FEATURE

SJSU Online:

The Digital Bridge to Transforming Your Life

By Brian Cheung Dooley

Three recent alumni share how SJSU’s online degree-completion programs have helped turn their dreams into realities.

Imagine enrolling in college, hopeful to find your purpose, complete a degree and open a world of possibilities. Then life happens. Your health, caregiving or financial responsibilities become pressing priorities and your educational goals become distant dreams.

For millions of people across California and throughout the United States, various obstacles have prevented them from completing their bachelor’s degrees through traditional pathways. Recognizing this challenge, SJSU Online offers affordable, 100% online programs for students to earn a quality degree from San José State University, and the first class of graduates crossed the finish line earlier this year at the Spring 2023 commencement ceremonies.

Three SJSU Online alumni share their stories of persistence, and how they found a shared sense of purpose alongside hundreds of other classmates, both near and far.

Three members of the first cohort of SJSU Online graduates share their experiences. Video: Javier Duarte.

A worthwhile achievement

For Llarelie Jimenez, ’23 Interdisciplinary Studies; Sandra Ukili, ’23 Interdisciplinary Studies; and Yhizel Torres, ’23 Interdisciplinary Studies, the motivation to return to school and complete their degrees came from knowing how significant that achievement would be for them and their families.

“As a returning student that did not succeed with in-person classes, this new platform has allowed me to finish my classes in a timely manner,” said Jimenez. “What it means to me to complete this degree is the end of the sacrifice that we all go through when trying to further our education in order to fulfill our goals and our aspirations.”

Ukili agrees and adds that the accomplishment extends beyond themselves. “I'm a first-generation college student, and my parents always instilled the importance of higher education,” said Ukili. “This degree means a lot in the sense that it encompasses my parents' sacrifices, and mine as well.”

“Being a mom and working full-time is really hard. This online program really, really helped me to achieve my goals. Now I'm able to set up my ceiling and my son's floor. Where I finish is where he can start.”

— Yhizel Torres

Determination to persist

Although Jimenez, Ukili, and Torres all knew that accomplishing their lifelong goal of completing their bachelor’s degrees would be challenging, they were all determined to do whatever it took to reach their goals.

In some instances, that meant adjusting online learning as a whole. “An obstacle that I experienced was that it was just fast-paced,” said Jimenez. That obstacle, however, also resulted in memorable moments. “A highlight of mine during this experience was in the middle of a Saturday class where my Zoom classmates and I all looked extremely tired. But we all showed up. We all showed up because we knew that this was something that we needed to accomplish.”

In other instances, that meant balancing priorities inside and outside of the online classroom. “I had my son and I also had to have surgery,” said Torres. “It was a big obstacle, but I had a really good support system within the school to help me achieve my goals.”

“I'm married now and have two children, so I didn't think that getting a degree was something that was going to happen. When a good friend of mine told me about this opportunity, I jumped on it, even though it meant stressing myself out and putting a lot on my plate.”

— Sandra Ukili

A community to carry them

That community of support was one of the pillars that enabled Ukili, Torres, and Jimenez to persist through their programs and ultimately reach the finish line.

Overall, they were pleasantly surprised at the level of community they were able to develop with their peers. “A highlight for me was the camaraderie that I found with other fellow students,” said Ukili. “I didn't think that was possible because it was an online program, but the relationships and friendships that I was able to build I think are lifelong.”

Additionally, they received critical support from SJSU Online at the times when it mattered the most. “The counselors were just an email away and I was able to get the support that I needed. For example, I couldn't do a class so one of the counselors helped me reach out and do what I needed to do so that I can still be successful,” said Torres. “When I was dealing with my hardships, they were there for me. I was able to communicate with them and they helped me reach out to my professors and classes so I could still be on track for graduation.”

“This program highlights how important educational advisors are. They really are the driving force. They encouraged us, they motivated us, and they were there every step of the way.”

— Llarelie Jimenez

Unlocking new possibilities

Completing their bachelor’s degrees through SJSU Online has made one thing clear for Ukili, Jimenez and Torres: their futures have been forever changed by new opportunities.

Ukili shares, “I want to be a driving force in enabling women to be there for their children in those crucial early years, so I am looking for employment opportunities that will allow me to continue to advocate for diversity and inclusion. The idea of pursuing a master’s program has also been on my mind, as I am passionate about bringing change to our society.”

Similarly, Jimenez’s experience has compelled her to take action on her future goals. “I've taken the exciting step of establishing an LLC with the aim of exploring innovative ways to empower future educators in enriching their classrooms,” said Jimenez. “Looking ahead, I'm committed to advancing my educational career by pursuing a Master's degree in Educational Leadership with the hopes of inspiring other future education leaders.”

Finally, Torres’ has taken on new opportunities where she can apply her experiences. “I have accepted a teaching position in the Santa Clara County Office of Education’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing program,” said Torres. “I will be teaching TK-1st grade while I complete my Master’s Degree and Education Specialist credential at Fresno State University.”

“I'm married now and have two children, so I didn't think that getting a degree was something that was going to happen. When a good friend of mine told me about this opportunity, I jumped on it, even though it meant stressing myself out and putting a lot on my plate.”

— Sandra Ukili

Paying the encouragement forward

Now that they have graduated, Jimenez, Torres, and Ukili are excited to share words of wisdom and encouragement to others who are considering completing their bachelor’s degrees online.

“Online does definitely make it easier to work at your own pace and it makes it a little bit more flexible. I think that it's a great opportunity if you feel, like myself, that otherwise you would not be able to complete a higher education degree,” said Ukili.

“Take advantage of the support system. I wouldn't have been able to reach my goals if this wasn't an opportunity available to me. It can be hard, but it’s worth it,” said Torres.

“While we all have our challenges outside of education, with the great advising team and the great professors that SJSU Online provides, there is no excuse not to finish so I would completely, 100% recommend this program,” said Jimenez.

More About SJSU Online

SJSU Online creates opportunities to complete the same quality bachelor's degree as SJSU on-campus students with the same faculty, curriculum and accreditation. With three rolling application cycles and five eight-week terms each year, students are able to begin when it’s most convenient for them and make continuous progress towards their degree. Additionally, students can maximize the number of credits they transfer to minimize their overall cost and time to completion.

Current degree programs include Anthropology, Business Administration, Economics, Information Science and Data Analytics, Interdisciplinary Studies, Public Health, and Public Relations, with more on the horizon. Students learn from renowned SJSU faculty, engaging course content, and diverse classmates. Throughout their programs, students receive regular academic advising and support from a team of student success center advisors.

Want to learn more?

Visit SJSU Online to begin your transformation. Apply by November 15 to begin in January 2024 or from December 1 - April 1 to begin in June 2024.

Top photo: From left to right: SJSU Online students Sandra Ukili, ’23 Interdisciplinary Studies; Yhizel Torres, ’23 Interdisciplinary Studies; and Llarelie Jimenez, ’23 Interdisciplinary Studies, participate in the Spring 2023 SJSU Commencement ceremony. Photo: Jim Gensheimer