UT system starts finish-online program

SAN ANTONIO (KXAN) - The University of Texas System has announced a new online program designed to help adult students complete their college degrees.

It is called "Finish@UT" and offers students a flexible path to completion of an undergraduate degree through three System institutions, with all coursework to be completed online.

To encourage potential students statewide to get back to finish their degrees, Finish@UT is conducting a video contest inviting Texas residents to submit a short video showcasing why it is important for them to complete their degree, why they want to return to college and what a degree from a UT institution would mean to them.

Three entrants will win up to $20,000 in scholarship funds to be applied to tuition for the Finish@UT program. The deadline to enter is March 16.

Students can earn any of the following via Finish@UT:

• Bachelor of Science in University Studies at The University of Texas at Arlington
• Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies through The University of Texas at El Paso
• Bachelor of Arts in Humanities through The University of Texas of the Permian Basin

The program allows students to combine classes from all three institutions to earn accredited four-year bachelor's degrees.

“For several years, it has been a goal of mine to find ways to use technology to provide an accessible online degree program for Texans who have successfully completed college courses but have not earned a college degree,” Regents’ Chairman Gene Powell said. “For 3.4 million adults in Texas, life got in the way and they weren’t able to complete their degrees. We need to help them meet their educational goals and advance their careers. More Texans with degrees will strengthen our knowledge-based economy, provide professional expertise in many fields, and help us remain globally competitive."

"A college degree is often a critical step towards fulfilling professional and personal goals,” said Martha Ellis, Ph.D., Associate Vice Chancellor Community College Partnerships for the System. “The reality of earning that degree is not always so simple. Nearly one out of every two students at four-year universities works 20 hours or more, while one in four college students have children they need to care for at home. Oftentimes, there’s quite a bit of juggling going on. Finish@UT was designed for those aspiring college graduates for whom getting to the campus and meeting the traditional college schedule can be a struggle.”

The online program was created for students who have earned some college credits as a flexible and affordable path to completion of their undergraduate degrees without compromising the quality of their education. With accelerated seven- to 15-week courses, Finish@UT offers adults the ability to take courses during times and at locations convenient for them.

View the website www.FinishAtUt.org for more information.