Return to School Without Leaving Your Family
As a parent, you often make sacrifices in order to keep your children safe, healthy, and nurtured. Many times this means giving up time for yourself or postponing your own goals to provide a positive environment. Sometimes, however, taking care of your own needs allows you to create an environment that is stronger and more positive.
What if you could be in school at the same time your children were? What if you could be a role model for your children and show them that they can achieve their goals and have a successful family life as well?
While going back to school can be a challenge for students of any age, it is especially more difficult for non-traditional students. This group of students includes those that work full-time, or have children, or have been out of school for a while (or sometimes all of those!) These students need to have programs that fit their schedule and are held in the evenings and weekends, or are accessible 24/7 via the Internet.
Making the decision to return to school is a big one. It requires forethought about the time and money that it will require in addition to planning to incorporate a program into your current situation. However, if you do not live near a 4-year university, your options become more limited and fitting a return to school into a life with a job, children, and family may not be a reality.
The rise of distance learning as a viable means of delivering education programs makes returning to college easier than in the past. For families here on Maui that is also true. Through the University of Hawai`i Center on Maui, students can earn Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees without having to leave Maui, quit their job, or miss major family events.
Currently the University Center offers 14 Bachelor’s degrees, 12 Master’s degrees, and 10 certificates. These credentials are geared towards growing industries or stable segments of Maui’s job market. A sampling of choices includes Bachelor’s degrees in Accounting, Marketing, Education, Psychology and Nursing. Master’s degree offerings include Master’s degrees in Business Administration, Human Resources, and Social Work. These programs are offered through distance learning by the University of Hawai’i Manoa, University of Hawai’i West Oahu, and University of Hawai’i Hilo. Students can take courses through online “classrooms”, via Internet video-conferencing, or through the HITS2/ITV televised system.
While distance learning affords these students greater access and flexibility, the distance learning environment also offers its own challenges. Students may feel disconnected from the instructor or other students if there is no physical presence. Because students have technically transferred to another campus (though physically remaining on Maui) they may not know whom to contact with questions or how to solve problems that may arise.
That is why the University Center is charged with offering and supporting access to programs not-readily available on island. The Center works to ensure students have a local point-of-contact on Maui, can use local campus-based services, and feel supported and connected to the program and instructors they have chosen. Services offered by the Center include pre-admissions advising so that students working toward an advanced degree are on track when choosing courses to meet future pre-requisites and fulfilling degree program admissions requirements. The Center also provides a new student orientation at the beginning of each semester for students new to distance learning programs to help those students find learning resources, overcome technology concerns, and meet and socialize with fellow students in the same programs. While students are in a program they can visit Center staff at any time and ask questions or request assistance.
The Center is located on the University of Hawai’i Maui College campus in the Laulima building (next to the food court.) You may contact them at 984-3525 or via email [email protected]. They’ll be happy to set up an appointment for you to discuss degree options and the best individual course of action.
