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Ed. note:  This article originally appeared in the November 2007 eLearningEdge Newsletter, a publication of AIKCU business partner and eLearning solutions provider Learning House, Inc. 

This fall, student enrollment levels for online degree programs at the University of the Cumberlands will reach their highest numbers yet.  And the students couldn’t be prouder.

Since the inception of the University’s distance learning program in 2003, numbers have risen quickly due to the steady implementation of new courses.  After beginning their online course offerings with the Learning and Behavioral Disorder certification program in 2003, the University began to offer MAT certifications, administration certifications degrees, and business degrees online in 2005.  For the 2006 school year, administrators decided to bolster the online degree program by introducing a brand-new Reading and Writing certification program with a new course entitled “Diagnosis of Reading and Writing Problems.”  Many students have elected to enroll in online courses at the University of the Cumberlands in order to pursue their Rank I, which enables students to receive the credentials necessary to increase their chances of earning higher wages in the workplace.

Dr. Gary Pate, Coordinator of Online Learning, reveals where some of the new numbers are coming from. “We now have many foreign students from around the world, as well as a large quantity of military personnel currently serving in Iraq.” However, Dr. Pate wants students to know that the additional growth does not affect the courses’ quality. “Even though the University has begun several new programs,” he remarks, “we’ve managed to keep the courses at a very manageable level of around 25 students per class. We hope to expand our course offerings while continuing to accommodate our current students.” 

According to Dr. Pate, marketing for the University’s programs is still extremely important.  He states, “We’ve installed posters for our programs at different institutions around the country, but word of mouth has been the most important part of our enrollments.”

In addition to the bevy of new student enrollments and available courses at the University of the Cumberlands, almost 95 percent of the university’s students receive some form of financial aid.  With an average award of nearly $13,000 to each student qualifying for financial aid, an increasing number of prospective students will be able to obtain the degree they desire and move forward to higher earning potentials in exciting occupations.

The University of the Cumberlands is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention, the Kentucky affiliate of the Southern Baptist Convention.  In addition to online programs in business and administration, it is also accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award online degrees including Bachelor’s degrees in General Studies, Science, Arts, and Music, as well as a Master of Education Degree.  Through the advantages of continually evolving coursework, creative marketing, and financial aid, the University of the Cumberlands represents an outstanding choice for any prospective student interested in pursuing his or her education online.

To learn more about University of the Cumberlands’ distance education programs, please visit their website or request more information by clicking here.