UW Flexible Option is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Over the past decade, the competency-based program has changed many students’ lives by offering them an accommodating, affordable education that is 100% online and built for working, busy adult learners.
UW Flexible Option offers a variety of programs in business, healthcare, and technology-related fields. Since its inception, UW Flexible Option has launched several degree and certificate programs and has graduated nearly 1,500 students. Current programs include: one associate degree, five bachelor’s completion degrees, four certificates and one microcredential.
“The UW Flexible Option certificates and degrees demonstrate the Universities of Wisconsin’s commitment to winning the war for talent,” said Johannes Britz, Universities of Wisconsin Interim Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. “Helping adult learners meet their career goals while developing the skills they can immediately apply on the job, also benefiting Wisconsin’s employers. We are going to be relentless in providing new opportunities for busy nontraditional students in this space so that they can learn on their schedule while working and living life.”
UW Flexible Option was created to provide adult learners with a convenient way to complete their degree while learning practical skills they can immediately apply on the job or use to move up in their careers, like cybersecurity expert Torry Crass did. Crass earned his UW-Milwaukee Bachelor of Science in Information Science and Technology (IST) offered through UW Flexible Option in spring 2023 using credits previously earned in college.
Like Crass, students who have already earned an associate degree or certification (or who have attended college in the past) may be eligible to receive credit toward their bachelor’s degree.
Antwaun Sanders, who received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration at UW-Parkside through UW Flexible Option, began the program after taking an extended break from on-campus education due to personal reasons. Despite the many challenges he had faced in school prior to enrolling in UW Flexible Option, he felt supported throughout his time finishing his bachelor’s.
“The professors answering emails, making themselves available for virtual meetings and for feedback on concepts that you might be struggling with: I was like, ‘Wow, they actually care about you getting your degree.’ They’re not just trying to get you out of their class. They really care about you succeeding. I felt that throughout the entire program,” he says.
UW-Parkside also recently partnered with Nicolet College to offer a direct transfer program for students. Through the agreements, graduates of Nicolet College’s Associate of Applied Science in Business Management can continue their education remotely by transitioning to the UW Flexible Option BSBA program. Graduates are automatically eligible for the UW Flexible Option BSBA program provided they meet the admission criteria. They’ll also receive up to 60 transfer credits for the BSBA program.
Graduates of UW Flexible Option have gone on to other degree programs and careers. Andrew Min, alumnus of the UW-Milwaukee Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences: Health Sciences program offered through the UW Flexible Option, realized that teaching is his true calling after being in the program. Andrew is an occupational therapist by training, but needed his bachelor’s degree at a U.S. institution after receiving his initial education internationally.
Andrew, who now teaches occupational therapy at a technical college in Washington, encourages his own students to enroll in UW Flexible Option like he did.
“I think this is a great way to advance your education. It’s an economical option. For someone who is already in a health-related field, this is really going to build upon the knowledge that you already have, and it’ll open so many more doors of opportunity after you finish this undergrad experience,” he says.
UW Flexible Option also offers students who have disabilities an opportunity to excel. Amanda Kauffman, who received the UW-Milwaukee Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Health Sciences: offered through UW Flexible Option, has hearing loss and wasn’t excelling in a traditional classroom environment.
“I think it was my saving grace. I think the fact that [learning in-person] even with accommodations was so difficult for me because you’re dealing with different professors, personalities, even just talking levels. Only so much can be accommodated for you. So here, I love that it’s just all up front. You have all the information in your syllabus. Everything is very detailed,” Amanda says.
“And that was my problem before: A lecture, for example. You’re in person. You can take so many notes for so long. But what if you don’t hear something? What if you misinterpret something? And then you don’t understand that lesson plan. But here, there’s videos of lectures. I can go back and just rewatch this lecture and not be like, oh, I misunderstood this or anything like that,” she adds.
Are you interested in getting your degree? With UW Flexible Option, you’ll be able to:
- Build on the expertise you have already developed on the job. Use the knowledge and skills you gained in your professional experience or previous academic work to move through program content faster. In addition, most degree programs will transfer up to 60 credits from previous course work or an associates degree.
- Fit school into your life. Start any month! Without traditional semester schedules, group work, required class discussions or scheduled log-on requirements, you can earn your degree whenever it works for you.
- Control your pace. You can complete assignments when you have time, and pause your subscription to accommodate major life events (like marriage, moving, having children, or changing jobs).
- Enjoy the UW Flexible Option Tuition Guarantee. Worried about tuition hikes and the rising costs of a college education? With UW Flexible Option, your tuition price is locked in until you graduate. Even if the institutional rate increases, your individual rate remains the same. With a competency-based education, you control your subscription.
To learn more, call an enrollment adviser at 608-800-6762 or email at flex@uwex.wisconsin.edu.