AMBASSADOR OF THE MONTH
CHAMBER CONNECTION
Mississippi State University Distance Education Helping Improve State’s Workforce BY DR. STEVE TAYLOR
DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR DISTANCE EDUCATION, MSU
Sheila Davis, sales representative with PPI, was awarded Ambassador of the Month for January. Sheila participated in six of nine CDF ribbon cuttings and events, recruited one new CDF member, and mentored one CDF member. Congratulations, Sheila!
MARCH 2014
A company must have a workforce that is both well trained and well educated in order to succeed in the today’s highly competitive business world. Training helps employees perform better in their current jobs, but a college education makes them better able to handle today’s diverse and increasingly complex work environment. Unfortunately, for most employees the idea of giving up their jobs, uprooting their families, and moving to a college town is out of the question. Fortunately, in our technologically driven world college can come to the student instead of the other way around. This is exactly what Mississippi State University (MSU) is doing. MSU is making it easier than ever for Mississippians who don’t live near a university or can’t take time off from their jobs to earn a 4-year college degree. The University offers 24 fully online undergraduate and graduate academic degrees, and six online certificate programs. These programs serve pri-
marily non-traditional students-adults working full-time. And while distance students are always welcome to come to campus, usually they can earn the degree without ever leaving their home community. An MSU degree offered by distance carries the same accreditation as do campus degrees. The prestigious organizations that accredit MSU require online and face-to-face courses to be equally rigorous, and almost all are taught by the same MSU faculty members who teach on campus. So while the format is different, the content and rigor of the programs are identical. Just because they are at a distance doesn’t mean distance students are at a disadvantage. These students receive hands-on assistance from the Center for Distance Education throughout their academic career. Most distance students are working adults who don’t have time to find answers to their questions. If the coordinators at the Center can’t answer those questions, they’ll put the student in touch with the people
who can. At all times the emphasis is on quality customer service to ensure all distance students receive the support they need to succeed. Distance students also have the opportunity to complete a free online student orientation that introduces them to their departments, the University, and to the array of support services that are available to them. The MSU Library even has a librarian whose sole job is to assist distance students. Because they are Mississippi State students, distance students can get an official MSU identification card at no cost. Obtaining a college education can be expensive, but MSU is an affordable option. Distance students have access to the same financial aid and scholarship opportunities as main campus students. Just like main campus students who served in the military, distance students who are veterans are afforded the full range of services and assistance offered by the MSU Center for America’s Veterans. Certainly having a college de-
gree benefits the individual in terms of higher income. But the employer also benefits by having a more productive and flexible workforce. In fact, distance education can be an excellent economic development tool for our state. Less than 19% of Mississippi’s citizens have a 4-year college degree. Given the never-ending change and complexity of 21st century jobs, such a low percentage simply isn’t acceptable. Yet some employers are reluctant to provide educational opportunities to their workforce. They say that, “If I help an employee become better educated, they’ll leave.” But as people involved in Mississippi’s workforce development have countered, “Suppose they don’t get educated and they stay?” Think about it – will your company be better off with an educated or uneducated workforce? Today, higher education, just like skills training, is a workforce development issue. For more information, visit distance.msstate.edu or call tollfree at 1.844.362.3706. A“live chat” is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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