More interactive than a standard college program? Patrick W. Bass thinks so.

Working father of five finds time to get his MBA online

Patrick W. Bass is an IT Audit Manager with over eleven years of experience in Corporate Governance, Information Technology, Network Engineering, IT Security, and IT Audit. He is a frequent public speaker with topics on data privacy, wireless security, network security and identify theft for technical and senior management personnel. Patrick is a former independent technical editor and ancillary author for Sybex, Inc. He is also a licensed minister and assistant pastor. He and his wife, Grace, have five children together and live in the Milwaukee Wisconsin suburb of Glendale.

World Wide Learn spoke with Patrick to find out how he fits online learning into his schedule.

World Wide Learn:	What are your career aspirations? How does getting a degree fit into them exactly?
Patrick W. Bass	I aspire to be a CIO at a medium sized publicly traded company. Obviously an accredited degree is essential to this goal. The degree, while just a "piece of paper" is designed to help show potential employers a number of different things including competency and the ability to complete a course of action. Therefore, the actual "piece of paper" is transcended beyond that and becomes a symbol of your past success and your future potential.
World Wide Learn:	Why did you decide on an online degree program, and why WGU?
Patrick W. Bass	As a working adult, husband, and father of five, my ability to attend a traditional class-room based university was very limited. My only realistic option was attending an online university. I found WGU by accident, however after investigating the university I was delighted to discover the number of regional accreditations they held. Another major contributing factor for choosing WGU is my learning style. As a 37 year old professional, I learned a long time ago how to educate myself. I know what my learning style is, and most importantly I know what does and does not work for me. WGU's competency based learning was very appealing to me, because it allows students to prove knowledge through a series of proctored assessments. This is an important distinction that sets WGU apart from every other program I evaluated.
World Wide Learn:	What has surprised you so far about your program? What are some things that you hadn't expected?
Patrick W. Bass	I did not expect to become attached to the university. When I first started the program, I viewed the university as a means to an end. As I complete the final steps of my bachelor's degree and look forward to my impending status as an MBA student I realize how thankful I am for the opportunity created by WGU. Despite the fact that I've never met any of my fellow students, mentors or others, I feel the pride and connection to WGU that is perhaps only describable to other alumni.
World Wide Learn:	How do you fit your coursework into your busy work schedule? How much time do you spend per week?
Patrick W. Bass	Completing the degree program was a priority for me. However, with the flexibility offered by the program my study times and locations were of my own choosing. On average, I spend 10-20 hours per week studying and working on my program, depending on what module or assessment I am preparing for. During 2005, I traveled seven months out of twelve. Despite this hectic life style, I completed well over 90% of my degree requirements during that same period.
World Wide Learn:	What are some challenges you've faced with respect to your degree coursework?
Patrick W. Bass	There where times when I had to reach down inside of myself to muster up the energy required to keep plugging away. One major challenge was during my second term when I had major surgery that took over a full month to recover from. I had anticipated completing course work during this time, but found that my recovery effort was hastened by relaxing, and stepping back for a few weeks. The result was that after my convalescence, I returned to my studies, redoubling my efforts and submitting my capstone before the end of my second term.
World Wide Learn:	How is it communicating with your instructor, or other students, in a completely online environment?
Patrick W. Bass	I truly believe that I had the best mentors. My instructors were always available via email, and in those rare instances when I needed the reassurance that only another human voice could provide, it was good to know that help was only a phone call away. I realized early on that my mentor was my guide to completing my program and therefore I endeavored to remain in close contact, sharing concerns, victories and other relevant details of my progress. In those instances when I did have student contact, the communities within WGU provided an excellent forum for exchanging thoughts and other ideas.
World Wide Learn:	What advice would you give to someone considering getting their degree online?
Patrick W. Bass	I would offer several ideas for consideration. First, set a personal study plan. Put it on your daily calendar and then stick to it. Second, use your mentor as a resource. The mentorship program at WGU is remarkable, and this is the one individual that can really help you accelerate your learning opportunities. Third, and most important, don't quit. During high and low points in your life, remember that this period during which you are completing your degree is a transient time. You are working for your future, and the sacrifices that you make now will pay exponential dividends in the years to come.