To qualify to use the designation, a college or university must have a record of student loan default below the annual national average student loan default rate as reported by all accredited educational institutions participating in specific federal student loan programs or not exceeding the national average by more than twenty-five percent. When students are repaying educational loans, that indicates they chose a college or university providing students a greater level of assistance and support, providing higher quality instruction, and offering economically relevant programs leading to successful career paths. Those attributes are what students should seek and expect in their choice of a college or university, whether in class or online.

A 2019 Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) report documenting teacher shortages in the state of Missouri found that elementary education is suffering the most severe shortage.

鈥淚t is our hope that beginning this online pathway for completing a degree in elementary education will help fill a need in our state,鈥� said Dr. Larinee Dennis, interim vice president for academic administration and education department chair. 鈥淗LGU has a strong reputation of producing highly qualified teachers, especially in the area of elementary education.鈥�

This program includes fully online coursework that will culminate in a semester-long student teaching experience. It is designed for students who already have an associate of arts degree or have general education degree requirements fulfilled, however, students are able to fulfill gen-ed requirements online before starting the EED degree completion program if necessary.

Those currently employed in schools as paraprofessionals or substitutes may be ideal candidates for this program.

For more information, contact Gail Barrowclough, enrollment counselor, at 573.629.3280, or via email at gail.barrowclough@hlg.edu.

番茄社区 University has announced it will be offering 180 online summer classes this year at a low rate of $249 per credit hour with no hidden fees, a price that is 22% lower than the national average for public colleges and nearly 50% lower than other private colleges according to a 2020 report by U.S. News.

鈥淗LGU has intentionally sought to expand our summer online offerings to help students,鈥� said Dr. Larinee Dennis, interim vice president for academic administration. 鈥淚ncoming freshman can get a jump start on University requirements and returning students can choose coursework to help them stay on track for a timely graduation.鈥�

Several of this year’s summer courses are being offered in conjunction with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and Acadeum, a consortium of like-minded accredited colleges and universities that share online course offerings. A course taken through this consortium is considered institutional credit and will impact student grade-point averages just like any HLGU course.

鈥淗aving the option to take a few classes online over the summer is definitely something more and more undergrads are taking advantage of. Being able to get a few of their core classes completed over the summer break gives the students an advantage and may even help them to graduate a semester early,鈥� stated Dr. Jill Arnold, director of adult and graduate studies division.

Many students find online classes convenient since the classroom and course materials are all available online at any time of the day or night. Students are able to review assignments, chat with fellow students, read announcements, access notes, and discuss questions as needed.

A full list of courses can be viewed at www.hlg.edu/academics/class-schedules/. For more information, contact the registrar鈥檚 office at registrar@hlg.edu.

All of the above responses do make me cringe, but I know many people have not had the opportunity to learn online. It is different to learn, and it is different to teach online. So how can I explain learning online鈥�

Learning online has a lot of the same premise as learning in a classroom. There is a teacher and there are students to interact with in the course. All courses have content to cover, but this is where online and in the classroom separate.

In an online classroom, you have requirements for your course. Most of the requirements must be completed by the end of the week. So the online student can complete the work around their schedule. It鈥檚 great if you have a job, family, or other commitments for your time! This does not make the material easier, but it makes it more adult-friendly!

Also in the online classroom, the students and the teacher get to know each other better because they are always communicating with each other. In our online classes, students participate in discussion boards that everyone must post to and reply to others in the course too. In a classroom setting, students can sit and say nothing. There is no way for that to happen in the online class. I can鈥檛 count how many times I have been in a class where we knew we weren鈥檛 supposed to talk or ask questions if we wanted to get out of the class early. This simply is not an issue with online courses. The coursework is set from the beginning聽of the course.

Also with an online course, I know exactly what I need to do for all of my assignments because every rubric for assignments is available from the beginning. As a person who does not like curve balls in a class, this makes online learning so much easier for me. I like knowing what I am supposed to do in a class to get an A. Online learning makes it sooooo much easier for me to know what is expected as a student!

So if this type of learning makes sense to you, please contact me! I would love to help you on your journey to being an online learner!

Jill Arnold, EdD.

番茄社区 University

Director of the Adult & Graduate Studies Division

573-629-3103

Students take one five-week class at a time, staying with the same group of adult learners, their cohort, throughout the degree program. With an associate degree or its equivalent, students can complete this program in just 18 months.

A new cohort for the criminal justice program will start March 25, 2019.

鈥淭his program is designed for students who don鈥檛 work the traditional 8-5 job in the different areas of criminal justice and are not able to attend on-campus classes. This is a great opportunity for anyone wanting to start or further their career in the field of criminal justice.鈥�

Employers have hailed HLGU鈥檚 Degree Completion Program as an innovative and exceptionally effective approach for those wishing to continue their education. Both traditional in-seat and online programs are offered in convenient time frames for working adults. Additional degree programs offered include business management and social services.

For more information, or to receive individual advising and a degree plan, contact Kayla McBride at 573.629.3050, or via email at kmcbride@hlg.edu.

“Having the option to take a few classes online over the summer is definitely something more and more undergrads are taking advantage of. Being able to get a few of their core classes completed over the summer break gives the students an advantage and may even help them to graduate a semester early,” stated Arnold.

This year’s summer courses include

• ART 110 – Art Appreciation
• BIB 113 – Old Testament
• BIO 344 – Microbiology
• ENG 106 – English Composition II
• HST 223 – United States History II
• LIT 233 – American Literature I
• MTH 123 – Intermediate Math
• PHS 133 – Earth Science I
• PSY 113 – General Psychology

Students find online classes are very convenient. The classroom and course materials are all available online at any time of the day or night. Students are able to review assignments, chat with fellow students, read announcements, access notes, and discuss questions as needed.

Additional charges for the courses include lab and technology fees. Other fees may apply depending on the type of class being taken. For more information on taking an online course at 番茄社区 University, click here. Questions can be directed to Dr. Arnold, at 573-629-3103, or via email at jarnold@hlg.edu.

All I-term classes are online and are being offered at a reduced tuition rate of $199 per credit hour, which is more than half off the normal online rate. Additional charges include a small lab and technology fee. Other fees may apply depending on the class taken.

Online I-term classes are being offered in art, business, English, and Christian studies.

Online courses are becoming more and more popular due to their convenience. Students are able to review assignments, chat with fellow students, read announcements, access notes, and discuss questions as needed, all online and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“Having the option to take a few classes online is definitely something more and more undergrads are taking advantage of. Being able to get a few of their core classes completed between terms gives the students an advantage and may even help them to graduate a semester early,” stated Dr. Jill Arnold, director of graduate and online division.

Registration is also open for summer online classes which are being offered at a discounted rate as well. For more information on taking an online course at 番茄社区 University, visit www.hlg.edu/online. Questions can be directed to Dr. Arnold at 573-629-3103 or via email at jarnold@hlg.edu.

by Rebecca Sneed ’12

番茄社区 University鈥檚 Master of Science in Education (MSE) degree offers a teaching certification program that can be completed online in two years or less.

Despite a nationwide teacher shortage, 鈥淥ur program is really helping local schools get certified teachers.鈥� said Dr. Jill Arnold, director of graduate and online programs.

鈥淭he online MSE Program at 番茄社区 University and its initial certification program allowed me to leave a job I tolerated for a career I love,鈥� said Zach Short, now a language arts teacher at Knox County R-1 in Edina, MO. 鈥淭he classes are structured to make learning accessible to any person wanting to experience the joy of being an educator, regardless of their work and life schedule.鈥�

鈥淭he program is a wonderful way for people with a bachelor鈥檚 degree to become certified to teach in a very short amount of time. Since the program is entirely online,鈥� Dr. Arnold explained, 鈥渟tudents can be anywhere while receiving their certification to teach.鈥�

鈥淭he online program is convenient, the faculty is beyond helpful, and despite the lack of a classroom element, you still develop relationships with your classmates through collaborative work,鈥� said Matt Weber, a recent graduate of the MSE certification program who now teaches at Atlanta C-3 in Atlanta, MO. 鈥淚 am so thankful and grateful to have gone through this program, and because of it, I am a better educator today!鈥�

The teaching and learning track with initial certification in the Master of Science in Education Program at HLGU, emphasizes elements of effective curriculum development and evaluation to enhance student learning for the beginning teacher.

鈥淚n 18 months I completely changed my career and life path thanks to HLGU,鈥� said Short. 鈥淲hile teacher numbers may be dropping, students are still showing up in search of people willing to make an impact on their lives. HLGU has the ability to put caring individuals in a position to change the future by teaching and inspiring the next generation of learners.鈥�

To meet teacher certification requirements in their area of study, each student鈥檚 plans of study will be developed on a case by case basis.

For more information about HLGU鈥檚 MSE Program and the teaching and learning track with initial certification, contact Dr. Arnold at 573-629-3103, or via email at jarnold@hlg.edu.