Take Online Learning for a Test Drive: UMUC 411

Ever wondered what it's like to take an online course? So did lots of UMUC students before they enrolled. In an effort to demystify the online course experience, UMUC created a comprehensive online trial course called UMUC 411.

Developed using the WebTycho online learning platform, this free, weeklong orientation lets potential students get a feel for what online learning is like while interacting with UMUC faculty, staff, current students and alumni. During UMUC 411, participants can:

• Submit practice assignments
• Participate in forum discussions
• Chat one-on-one with UMUC 411 participants and moderators

Kimberly David-Chung, director of Strategic Enrollment Initiatives at UMUC, says people interested in UMUC can get a fresh perspective on online learning through UMUC 411. "The class is highly interactive and provides a full immersion experience which students report gives them the confidence they needed to pursue their education with UMUC," she says.

UMUC 411 participants engage with faculty, staff (financial aid, library, advising, career services and military departments) and student representatives, and ask any questions they might have about the UMUC experience. "(Participants) can get quick answers to their questions in a comfortable and engaging environment," David-Chung explains. "Students often comment that they got answers to questions they didn't even realize they had."

Want to learn more about UMUC 411? Read all about the course.

UMUC Student Relocates, Uses Online Classes to Finish Her Degree

2009 was a year of challenges for a lot of people around the country, including those in the UMUC community. UMUC undergraduate student Cecilia Matos faced losing her job and the tough realities of life without a steady income. But Matos rallied, using her talents as a baker to open "Hope's Bread," a bread-making business she ran with her daughter that kept her financially afloat.

Living up to her business' name, Matos began 2010 with hope in the form of a job opportunity in Boston. Soon, she will move to Massachusetts to begin her new career, and will take her program with her. As a gerontology major, Matos can complete her undergraduate degree entirely online, while selecting a class schedule that will fit her new professional demands.

Luckily for many UMUC students faced with similar situations, a variety of UMUC classes and degree programs are available entirely online, so there is no need to worry about finishing a degree if you can't step foot in a traditional classroom. Have you relocated during your time at UMUC? Share your experience with us in the comments.

Read Matos' story online at Gazette.net.

Discerning the Difference Between Online Schools

This MSNBC article discussed the differences between for-profit online universities and non-profit online universities, such as UMUC. Geared toward military students, it offered some helpful information about sifting through the marketing and evaluating choices for higher education.

The article also reported that graduates from UMUC earn higher median incomes than graduates from some for-profit online schools. One of the main reasons:UMUC is an accredited university.

Accreditation proves that an institution has been evaluated according to specific standards and criteria created by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the United States Department of Education (USDE). What that means to you, and your potential employers, is that your degree and school are legitimate and respected.

What do you look for in an online school program? Why would you choose one school over another?

Tell Us What You Think of UMUC’s New Web Site

Happy New Year!

UMUC is blasting off the new year in style—Web style, that is. Check out the newly revamped UMUC Web site. We’ve been testing out ways to best present UMUC to potential students and launched the new home page this week. I, for one, think it looks pretty darn good.

Check out the easy-to-navigate menus and rotating feature window—it’s flashy and informative, not to mention easier to read and use than the “classic” version of the UMUC Web site.

Take a peek at UMUC’s new digs and let us know what you think by posting comments on this blog post.

Any and all feedback on the new Web site design is greatly appreciated. We're still working out some kinks, and please be aware that not all the pages you visit on the site will have the new look. Your comments will be super helpful as we get the rest of the site looking spiffy.

Baltimore Veteran Learns More Through Online Education

Dealing with life's pressures can often be difficult enough even without the additional demands associated with going back to school. Baltimore veteran Kerry Brandt is overcoming those pressures to fulfill his personal mission of earning his degree. Tell us your story or see Kerry's full story in the Baltimore Sun.


After earning 62 credits from local community colleges and University of Maryland, Baltimore, 46-year-old Brandt is completing his degree online at UMUC. Short on time, yet motivated to be a “professional with a degree,” Brandt drew on his experience in Marine boot camp to help him complete his unfinished mission.

Brandt has discovered that online learning offers a different type of community where, "you learn a lot more than what's in the textbook, because people bring their life experiences to their responses, and they really have time to sit and think before posting something." He continues, "I think it's more challenging than the traditional classroom setting. You have to use more thought and effort to interact."

About

I would like to personally welcome you to the University of Maryland University College's (UMUC) official blog.

We launched the Experience UMUC blog to allow current and prospective students, friends, family and alumni to connect and share their unique experiences—in general and at UMUC. Experience UMUC is your gateway to an interactive and multimedia-rich dialogue where your voice is heard. We'll lead conversations about online education, going back to school, study tips, career advancement and financing your career, but that's just the beginning. Your comments and feedback extend the conversation to include your specific interests, topics or concerns.

We look forward to hearing from you and the 90,000 students we're proud to serve that are located in more than 23 countries around the world.

Andy at UMUC


UMUC Overview
Founded in 1947, UMUC is one of 11 accredited, degree-granting institutions in the University System of Maryland (USM). Offering a broad range of cutting-edge classes, UMUC has earned a global reputation for excellence. Headquartered in Adelphi, Maryland, UMUC has classroom locations in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, Europe, and Asia, and provides award-winning online classes to students worldwide.

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