Distance Learning Programs at SUNY Empire State College

Distance learning is an excellent way for a busy individual who does not have the freedom to work around scheduled class times to earn a college degree. Distance learning programs are formatted in a way that allows a student to complete courses at home via the Internet. The online class environment is very different from that in a traditional classroom setting, but the classes are formatted in a way that allows a student to learn just as much.

Empire State College is a part of the State University of New York system and has an excellent distance learning program. Students can earn certificates, as well as Associates, Bachelors and Masters degrees without ever having to enter a classroom. Students who are accepted into the distance learning program at Empire State College are eligible for all types of financial aid; TAP, PELL, Federal Student Loans, etc...

I was part of the distance learning program at SUNY Empire State College from 2005 to 2008. I graduated in May 2008 with a Bachelors of Science in Human Services, with a concentration in child and family development. A few years prior to applying to Empire State College I attended a local community college in my home town. Though I liked the classes I took there I was not yet ready to put my entire energy into my education at that time and took a few years off. Having attended classes in a traditional setting at eighteen and later taking classes online in my early twenties I can honestly say that I prefer the online environment.

I was assigned a temporary adviser during my first semester at Empire State College. She helped me learn about class scheduling and New York State's general education requirements. I took the core classes; math, science, english, etc... my first couple of semesters and then I decided on the type of degree I wanted to attain.

Empire State College allows a student to build their own degree program. Students choose courses they feel would best fit their degree and concentration and submit a proposal to a degree planning committee. If the plan is accepted the student will take the classes written in the degree plan and be able to graduate when they have completed all courses. There are some courses that must be in the degree program and that all students are required to take regardless of their area of study.

Ordering books for Empire State College classes is easy. There is an online bookstore on the school's website and students who get financial aid do not have to pay upfront as long as their aid will cover the book costs. Delivery of the ordered books is quick and I usually received my textbooks within three business days of placing an order.

The classes are set up in a way that allows a student to know what is expected of them from day one. Each class has a syllabus and a schedule that needs to be followed. Each class has a professor that students can reach via E-mail or private message on the website. Some professors even give out a phone number that students can call during certain hours. It was my experience that teachers were very responsive to questions about course work and answers came quickly. I even had one professor who tutored me over the phone in a subject that I was struggling with.

Distance learning worked for me but may not be for everyone. Distance learning requires a great deal of time commitment and self-teaching. Students are required to read a great deal from textbooks each week as well as from posted written lectures and online readings. Students cannot be monitored when taking tests so most classes require students to display their knowledge in formal essays or research papers. I was was a full-time student for all four years and most weeks I had at least two lengthy papers I was expected to write. On really busy weeks I had four. Distance learning requires students to be self motivated. If a student does not hand in an assignment or do their reading there is no one to chastise him for this. Teachers may send a message to the student but that is no where near as effective as a verbal reprimand. The ideal distance learning student is one who is devoted to their education and is good at managing her time.

Distance learning students are not completely disconnected from fellow classmates. Most courses have required discussions in which students must post answers to questions about readings and discuss the answers with classmates. Many teachers grade on the quality of discussion posts. Discussions are helpful because they allow classmates to share ideas with one another and students can help each other if there is something that someone is unclear about.

I enjoyed my time as a distance learning student at Empire State College. I liked the freedom I had to study on my own time and to submit assignments at 3AM if that was the only time I was able to work on them. During the last three quarters of my four years with Empire State College I was pregnant with my first child, gave birth and was raising an infant, and when he was eleven months old I found out was pregnant again. In spite of all that was happening in my life I still maintained a full-time course load, never took a semester off, and never had a final grade below a B. Had I not had the option of completing my education from home I am not certain earning a Bachelors of Science would have been possible for me. It was tough at times and there were many late nights and times of exhaustion but this is typical of any college student regardless of what route they take to get their education. Overall my experience with Empire State College and with distance learning was a good one and I would recommend distance learning to anyone who wants a college degree but does not have time to go to scheduled classes.