Bill Hurd
Meet Bill Hurd
Name: Bill Hurd
Age: 73
Marital Status: Married
Children: Five
Current Location: Oklahoma
Personal Quote: "The best thing [about distance learning] is the ability to work on the lessons at my own time and place of choosing."
School: Northcentral University
Target: Ph.D. in Business Administration, 2007
You're never too old to learn, and to push the envelope when it comes to educational advancement.
That's what William H., 73, a student with nearly two degrees via distance learning, believes. And he continues to strive to meet his personal educational goals.
The Oklahoma resident is studying to get his Ph.D. in Business Administration from Northcentral University, located in Prescott, Arizona. William, who is married with five children, expects to complete his doctorate in late 2007.
He already earned an online Master of Business Administration degree in Leadership from Baker College in Michigan, which he has utilized working at a newspaper. At the newspaper, he works as an assistant in the business office, tracking newspaper subscriptions and writing reports, as well as assisting the publisher in preparing the annual budget and business plan. Previously, he served in the United States Air Force as a navigator and pilot, and also has worked as a staff officer at the Pentagon.
Currently, he is also an adjunct professor at Oklahoma Wesleyan University, where he teaches economics and statistics. And while one may think it's being a teacher in school that inspired him to take on the highest-level degree, he says his motivation to learn was already present before he began teaching.
For him, getting an education has always been paramount; not only useful for career advancement—but for personal interest, too.
We caught up with William to see what makes distance learning so valuable to him, how he finds the motivation to pursue the highest degree possible, how he manages his time and extensive school work, and see if he had any words of wisdom to offer prospective distance learning students.
Why are you studying the field that you've chosen?
I'm working towards my Ph.D. for personal satisfaction.
Why did you decide to go with distance learning?
I cannot spare the time to attend a brick and mortar university, so distance learning was the only way for me to get my degree.
How do you manage work/school/personal life?
I do most of my studying in the very early morning hours so I will have time for my family during the day and early evening. This system works for me and lets me better manage my time.
How are you paying for your education?
I am using some personal income to afford my education.
How much did it cost you?
About $12,000 so far for my degree.
What is your biggest challenge as a distance learning student?
The biggest challenge about distance learning for me is sticking with it, and resisting the desire to quit.
What is the best and worst thing about distance learning?
The best thing is the ability to work on the lessons at my own time and place of choosing. The second best thing is the ability to do extensive research on the Internet.
Perhaps the worst thing is the lack of contact with other learners. This did not affect my learning ability because a distant learner must be totally motivated. I did find that there was more dialogue with the professor than with other learners.
Do you have any advice or warnings about distance learning?
It takes a great amount of discipline to pursue a degree via distance learning. Do an extensive research of available programs before you sign up. Research the prospective universities thoroughly in regards to accreditation, relative cost, type of delivery, and reputation. I lurked on a distance learning forum for at least two years before I entered the MBA program at Baker College.
How did your employer view your online degree?
Both of my jobs at Oklahoma Wesleyan University and at the local newspaper were positive and accepting of my choice to pursue higher education.
From start to finish, about how long did it take you to complete your degree?
It took about 18 months to get my MBA, and it is now approaching four years to getting my Ph.D. The last year included a break due to prostate cancer treatment and recovery. But I still expect to wrap it up in 2007.
In the future, would you consider online education again or would you go back to traditional, on-campus experience?
That is a moot point since I am about 80 percent of the way through a Ph.D. via distance learning. However, the fact that I completed the MBA via distance learning and am pursuing a Ph.D. via distance learning implies that I would do it again under similar circumstances, and think it can be useful for others.
