OA-Spring 2023

CONTINUING OUR STUDENT

For half of a century, Saint Mary-of the-Woods College has offered immersive and enriching educational experiences for students who could not take part in the full campus experience. Being a leader in distance education, the College expanded its success after changing the program’s name from Woods External Degree (WED) to Woods Online (WOL) in 2011. Through a number of transitions and changes, Woods Online has evolved into the robust program that the College offers today. As a pioneer in distance education, SMWC found that switching to an online format would be the best overall fit for students who had concerns about the residency requirements. “More students requested not to have to come to campus. Also, more online programs were being offered nationwide, competitive,” said Gwen Hagemeyer ’09G , director of the WED program from 2008 until 2013. “We wanted to maintain our personal connections with students in a fully online environment.” Several students were inspired as the College proceeded with the new format for Woods Online. “I chose WOL because of the flexibility to work full-time and still pursue my education while being available for my family’s needs,” said Jamie Carman, ’16 . “It allowed me to learn in my own environment, which was convenient as a working mother.” Carman continued with her Woods education and will receive her Master of Leadership Development this May. The transition to fully online needed to incorporate characteristics of the residency program, so the administration was very intentional with the program’s and we needed to stay

CENTERED APPROACH

WOODS ONLINE TODAY By Elizabeth Reel ’21, Content Marketing Manager

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