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Editor's note: This story first appeared in our 2020 Private School Handbook.
For prospective students faced with learning restrictions caused by COVID-19, local colleges offering online courses provide an affordable option for earning credit and choosing a career.
“Before the COVID-19 pandemic, about 43 percent of students were taking classes online,” says Phillip Campbell, admissions manager at St. Louis Community College–Meramec. “At the end of March, we transitioned all of the classes online so students could finish classes and continue working toward their goals. Our support efforts have grown to include online tutoring, virtual academic advising, and library and IT chat for assistance.”
Likewise, the University of Missouri–St. Louis placed emphasis on digital learning long before the pandemic. “There’s a number of degrees that can be done completely online,” says Olivia Mendez-Alm, associate director of admissions for transfer, adult, and online services at UMSL. “Even if a student can’t do their complete degree online, they can do a large chunk of it online.” Students can work with advisors to create a manageable schedule.
Community colleges also provide an affordable way for students to earn college credits that can transfer to four-year public colleges in Missouri and in surrounding states because of transfer agreements. “The lower tuition rate means that STLCC saves a student an average of $4,700 annually compared to four-year institutions,” says Campbell. “But we also know that transferring to a four-year school isn’t for everyone, so we have accelerated job training, certification programs, and associate degree options.”
Along the way, students can discover a field that makes their “heart sing,” says Mendez-Alm. “When something comes up in life, it’s very easy to just stop going to school,” she says. “It’s more important that you’re invested and interested in your degree than it is necessarily what the degree says.”
Students can take career assessments to help discover career options related to their interests, and faculty members can teach students how to apply their interest areas to the real world. Local colleges offer myriad programs, college-transfer options, and pathways to pursue new career options or seek advancement through community partnerships. “Even in the midst of a pandemic,” says Campbell, “the college can help students figure out their career interests.”
