Re: 911:: APCO Virtual College

[Guest guest]

Jim,

Did you apply for your work experience credits. You can have up to

18 credtis awarded towards your degree. If you haven't already or

didn't know email or call Lora Spivey at JSU/IEP she will forward a

work experience application. That saves you one full semester and

you are that much more ahead.

Also any JSU AAS PST degree major is being transferred to Gadsden

State Community College for the AAS courses but they are still under

the JSU umbrella. Also the AAS courses can still be applied to the

Bachelor's program. When you select your general eduacation courses

for your AAS try to pick those courses that are good for both the

AAS and Bachelor's so you do not have to " re-take " a class

unnecessarily.

If you can transfer credits in from another college that helps too;

although, I took a hit on my GPA (20 years ago I was a slouch in

college). My goal now it to finish and any classes I've been able to

complete are 3.9 or better. (Hindsight is 20-20 and I could kick

myself for frittering college 20 years ago!)

I'm in the program myself (at a snail's pace) but it fits my

schedule and I can still be home for my wife and kids (which is more

important than the degree). I would not pursue it without her

support and the internet access learning is an excellent opportunity.

For , I encourage you to go for it. If you ar an APCO member

you get the AVC pricing for the courses. If you go to JSU's site out

of state residents are being charged double, so this is a gift!

The instructors have been great I've had no complaints. Be ready to

do some " term-paperage " also. It is not just a walk thru the park.

A definite recommend.

Success to all of you who endeavor.

Respects,

Steve

Bucks Co 911 (PA)

[Guest guest]

Jim,

No I do it (Gadsden State Community College enrollment) does not

affect you if you are going towards the Bachelor's. I just re-read

the email from AVC and this is what it said:

" ...JSU cannot offer AAS degrees. Your AAS degree will be issued

from Gadsden State Community College (Gadsden, Alabama). Gadsden

State has hired, Ms. Dilges, PST Coordinator and will be

offering classes for the AAS degree. At this time, GSCC is

offering general ed classes online. In the very near future, GSCC

will be offering many of the PST courses online. Until that time,

JSU will continue to offer the PST courses. With this being said,

all students who are working on your AAS please go to the GSCC

website (www.gadsdenstate.edu) and fill out a GSCC admissions

application. This is necessary to get you into the GSCC system.

You will also remain in the JSU system and can continue to take

classes through JSU. The classes taken at GSCC will transfer back

over to JSU if you want to continue your education and work on your

BS degree... "

Also, you are correct you need 18 credits to be able to apply for

work experience credits, so don't forget that one once you've gotten

18 in the bag. Nice to receive them and makes you glad you stuck

with emergency communications.

I try to do at least one class/year but if I can swing 3 classes

(Spring, Summer, Fall semesters) great. I just cannot pursue this at

the expense of my family. One of the other side benefits is you can

count the AVC courses in your APCO CDEs when you recertify and

report your con-ed (3 credits for each 3 credit AVC course). I also

really like the fact that the courses are current topics and issues

facing us a dispatchers, supervisors and managers (aside from

the " customary " general ed courses).

Respects,

Steve

Bucks Co 911 (PA)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/19/03 1:09:13 AM Eastern Daylight Time, zerkca@...

writes:

> I was just wondering if anyone here has taken courses

> with the APCO Virtual College (possibly leading to the

> International Certificate, the AAS, or the BS)? If

> so, could you please share your experience?

I love taking classes online. Yes, I do miss the interaction of attending a

physical class, but for those who dont have the time, this is wonderful!

As far as studying, I dont study any less than if I were going to class. I

work just as hard at it. Its just very convenient, especially for folks like

us working shift work and find it difficult to commit to regular classes.

Check it out and see what you think. You can find the link to it on the APCO

Website.

Good luck!

http://www.apcointl.org/

Toni Wyman, CTO /Tactical Dispatcher)

Gwinnett County Police, GA

Lawrenceville, GA

(These are only my opinions, not my agency's, after all they are the

government and they have opinions of their own)

For liability reasons my posts and opinions are to be reprinted with my

permission only.

Email to: E911GAL136@...

[Guest guest]

April 25th, 2003 was graduation day for me from JSU

with a BS in Emergency Management with a minor in

Public Safety. The program is well thought out and

comprehensive. The professors are top notch, willing and

enthusiastic.

Classes taken on line are not for those that are not

disciplined in budgeting their time. Scheduled class

times have to be attended, assigned readings and

papers all have deadlines that need to be met. BUT

you don't have to get out of your jammies, or comb

your hair to participate. Nor do you have to drive to

campus, find a parking place or trudge through a spring

rain storm or a winters snowstorm. Questions on

course content or assignments are answered most times

quicker than from a traditional class room setting.

Lora Spivey will probably be your first contact in regards

to the program. She is a GEM and can answer most if

not all questions about the course/s. (I broke ground

for all of you in that area -!!! Her hair is just now growing

back from all the hair pulling I put her through.)

More and more core classes are being added each

semester. Computer Science, Math, English, History,

Literature, just to name a few. If you need a particular

course - Ask -- if at all possible it will be added to the

list.

Some one asked about class load -- I took 4 classes at a time

but my kids are grown, my husband knows how to cook, wash

clothes and carry on a conversation with himself. All things

he learned because I was squirreled away with my nose in a book

are typing on the computer. I would NOT recommend that anyone

take four classes, nor would I do it again.

Tuition is at the Alabama in state rate -- YIPPEEE!!!!!

JSU also has a certificate and Masters program in place

for those wishing to further their education. If you are going

to be attending the APCO convention in Indianapolis -- Aug

10 - 14 -- stop at the ville State University booth and

talk to Dr about the programs offered.

Lorraine

Minnesota

At 12:30 AM 7/26/2003 -0700, you wrote:

>Jo-Anne,

>

>Way to go! I'm currently trying to decide whether I'm

>going to work primarily on the AAS degree in public

>safety telecommunications or go for the BS or maybe

>the AAS then the BS. How did you manage your general

>ed courses? Did you take them online as well or did

>you use credits already earned through a different

>university?

>

>Mike Banks

>Wadsworth, Ohio

>

>--- wrote:

> > I too am taking the APCO program. I am now 5

> > classes away from

> > completion of my BS in Emergency Management. One

> > comment I have is

><<<<snip>>>>>>>>

> > program. It is

> > an excellent program and a great way of networking

> > with individuals.

> > If I can be of any assistance to you feel free to

> > contact me. My

> > plan is to graduate in the Spring of 2004. Also,

> > regarding Lora

> > Spivey, she is a wonderful person and is very

> > helpful in the whole

> > process. Jo-Anne Munroe

[Guest guest]

Way to go! I'm currently trying to decide whether I'm

going to work primarily on the AAS degree in public

safety telecommunications or go for the BS or maybe

the AAS then the BS. How did you manage your general

ed courses? Did you take them online as well or did

you use credits already earned through a different

university?

Mike Banks

Wadsworth, Ohio

Mike, See my message sent to Trac and if I can be of any further

assistance contact me. Jo-Anne Munroe