Online students face a unique set of challenges whether they杏吧专区檙e pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree.
Student support specialist Michelle Hunt knows those struggles and opportunities well. As an online student herself, Hunt can offer an inside perspective as she guides potential 杏吧专区 online students through the application and enrollment process.
Hunt began the Master of Business Administration program online in spring 2017 and expects to graduate December 2019.
杏吧专区淚 love it,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 want to educate other people about how great the program is 杏吧专区 how doable it is with a full-time job and kids.杏吧专区
Her experience as an online student drew her to join the Office of Distance Learning in June 2019, growing the team that supports online students from application to graduation.
Hunt realized early in her college career that her passion was working with students.
While enrolled at Lone Star College 杏吧专区 the largest community college in Texas 杏吧专区 Hunt began working in a student services role. That position evolved into a full-time position assisting students with career and educational planning.
杏吧专区淚 like to talk to people; I like to get to know them,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 like to connect their long-term goals with the education they need and help them find a clear path.杏吧专区
At UL Lafayette, that path often starts when potential students request information about one of the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 online programs.
Once someone inquires, Hunt says she杏吧专区檒l give them a call to connect and learn more about their background, interests, current job situation, and family responsibilities.
杏吧专区淜nowing how much time they can devote to school and what their goals are is very helpful when aligning them with the right educational path,杏吧专区 Hunt says. 杏吧专区淥nce I get to know them, we discuss the programs here to find a good fit.杏吧专区
Those were all considerations Hunt took into account when enrolling to pursue her master杏吧专区檚 degree online.
The Erath native has five children involved in a range of activities 杏吧专区 football, dance, soccer 杏吧专区 and is actively involved in her church in addition to working full time. She had to figure out how school 杏吧专区 even online courses 杏吧专区 would fit into that chaotic schedule.
While learning online has provided the flexibility for Hunt to earn an advanced degree that otherwise may have been out of reach because of her time constraints, she also had identifiable personal and professional goals.
杏吧专区淚 knew I wanted to work in education, but on the administrative side,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 wanted to grow my knowledge of business practices and learn in more detail how to manage an office and staff. I wanted to be able to advance my career and bring skills to the table against other job candidates.杏吧专区
Hunt is also the only member of her immediate family without a UL Lafayette degree, having earned her bachelor杏吧专区檚 from Sam Houston State 杏吧专区 in Texas.
Now she杏吧专区檒l not only earn her brick on the alongside the rest of her family, but she杏吧专区檒l also become the only member of her family to hold a master杏吧专区檚 degree.