Resources

How to Select a Provider

Here are some questions you should ask in order to compare and choose an online education provider for your bachelor's degree program.

Is the school regionally accredited?
There are six regional accrediting associations in the US. If a school is accredited, all the other regionally accredited schools generally consider its credits "valid". However that does not mean that the other schools will accept its credits toward a specific degree.

An accredited college is one whose accrediting agency has been evaluated by CHEA (Council for Higher Education Accreditation www.chea.org) and recognized as meeting acceptable levels of quality and performance.
How do I decide which degree would be the best for me?
Read the list of required courses and assess if they interest you and could give you the additional knowledge you believe you need to further your development. Many companies do not care which bachelor's degree you receive. Research the degrees necessary for Telecommunication Technicians from the Bureau of Labor Statistics http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos188.htm.
Is Prior Learning Assessment available at the school?
If you have gained knowledge from your work experience or self-study, you may be able to demonstrate that knowledge and gain academic credit. Check to see if the school is open to CLEP tests, challenge exams, ACE credits, or portfolio assessment.
How accessible are the faculty, advisors and other student services personnel during evening and weekends?
This is a good way to find out how adult friendly the school is. If you cannot get the help you need (Tech Support and/or academic help) in the evenings or weekends, then you may want to look elsewhere. Look at the class size and the faculty student ratio and assess if you believe the faculty will be responsive.
What type of distance learning technology will be available?
Colleges and universities use a variety of course management systems, but the basic structure of each is very similar and includes lectures, assignments (both uploading and downloading), chat rooms, demos, etc. The key to success is to make sure you have the minimum hardware and software required to interact successfully with the school you're considering. If you have a particular school in mind, ask for a preview or a demonstration of an online course.


Resources How to Select a Provider How to Get the Job Associations			Resources - How to Select a Provider Here are some questions you should ask in order to compare and choose an online education provider for your bachelor's degree program. Is the school regionally accredited? There are six regional accrediting associations in the US. If a school is accredited, all the other regionally accredited schools generally consider its credits "valid". However that does not mean that the other schools will accept its credits toward a specific degree. An accredited college is one whose accrediting agency has been evaluated by CHEA (Council for Higher Education Accreditation www.chea.org) and recognized as meeting acceptable levels of quality and performance. How do I decide which degree would be the best for me? Read the list of required courses and assess if they interest you and could give you the additional knowledge you believe you need to further your development. Many companies do not care which bachelor's degree you receive. Research the degrees necessary for Telecommunication Technicians from the Bureau of Labor Statistics http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos188.htm. Is Prior Learning Assessment available at the school? If you have gained knowledge from your work experience or self-study, you may be able to demonstrate that knowledge and gain academic credit. Check to see if the school is open to CLEP tests, challenge exams, ACE credits, or portfolio assessment. How accessible are the faculty, advisors and other student services personnel during evening and weekends? This is a good way to find out how adult friendly the school is. If you cannot get the help you need (Tech Support and/or academic help) in the evenings or weekends, then you may want to look elsewhere. Look at the class size and the faculty student ratio and assess if you believe the faculty will be responsive. What type of distance learning technology will be available? Colleges and universities use a variety of course management systems, but the basic structure of each is very similar and includes lectures, assignments (both uploading and downloading), chat rooms, demos, etc. The key to success is to make sure you have the minimum hardware and software required to interact successfully with the school you're considering. If you have a particular school in mind, ask for a preview or a demonstration of an online course.