Study Online with Regis University
June 1st, 2007 by get a first class degree
Regis University School for Professional Studies have sponsored this post to get my opinion on their services, a potentially risky venture as they have no influence over what I write!
I have already written a few articles on the pitfalls of signing up for an online degree, so I thought I should practice what I preach and research the institution a little.
Regis University have been in existence since 1877 and are therefore an established, accredited “bricks and mortar” institution.
If I were to take an Online Degree, this is exactly the kind of institution I would be looking for (I would personally avoid “online only” institutions).
For me, knowing that a University is an established bricks and mortar institution is simply a matter of risk avoidance, you can be sure who you are dealing with.
One thing that did concern me was the use of a .org domain for the website.
.org, .net and .info domains have a bad reputation for being used by scammers and are generally to be avoided so I contacted Regis University directly using details from another source and was told that the site is genuine.
This illustrates some of the checks that are necessary when selecting an online degree, you must always contact the University directly and cross check any information you are given. If I were to actually sign up for a course I would do a lot more checks, physically visiting them if possible.
Regis University have some good advice on offer for prospective online students. Highlighting the differences between attended and distance learning, Regis define a few pre-requisites for successful online study:
- Time Management Skills
- Organizational Skills
- Self Motivation
- Ability to work independently
- Comfortable working with technology (it is an online course after all!)
I would argue that these are essential skills for any student; however, these issues become a lot more acute if taking a course online, particularly the point about working independently.
In addition to information provided on their website, Regis University have a free guidebook available containing more information if required. They also have a number of (very flexible) options available for contacting them.
The courses offered online are vocational and are primarily aimed at those seeking professional / career development.
Many of the courses are run in association with professional institutions / organisations.
I have had first hand experience of working with some of these organisations and am sure these partnerships would offer real benefit to students both in terms of their learning and future employ-ability.
Employ-ability is really what these courses are about, and Regis University compliments its courses with a number of services specifically intended to assist students with their personal and professional development, such as individual career counselling, skills assessments, personality assessments, researching career options, assistance applying for and getting the right job.
Whilst many Universities offer some of these services, I think this is a more comprehensive list than many others offer, and demonstrates the commitment of Regis University to helping students earn their course fees back!
From what I can see, Regis University offer a well structured professional service, however, if you are considering taking an online degree with Regis University, do your own research and make sure it is the right institution for you.