Year 3
The University of Arkansas is passionate about our land-grant mission to serve our home state and its people. Online degree programs make education accessible to those who cannot leave their hometowns to come to Fayetteville.
In May 2024, more than 690 students applied for graduation after studying in online degree programs. In June 2024, the Razorbug Diploma Tour traveled across Arkansas for a third year in a row to deliver framed diplomas to 16 Arkansans who studied online while living and working in their hometowns. Graduates shared their individual journeys and explained what it’s like to study online.
"The M.S.O.M. skills are ingrained into every part of it. I was looking for a master's that would lead me from the chemistry side to operational management. On some projects I was being required to do, I wasn't exactly understanding how it was all working together. This was a way for me to understand what I was being asked and how all these functions work together."
"Every class involved some aspect of group work. There were people from all over Arkansas and other parts of the country. I have friends on LinkedIn I keep in touch with. At first I thought it was going to be scary, but it's not as scary as it sounds enrolling in a master's program. They make it really easy to be able to get your work done and also balance a full-time job and a family. I really enjoyed the program and meeting people."
"I can be a voice for these students, helping them to achieve in the classroom. I will continue to add more hands-on experience with the students and meet their needs. With the education I received, I will be able to help those students more."
"When starting something new, it can be hard to adapt your schedule to what you already had going, but it's very rewarding. You will be able to do things you do on a day-to-day basis and do something a little bit extra and get your degree. It will give you a sense of pride and make you happy that you were able to juggle many tasks and still get everything done."
"I looked into several programs. U of A was the most affordable, and it looked like it would work out well. I could keep my full-time job, and it was a bonus to be a Razorback. I would definitely recommend seeking someone out who's going through the same process and having someone to lean on, complain, vent, discuss this or that."
"By offering targeted training programs in partnership with businesses and industry, these institutions ensure a skilled workforce that meets market needs. This support helps local businesses expand and can attract new industries to the area, creating broader economic benefits."
"I happened into social work by talking with some friends. I stayed on this path as I learned that I could make a difference for people in the classroom or school setting without being a teacher. I feel like this path has given me the opportunity to support families in work and the personal time to spend with my loved ones."
"Take your time and be sure you know that this is something you want to do. Don't go in there and think that it's going to be very easy, and you're going to breeze through it. Be sure you're dedicated to this program, and you will do wonderful."
"I could come and go as I wanted. I put aside a certain time to do my assignments. That was convenient, especially while working. I moved back home to be around family and friends."
"It is the most desired degree in this discipline. I thought, why not become a master of one of the emerging issues in law? Who knows what I will get to do? I'm ready!"
"We cover every aspect to manage your home, whether for individuals or families. Each county has a person to assess the needs of that community. We try to improve quality of life using research-based information based on whatever people need. We tailor everything we do to today's needs. We wear a lot of hats but it's a lot of fun."
"Part of what I do is programming, and the majority of my co-workers are electrical engineers. When working with electricity, I wanted a deeper understanding of what I was doing. With Dr. McCann, I was really able to dive into the mathematics behind the programming I do. If I wanted to pursue more advanced processing controls, I have more understanding. The degree opens doors to future opportunities."
"What we have encountered with our students is that many fell through the cracks of school systems because they had an undiagnosed learning disability. We found ways to help them create accommodations for themselves, even without an official diagnosis. We cannot provide a diagnosis for them, but we can direct them to helpful resources and practitioners who can."
"It's a blend of business with engineering that addresses skills you need in management, including decision-making and risk management."
“I was first interested in the homeland security graduate certificate that took 12 hours. I thought, why not take the operations management degree for 30 hours? It was well worth the work to get the full degree.”
32
Counties Visited
2,250
Miles Traveled
8
Days of Presenting
14
Academic Presenters
5
Front-page
Newspaper Stories
2
Television Reports
Presenters
Phil Jones |
Magazine Russellville |
Kay Murphy |
Nashville Magnolia El Dorado |
Tim Killian |
Camden |
Donna Graham |
Arkadelphia |
Mitchell Dowden |
Little Rock |
Alishia Ferguson |
DeWitt Searcy |
Kerry Melton |
Lonoke Bono Paragould |
Patty Milner |
Wilson Blytheville |
Collaborators
Academic Colleges |
Presented the diplomas |
Office of Admissions |
Loaned us the Razorbug |
Office of the Registrar |
Printed diplomas |
U of A Bookstore |
Ordered the diploma frames |
University Relations |
Helped promote the tour |
Video |
Kris Katrosh |
Global Campus |
Multiple Teams: Graduation data, travel arrangements, media production, information technology, photography |