Dr. Carolyn Jackson, Assistant Provost and Dean of College of Distance Learning and Continuing Education for Gardner-Webb University, explores the vitality of Gardner-Webb’s GOAL Program in her essay Educating Adults, Graduating Professionals.
For many Gardner-Webb graduates across the state (and in parts of South Carolina and Virginia,) their idea of this University is the GOAL program. GOAL is an acronym for Greater Opportunities for Adult Learners and is the program, that since 1978, has afforded several thousand students the opportunity to complete their bachelor’s degree at a location convenient to where they live. The GOAL graduate has enrolled at GWU for only the last two years of the college career, having completed the first two years at another college, university or community college either recently or, for others, some years ago.
Why choose Gardner-Webb’s GOAL program to get that diploma? Since there are sixteen locations where students can attend classes, it may be the geographical convenience. Some students take most or all of their classes online—online classes are geographically convenient from wherever the student resides. But in addition, where else can adults meet their goal of obtaining a baccalaureate degree where the class schedule has been developed to fit the needs of working adults? Quality professors from the campus as well as competent adjunct professors, many of whom teach in GOAL because they enjoy the students and the classroom, characterize GOAL's reputation as a quality program. With the array of majors in the business area, human services, criminal justice, religious studies and nursing, students are able to complete a four-year degree that supports the career they are in and/or allows for advancement or even new positions once they have that diploma in hand.
GOAL students are a vital part of the university even though most of them are not seen on the Boiling Springs campus on a regular basis. Following are ways that are employed to keep the students connected and to make them feel a part of the greater University:
• Potential GOAL students begin their student journey with an admissions counselor who leads them through the admissions, financial assistance, and business office processes.
• They are then assigned to an academic advisor who stays in communication with all of his/her advisees assisting with all areas of course selection, registration, graduation requirements and remains their personal contact with the campus throughout their career as a student.
• Each fall a GOAL Student Campus Day is held where students are invited to bring family and friends to the campus for a reception, a meal in the cafeteria for them and their guests and tickets to a home football game. For many, this may be their first visit to their home campus.
• A voluntary GOAL Student Advisory Committee meets once each semester to interact with students from other campuses and to keep us informed about how the program is working for them and the students they represent.
• Each semester the newsletter, “The GOAL Connection,” is emailed to GOAL students as well as to all faculty, adjunct faculty and staff. The newsletter is a vehicle to keep students and others who receive it informed about upcoming events and to share information that relates to GOAL students.
• Alpha Sigma Lambda induction is held on the campus each fall for students who qualify. ASL is the premier national honor society for nontraditional students.
It is rewarding to all who are involved with the recruiting, advising, teaching or planning programs for GOAL students to view the success the students achieve during their academic career with Gardner-Webb. The GOAL newsletter frequently profiles former students who are now serving in leadership positions throughout the state for which they qualify because of their having obtained their degree. GOAL students are among the best alumni of GWU and the University is proud of their accomplishments.
