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especially if they are a first-time online student. That way, they know what they are getting into. You would be surprised. We still have some students on dial-up.” SR Education Group, an online education publisher, recently ranked South Texas College Online at the very top of their 2016 Most Affordable Online Colleges list. Published on OnlineU.org, the ranking identified the college as the most affordable online college in the nation. The ranking is significant, as South Texas College Online is experiencing record growth in student enrollment. In fall 2015, South Texas College Online hit a record high enrollment of 5,925 students. Six percent of the total STC student body took classes completely online, while 17 percent took at least one online class. For students needing assistance, the college employs a full staff and help desk for support services from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. The department is currently in the process of establishing 24/7 service in the near future. “Don’t be afraid of taking an online class,” Peña said. “It does require a lot of a student’s time and they have to do everything on their own, but that is the real world.” When it was all done, Guerra said three of her five semesters at STC were taken completely online. She obtained her associate degree in interdisciplinary studies
“When you take classes online, you have to be dedicated. My first semester was all online, and I loved it. You can literally do your homework from the convenience of your own home, or at a library.”
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at South Texas College and eventually graduated from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley with a bachelor degree in health science. “When you take classes online, you have to be dedicated,” Guerra said. “My first semester was all online, and I loved it. You can literally do your homework from the convenience of your own home, or at a library. You don't have to necessarily have a schedule and come to class. And I really liked that. “It's so convenient to have classes online instead of having to make my schedule convenient to the school.”
JUL/AUG 2018
S e l e n a G u e r r a , STC stu den t