We wanted to share a message sent by a student to our cybercounselor, who responds for us to inquiries about programs and courses in the CVC catalog. This student had asked about getting a degree in Psychology online. She then sent the following note:
Thanks so much, it took me awhile to figure out the function of CVC, but upon doing so, see that it will be a great tool to finishing my AA with psych background.I live over an hours drive from the Junior College, and am a stay at home mom with a kindergartner and preschool child, so it is almost impossible for me to make it on to any campus. I hope that you and your associates realize what a valuable tool you are offering to the community by making such a wide range of courses from all over the state available to those who may not have the opportunity to take college courses. CVC takes the state of California and turns it into a neighborhood of opportunity.
In addition, I feel your resource would be a valuable tool to perhaps single mothers on public assistance trying to get back on their feet, and many disabled persons.
Thanks again,
The PDC Training Director saw the student’s reply and wondered whether we could have coined as nice a phrase about California if we had set out to do that.
We’ve had a number of other student inquiries during the last four months. Some students wanted just the basics – for example the student currently at France’s Bordeaux École de Management who wrote, “Hello, i’d like to please know what universities are around the city of Encino in a radius of 10 miles. thanks a lot.” [We replied with a list that included a certain UC campus just across the mountains in Westwood.]
Many students want help finding particular courses. For example:
I am inquiring about some classes that I still need to take in order to get my degree from San Diego State University.According to San Diego State University this is what I still need to graduate:
1. lower division logic (3 units)- can be taken from California Community College 2. lower division humanities (6 units) from 2 of the 3 areas of World Literature, World History and Philosophy/Religious Studies – can be taken from California Community College [Phil/logic will not double count here]
I need to know if there are any Internet Only classes that are currently have available that I can take to satisfy these requirements.
These are the final classes that I have in order to receive my Bachelors Degree from San Diego State University.
I moved to Northern California and I do not have access to any campuses close to where I live. Could you please assist me in finding out if I can take these classes online.
Other students have asked about Associate or Bachelor’s degree programs in fields such as Psychology and Nursing. For instance:
I am presently an LVN and in the process of taking classes needed for the RN program (home study/Excelsior program). I am looking for as many classes that I can do on-line. I will need micro biology, anatomy and physiology, nutrition, just to name a few.
and
I am a working wife and mother of two teenagers, and want to start my higher education. I am a Certified Sign Language Interpreter with no formal education. In order to keep up with the new interpreting requirements I would like to start working on my AA degree. I also need the flexiblity to be avalible for my family, thus, online classes seent to be a wonderful option.
One student wrote from a part of the world where distance education is probably the only option for an American:
I have an AA in electronics from El Camino 1977 (or 76?) (forgot my student number). For more than 10 yrs I have been overseas with the United Nations, working in Satellite communications. I am currently posted in Kabul Afghanistan.Can you give me some direction on how I can build on my AA & work experience, ONLINE & BY CORRESPONDENCE in order to upgrade to a BS/BA? Are there any special arrangements between CS Long Beach or other Calif. universities to earn bachelor degrees ONLINE, using my El Camino credits?
Another writer inquired on behalf of a son whose educational options were also restricted, but for a different reason:
My son is incarcerated in a california prison. he was a presidential scholar nominee and completed a year at university of nevada. Are there external degree programs that he can attend while incarcerated? I do not beleive that he has access to a computer. Thank you for your help.
[We've had other inquiries on behalf of prisoners. Some colleges do offer classes at prisons. There are also still some correspondence courses available - e.g, UC Berkeley's "Independent Learning" courses.]
Visits to the CVC catalog website increased substantially last month. There were 38% more visits during the first 25 days of April this year than there were during the same period in 2002. We’re not certain why there’s been such a large increase, but we suspect that it might have something to do with prospective reductions in summer and fall programs at many colleges. An online catalog can assist in redirecting student demand toward institutions that still have course openings at a time when many others can’t accommodate additional students. We received a student inquiry several months ago reflecting the tightening of course offerings even this spring:
I was hoping to take two on-line classes at our local Bakersfield College, but have been told that, due to budget cuts, I will receive last priority. At this point, all of the on-line classes are closed, which took great time and effort on my part to find out. I had to find a registered student to check them out for me. I also looked into the on-line courses at Cuesta College. They were all full for the upcoming semester. As long as it is a California Community College, and the units will transfer, I don’t really care where the classes originate from. Is there any way to search the CVC site for available classes? I am looking to begin fulfilling the requirements for IGETC or CSU certification. Do you have any suggestions?
As he always does, Our cybercounselor offered the student some suggestions, including a referral to www.assist.org for transfer information.