This Valentine’s Day, we’re all about the love! Our students are wonderful people, and nothing gives us more pleasure than cheering them on from start to finish. With learners coming to us from so many different backgrounds and starting points on their educational journey, we pride ourselves on finding the right path that works for each student’s specific goals, learning style, budget and schedule. Our world-class academic counselors and coaches offer the care and support needed the whole way.
See what our students are saying about us!
“You all have made finishing my degree so dang easy! I can't believe the amount of amazing guidance and support. It's like you’re giving me this on a silver platter. One of my reservations about restarting school was having to figure everything out, but you have made everything very simple, and I feel very supported.” – Lora H.
"I like the flexibility. I’m able to work around my work schedule and set a good pace. Otherwise, I might not be able to do it. My coach and academic counselor have made the process easy and always make sure I have what I need." – Sara D.
“My coach is awesome! He has been absolutely fantastic. He always checks in. He shows interest in my success. He gives me good advice, encouragement and has helped me come up with a strategy to finish the courses (rather than quitting) when my home life changed drastically.” – Barbara A.
“Accelerated Pathways has helped to solidify my goals and given me the opportunity to really focus on completing my degree with a clearly defined roadmap. Having that clarity allows me to push myself to not only stay within the outline but try to get ahead.” – Tyler J.
“It's been great. Self-pacing is awesome. I don’t think I could have done as well without self-pacing and the flexibility of courses. I especially like that the courses started a little easier before progressing to tougher material.” – Annie E.
“I like that I can do my schoolwork anytime instead of having to sit in a classroom. The platform is really easy to navigate, and I appreciate the coaching calls. I’ve even talked to my supervisor about how great the program is and recommended that others enroll in courses too.” – Kelsey M.
“I’ve enjoyed the hands-on approach and one-on-one time with my coach. It definitely helped me succeed. It made me believe in myself – that I am capable of obtaining a bachelor’s degree.” – Cody M.
“I have a great coach. He can relate to my current journey because he’s also a working parent who went through classes and had to figure out how to balance it all. He provides encouragement as well as a reality check when I’m being too hard on myself.” – Laura L.
“I’m enjoying the set-up of the courses and how organized it is. Things are smooth in figuring out where to go. My job offers tuition reimbursement, and that process has been easy and smooth to navigate. There is a lot of support any time I have questions.” – Stacey K.
At Pearson Accelerated Pathways, your success is our success! Maybe you haven’t had the flexibility and support you needed to complete college in the past. We’re changing that. Our team is with you every step of your college journey with free advising. Your academic counselor will help you build out your degree with the best courses for your college, major and learning style. Your success coach will check in regularly to keep you on track—no matter what life throws at you.
Ready to get the advice, answers and even encouragement you need to achieve your educational goals? Get started today!
With rapid advances in automation and emerging technologies threatening the future of millions of jobs, many are asking how the role of humans in the economy will shift or shrink over the coming years. In a quest to find answers about the future of work, companies, governments and educational institutions are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) for analysis and predictions.
AI predicts the future of jobs
While the application of AI to workforce planning is still a new process, its popularity is growing as predictive AI modeling becomes more accurate due to advances in commercial software systems. The current leader in the field of workforce AI and predictive analytics is Australian tech company Faethm, which runs a groundbreaking SaaS platform using software automation and robotic processing automation.
Faethm offers strategic workforce planning solutions that can predict the impact of emerging technologies and economic disruptions on workforces, industries and economies. In addition to understanding emerging tech, Faethm also has the capability to predict external forces such as COVID, remote work, recession, industry transitions and other key factors on workforces. These insights inform decisions that drive future employability, increased retention and talent development.
Faethm has found that, for many industries, core human abilities like empathy, imagination, creativity and emotional intelligence will become more valuable in the workplace as technology, automation and AI takes over many roles. While some jobs will be eliminated, Faethm forecasts that other jobs will be created and—in many cases—in areas where humans prefer to spend their time and energy. However, this shift will require robust efforts by employers to upskill and reskill their workforce for these new roles and their interaction with advancing technology.
Analyzing workforce data to upskill employees
Northeastern University recently conducted a study on workplace learning and found that workforce analytics and data-driven approaches to employee development have long been a strategic priority for many organizations. However, in the past, there was little data analysis on actual skill gaps between the worker and the company needs. While many recognize the importance of analyzing their workforce data to better understand trends and prepare for the future of work, adoption of analytics and development efforts have been slow and often stifled by a company’s size or ability to gain the resources and technology needed. Many struggle to understand how to find new talent pools, drive future employability and develop talent.
To bridge these efforts, Faethm works with companies of all sizes to provide the capabilities to analyze their workforce data. By collecting a diverse cross-section of employer data, Faethm can organize and analyze various data points against multiple dynamic forces shaping a specific industry’s labor market—from technological disruption to economic shocks—and help the employer understand how automation will affect diverse talent and the most “remotable” jobs, now and in the future.
This type of end-to-end scenario modelling allows executives and HR leaders to gain better insights and answer questions like:
Are our current skills and jobs matching?
What jobs will be automated and where can workers be redeployed into roles that are not at risk of automation?
What jobs will be augmented with technology and what upskilling needs to be done?
What about the jobs we’ll need in the future – are the skills and capabilities of our current workforce relevant?
Are there similar tasks being performed across business unit lines throughout the company that can be automated?
Equipped with these answers, the next question is usually, “How do we prepare our current workforce for the jobs of the future?” Employers understand that, even with advances in automation and technology, people will still remain their most important asset. However, the pace of digital transformation will require rapid and significant upskilling and reskilling. And in the era of the Great Resignation, more emphasis is being placed on building and retaining talent over hiring and buying new talent.
Bridging the skill gaps with targeted education
But how can employers bridge the skills gap? In the past, employer training and tuition benefit programs have struggled to keep pace with the changing world of work. Instead of education benefits being seen as powerful tools to reskill workers whose jobs will be automated (eliminated) and upskill workers whose jobs will be augmented by technology, many employers have simply offered standard onboarding sessions or tuition benefits packages disconnected from strategic business goals.
As focus now shifts to reskilling workforces to meet the needs of the 4th industrial revolution, employers are actively seeking ways to develop new education and training offerings. Investment in education is also key to retaining critical talent by offering internal mobility and intentional development of career pathways. In fact, education has recently become a top workplace perk, with more employees desiring learning programs that offer flexible, relevant experience and career growth.
Modernizing workplace learning
Recently, Faethm joined with Pearson to offer its analytics capabilities along with Pearson’s learning products to help companies of all sizes understand what skills they need and how to develop them. This strategic partnership allows employers not only to understand their skill gaps, but also to address them with targeted educational programs that offer optimal career transition pathways to jobs of the future. According to Michael Howells, President of Pearson’s Workforce Skills division, “In this digital age, we want to help the world’s workforce unlock its potential and ensure that companies have highly skilled employees who can work alongside new technology.”
As employers look for new ways to lead a technology adoption strategy that considers and plans for the future employability of their workforce, services like Faethm’s and Pearson’s will become essential. Workforce data analysis and learning investments are now seen as key differentiators to drive employee engagement and retention while gaining a competitive edge and preparing for the future. Employers also recognize that a significant share of workplace learning is shifting online, with digital learning allowing more opportunity to broaden workforce learning participation.
Looking to modernize your education benefits program with learning pathways that link directly to your learning & development strategy? Through our partnership with Faethm, we can empower you to gain the insights you need into your workforce skill gaps and then fill those gaps with targeted online education programs. Want to learn more about the Faethm AI platform? Book a demo today. Let’s future-proof your workforce!
At Pearson Accelerated Pathways, we love to celebrate Black History Month by highlighting significant moments of diversity and inclusion throughout history. This February, we’re shining a spotlight on three scientists who deserve special recognition for their contributions to society and positive impact on the way we live today.
Annie Easley (1933-2011)
Annie was an American computer scientist, mathematician and rocket scientist who, among many achievements, helped develop software for the Centaur rocket stage. Born during segregation, Annie grew up during a time when educational opportunities were limited, but with strong encouragement from her mother, she was determined to get a good education. In 1950, Annie was accepted as a Pharmacy major to Xavier University in New Orleans and eventually went on to obtain a bachelor’s in Mathematics from Cleveland State University.
Annie started her career at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) as one of four African Americans out of about 2,500 employees. She began her career as a “computer” at the NACA Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory, which eventually transformed into NASA. As electronic computers eventually started being used at NASA, her title changed to mathematician and computer technician.
Her fascination with computing grew and Annie decided to acquire additional education and training in mathematics and science. However, even as her role and contributions grew at NASA, she was not compensated at the same rate as her peers. In response, she began outreach for minorities and took it upon herself to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) counselor.
In her 34-year career at NASA, Annie helped develop and implement computer code that analyzed alternative power technologies including solar, wind and energy projects. She also helped to identify energy conversion systems to solve energy problems, including the improvement of battery storage life. Her computer applications have been used to identify energy conversion systems that improved commercially available technologies. And Annie's work with the Centaur project helped lay the technological foundations for future space shuttle launches and launches of communication, military and weather satellites.
Annie was posthumously inducted into the Glenn Research Hall of Fame in 2015. In 2021, a crater on the moon was named after her by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
Emmett Chappelle (1925-2019)
Emmett Chappelle was an American scientist who has contributed to medicine, food science and astrochemistry. Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Chappelle graduated top of his class at the segregated Phoenix Union Colored High School. Upon graduation, Emmett joined the U.S. Army where he was assigned to the all-Black 92nd Infantry Division. He was able to take engineering classes in the military, and the GI Bill enabled Emmett to earn a Bachelor of Science from the University of California at Berkeley in 1950.
Emmett started his career as an instructor at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, where he conducted research that became recognized by the scientific community. As such, he was offered additional educational opportunities and decided to accept an offer to pursue a master’s degree from the University of Washington in Biology.
In 1958, Chappelle joined the Research Institute in Baltimore, where he made a major discovery that has contributed to the knowledge of bacteria and cyanobacteria. He showed how even one-celled plants, such as algae, are photosynthetic and can convert carbon dioxide to sugar and water into oxygen. This discovery helped the science community create a clean and portable oxygen supply for astronauts, while also providing them with a safe food source in space – as algae are capable of reproducing there.
Emmett has been honored as one of the 100 most distinguished African American scientists of the 20th Century as well as received numerous awards including NASA’s Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal.
Shirley Ann Jackson (1946-present)
Shirley is an American physicist and 18th president of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She was fascinated with science from a young age, studying the circadian rhythm of honeybees from her garden as a child. Shirley continued her thirst for knowledge in grade school and graduated top of her class, earning herself a place at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as one of only a few black students at the time.
Despite experiencing isolation and discrimination from classmates, Shirley was determined to do well in her studies. She went on to form the Black Student Union, which campaigned for the university to recruit more underrepresented students with greater support and financial opportunities, as well as more diversity of the faculty members. She also created a program called ‘Project Interphase’ to academically support incoming underrepresented students. Shirley was determined for MIT to become more diverse and more accessible.
Through her persistence, Shirley also became the first African American woman to receive a Ph.D. from MIT. She went on to work as a theoretical physicist at Bell Laboratories as well as chairing the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Her work in the commission included developing regulatory systems for assessing risk at the country’s nuclear power plants. She made this her primary focus after the tragedy of Chernobyl in 1986.
In 1999, Shirley became president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, which is America’s oldest technological research university. She also served as a co-chair on the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board under the Obama administration and has received numerous awards, including the National Medal of Science and the Thomas Alva Edison Science Award, for her contributions to physics and for the promotion of science.
At Pearson, we celebrate Black History Month with a full event line-up of professional development workshops, discussions and educational opportunities. Our company culture is one of learning and promoting awareness of diversity, culture and behaviors that foster a sense of belonging in learning and workspaces. Want to learn more about important figures from all backgrounds who have positively impacted our lives? Check out our free booklets where you can explore key facts about their contributions and complete fun activities, including discussion starters. Interested in becoming a student in our Accelerated Pathways degree program? Check out what we offer!
Meet Melissa! This millennial mom and her husband have an adorable three-year-old daughter with a second baby on the way. Melissa works full-time in marketing and is currently finishing a bachelor’s degree through Pearson Accelerated Pathways. Whew – that’s a lot! We wanted to chat with this busy student and find out how she manages it all. Check out our interview with her.
What made you want to go back to school?
When I first graduated from high school, I knew I wanted some sort of college education. But like many millennials, I didn’t have the money or desire to spend four years at a traditional college and take on a bunch of student debt. So, I decided to attend a local technical school to develop skills in some of the areas that were really interesting to me, mainly photography and graphic arts.
Fast forward a decade, and I’m almost 30, working full-time and raising a toddler with another baby on the way. It’s kind of crazy that I chose now to add pursing a bachelor’s degree to my plate!
Part of my decision was that I’ve always loved learning. It gives me a sense of accomplishment and a feeling of progression. My husband also started a master’s degree about a year ago, so I kind of felt inspired to keep up and expand my education. Mostly, I think we’re both inspired to be good role models for our kids. There’s also a sense of security and development in our career paths that we get from gaining more education.
What made you choose Accelerated Pathways?
For me, there were a couple advantages your program. The biggest one was flexibility. With Accelerated Pathways, I have flexibility in so many different ways. I don’t have scheduled class times. I don’t have to drive anywhere. I can even complete assignments on my own schedule.
With a three-year-old, a full-time job and a busy husband, it can be hard for me to know in advance what my study time availability will look like. I needed a program that I could blitz through courses if I had a free week or take a break if my personal schedule was really packed. Plus, I get the added bonus of not having to be on campus, potentially exposed to COVID. That’s extra important to me during my current pregnancy.
Probably the most difficult part of returning to college was getting the courage to start. There were so many options and factors to navigate. The Accelerated Pathways team made this process really easy by doing the college research for me.
How was your experience choosing a degree program?
So smooth and flexible! In my first conversation with my academic counselor, she asked about what I was interested in studying, what long-term goals I had and what prior college credit I had earned. She did a ton of research and found five different colleges that offered degrees similar to what I wanted to study. She also figured out which colleges would take my past college credit and determined the final cost for each option, even factoring in the tuition assistance benefits I get from my job.
All I had to do was send a screenshot of my unofficial associate degree transcript and she handled the rest. After reviewing my options, I picked the college and degree program that allowed me to graduate the fastest. The Accelerated Pathways team was able to transfer all the credit from my associate degree to that program, so I started my bachelor’s degree as a junior. There’s no way I would have been able to figure all that out myself.
We’re so glad to hear! How are your courses going?
Taking courses is super simple and straightforward – I just login to the Degree Manager and pick up where I left off. There are no semesters or due dates, so I really can work at my own pace. I do one course at a time on my schedule. I just finished American History ahead of schedule and will be diving right into Biology next. All courses have been high quality, and I’m learning a lot. It’s a great feeling!
I also meet with my academic coach regularly. He’s given me great tips on what the focus of each course is and how I should balance study time on the various course resources. Best of all – he’s helped to keep me accountable to my goals. I’m actually ahead of my initially planned graduation date since I had some extra time over the holiday break to knock out additional courses.
Any post-graduation plans? What’s next for you?
Having such a great experience returning to college has definitely made me want to be a lifelong learning. Even with my second child on the way, I’m hopeful about completing my degree on time and possibly starting on a master’s degree in the future.
One of my long-term goals has always been to be a librarian. I know “official” librarians usually need a master’s degree in library sciences, so earning my bachelor’s was a first step for me toward this dream.
In the short-term, I’ll have more opportunities and be able to take on even greater roles with better salaries once I return to work from maternity leave. There’s more of a sense of security and value I feel in returning to the workplace with additional knowledge and higher educational credentials.
Any advice you’d give to new Accelerated Pathways’ students?
My motto is: just stay consistent. After I got into the swing of my first course, I realized I could complete a module in a few hours. So, I set aside a couple nights a week to just ignore chores. As soon as my daughter goes to bed, I put on some good study music and do schoolwork for a couple hours.
By staying consistent—even with only a few hours a week—I was able to complete my first six Accelerated Pathways courses, which is 18 college credits, in just six months!
That’s fantastic! Thanks for sharing your experience, Melissa. We can’t wait to see you graduate!
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five adults have suffered or currently are suffering with symptoms of a mental illness. Mental health affects the way we think, act and feel, including how we handle stress or relate to others.
Some factors that contribute to mental health are difficult to control, such as facing socio-economic hardships, dealing with trauma, alienation or coping with biological factors such as chemical imbalances or medical conditions. However, there are some actions we can take to improve our emotional, psychological and social well-being, like practicing meditation, creating art, exercising and even learning.
How does learning contribute to mental health?
Mental health workers and researchers have found that we can support our mental health by connecting with others, developing a sense of meaning or purpose, building coping skills and having a goal or hobby. One way to engage in all of these activities is through learning and education. Research shows that education can improve mental health by broadening your intellectual, social and emotional horizons. Attending school can also expand your knowledge, help you meet new people, further your goals, improve your career and even help you build better coping mechanisms.
Studies of the relationship between education and mental health have shown that higher levels of education can also help graduates gain important structural and economic advantages. For example, data compiled of workers aged 25+ shows that education leads to higher income, with bachelor’s degree holders earning an average of $26,104 more per year than those with a high school diploma. While money can’t buy happiness, it can alleviate many stressors that contribute to mental health problems and allow you the freedom to pursue your interests.
Education can also improve mental health by providing a sense of accomplishment. Some find that completing assignments and earning a degree gives them a feeling of pride and a boost in morale. According to clinical psychologist Dr. Stephanie Smith, learning new skills can be great for mental health. College can allow you to achieve small successes while exploring your interests—from creative to academic to athletic. In the process, you can also discover the activities you find meaningful and enjoyable. For example, if you always wanted to learn an instrument or understand world history, education can help you do that.
Isn’t going to college with a mental illness more difficult?
It’s true that mental health conditions can affect your ability to study and learn, and traditional college students may face additional stress from first-time experiences with working, being away from family, having unfamiliar interactions or dealing with peer pressure. Luckily, resources are available for those who seek out assistance and treatment. In fact, many colleges offer support groups, counseling and other resources for students struggling with their mental health.
Alternately, some find that choosing a flexible online college program provides them with the accommodation needed to manage their mental health. For example, Pearson Accelerated Pathways offers self-paced online learning that allows students to take mental health breaks whenever needed, along with the ability to study from anywhere – including locations that may offer emotional support or enhance wellness. Attending college online can also alleviate the stressful tasks of separation and individuation from family and friends. In particular, working adults find online college options beneficial as it gives them the flexibility to complete and enjoy their studies even while juggling a busy schedule, raising kids or managing multiple responsibilities.
However, some find taking classes online to be less than ideal, especially in the Covid era when the effects of isolation on society have become more apparent. It’s important to know what matters most to you and your mental health, and then choose a learning path that best supports your wellness. It’s also important to remember that even highly successful people have found themselves struggling to manage mental illness while pursuing an education and other important goals. You are not alone in your struggle, so be sure to check in with others in your support circle, including mental health workers.
Benefits of learning outweigh stressors
Overall, even with the pressures of college, learning is good for our minds and essential to our existence. Most find that gaining an education outweighs the stress of assignments, deadlines and other pressures associated with school. In addition, learning benefits our sense of wellbeing by increasing self-esteem, encouraging interaction, fostering open-mindedness, aiding in discovery and providing a sense of purpose. It helps us view the world from a range of perspectives, which makes us more adaptable to new situations as they arise and contributes to our ability to manage mental health challenges.
At Pearson Accelerated Pathways, we understand that the onset of a mental illness can be debilitating. Seeking help is something we support and value, and our academic counselors and success coaches are always here to help you find flexible ways to advance your educational goals while managing your mental health. We believe learning should give you the opportunity to nourish your mind free from stress and anxiety. That’s why we offer flexible, self-paced, affordable degree programs that can be completed anytime, anywhere.
At Pearson Accelerated Pathways, we believe your college experience should empower you to pursue your goals, advance your career and live your life – not burden you with debt or chain you to a campus.
But how does it work? How do we help you graduate from the college of your choice, but at a lower cost?
Check out these five easy steps!
Step 1 – Academic Advising
Just complete a short assessment, and an academic counselor will reach out to discuss your goals, timetable, learning style, budget and more.
Our counselors are experts at understanding all types of academic options that fit any unique situation, such as prior credits earned, time restrictions, special learning needs and more.
Step 2 – Degree Plan
After learning your unique situation, your academic counselor will use Pearson’s advanced proprietary technology to evaluate thousands of college and degree options. They’ll find five degree options that best fit your goals, budget and schedule.
You’ll get a college options report of these degree options in a side-by-side comparison. You can even request specific schools be included in this comparison.
Your academic counselor will carefully walk you through each degree option so you can consider important factors like time to completion, total cost, prior credit transfer and much more.
Step 3 – Take Courses
Once you make your college and degree selection, you’ll get access to the Degree Manager™. This is your personalized learning portal where you can access your degree plan, register for courses, take courses and track your progress.
With the Degree Manager™, college is simple. You’ll always know exactly what courses to take, when to take them and how much they’ll cost.
In fact, this is how we save you money. Our general education courses are 36% less than the national average. There are no campus fees and no hidden costs. Even the books are included.
Plus, we’re here for you with world-class coaching the whole way!
Step 4 – Transfer
Once you earn the maximum number of general education credits from Pearson, then just transfer to your college to complete your degree.
All credit you earn through Pearson Accelerated Pathways is regionally accredited (unlike many of our competitors) and guaranteed to transfer into your college. We even help you prepare official transcript(s) for your destination college.
Step 5 – Graduate
Simply complete any remaining courses from your destination college until graduation. Typically, this will involve finishing your last 30 credits (or about ten classes) with the college that is granting your degree.
Then… voilà! You’re a debt-free college grad. Congratulations!
Ready to get started?
At Pearson Accelerated Pathways, we love helping students earn their degree at a lower cost. With course options 30-50% less than the national average, we save you hundreds of dollars on every college credit. Our top-notch advising ensures you never take a course you don’t need, plus you get the freedom to pay as you go. Ready to graduate on your terms? Whether you’re earning an associate’s, bachelor’s or higher, we make it easy. Get started today!
Choosing an online college can be tricky.
Plenty of institutions offer amazing deals for online courses that seem too good to be true. And some are. When choosing to spend time and money on your education, it’s important to know that you’re making a wise investment.
While some schools offer national or special accreditation, regional accreditation is the most stringent and widely recognized. In fact, 85% of colleges and universities recognize regional accreditation. Non-profit schools (like Princeton and Yale) and state schools (like the University of Michigan or Texas A&M) all abide by regional accreditation standards.
This means when you take online courses that are regionally accredited, they’re recognized and accepted across a broad spectrum of educational institutions as quality learning. Therefore, your hard-earned college credit from a regionally accredited school can transfer to almost any college or university of your choice.
What is accreditation?
Accreditation shows the level of consistency in educational quality. To earn accreditation, schools must undergo a stringent review process and meet a set of academic standards involving faculty quality, student learning, professional outcomes and level of data-based research.
There are several types of accreditations:
Regional
Regional accreditation is considered the gold standard for the majority of college degrees. There are six regional accrediting agencies, and each serves a specific geographic region of the United States. They accredit post-secondary institutions and primary and secondary schools. Each of these agencies is primarily concerned with the accreditation of academic, non-profit schools, rather than specialized technical or vocational schools.
National
National accreditation typically applies to specialized vocational schools, technical schools, religious institutions or for-profit schools such as The Art Institute. This kind of accreditation accounts for less than 6% of all schools. Regionally accredited institutions are reluctant to accept transfer credits from nationally accredited institutions, mainly because they haven’t met the stringent standards of faculty qualifications, library resources and other guidelines.
Special and other
There are other types of accreditations for certain types of degrees. In addition, there are college credit recommendation and evaluation services, like the American Council on Education's College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE® Credit), that evaluate and recommend college credits. For example, the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) is a private, non-profit organization that evaluates distance education curriculum.
Some educational institutions may recognize credit recommendations from these varying institutions. However, unless your college credit is regionally accredited, it will have a lower chance of transferring into regionally accredited colleges and universities.
Regional accreditation is better. Period.
Accreditation will gauge not just the quality of the educational credit you’ll receive, but also the transferability. Regional accreditation is the most rigorous type of accreditation, and therefore the most widely accepted.
If you want to knock out general education courses and then transfer that credit to the college of your choice, regional accreditation is the way to go. The last thing you’ll want is to be stuck with is a bunch of lost credit (plus time and money) that you can’t use toward your bachelor’s degree (or master’s or Ph.D. if you decide to pursue higher education someday). Nothing can be more frustrating than taking a step backward and having to repeat course material.
The accreditation level of your credit institution should match the accreditation level of your prospective college, so—to be safe—always check that the courses you’re taking come from a regionally accredited institution.
How do I know if my school is regionally accredited?
To find out if your school is regionally accredited, visit the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) website. Here you’ll find links to all six regional accreditation institutions and can discover if your school is accredited by one of the recognized accrediting agencies.
Does Accelerated Pathways offer regionally accredited courses?
All our courses are regionally accredited through our partner colleges. We've successfully mapped courses to over 2,000 colleges and universities. In fact, the courses you take through Accelerated Pathways are guaranteed to transfer into your target college. We offer a money-back guarantee plus an additional $1,000 to compensate you for time invested in your coursework if your courses do not transfer!
Being an active-duty member of the military comes with certain perks that you’ll want to take advantage of while you can. If you’re enlisted in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard, you’re entitled to tuition assistance from your branch. Information on how each of the individual military services sets tuition assistance rates can be found at the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) website, but it’s typically a substantial amount and well worth using while you’re on active duty.
But I have military experience. Why do I need a college degree?
Some who enlist in the military serve for their entire careers; however, the majority of service members transition to civilian life, where a college degree can strongly benefit their chances for success in the workforce. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics consistently shows that education is a wise investment regardless of background and experience. Data compiled of workers aged 25+ proves that the more you learn, the more you earn. In fact, bachelor’s degree holders earn an average of $26,104 more per year than high school diploma holders.
And while it’s true that military training can prepare you for many useful roles, college coursework can expand your horizons in other areas, particularly those applicable to commercial markets and industries. Many colleges have career services and curricula that offer internships, hands-on projects and other integrated job prep programs that give you a head-start on your career path. Even if you plan to stay in the armed forces, earning a degree can be an advantage as you move up the ranks. Commissioned officers are typically required to have a four-year college degree in addition to good leadership, communication, conflict resolution, time management and other soft skills that can be fine-tuned in college. In general, earning a degree can help you expand your future opportunities within the military or upon entering the civilian workforce.
College can also be helpful for many service members who struggle to make the shift from military to civilian life. By earning a degree, the transition becomes much smoother. You’ll make connections and stay tapped into the world outside of military service. And with a degree, you’ll have more desirable and even exciting job opportunities available once you’re ready to join civilian life. Military service is already a bonus for most job applicants, but many will find that the best positions require a college degree. Job applicants with both a college degree and military experience place themselves above the pack of candidates who have just one or the other. By combining a degree with military experience, you can greatly increase your chances of finding gainful employment and exciting opportunities in your preferred role and career path.
By taking advantage of your military tuition assistance benefits, you’ll be working toward a better, smarter you. Earning a degree not only serves as a bridge between your military and civilian life but can also help you develop lasting connections, deeper insights and marketable knowledge that you may not gain elsewhere. Whether you’re interested in learning about the business side of commerce, entrepreneurship, management, marketing, finance, budgeting and economics or something more technical, college is a great place for you to explore, learn and grow in areas that youwant to develop. You’ll have a greater ability to discover your interests, become more independent, invest in yourself and choose your own path – rather than have it chosen for you.
How do I get started?
At Pearson Accelerated Pathways, we love to help our military members succeed. That’s why we offer a 10% discount on tuition for active-duty military. We’ve helped thousands of service members find the flexibility they need to attend college – no matter where they’re based.
Our courses are self-paced to work with your active-duty schedule. We coach you the whole way through, starting with a personalized College Options Report that shows you how much we can save you in addition to your military tuition assistance. All you need is a laptop and internet connection. Get started today!
HR professionals know the struggle of selecting and organizing training for an entire staff of employees. There are tons of factors to consider in attempting to maximize and allocate a learning & development (L&D) budget. At the top of the list is choosing whether it’s better to provide training in-house or through an external education partner.
As more companies look to stay competitive by upskilling and reskilling employees, it’s worthwhile to consider the advantages and disadvantages of the different skill development approaches. The decision to train in-house vs. outsource is more important than many realize as it can affect the future growth and success of an organization. So, let’s give it some careful consideration.
In-house Training
In-house or on-the-job training is the most common type of directly provided training offered by employers because it can easily be blended into tasks workers already carry out as part of their jobs. This type of training can be applied to onboarding, provided throughout a worker’s tenure or delivered for specific occupation transitions. Organizations that develop in-house training programs typically have an internal team dedicated to development, for example, an apprenticeship program that combines classroom training provided by senior staff.
Pros
Specific: In-house training is delivered by people who know your company and its needs. Training will be relevant to your specific requirements and in compliance with your internal strategy, corporate goals, market positioning and even branding. Plus, an in-house training team has a greater interest in the final program outcome and success of the company.
Customizable: When training is provided in-house, it’s customizable at the local level. This means the syllabus can target exact requests for learning and foster knowledge transfer between employees. There’s greater control over development and changes/updates can be quickly adapted.
Confidential: In-house development avoids sharing confidential data with an external company. You won’t have to provide proprietary data to outside training designers, courseware developers, educators and other potential hazards to intellectual property and cybersecurity protocols.
Cons
Not employee-centric: In-house training is usually company-specific and doesn’t provide employees with the types of flexible degree and certificate programs they seek to advance their careers. Their learning will be limited to the company knowledge base, which may result in a lack of innovation and fresh ideas for the company and its ability to stay competitive in the marketplace.
Expensive: Although some believe in-house L&D is cheaper to administer, others find it to be more expensive. For organizations without an in-house L&D team, hiring a development team can be costly as it requires new software, authoring tools, studio environments, etc. These tools and licensing fees come with a high price tag, so building your own Learning Management System on a tight budget may not be the best idea.
Time-intensive: In-house learning and development require lots of time to plan, approve and deliver, not to mention the efforts required to train and maintain a team of project managers, instructional designers, courseware developers, trainers and more. Some organizations simply don’t have the resources or budget required to produce good results.
Outsourced Education
Many employers work with educational institutions or partners to develop programs specific to their needs or to offer training for high school completion programs, English-language training programs, higher education degrees and more. These types of programs help workers advance to jobs higher on career ladders and/or to enroll in postsecondary education programs. This skill-building strategy can also involve employers covering the costs (either fully or partially) of programs provided by education and training institutions, either online or onsite at those institutions’ locations.
Pros
Expertise: With an external education partner, you’ll have access to their client services, expert trainers, academic advisors and other higher education experts. They’ll have a fully developed learning platform that may be customizable to your specific learning needs. In addition, they may be able to integrate your training into a Learning Management System that allows you to track who is taking your courses, who has completed your courses, which skill gaps are being filled and other useful data.
Fresh perspectives: The workplace is ever-changing, and training is necessary to keep pace. Even the best in-house training programs can quickly become outdated when trying to keep up with changes in the industry. External educational institutions have experts and insiders who stay current on changes in automation and technology, especially as work becomes increasingly remote and digital. They’ll have course offerings based on the latest advancements and forecasts into the future of work that can give your employees fresh perspectives and insights your internal staff may lack.
Recruitment & retention: Education benefits are becoming one of the most popular workplace perks. As college costs have skyrocketed in the U.S., so has the popularity of education benefits like tuition reimbursement, tuition assistance and employer-sponsored scholarships. More than ever, job seekers are looking for companies with great education benefits that will help them advance in their careers and invest in their futures. By partnering with an education institution, your company can offer the kind of official certifications and degree programs that appeal to employees. In turn, this will allow you to retain and advance your workers as they upskill, reskill and complete their education programs.
Cons
Onboarding: Outsourcing involves taking time to onboard a new partner and get them up to speed on projects and goals that align with your company’s mission and needs. You’ll have to dedicate more time to teaching an external team who isn’t familiar with your business products, services and model.
Disconnect: With an external partner, you may experience less collaboration and more physical distance, which can lead to a disconnect between what you want vs. what is provided. It’ll be important to do your homework and ensure the educational partner you choose is dedicated to your mission.
Non-specific training: While external education institutions can offer a broader range of learning programs, they may not be focused on the specific subjects and skills that are relevant to your business. Their courses may be too generic and unable to address your company’s issues using real-life examples. That means employees may not learn how to solve specific work problems that relate directly to their roles.
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As you can see, you’ll need to make some tough decisions in determining whether it’s better to develop and administer your own training programs in-house or to bring in an outside company. Ultimately, if you only need to train employees to address a few isolated, well-defined skills, it makes sense to develop your own programs in-house. If you’re looking for a robust educational offering and the ability to offer tuition assistance as a benefit, then an external education partner will likely be your best bet.
