Judson among top universities with online human services programs
TheBestColleges.org website lists Judson University in Elgin as having one of the top 25 online bachelor's degree programs in human services nationwide.
Human service professionals are in demand due to a rising need for affordable approaches to health care and social services.
Judson's degree program "combines coursework with real-world experiences," the BestColleges website noted.
Students must complete 120 credit hours. Judson also requires applicants to finish two years of full-time work experience before enrollment. Application requirements include submission of official transcripts showing the completion of 40 college credits and a minimum 2.0 grade-point average. Judson ranked No. 16 out of the 25 programs highlighted.
Judson also ranked among the "Best Online Colleges in Illinois" for 2017, according to the BestColleges website. It ranked No. 15 on the list of 20 schools.
Judson's commitment to sustainability, evangelical values and academic quality received high marks. Website editors pointed out "its online education programs are an extension of that pledge."
Four of Judson's undergraduate degrees, its associate degree in liberal arts, and three master's degrees in organizational leadership, ministry and business administration can be obtained through online programming. The programs are designed to be completed in 40 to 60 credit hours.
Schools on this list were ranked based on admission rates, student loan default rates, retention rates, graduation rates and by the percent of students enrolled in online classes.
Grants available to MCC student veterans:
The McHenry County Community Foundation is offering student veterans at McHenry County College grants to cover the cost of new laptops and textbook rentals.
Both grants have been offered to MCC student veterans since 2014. Last school year, 285 student veterans were awarded grants and on average volunteered 20 hours, including participating in student government and volunteering for events, organizations and fundraisers.
"We are grateful to veterans and to their sacrifice. We also want to encourage them to seek their degree or certificate close to home," said Robin Doeden, foundation executive director. "We've partnered with McHenry County College to ease student veterans' transition back to school by encouraging them to apply for the Student Veteran Laptop Grant and the Pay-It-Forward Book Grant."
In the 2016-17 school year, 34 veterans received laptop grants. Supported by local donors, the foundation will provide $500 grants directly deposited into students' bank accounts. Nineteen book grants were awarded to veterans - an average value of $255 - in 2016-17. Students repay the book grant directly to the fund when they are able to return their books to the MCC Student Veterans Resource Center. Books are then lent to future students.
In exchange for receiving a laptop grant, student veterans are urged to volunteer at activities and community events. Students receiving a book grant have the option of providing volunteer service, if they are unable to pay back book rental fees.
"Many men and women returning from overseas deployments often lack access to the technology that plays such a key role in college success," said Brian DiBona, executive director of the Friends of McHenry County College Foundation. "Having a laptop computer and textbooks in time for the first day of class are critical to their success and encourages them to stay in school and work hard toward fulfilling their dreams."
Spring semester classes begin Friday.
For more information, visit the MCC Student Veterans Resource Center online at mchenry.edu or at 8900 Route 14, Room C122, Crystal Lake.