| They could be seen as turning lemons into lemonade. | | | | or training for new careers can find online degree |
| Adults in this sluggish economy with high | | | | programs available at the associate, bachelor, |
| unemployment rates are reportedly using the time to | | | | master's and doctorate levels. Online certificate |
| update their skills and train for new jobs. They are | | | | programs also are available. |
| finding that the university degrees they didn't get | | | | Some online programs are offered by virtual |
| right after high school are becoming a necessity, not | | | | institutions, while others are provided by colleges and |
| a perk. | | | | universities that also have physical campuses. |
| In Rhode Island, a woman told the Providence Journal | | | | Likewise, some distance learning programs are |
| in April that the financial planning industry she was in | | | | provided entirely online, while others combine online |
| had changed, that she viewed the Internet and | | | | and on campus time. And online college enrollment |
| computers as the future and that she had returned | | | | and the number and variety of degree programs |
| to school to "retool". A man who reportedly held a | | | | have seen substantial growth. Some degrees online |
| dozen jobs since his 1996 high school graduation | | | | can provide students with training for careers that |
| returned to school to study Web design after being | | | | themselves are expected to experience growth. |
| laid off in 2008 from a payroll company where he | | | | Reports suggest that these areas include health care, |
| worked, according to this same Journal report. | | | | engineering, technology and environmental sciences. |
| People by some estimates change careers every 10 | | | | A California woman with a bachelor degree and |
| years, and Labor Department approximations suggest | | | | several teaching credentials experienced success |
| that 40 percent of the American population changes | | | | after retraining in the area of the environment, |
| jobs annually, according to a "32 Trends Affecting | | | | according to an April San Diego News Network |
| Distance Education" report. What's more, the report | | | | report. Unable to find a teaching job in 2008, this |
| noted the Information Age that we're in is expected | | | | woman participated in a certificate program and has |
| to bring about a continuous cycle of retraining and | | | | since landed a job in sales for a Pasadena company |
| retooling. | | | | that provides composting services and education, the |
| Adults who are interested in retraining and retooling | | | | news network noted. |
| might find online college classes and degree programs | | | | At least one school has established a program |
| particularly appealing. Many of these programs better | | | | intended especially for those who want to change |
| enable students to schedule studies between family | | | | careers. This Atlanta area institution offers a hybrid |
| and work responsibilities. Students enrolled in distance | | | | doctorate program designed for executives who |
| college offerings can also save on time, fuel and | | | | want to become professors, according to an April |
| costs needed for commuting while, at the same time, | | | | report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. A twice |
| enhancing their technology skills simply by participating | | | | laid-off six-figure executive is among the program's |
| in coursework. Adults interested in updating their skills | | | | students, the Journal-Constitution article noted. |