{"id":1201,"date":"2019-06-10T10:14:46","date_gmt":"2019-06-10T17:14:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/?p=1201"},"modified":"2024-07-23T14:50:54","modified_gmt":"2024-07-23T21:50:54","slug":"sahm-earns-degree-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/sahm-earns-degree-online\/","title":{"rendered":"In life\u2019s busiest season, Oregon State Ecampus offers adaptable paths to career success"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

Anticipating an eventual return to the workforce, stay-at-home mom Heather Reding went searching for an online program that offered practical support and quality coursework in equal measure. She found Oregon State University Ecampus.<\/p><\/div>\n

Online student and stay-at-home mom Heather Reding has relied on her OSU advisors at every step of her college journey<\/h2>\n

Juggling a college course load while three small children dance underfoot isn\u2019t always easy, admits Oregon State University Ecampus student and stay-at-home mom Heather Reding.<\/p>\n

Sometimes she\u2019s dancing right alongside them, and other times she might fumble a step or two, but when the footwork turns tricky, Heather gets by with a little help from her OSU advisors.<\/p>\n

Heather began her Ecampus journey in 2017, and with support of her family and advisors, she\u2019s discovering that slow and steady really does win the race.<\/p>\n

\"\"

While most of their conversations are via phone or email, Heather got the opportunity to meet her OSU Ecampus student success coach Bethany Ulman in person.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cThe biggest thing has been reminding myself: one, I can do it; two, remembering what my goal is in the end; and three, just knowing that you gotta get up and keep moving,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s OK if you fall down, but unless you get back up, you\u2019re not going to go anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

Heather\u2019s academic advisor assisted with managing paperwork and people, identifying the prerequisites required to become a degree-seeking student and helping Heather maximize the transfer of her existing core credits.<\/p>\n

Her Ecampus student success coach<\/a>, Bethany Ulman, helps her manage her course load, develop smart study tools, brainstorm reroutes and workarounds, and communicate effectively with instructors.<\/p>\n

With their help, Heather\u2019s keeping squarely focused on the eventual payout: a B.S. in Human Development and Family Sciences<\/a>, in anticipation of a day when those small kids grow older and Heather returns to the workforce, hopefully as a high school counselor or community college advisor near Portland, Oregon, where she lives.<\/p>\n

\u2018Step by step, we\u2019re going to get there\u2019<\/h3>\n

Heather was already a mother of two \u2014 Eli, now almost 6, and Odette, now 4 \u2014 when she decided to return to school. Her husband, Peter, had just completed an online MBA, and it was her turn to think ahead to career possibilities.<\/p>\n

She\u2019d made a few starts at college before, but life circumstances (and a growing family) had intervened. This time, Heather was determined to prevail.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe agreed after our second child I would go back to school and no matter how long it took, I\u2019d get my degree,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

“<\/span>It\u2019s OK if you fall down, but unless you get back up, you\u2019re not going to go anywhere.”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"

\u201cWe agreed after our second child I would go back to school and no matter how long it took, I\u2019d get my degree,\u201d Heather says.<\/p><\/div>\n

Getting to a campus every day was out of the question, but she wanted an online program offering more than simple convenience; Heather knew she\u2019d need a lot of support to successfully balance family and schoolwork demands.<\/p>\n

Her dream career involved mentoring young people who were themselves preparing to enter the workforce, and a degree in human development and family sciences delivered online through top-ranked Oregon State University Ecampus aligned with those passions and practical constraints.<\/p>\n

After completing a handful of prerequisites over two terms as a nondegree-seeking student, Heather was officially admitted to Ecampus as degree-seeking student in winter 2018.<\/p>\n

But life is full of surprises. A third child, Charlotte, came along unexpectedly that next spring, and things shifted again for the Redings. Studying with a newborn on hand proved a major challenge, and Heather\u2019s husband as well as her advisors encouraged her to rethink her course load and personal graduation timeline.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was so important to be reminded, \u2018You\u2019re still going to succeed; you\u2019re just going to have to slow down,\u2019\u201d says Heather. \u201cLittle by little, a step at a time, we\u2019re going to get there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Equipping future students for success<\/h3>\n
\"\"

Life\u2019s full of detours, especially when you\u2019ve got young kids. For Heather, Ecampus offered the opportunity to prepare for a workforce return in her own way and time.<\/p><\/div>\n

Charlotte\u2019s a year old now, and Heather\u2019s still enrolled in Ecampus, working diligently away.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s learning that student success isn\u2019t just about making a certain grade or completing X number of credits in X number of years; it\u2019s about picking a path that capitalizes on your gifts, seeking out advisors who meet you where you are and working steadily even when you must work slowly.<\/p>\n

\u201cA step at a time,\u201d says Heather. \u201cIt may take longer than you want, and it may be hard, but one step at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n

What keeps her going, term after term? The prospect of contributing to her family\u2019s financial future, she says, and entering the workforce well-equipped to do what she loves best: mentor young people as they make their own way into the world.<\/p>\n

That world is changing fast, and Heather knows that future students will face complex choices and challenges, just like she has. But she\u2019s working hard to prepare herself to be their shining star, just as Heather\u2019s advisors have been for her throughout her OSU journey.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<\/span> 4<\/span> minute read<\/span><\/span>Anticipating an eventual return to the workforce, stay-at-home mom Heather Reding went searching for an online program that offered practical support and quality coursework in equal measure. She found Oregon State University Ecampus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":1202,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,6,3,677,8],"tags":[91,26,64,169,25,24,475],"class_list":["post-1201","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-ecampus","category-features","category-students-and-alumni","category-students","tag-college-of-health","tag-distance-education","tag-human-development-and-family-sciences","tag-online-degrees","tag-online-education","tag-online-learning","tag-student-success-coaching"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Heather-Reding-human-development-and-family-sciences-student.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7BNSE-jn","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":600,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/dpp\/","url_meta":{"origin":1201,"position":0},"title":"Join the OSU community. We\u2019ll join yours, too.","author":"Heather Doherty","date":"September 1, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cWorking through Tillamook Bay Community College, as well as Oregon State, I was able to feel connected to my local community as well as a greater community,\" says Christiania Jefferies, OSU Ecampus psychology student.","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Christiania Jefferies and her son play in the sand at a beach near their home in Tillamook, Oregon. Christiania is an OSU Ecampus psychology student in the Degree Partnership Program.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Christiania-Feature-1.00_00_11_10138.Still002.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Christiania-Feature-1.00_00_11_10138.Still002.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Christiania-Feature-1.00_00_11_10138.Still002.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Christiania-Feature-1.00_00_11_10138.Still002.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Christiania-Feature-1.00_00_11_10138.Still002.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1227,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/military-student-online-taniah-johnson\/","url_meta":{"origin":1201,"position":1},"title":"With her diploma in hand, military veteran puts self-doubt to rest","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"August 19, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Taniah Johnson didn\u2019t think she was smart enough for college. Just the thought of applying to learn online with Oregon State University Ecampus intimidated her. But she had something to prove \u2013 to herself and everyone else. Now she\u2019s an Oregon State graduate, active duty in the U.S. Air Force\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Taniah Johnson, a human development family sciences graduate of Oregon State University Ecampus","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/taniah-johnson-human-development-family-sciences.jpg?fit=500%2C494&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":632,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/ecampus-success-resources\/","url_meta":{"origin":1201,"position":2},"title":"Degrees at a distance. Success at your fingertips.","author":"Heather Doherty","date":"November 13, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"At Oregon State University Ecampus, there\u2019s always a helping hand available to guide you toward your degree. From student success counseling to 24\/7 library support, online students have access to a variety of Oregon State resources from a distance. Read how graduates from the Ecampus class of 2017 enhanced their\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Archives"","block_context":{"text":"Archives","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/archives\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Erin Mathias, a graduate of the fisheries and wildlife sciences degree program online, stands in front of a brick building on the OSU campus on graduation day.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Erin-Mathias-Main.jpg?fit=638%2C410&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Erin-Mathias-Main.jpg?fit=638%2C410&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Erin-Mathias-Main.jpg?fit=638%2C410&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":333,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/bethany-ulman\/","url_meta":{"origin":1201,"position":3},"title":"Black and orange is in her genes","author":"Heather Doherty","date":"October 17, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"A true Beaver at heart, Bethany Ulman is proud to be back at Oregon State serving as an OSU Ecampus student success counselor. Her goal is to help students through difficult points in their education.","rel":"","context":"In "Archives"","block_context":{"text":"Archives","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/archives\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Bethany Ulman, wearing a bright orange Oregon State University Beavers t-shirt, sits on a table in the Valley Library on campus.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Bethany-Ulman.jpg?fit=638%2C410&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Bethany-Ulman.jpg?fit=638%2C410&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Bethany-Ulman.jpg?fit=638%2C410&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1175,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/pushing-the-boundaries-of-online-education\/","url_meta":{"origin":1201,"position":4},"title":"Out there: Pushing the boundaries of what\u2019s possible in online education","author":"Heather Doherty","date":"April 8, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Oregon State Ecampus is home to national award-winning multimedia developers and videographers who partner with OSU faculty to create custom media to be used in Oregon State\u2019s online courses, including videos, animations, virtual field trips, augmented reality, 3D scanning and virtual reality.","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The augmented reality sandbox used in Permaculture Design and Theory course online shows how landscape design affects water flow.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Oregon-State-Ecampus-course-media-reel-image.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Oregon-State-Ecampus-course-media-reel-image.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Oregon-State-Ecampus-course-media-reel-image.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Oregon-State-Ecampus-course-media-reel-image.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1563,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/ecampus-director-wins-national-award\/","url_meta":{"origin":1201,"position":5},"title":"Oregon State Ecampus director of student success wins national award","author":"Carly Fredericks","date":"October 14, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Marleigh Perez, like many at Oregon State Ecampus, is committed to student success in a plethora of facets. This year, she's lauded for her accomplishments by the Online Learning Consortium, a national resource for all things online education.","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Portrait of Marleigh Perez, director of student success for Oregon State University Ecampus","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/marleigh-perez-student-success.jpg?fit=744%2C427&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/marleigh-perez-student-success.jpg?fit=744%2C427&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/marleigh-perez-student-success.jpg?fit=744%2C427&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/marleigh-perez-student-success.jpg?fit=744%2C427&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1201","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1201"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1201\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1202"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1201"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1201"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1201"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}