Online graduates celebrate at ceremony

Online graduates celebrate at ceremony

The U.S. Department of Labor recently projected that in the coming decade, 90 percent of new high-growth, high-wage jobs will require some postsecondary education. As a result, a growing number of adults are enrolling in online or campus-based institutions in order to earn advanced degrees and certifications.

In recognition of nontraditional students, Ashford University recently held a graduation ceremony for 700 of its online learners. The military members, veterans, parents and working professionals traveled from 48 states, Guam and the Virgin Islands to attend the event.

Jane McAuliffe, president of the university, said that many of Ashford's students meet for the first time at graduation, and that the ceremony is a great opportunity for graduates to come together in celebration of their accomplishments.

This ceremony marks the first graduation of all online students for the university, 99 percent of whom completed their classes remotely.

Online enrollments experienced a 17 percent increase during 2008, which exceeded the 1.2 percent growth of traditional on-campus enrollment.

By Mark Danson