Treehouse, Beach, Highway: The Ultimate Study Anywhere Experience

Online learning offers flexibility but also requires sacrifice.

Ashley Ingram lives 1,200 miles from her family and many of her friends. Earning a doctorate through an online program allows her to visit them without missing class or falling behind on assignments.

Ingram, an employee of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, has worked on her degree from locations across the United States and abroad, including:

• A treehouse in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
• A beach in Aruba in the Caribbean.
• While riding on the Blue Route (Interstate 476) west of Philadelphia.

“I chose an online program because I like the flexibility to mix the school into my work life,” she said. “That flexibility and the opportunity to connect with people, whether it’s online or with people locally who are doing the program, really integrates with work life and school.”

 

Studying, Working in Human Resources

Ingram works as HR director of talent development, talent management and employee engagement and experience at the U of A’s Office of Human Resources. She is pursuing a Doctor of Education degree in human resource development. Colleges at the University of Arkansas offer more than 100 degree and licensure programs delivered online.

“Taking courses while working full time requires a lot of focus, dedication, and creativity,” she said. “It teaches you skills like research, building a network and asking powerful questions. Everyone has their own journey, their own desires. For me, part of that was working toward a doctorate degree. Having the opportunity to do so while working at the university is like icing on the cake.”

 

Doc ‘Buddy’

Her faculty members emphasize building connections among students and between students and faculty, Ingram said. One professor hosts live chats for specific classes and for the program as a whole, allowing Ingram to meet people from all three levels of the HRD program.

“In my first class, I connected with another new student, and we have since become ‘doc buddies,’ ” Ingram said. “We hold each other accountable for what we’re doing. If one of us is going to be traveling or we have a big work project, we will hold each other accountable if we want to submit assignments a little bit earlier.”

Ingram and her doc buddy live in different states and have never met in person, but their friendship shows such connections can thrive despite physical locations or time zones. Their relationship has expanded beyond the classroom, she said. They discovered a shared love for making crafts.

“Over one Christmas break, we had a phone call where we talked about everything we were crafting,” Ingram said. “We are building what I consider a lifelong relationship outside the classroom even though we’re in an online program.”

 

Support System

Ingram credits the support of family, friends, colleagues, and fellow students for her success.

“There will be some times where I’m getting frustrated with a school assignment, and my husband will recognize that,” she said. “He’ll say, ‘Maybe it’s time we go take the dog for a walk,’ and he helps me reset and get grounded.”

Her husband shows his support in various ways, including driving during trips so Ingram can work on her lap desk. Having a village of support around her helps Ingram use her time efficiently while still prioritizing family and friends.

“Thankfully, I don’t get carsick,” she said. “I found that I can’t take notes well in the car, but I can do my reading and editing.”

Her friends and family understand that, while she may have to decline invitations now, it’s a temporary situation. She will finish with the program within a couple of years.

 

Reality of Sacrifice

The flexibility of studying anywhere also means Ingram occasionally has to bow out of some family activities during vacations.

“I would have to say, ‘You guys go have a great time, but I can’t go. I’ve got to do my schoolwork,’” Ingram said. “Sometimes, you have to make hard choices and sacrifices in order to get that work done.”

Establishing a routine helps with those tough decisions.

“I tend to do most of my schoolwork after the workday and on the weekends,” she said. “If you can get on a regular schedule, that’s really helpful because you can pivot and adjust when you need to.”

At one point, with weekend events coming up, Ingram was able to do some schoolwork in the mornings, but she also chose to go on a shorter hike during a backpacking trip to ensure she had enough time to meet her school deadlines.

“I set that expectation ahead of time so they could plan to still do what they wanted to do and I could still get my work done,” she said.

 

Coursework to Career

Ingram applies what she’s learning in her doctoral program directly to her job. One assignment required her to analyze, design, develop, implement and evaluate a training program.

“We were trying to come up with a development program for a specific group on campus,” Ingram said, “and I was able to do that following along with my school assignment. I continually look for ways to apply what I’ve been learning in the classroom on my job.”

Ingram has also shared research articles with her team on topics such as supervisor development, onboarding and employee engagement.

“I am building the skills and the network to help me succeed both now and the in the future,” she said.