Student Exceeding Goals One Online Course at a Time

Written byHope Aucoin

Angela Ardoin set a goal to earn her bachelor鈥檚 degree by 40. Now, she鈥檚 hoping to hit the milestone with both a bachelor鈥檚 in business management and her Master of Business Administration, both from the 欧美三级片.

About six years ago, Ardoin moved from Baton Rouge to Lafayette. She says it took nearly six months to find a job making a salary comparable to her previous position because, 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have a college degree.鈥

Angela Ardoin is completing her degree online at ULLShe was eventually offered a position with South Louisiana Community College as an administrative assistant in the admissions office.

As Ardoin helped potential SLCC students apply, she had an epiphany: 鈥淚 need to go back to school.鈥

So she did.

Ardoin paced herself by starting with two night classes at SLCC.

鈥淚 gradually realized I could do this,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 enjoyed it.鈥

After about a year, Ardoin began looking at open job positions at UL Lafayette to advance her experience and her pay. She received an offer from the Honors Program and began her new role as administrative assistant in 2015. Two years later, she transferred academically, as well.

Embracing a 鈥淣ontraditional鈥 Student Journey

Ardoin鈥檚 current journey is her second attempt at a degree.

鈥淚 went to school when I was 18 for graphic design, but I dropped out because of money and family responsibilities,鈥 she says. 鈥淚鈥檝e always wanted to go back to school.鈥

Across the U.S. there are 30 million to 35 million students who have enrolled in college but have not completed a degree, according to the Lumina Foundation. 

Adults looking for career or education advancement, or even personal satisfaction, have been returning to school as more accredited online programs and courses become available.

These students, once classified as 鈥渘ontraditional,鈥 are now the norm in higher education.

Universities like UL Lafayette give students the opportunity to earn their degrees or graduate certificates online with the support of experienced faculty and staff, extensive resources, and financial aid and scholarship opportunities.

In 2018, 10 percent of all UL Lafayette students were enrolled in a completely online program. And even on-campus students are adding more online courses to their schedules 鈥 36 percent of UL Lafayette students took at least one online or hybrid class in 2018.

Creating a Flexible, Workable Schedule

When Ardoin enrolled at UL Lafayette, she chose business management as her major because of the availability of both night and online courses. In doing so, she established a course balance that works for her.

鈥淓very semester, I鈥檝e taken at least one online class,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 would try to take one course during the day, two at night, and one online each semester.鈥

Now that the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration is offering an online management degree, Ardoin has found she has even more choices and flexibility as a fully online student.

The online courses are taught by the same faculty that teach on campus, but who have been specially trained and certified to teach online, as well.

The program culminates in a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Management 鈥 the same degree students earn on UL Lafayette鈥檚 120-year-old campus.

鈥淚 will take one online course this summer and four in the fall because they鈥檙e introducing the new management online program,鈥 she says. 鈥淚鈥檓 going to get to graduate Dec. 20 because of these online classes. I鈥檓 so excited.鈥

In addition to balancing school and work, Ardoin is mindful to find quality time with her husband and 8-year-old son. Although night classes have allowed Ardoin to pursue her degree while working full-time, online courses reduce her in-class time.

鈥淚 love online courses because I get to go home at 5:15 rather than getting home after 9 p.m., and I can do it on my own pace,鈥 she says. 鈥淚鈥檓 so excited for my last semester to not have night classes. This will be the first fall or spring semester that I won鈥檛 have a night class since I started in 2014.鈥

Making the Grade

Online courses, Ardoin says, provide flexibility but require self-discipline, as well.

鈥淢ost classes have assignments due one day a week, so you have the week to work on whatever at your own pace. So it鈥檚 great,鈥 she says. 鈥淏ut you have to be committed; you have to be able to read and comprehend what you鈥檙e learning and apply it.鈥

In order to stay on top of her coursework and progress through her degree program, Ardoin sets a schedule so she knows where her time is going while incorporating a few 鈥渟tudy hacks.鈥

鈥淪undays I usually spend three to four hours at the library, especially if I have a test or something coming due,鈥 she says. 鈥淭hen, whenever I know I have a test, I make my own study guide in Quizlet. If I type it, it helps me remember, and there鈥檚 an app so I can be in the living room on a weeknight with my husband and my son and talk to them and study on my phone at the same time. Quizlet is a godsend.鈥

Ardoin also has a solid support system, with her mom pitching in to help Ardoin and her husband with their son every night.

Aspiring Beyond the Finish Line

With her family鈥檚 support and a renewed academic confidence, Ardoin recently applied to UL Lafayette鈥檚 Master of Business Administration program.

鈥淚鈥檒l be 38 when I graduate,鈥 she says. 鈥淢y goal back in 2014 was to get my bachelor鈥檚 before I turned 40; now I鈥檓 going to be just turning 40 when I get my master鈥檚.

鈥淚 already feel like I鈥檝e exceeded the goals I鈥檝e made, even if I still don鈥檛 know what I want to be when I grow up.鈥 

In acknowledging her effort and achievements in returning to college, Ardoin says some serendipity was also at play.   

鈥淚 think everything happens for a reason. If I hadn鈥檛 moved to Lafayette, I wouldn鈥檛 have gone back to school,鈥 she says.

鈥淚 love Lafayette, I really do. And I love this school.鈥


Add some flexibility to your schedule through online courses, or enroll in a 100-percent-online degree program, like the BSBA in Management online. Request information to get started.