by Dr. Joseph Wiegand
CLEVELAND, Ga. (TMNews) – While the online program at Truett-McConnell College (TMC) is only five years old, TMC has been recognized in the top third of all online programs in Georgia. Ranked 22nd as one of the top online colleges in Georgia for 2015 by Affordable Colleges Online, this distinction comes on the heels of Truett-McConnell receiving national recognition by the same ranking agency for the online Managerial Accounting program.
Rankings are determined based on the extent to which colleges and universities provide the best opportunities and value for students seeking online training and educational programs.
“When it comes to online learning, these schools set the bar,” said Dan Schuessler, founder and CEO of Affordable Colleges Online. “These programs have made attending college accessible and affordable while maintaining rigorous academic standards of excellence and providing support services for their students.”
Reflecting on what this means for TMC, Dr. Joseph Wiegand, Truett-McConnell’s Associate VP for Academic Services, noted: “This is good news for Truett-McConnell College. This ranking shows our commitment to providing a quality online education. While our current students and alumni can attest to the quality education we provide, this ranking tells a broader audience about Truett-McConnell College and our online program offerings. It shows that Truett-McConnell College is taking the development of our program seriously and that we want to provide the best education for students.”
“TMC Online, in just a brief time, has fulfilled one of its essential purposes: recognition that we are training up a new generation of believers who will serve our Lord in ministry and in the marketplace,” said Truett-McConnell’s President, Dr. Emir Caner. “Whether Business or Missions, whether Psychology or Ministry, it is our hope to serve believers by providing them with an affordable, distinctive Christian education that also provides the best education in the state of Georgia. By the grace of God, we are well on our way in doing so. May our Lord raise up a generation to share His love with others,” Caner noted.
Affordable Colleges Online determines the ranking based on detailed criteria, including: acceptance rate, programs offered, student/teacher ratio, value for students seeking online training and educational programs, and amount of financial aid available, among other criteria. For this ranking, 69 colleges or universities in Georgia that offer online programs were assessed and ranked based on the listed criteria. For more info on this ranking, visit www.affordablecollegesonline.org.
An evolving online program
While the online program at Truett-McConnell College is only five years old, the program has experienced continued growth in both course offerings and staffing of the program. “Truett-McConnell College Online is a young but vibrant program,” Wiegand said. “Through our online classroom students have the ability to learn a subject from a Christian worldview perspective while having the personal attention from professors who are interested in more than just teaching. Many of our professors see the value in mentoring our students so our students graduate with the knowledge and understanding they need to succeed in their calling.”
“Students who enroll in one of our four distinct online degree programs will see that we have an end goal in mind,” Wiegand said. “We want the student to do more than just earn a degree. It is our prayer and hope that students graduate from Truett-McConnell College with everything they need for their calling.”
TMC’s online program includes bachelor degrees in the following subjects: Business, Christian Studies, Psychology, and World Missions, each with a Great Commission minor. Students in the online program will also benefit from a 16:1 student/teacher ratio, which allows for personal attention and faculty mentoring opportunities. Just as the online classroom and course material are accessible, TMC also wants to ensure the cost of attendance is not a prohibitive factor for students. As such, 100% of students applying to the online program receive some sort of financial aid.
In addition to the traditional bachelors program, TMC also offers courses for high school students seeking to take advantage of dual enrollment options. “Truett-McConnell College Online includes not only course offerings for the traditional four year bachelor degrees but also a number of dual enrollment course options for Georgia high school students,” Wiegand added. “High School students all over Georgia can take college classes and receive college credit even before they graduate from high school.”
Last November, the online program also garnered the position of 14th in the nation by Affordable Colleges Online, as having one of the nation’s best online accounting degree programs for 2014-15. Truett-McConnell College was the only college in the state of Georgia to receive this award.
“In terms of growth” Wiegand shared, “we hope to add degrees for the online program that will provide more options for both undergrad and graduate studies. “We are committed to ensuring our online program continually attains academic excellence while providing students the practical skills they need to succeed in the 21st century.”
To learn more about Truett-McConnell’s online degree program, or the dual enrollment offerings, contact the office of online admissions at onlineadmissions@truett.edu.
To view the ranking, visit: http://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/online-colleges/georgia/
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