“A friend of mine spent two years and twenty thousand dollars to go back and finish his degree . . . I wasn’t interested in spending that kind of time or money, and with the Flexible Option, I didn’t have to.”
It took some time for Eric Stanfield to find the right bachelor’s program. But once he did, it only took him six months to graduate with his degree.
Eric began his college career studying engineering physics. Then accounting. Then computer science. Along the way, he earned a two-year associate degree.
“After repeatedly changing majors, I found myself looking at yet another year of school (and tuition and rent) just to finish a few classes,” said Eric. “So I left school. It was the dot-com 90s and I had computer skills. I was able to find a job immediately and earn a good living, so that’s what I did.”
Today, Eric works as a network architect, the latest role in a technical career he’s enjoyed for nearly 20 years. His employer provides consulting services around the design and implementation of enterprise networks.
“The lack of a bachelor’s degree was never a problem for me. It never stopped me from getting a job or a promotion or a raise. In this field, employers very quickly start placing more value on your practical experience and ability to deliver than past education. So I really had no incentive to interrupt my career and go back to school.”
But Eric wanted a degree just the same. Because he had put in the time. He had the skills and knowledge. The only thing he didn’t have was a bachelor’s to show for it.
“To a certain extent it did feel like a loose end,” said Eric. “[It was] something that I wanted to accomplish for myself.”
With the University of Wisconsin Flexible Option, Eric was able to earn a respected degree on his own time and terms, and use the knowledge and skills he’d gained from past experience to accelerate his time to graduation. All without sacrificing time away from work or family.
“A friend of mine spent two years and twenty thousand dollars to go back and finish his degree . . . I wasn’t interested in spending that kind of time or money, and with the Flexible Option, I didn’t have to.”
Fast forward to August 2015. Eric has just earned his Bachelor of Science in Information Science and Technology (IST) from the UW-Milwaukee School of Information Studies (SOIS), fulfilling his personal goal.
“There’s truth in the advertising for UW Flex. This format really is aimed at working professionals who have experience in their fields. For the adult who is self-motivated and disciplined, this is an excellent program.”
“A University of Wisconsin degree—not some no-name degree”
Eric is the type of person who only does something if he knows he can do it well. “A lot of times in my professional role, I am the guy in the room whom people are looking to for answers. I need to be able to identify the best solution to a problem from various options in order to provide real value to a customer.”
Eric used that same care and consideration when selecting his flexible IST program.
“My biggest concern before starting the program was that it is online. I feel like ‘online’ is still kind of a stigma for some people. But the Flex people were very clear about the fact that my degree would not be any different from degrees earned by people who attend classes on campus. It’s the same degree, a University of Wisconsin degree—not some no-name degree.”
“The flexibility is great. I loved being able to work at my own pace and move ahead as quickly as I could.”
And yet, the online competency-based format fit his life like no college program before. “The flexibility is great. I loved being able to work at my own pace and move ahead as quickly as I could.”
Saving time also meant saving money. “The pricing for UW Flex is attractive. I like the all-you-can-learn subscription periods. With my work experience, I was able to move quickly through material I already knew. During my first subscription period, I probably completed eight or nine competency sets.”
All told, Eric completed his degree in six months and saved thousands of dollars compared to traditional programs.
Get a UW Flexible Option Degree Guide
Download an introductory guide (PDF) to the self-paced, competency-based UW Flexible Option programs, including details about costs, admission requirements, and more.
Independent study with personalized support
For many returning adult learners, the self-directed nature of the Flexible Option format is a big change from traditional on-campus or online degree programs. Rather than be led by instructors and locked into set semester schedules, UW Flex students manage their own learning, on their own schedules.
“The Flexible Option Information Science and Technology program allowed me to balance my studies with work and family. I am used to setting my work schedule to a large degree and it was great to be able to do so with my schoolwork as well, working on it anytime, from anywhere.”
Eric’s IST program did not require him to sit through classes or lectures; nor did he spend precious time or money studying things he already knew. Instead, Eric studied on his own and focused only on the things he needed to learn. He chose when he studied, how much he studied, and what learning resources he wanted to use, whether it was reading materials provided by the program or online resources he found on his own.
“At first I was worried about not having direct access to faculty,” said Eric. “But my coach was always there, like a lifeline to the program. I can’t stress enough how critical she was to my success in the program.”
From his very first day, Eric’s success coach served as his trusted adviser and go-to person whenever he had questions or needed guidance. This coach helped Eric to create a learning plan and timeline, dealt with sorting out transfer credits from multiple schools, introduced him to the online learning system, and helped him navigate assessments—the means by which Flex students make progress toward their degrees.
“With Flex,” Eric says, “everything is considered an assessment. Assessments can be exams, quizzes, writing essays and research papers, and other activities.”
Eric chose when he studied, how much he studied, and what learning resources he wanted to use.
As soon as Eric passed one assessment, he was free to move on to the next. “While each assessment was challenging in its own way, having a lot of past work experience in the field really made a lot of the work much easier than it would have otherwise been.”
Throughout his program, Eric’s success coach checked in on him periodically to ask how he was progressing and if he needed assistance. They developed a great relationship. “My coach was excellent. She always answered my questions and helped me get what I needed. If all Flex coaches are like her, the students are in good hands.”
Eric’s top three Flexible Option features
When asked what he liked best about his Flexible Option IST program, Eric offered a surprising answer.
“I like that many Flex courses provide the reading materials. The information is scanned and I just downloaded it to my iPad and read at night.”
The self-paced, online format and dedicated academic success coach round out Eric’s top three Flexible Option features.
He also found the assessments interesting. “For some of them, I would log in and launch the testing program. Then I would hold up my laptop and scan the room and under the desk with its webcam. The test interface used a keystroke logger and the webcam to make sure I stayed honest as I took tests, and I thought that really spoke to the legitimacy of the program.”
The rewarding feeling of having it all
Now that Eric has graduated from his flexible IST program, he finally has a recognized and respected bachelor’s degree to go with his extensive skills and knowledge. While he very much likes the career he has now, he also appreciates the additional opportunities and bargaining power his new degree affords him.
“I would definitely recommend the Flexible Option to working adults who have work experience and skills,” Eric concludes. “If you can stay on top of things and manage your time, it’s a great choice.”
___________________
To find out more about the UW Flexible Option and whether this competency-based education format is a good fit for you, contact a friendly enrollment adviser today at 1-877-895-3276 or flex@uwex.wisconsin.edu.
Explore UW Flexible Option Programs
More Student Stories
A Lifetime as a Computer Wiz, and Soon an Information Science and Technology Degree to Show for It
Busy ER Nurse Earns BSN Online in Less Than a Year Through UW Flexible Option
Why One Busy Nurse Chose the UW Flexible Option’s RN to BSN Program
Busy IT Specialist and Bass Player Still Finds Time to Earn His Bachelor’s in Information Science and Technology Degree
CT Technologist Finds New Challenges, Direction with Competency-Based Diagnostic Imaging Program
Competency-Based Degrees a Smart, Affordable Option for Busy Professionals Like Craig Kilgo