with the state universities and the health science students, and the Regents Bachelor of Arts Program helped me to meet requirements of my job description. Having my bachelor degree has also opened up other jobs and opportunities," she said.
Tina, a forty-three year old mother of two, says the flexibility of the RBA Program was the key to earning her degree. "It was a more financially sound way for me to get my degree because I was raising two small sons and working full time. There would have been no way I could have afforded the time or money to continue my education without this program. My RBA Degree has greatly enhanced my ability to find a job."
Duane Chapman, Glenville State College Vice President for Enrollment Management, believes the RBA Program is simply one more tool that can be used to assist adult students in completing their education and bettering their lives. "Many of these students have already invested a great deal of time, money, and effort in pursuit of a college degree.
The RBA Program provides the opportunity to achieve that. The RBA Program is helping us reach our stated goal of increasing the number of college graduates in West Virginia. We are reaching out to help adult students who otherwise may have slipped through the cracks and never completed their degree," said Chapman.
According to Chapman, 1,089 students have received a Regents Bachelor of Arts Degree from Glenville State College since 1974. Adult students who have received a Regents Bachelor of Arts Degree from Glenville State College have found it to be instrumental in increasing their earning potential, being promoted in their career, and even being accepted for graduate school.
Students who have completed at least twenty-four credit hours at a state college or university and graduated from an accredited high school at least four years ago are candidates for the RBA Program at Glenville State College.
To learn more about the Regents Bachelor of Arts Program at Glenville State College, contact Mary Alltop at (304) 462-7361 ext. 7106 or by email at mary.alltop@glenville.edu.
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