Achieve your personal goals. Advantage

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1 T oday, more than ever, education is critical to advancement and professional opportunities. Perhaps experiencing the glass ceiling effect has revived your interest in obtaining a college degree, but you wonder how to manage adding one more commitment to your already full life. The time that you are spending reading this is a good indicator that you have given more than a fleeting thought to starting or returning to college. At Mid- Continent University, we value each adult learner and are committed to helping you achieve your personal goals. We have removed the barriers that may have caused you to set aside the hope of obtaining that elusive college degree. If you left college prior to finishing or never even began and don t know how to get on track, we have an education program that works for the working adult. Achieve your personal goals Advantage accelerates education and finally provides you with an Achievable, Accessible, and Affordable option to fulfill your goal. Don t let another year of opportunity for change pass; delaying starting delays finishing.

2 Advantage Reasons for choosing Advantage* The credit-earning courses, academic-degree programs, and advising services associated with Advantage are designed to assist career-minded adults by uncovering efficient methods to reach their goal of an associate s or bachelor s degree. Barriers Shattered Classes are often available in your own community. Adult learners attend class one night a week, minimizing interference with family and work. The accelerated timeline and flexibility of the Advantage Program appeal to today s very busy adults who must juggle family, work, college, and other responsibilities. On-site services are provided, such as academic advising, financial aid counseling, book delivery, and registration. Students have the opportunity to learn in an environment designed for adults rather than in a traditional year old setting. Credits are accepted from previous academic work, including courses you might have taken years ago. Spiritual Needs Convenience Location Availability Cost Work-related Adult Environment Program Benefits Attend small classes with the same students and develop cohesiveness in a cohort group. Convert significant life experiences into college credits by documenting past training, work-related projects, and past learning. Access the Advising Center during office hours and consult with your personally assigned advisor. Meet in a seminar format and benefit from the varied experiences and significant ideas of classmates in a cohort group. Improve communication, management, and other skills to enhance or advance your position in the job market. Gain satisfaction from fulfilling your career, professional, and educational goals. Maintain a full-time status while only taking one course at a time. Earn an Associate of Science degree or a Bachelor of Science degree with an option to complete a minor in numerous areas, further expanding your opportunities to obtain marketable job skills. An innovative and effective Accredited Achievable Accelerated Accessible Affordable *Graph above illustrates results from a recent poll of Advantage students

3 Accredited The Advantage Program is viewed as an innovative and exceptionally effective approach to education by professional educators and employers. Tested principles of adult learning theory are incorporated to make all classes stimulating, relevant, challenging, and rewarding. University Credentials Accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia , telephone number ) Chartered with the Commonwealth of Kentucky and licensed by the Council of Postsecondary Education to grant the B.A., B.S., B.M., A.S., and A.A. degrees. Licensed by the State Department of Higher Education of Illinois to offer bachelor-level courses in southern Illinois. Member of the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities (AIKCU). Member of the Association of the Southern Baptist Colleges and Schools. Founded in 1949 in Mayfield, Kentucky. Instructional Modules Instructional modules are scheduled in a way that allow you to fit your college education into an already busy schedule. Cohort groups meet one night per week. Only one module is taken at a time, and each cohort group of adult learners progresses through the program together. The curriculum is distributed with detailed assignments for each week, helping you adjust your study schedule accordingly. Faculty The Advantage Program courses are facilitated by Mid-Continent University s full-time professors and adjunct faculty. Professors and professional adjuncts blend textbook theory with workplace application, making each module an exciting and valuable learning experience. When I first heard about Mid-Continent University from my coworkers, the comments they made about the school were so amazing. They said that the school focused on you as a working adult and that the instructors really care about you as an individual. I couldn t believe that any school would truly be this adult oriented, but it has been. I completed both my associate s and bachelor s degrees through Mid-Continent University. The time has flown, and I have learned so much. My children are very proud of my accomplishment, and I am pleased that I have been able to set the example for them. The work environment is very competitive, and you need to have an edge. The ADVANTAGE Program provides a supportive and encouraging learning environment to continue your education and get your degree. I am a proud graduate of Mid-Continent University. approach to education. Rhonda Perry UPS Louisville, Kentucky

4 Earning my bachelor s degree was a dream which had eluded me for years until I made the decision to contact Mid-Continent University. I found the ONLINE format to be very efficient and flexible for a student who works full time and has other responsibilities as well. Mid-Continent University ONLINE allowed me to study when it was convenient for me without sacrificing time with my family or interfering with work. The staff and faculty were very committed to me as a student and my needs as a working adult. This made the entire process from registration to graduation much more enjoyable than my previous educational experiences. Obtaining my degree has allowed me to expand my career choices and earn a higher income, providing me with the security I desired for my family. While I enjoy the professional benefits afforded me as a graduate, it is the feeling of accomplishment and the sense of belonging to the Mid- Continent University family that I have found most satisfying. Brandon Copeland Ecolab Inc. Accelerated Associate of Science The curriculum includes all of the general education courses required by the state of Kentucky for an associate s degree. Bachelor of Science Students with approximately 60 hours are eligible to pursue a major through the Advantage Program. The curriculum contains 48 credit hours offered through 16 courses; each course is valued at 3 credit hours. Graduation Requirements Have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 Complete required General Education content Complete the following requirements: Associate of Science Bachelor of Science General education- 36 Hours* General education- 36 Hours* Electives- 24 Hours Electives- 44 Hours Major curriculum- 48 Hours Total 60 Hours Total 128 Hours *General education requirements are the same for both associate and bachelor degrees. ONLINE Options For students who cannot attend a face-to-face class one night a week, Mid-Continent University offers an ONLINE option. Students receive instruction from the same quality professors as our face-to-face students and the same superb personal service from our staff. TheAdvantage Program also offers numerous ONLINE minors to supplement both face-to-face and ONLINE students options. These special interest minors enhance specific job skills and marketability. Second Bachelor s Degree Adult learners who have previously earned a bachelor s degree from Mid- Continent University or another accredited institution may complete a second bachelor s degree in business management through the Advantage Program. Obtaining my degree has allowed me to expand my career choices and earn a higher income...

5 Achievable Mid-Continent Offers Options For Earning Credit Option 1: Credit from Regionally Accredited Institutions Your admission representative will perform a preliminary evaluation of your unofficial transcripts to determine the credits Mid-Continent University will accept. This tentative evaluation will help determine what courses you may need in order to complete your degree. Once enrolled, your assigned academic advisor will develop your official graduation plan. Option 2: Selected Military Training If you are a veteran, you may have already earned college credit for your service to our country. Various military training programs have been evaluated by the American Council on Education (ACE). This information can be obtained by requesting military transcripts. To obtain official military transcripts, contact: Army: aarts.army.mil Navy/Marines: Air Force: Option 3: Selected Professional Training or Examinations: Extended workplace training seminars (e.g. SIX SIGMA) and professional examinations may qualify for college credit if recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE). Option 4: Standardized Subject Exams You may earn credit through DANTES and CLEP standardized examinations, which are equivalent to college courses. A limit of 30 credits may be earned through examinations. You may choose from more than 70 examinations available on a variety of subjects. The following websites may be helpful in exploring this resource: or com/clep. Check your area for availability of testing centers. Mid-Continent University test codes: 8228 for CLEP and 9768 for DANTES. Option 5: Documented Experiential Learning College-level learning obtained through work or life experience may be demonstrated through the documented prior learning (DPL) essay process. Based on an evaluation of your portfolio, Mid-Continent University faculty may award credit, depending on the type of learning and the amount of documented training, through one of the following options: Technical, professional, and non-credit instruction-- Submit information indicating the type of training, learning outcome(s), and application of that knowledge. Experiential learning--submit an academic essay that combines college-level knowledge of theory with practical experience, including information from published sources. Please Note: No more than 62 credits may be earned through various combinations of non-traditional credit. Accredited Achievable Accelerated Accessible Affordable

6 Accessible Admissions Process Personal accessibility begins from the moment of inquiry. You will meet with an admissions representative at a time and place convenient for you. At this initial meeting, you will have the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the benefits of pursuing your degree through the Advantage Program. During your next appointment, the admissions representative will meet with you to review transcripts and provide a tentative assessment of how your credits will transfer to Mid-Continent University. During this meeting, you will also complete the electronic FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). You will complete forms for transcript requests to the schools you have attended. Most schools require a check or money order to accompany this request. Once a decision is made to apply for admission to Mid-Continent University, the application* and application fee are submitted to the admissions representative. Checklist for follow-up appointments: 3Transcripts 3Tax Returns 3W2 s 3Money order/check for transcript requests 3Application and fee * Mid-Continent University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, or ethnic origin, physical or mental handicap, or sex in admission, administration of educational policies, administration policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and other school-administered programs. Accredited Achievable Accelerated Accessible Affordable Invest in your future

7 Affordable Grants Grants are awarded based upon a variety of factors but primarily upon demonstrated financial need. Federal grants and loans require the adult learner to complete a FAFSA, available electronically at ed.gov. Renewals should be completed annually in the spring to qualify for maximum benefits. The Mid-Continent University financial aid code is Listed below are some of the most common forms of grant assistance. Pell Grants are provided by the federal government. These grants are based upon financial need. College Access Program (CAP) provides need-based grant money to Kentucky residents. CAP is available to qualified students on a firstcome first-serve basis. To receive funds, a student must also be Pell eligible. Kentucky Tuition Grant (KTG) provides need-based grants to qualified Kentucky residents who are full-time undergraduate students at a Kentucky independent college. The KTG has a higher income limit than other grants. Loans Federal Stafford Loans are available to assist adults in funding their education and are available regardless of income level. Other Funding Sources Veterans Benefits-- Eligibility is determined by the Veterans Administration. To access information regarding military education benefits, potentially eligible students should visit or call A copy of form DD214 must be submitted to Mid-Continent University. Kentucky National Guard members should contact (502) for eligibility information. Other Resources-- Students may qualify for resources such as WIA, Vocational Rehabilitation, Upward Mobility, employer reimbursements, and state employee funding. After working twelve years toward a bachelor s degree, I began to feel that it was too difficult, if not impossible, to obtain one. I would take one class per semester, but my education seemed to move very slowly. Something would throw me off track each time I tried to work on reaching my goal. One morning while getting ready for work, I heard an advertisement that changed my life. Mid-Continent was offering a program in which you could receive a bachelor s degree in eighteen months. My hope of obtaining my goal was renewed. It was immediately obvious that the staff at Mid-Continent were professional and dedicated to assisting me. I have attended many colleges in the past twelve years and have never found a more passionate group of people. I look up to all of the professors for their moral and ethical values. Plus, the men and women of this school have a quality of character that is found in very few places. Mid-Continent helped me obtain my goal on May 19, I now find myself reaching other goals. The program made me stronger in my faith in God, and I strive to be a better husband and father. Trevor Bonnstetter Manager / CEO, West KY Rural Telephone Let us show you how!...the men and women of this school have a quality of character that is found in very few places.

8 Personal Goal What Drives YOU Role Model Career Advancement to complete your degree? Career Change Job Security Spiritual Reasons Congratulations on your decision to further your education, and thank you for considering Mid-Continent University s Advantage Program. Mid-Continent University is committed to academic excellence in a Christian environment that integrates faith and learning. The Advantage Program is structured to assist adults in obtaining their career goals in a user-friendly environment. Short Term Commitment, Long Term Advantage Graph above illustrates results from a recent poll of Advantage students The Mission of Mid-Continent University, as a Baptist institution of higher learning, is to provide on-campus and off-campus programs to educate students for Christian leadership and service around the world. Advantage Toll Free: MCU-GRAD advantage@midcontinent.edu 99 Powell Road East Mayfield, Kentucky