St. Thomas University announced its partnership with Complete Florida, an online program specifically for adults who have earned some college credits but stopped out before earning a degree. In Florida, approximately 2.2 million adults have earned some college credit without completing a degree.
By 2018, approximately 59 percent of the jobs in Florida will require postsecondary credentials beyond a high school diploma. With this in mind, the State University System of Florida, the Florida College System and the Florida Legislature have made it a priority to increase the percentage of Floridians with a postsecondary credential. Complete Florida addresses this critical gap in our postsecondary landscape, with priority given to veterans and active duty military.
Led by the University of West Florida’s Innovation Institute and funded by the Florida Legislature, Complete Florida offers more than 50 fully online, flexible and accelerated degree programs and certificates, ranging from information technology to health care and business. Currently, eleven state and private institutions in Florida are partnering in Complete Florida.
The coaching and extensive support systems are hallmarks of the Complete Florida program. Personal coaches act as student advocates working to integrate students’ existing college credit and prior learning experiences into their program of study. Complete Florida’spersonal learning coaches help students fit courses into busy schedules; align skills and interests to programs and jobs, putting them on a personalized path to a college degree.
St. Thomas University has been steadily expanding its academic curriculum, adding a number of online undergraduate and graduate level programs to address the critical needs of the adult learner, such as the online BA in Organizational Leadership. Under Complete Florida, four undergraduate degrees stand out, offering flexible, focused and accelerated programs for those who have some college experience.
The Bachelor of Arts in Health Records and Information Management (online) provides healthcare professionals and individuals an opportunity to move from the clinical side of the healthcare industry to the administrative, business or leadership side. It helps students develop problem-solving and decision-making skills within the healthcare industry, with focus on the health records and information systems; skills in the use of health information analysis and computer literacy skills; interpersonal leadership skills; and an understanding of research techniques and their applications to the health records and information systems. Candidates may have less than 45 credits.
Through the Bachelor of Science in Fire and Emergency Services Management online program, adult learners will get a comprehensive knowledge that can be applied to coordinate, plan, and administer public policy, as well as understand the fire department’s role in public safety. As Program graduates they can become leaders in organizational change and management in the fire or related services; think strategically and proactively within fire service organizations; use creative analyses in research and system problem solving and use technology to advance.
St. Thomas’ Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership is a 120 credit accelerated online management degree program that can be completed in 15 months based on a minimum of 45 credit requirement. It is specifically designed to facilitate and meet the demands of working professionals, who would like to enhance and develop their leadership skills. The curriculum emphasizes personal growth, individual values and advancement in areas of organizational development and human resources. Candidates who do not meet the minimum 45 credit requirement can enroll in the Pre-Professional Program, which allows them to obtain the minimum credit requirement for eligibility to transfer to the B.A., Organizational Leadership Program.
For working adults who are interested in developing an understanding of communication principles and practice and their application in many settings, the university offers a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies. The degree could be of particular interest to individuals who would like to move into the areas of marketing, public relations, and/or advertising.
All qualified adult learners desiring to enroll in STU’s Complete Florida programs have access to scholarships and financial aid opportunities. For additional information, they can visit www.completeflorida.org or contact Dr. Hillroy Thomas at hthomas@stu.edu.
