2012 OSU Ecampus graduates

Tyler A. Schade – Proud to wear OSU colors and fly the Ecampus flag

B.S. Environmental Sciences
Cameron Park, Calif.

What does earning your OSU degree mean to you?
Earning my B.S. in Environmental Sciences from OSU means I can contribute to managing our natural resources with a reputable college degree. Earning this degree means I can find a good career that I enjoy while helping protect, conserve and educate people about our environment. This degree also means I'm a certified Beaver! I have family throughout Oregon, including some Ducks, so now I can wear my school colors when I visit.

Why did you choose to complete your degree online through OSU Extended Campus? What did you like about this method of education?
I chose this degree through Ecampus because I had a full-time job and needed the flexibility that only online courses can offer. I have had family attend OSU, and being close to Oregon, I knew OSU to be a good university with well-renowned professors and academics.

Furthermore, OSU is a regionally accredited college, unlike many of the other online "universities" out there; with this accreditation I can be proud of my "online" degree. I enjoyed the passion and effort of OSU professors, many of who are both interested in and at the forefront of quality online education. Also, it's great meeting other students online from not just around the country, but from around the world.

Did you have an instructor or advisor who was influential in helping you succeed as a distance student?
I had many good professors through Ecampus. In fact, I wouldn't give any less than a B grade. However, two professors stand out among the many online classes I've taken -- Dr. Randall Moore (FW 435, FW 303) and Professor Erik Jensen from Chemeketa (Physics sequence). Dr. Moore went out of his way to create a good class and experience for students, from showing his passion and interest in the class and students to the little things, like holding weekly web chats to discuss class topics homework, and assignments not only applicable to the outside world, but that often moved the student into the world to perform assessments and studies.

Professor Jensen also went above and beyond through his innovation for physics' classes, namely at home labs that are better than many on-campus labs, from pendulums to measuring centripetal force with a string and weight. Both professors shared common traits that are vital to a good online course and help Ecampus students succeed: frequent communication, dedication to the online class, and respect for students. It is because of professors like this, and the overall quality of OSU online professors, that I can recommend Ecampus to others.

What will your Ecampus degree allow you to do that you were unable to do before?
Even without my degree completed I have written conservation plans that benefited a non-profit environmental organization, performed endangered animal research for regulatory work, and taught elementary students a small morsel of the plethora of knowledge I've been given through the Environmental Sciences program. Now, with my degree complete, I can get a career-oriented position in the environmental/natural resources field for which I've been wanting to break into for some time. An environmental sciences degree from Oregon State University gives me a giant step forward in that direction, and when I get that career position, it will no doubt be due in part to the B.S. degree from OSU and the many professors who guided me on my educational path.

Furthermore, I now feel confident in leading nature hikes, giving scientific presentations, and in educating others about the environment, from conservation issues and wildlife biology to simply enjoying nature and the outdoors. Since I already have an English degree from 10 years ago, this science degree will also help round me out as a person to better understand the natural world and the different views people have of it.

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