Degree-Completion Program Good Fit for Student's Career in Human Resources

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Vicki Studstill

Editor's note: This story is part of a series of spotlights on students who study or studied online at the University of Arkansas. The stories are running during National Distance Learning Week, Nov. 9-13.

Vicki Studstill is the vice president of marketing for an engineering and construction management firm in Mobile, Alabama. Studstill attended the University of Arkansas after graduating from high school, but didn't complete her degree. The university's online degree-completion program is giving her that opportunity even far away from Fayetteville.

Studstill said that completing her degree online was a result of the culmination of a goal that she had set for herself.

"I originally attended the University of Arkansas right out of high school and was there for three years," Studstill said. "Really, everyone I knew was either a teacher or a nurse, so I went the education route. In my third year, I realized that I wasn't meant to be a teacher. And so now, many years later, I have returned to finish at the same university where I started. I was really excited when this program came along."

Studstill's degree is in human resource and workforce development in the College of Education and Health Professions. She is in three classes currently, took three classes last semester and originally started with just one to ease into the program.

The program has been a good fit for her interests.

"My whole career has been in human resources, so it's a good fit for me," Studstill said. "It's been a great program, with a focus on training and development courses, as well as human resources courses."

Studstill said that going back to school while not actually being in the classroom was something new, but that the program worked out very well. Because she works full time, it was nice to be able to complete the program online, and she appreciated what it had to offer.

Studstill also said that professors made themselves available to help students in the program.

"They're readily available, either by telephone or email," Studstill said. "They have been very responsive." Studstill also credited her adviser, Phil Gerke, for providing guidance each semester. 

There have been opportunities for classmates to work together online via Blackboard for group projects.

Vicki Dieffenderfer, assistant professor, teaches classes in the online degree-completion program. Dieffenderfer said the program serves a vital role for the university, allowing students to go back to school and provide for their families, and also provide benefits to the economy.

Dieffenderfer previously taught at Tusculum College and Tennessee Tech University before coming to the University of Arkansas in January.

The program provides opportunities that otherwise would not be available to some, she said.

"I've always worked with adults in degree-completion programs," Dieffenderfer said. "If it weren't for these kinds of degree-completion programs geared for working adults, they might never have the opportunity to go back to school."

Dieffenderfer said students all across the country use the program. To help students not to feel isolated in the experience, professors try to construct courses so students have a balance of interaction with others and still have flexibility to work on their own time.

 "We try to set up different things within the course so that they have discussion boards and group projects," Dieffenderfer said. "They are getting some communication so they don't just feel like they're reading a textbook and doing an assignment."

Dieffenderfer said that the program allows students with other responsibilities to work at their own pace, but takes much self-direction.

As with any college course, the program requires time and dedication, but Studstill says it's worth it.

"Once you decide you're going to go back, whether to a traditional classroom or online, you've got to be dedicated and make the time commitment," Studstill said, "and so I've had a lot of early mornings and a lot of late nights to get the coursework done, but it will be worth it."

Studstill is walking in the December commencement this year.