For the hundreds of busy Monroe students in the fast-growing Online Learning program, the notion of time and place have been eliminated as obstacles to success. Incredible as might seem, Online students are in class when and where their own schedules allow and, ultimately, when they receive their college degrees, they will have earned them with as much dedication and hard work as traditional students.

With this semester's addition of an Online Hospitality degree program to the already-established Online degree offerings in Business, Criminal Justice, Medical Administration, and Health Services Administration, accessibility to higher education for working adults, some of whom are also parents, is increased exponentially.

"Online Learning is a life-saver for so many students," said Dean Barbara McMullen, after she welcomed her students to the Winter, 2008 semester with an orientation dinner earlier this month. "With our continually-expanding course offerings, Online students can do more, learn more, and succeed as fast, if not faster than traditional students."

For example, Angelo D'Agostino, a director of human resources for Reed Business Information, the world's largest business-to-business publishing company, started as a full-time Online student in the Fall, 2005 semester, and he expects to receive his Bachelor's Degree in Business Management this May.

"The experience has been nothing but--and I hate to say ‘effortless', but that's kind of the way it feels," D'Agostino said. "They keep upgrading the technical systems and make it virtually painless. It's really seamless, which is great for the executive who doesn't have a ton of time to sit there and navigate through an antiquated system. It's just fantastic."

In addition to full-time Online learning, Monroe offers what is called "blended learning," which is a combination of Online and on-campus courses. For more information on studying Online, visit the Online Learning office in Monroe Hall or send an email to jgrant@monroecollege.edu .