Editor’s note: For returning adult learners, a major benefit of the competency-based UW Flexible Option is the ability to accelerate progress using existing knowledge. Flex student Dan Fitch is an exceptional case. Having completed a whopping 33 credits in a single three-month subscription period, he saved an estimated $7,500 in tuition and 9 months’ time (compared to traditional programs) in just his first subscription period alone. This is his story.
When Dan Fitch took a temp job with the Wisconsin Legislature in 1998, he thought it would be just that: temporary. Now, 16 years later, Fitch, a software developer, has worked his way through the ranks from a general software administrator to a senior programmer. He handles everything from creating websites with custom developments to apps for various departments around the legislature. While the lack of a college degree hasn’t held Fitch back, he says it’s time to take that next step, earn his degree, and broaden the opportunities to use his talents.