If UAFS Students Received Their DEgrees, You To Can

When you think about how you can receive an associate degree and go on to get your 4 year degee, what do you think of first? Which aspects of how you can receive an associate degree and go on to get your 4 year degee are important, which are essential, and which ones can you take or leave? You be the judge. UAFS Students Receive Their Degrees Graduates of the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Saturday were given a verbal invitation to return to the institution any time in their future lives to talk about successes or to seek guidance from faculty or peers. “I want you to remember UA Fort Smith and to know that you’re always welcome here,” said UAFS Chancellor Paul Beran. “This will always be your home university.” Beran invited graduates to the university’s Web site as a starting point for keeping in touch and updating UAFS and other alumni of success. Saturday’s commencement at Stubblefield Center recognized UAFS graduates from summer and fall 2006, as well as candidates for graduation for spring and summer 2007. While nearly 500 graduates received bachelor’s degrees at the ceremony, another 700plus students were awarded associate degrees and certificates. During the invocation, the Rev. Gary L. Hinkle of St. James Missionary Baptist Church asked for graduates to learn how to use their newfound knowledge wisely. Morrill Harriman, Gov. Mike Beebe’s chief of staff, who gave the commencement address, let graduates know that the only thing standing in the way of their diplomas was his speech, so he would make it “short and sweet.” Harriman told graduates that economic and financial success are good things and being able to support a family is important, but he called for graduates to celebrate other areas of life that have nothing to do with money. He reminded the graduating class to thank the people who helped them in life, listen to people with more experience and assured them that “being different” was OK. Harriman also urged graduates to listen to their inner voice and that would guide them through life. “If you’ll be true to yourself, I guarantee others around you will feel that you’ve been true to them as well,” Harriman said. Harriman served in the Arkansas Senate from 1985 to 2000. Prior to that, he was an attorney in Van Buren. Harriman served with the Arkansas Poultry Federation for six years until Gov. Beebe selected him for his current role. Sandi Sanders, senior vice chancellor, who will retire from UAFS June 30, spoke to graduates Saturday at Beran’s request to celebrate her lengthy career. Knowledge can give you a real advantage. To make sure you're fully informed about how you can receive an associate degree and go on to get your 4 year degee, keep reading. “When I asked Dr. Beran what I should talk about, he said, very seriously, ‘about two minutes,’ so I’ll follow that,” she joked as audience members laughed. Sanders said she was thankful for working with faculty, staff, students and the community in her 28 years at the institution that moved from junior college status to university status while she was there. Sanders has had more leadership positions at the institution than anyone else currently on staff, Beran said. She asked graduates to remember three things: “To continue to build, for we must never be satisfied with status quo; to refuse to settle for anything less than the best; and to give your total effort to the work you have chosen.” One graduate in the crowd was greeted by the superintendent of his school district who passed out his associate degree. Sam Jones, 18, of Greenwood, a student enrolled in classes through the Western Arkansas Technical Center at UAFS, an early admission program for high school juniors and seniors, received an associate degree in applied science in general technology with a welding emphasis Saturday. He is the first WATC student to graduate from high school and college in the same month. Greenwood Superintendent Kay Johnson attended Saturday’s commencement to present Jones his associate degree. He will graduate from Greenwood High School on Friday. Jones, son of David and LaRon Strickland, began his college courses before he enrolled through the WATC program, which allows high school students to obtain anywhere from 12 to 20 college credit hours each year. He began taking extra classes between his 10th and 11th grades and enrolled in Western Arkansas Technical Center at UAFS in the fall of his junior year, according to UAFS. “If students apply themselves enough, they can achieve it,” Jones states in a news release. “You can be the smartest person and not have any will to do something. I don’t have the greatest gradepoint, but I applied myself and got what I wanted. ”The UAFS Symphonic Band and Chorale performed pieces at Saturday’s commencement including the Processional, National Anthem and the Recessional. The day will come when you can use something you read about here to have a beneficial impact. Then you'll be glad you took the time to learn more about how you can receive an associate degree and go on to get your 4 year degee.

Christian Online Degree Directory Graduates to 500 Entries

[ClickPress, Tue May 08 2007] Bakers Guide to Christian Distance Education added its 500th entry to the Christian Distance Learning Degree and Program Directory with a Master of Divinity degree. As the leading online resource for Christian distance learning and online college and seminary degrees, Bakers Guide to Christian Distance Education continues to provide free advising and educational guidance to prospective online learners. According to Jason D. Baker, Ph.D., author of the Bakers Guide to Christian Distance Education website, interest in Christian online learning continues to grow. "In the past ten years I've seen a growing number of homeschoolers, mothers, pastors, missionaries, and many others turn to online learning as a way of continuing their education. Thankfully, there are high-quality online programs ranging from elementary grades to distance doctoral degrees from which prospective students can choose." The Christian Distance Learning Degree and Program Directory features over 500 online schools, colleges, universities, seminaries, and degrees ranging from virtual homeschooling programs through accredited bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees offered by Evangelical Christian colleges, plus a growing number of theology degree programs offered by international universities. The site combines advice from an experienced distance learner and educator and directory information of available Christian distance and online program to help students take the plunge into Christian distance learning. About Bakers Guide Bakers Guide to Christian Distance Education (www.bakersguide.com) began in 1997 as an online listing of accredited Christian distance learning programs and has grown into the leading free online resource in the field. The website is authored by Jason D. Baker, Ph.D., an associate professor at Regent University who specializes in online and distance education and has both taught and taken classes online. Source: Click Press

Boyce degree in Spanish announced

By David Roach LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)--Beginning in the fall, Hispanic church leaders will be able to earn an associate's degree online in their native language through Boyce College, the undergraduate college of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. The 60-hour degree, an associate of arts in biblical and theological studies, will not include any residency requirement for students. Course lectures will be delivered to students on DVD and material will be discussed and enhanced through virtual classrooms online. Class assignments will be submitted online as well. "The Hispanic community is the fastest-growing ethnic group in the United States," said Hayward Armstrong, Southern's associate vice president for distance education and innovative learning. "Many Hispanics are bringing with them an evangelical background while others bring a predisposition to hearing and responding to the Gospel as a part of their transition to a new culture,” Armstrong said. “Southern Baptists have a responsibility as cultural hosts and as spiritual mentors to help provide training for leaders in a rapidly growing number of Hispanic churches." The new degree is targeted primarily at Hispanic pastors and church leaders serving Spanish-speaking congregations across the United States. The undergraduate offering will complement the graduate-level courses Southern has offered in Spanish for the past three years. "The associate of arts program in Spanish will allow us to drill down below the top leadership who come to our country with a basic theological education and provide basic biblical and theological formation for leaders with little or no prior training," Armstrong said. Boyce originally considered opening an extension center to meet the need of educating Hispanic ministers but ultimately realized that an online degree addresses the barriers to theological education most effectively. Armstrong said courses in the degree program will be geared uniquely toward ministry in a Hispanic culture and not simply attempt to translate ministry principles for English-speaking America into Spanish. "Boyce College is committed to providing explicitly biblical and thoroughly practical training of Great Commission workers for the churches of the world," Armstrong said. "This program continues that commitment, with a Latino flavor. "Courses are not simply translations of English courses. They are designed to prepare Great Commission Hispanic leaders to minister in Hispanic contexts." In addition to its upcoming Spanish-language degree, Boyce currently offers a bachelor of arts in Vietnamese. --30-- For additional information about the associate of arts in Spanish, call Programas Hispanos at 502-897-4315 or visit Programas Hispanos online at www.boycecollege.com.