Many Georgia college students have to balance family and work responsibilities with academics.

Some are finding non-traditional higher education is their lifeline to a future degree and career, but high school counselors don't always encourage this route.

The pandemic and subsequent lockdown boosted interest in distance learning, according to Sue Subocz - associate president and provost at Walden University.

She said non-traditional forms of 'higher ed' contribute to a diverse and multicultural workforce, and points out that many of these graduates have done well in the job market.

"In some jobs, community college graduates are getting hired at much higher rate," said Subocz. "If you look at registered nurses, the typical degree they hold is an associate degree in nursing. Like in many fields, [there] has been a movement to push the degree requirements higher."

Walden offers online nursing programs leading to bachelor's, masters and doctoral degrees.

Georgia currently has one of the lowest ratios of nurses in the nation, with only seven per 1,000 people, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Georgia resident Dr. John DeGarmo earned his doctorate at Walden University and is now the founder and director of The Foster Care Institute. He said both he and his wife worked full-time and took online classes.

DeGarmo added that as foster and adoptive parents with at least nine children in the house at the same time, online learning was the best option.

"The online process worked for both of us, because we were simply very busy," said DeGarmo. "We did not have time to sit in a traditional classroom, you know. Online allowed us the opportunity to be very flexible, when we were able to do our coursework, and much of that was in the evenings when the children were in bed."

Subocz said students who study at community colleges or opt to learn online are getting educational opportunities they might otherwise miss, or perhaps could not afford at traditional schools.

"You can start in a place where class size is often half, a third, a quarter of what you're going to see at a university, with highly qualified faculty," said Subocz. "And that it comes at about a tenth of the cost, it just makes you wonder why everyone doesn't do it."

Community college grads dominate certain professional fields, including health, security - and 80% of all law enforcement officers, Emergency Medical Technicians and firefighters - according to the American Association of Community Colleges.

Another controversial move in Florida's education system is a proposal to drop sociology, the study of social life and the causes and consequences of human behavior, as part of their general education requirement for public college students.

When it comes to trying to understand why sociology is suddenly on the chopping block, University of Florida Professor of Sociology, Criminology and Law William Marsiglio said one guess could be the state's current political climate -- and the fact that the course covers sociological theories, core concepts and issues related to societal structures, sexuality, gender and race.

"One would assume that there are political reasons associated with trying to preserve a kind of conservative agenda," said Marsiglio, "to minimize opportunities for people to talk about or for students to learn about race or gender or sexuality, history and social class."

Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. proposed the change to replace the sociology course with "Introductory Survey to 1877," which is an American history class for students to meet the state's civic competency requirements.

The change is still subject to a final vote in January, which some expect is an effort to bring curriculum in line with SB 266 -- a new law that prohibits colleges and universities from spending money on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Academics see the decision as potentially harmful to sociology departments, student enrollment and the quality of education in the state.

Marsiglio said the proposal even impacts the learning objectives of students preparing for medical school.

"They would be discouraged from taking a course that would better prepare them for a career in health professions, medicine in particular," said Marsiglio. "So, I think that is a shortsighted view on the part of those who are trying to make this decision."

Critics, including the American Sociological Association, are submitting public comments opposing the removal before the final decision in January.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.




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A new report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finds the repayment process for federal student loans has been filled with errors.

Repayments began in October following a three-year pandemic-related pause. Since then, complaints of inaccurate bills, late notices and poor customer service have increased. Officials with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said they are working to protect borrowers from incompetent or predatory student loan servicers.

Rohit Chopra, director of the bureau, said borrowers should be cautious, especially when talking to third parties contracted by loan servicers for bill payments.

"If you're having trouble, please file a complaint," Chopra urged. "We're often able to get those individuals across the country fixes - and sometimes, clear answers on what really needs to happen."

The Supreme Court struck down President Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness plan earlier this year, affecting almost 1.8 million Ohioans carrying student debt. Average student loan debt in Ohio is more than $34,000, according to the website educationdata.org.

Judy Dollison, president of the Better Business Bureau of Central Ohio, said now is the time for borrowers to carefully read and understand the terms of their loan and become familiar with legitimate student loan repayment assistance programs.

"It's important to know what services those lenders provide," Dollison noted. "And what are the legitimate companies that are part of the program."

This week, the U.S. Department of Education released draft rules for expanding federal debt relief. Hearings on the plans will be held Dec. 11-12.


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Fewer college students are taking foreign language courses, and a new report warns this could affect how well students are prepared for a globalized world.

The Modern Language Association survey finds fewer students chose to study languages other than English between 2016 and 2021. Nationally, enrollment dropped 17% during the same period, and the impact in Indiana is far greater.

Deborah Cohn, provost professor of Spanish and Portuguese at Indiana University, explained the dropping numbers could spell trouble for students applying for college, and have implications for equity.

"In Indiana, between 2016 and 2021, they dropped from 42,000 to 30,000. So, that is a drop, in that five-year period, of 29.4%," she said.

Cohn pointed out that foreign language studies provide cultural knowledge and open doors for many types of jobs. The report says adequate funding for language programs, and support from the schools, are needed to help keep them going.

According to the report, making foreign language courses more career-focused might attract more students. Cohn underscored that the nation is becoming more diverse - so it's important to understand and be able to connect with others.

"We actually need language study for jobs to serve both the domestic market but also the international market. We need people who can speak languages who can offer social services, legal services, medical services within this country," she continued.

One thing that might turn the ship, according to Cohn, is getting students involved in studying languages at all levels - especially when they are young. The report also recommends schools build partnerships with multicultural organizations.


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