The University of Scranton Awards Master's Degrees to 379 Online Graduates

Students Praise Program Quality and Convenience on Their First Trip to Campus

TAMPA, Fla., June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Among The University of Scranton students
who gathered for the May 30 spring commencement ceremony were hundreds who
visited the Pennsylvania campus for the first time.

"The campus is beautiful and although I took all of my classes online, I still
felt a part of the campus life," said Ayanna Thorne Gass, who received a
Master of Science in Educational Administration. "Everyone, from the other
students I met to the professors, was warm and welcoming. I felt like a
long-lost relative and not a stranger."

As a single mother working both full- and part-time jobs, Gass said the
convenience of online education made earning a master's degree possible. Her
experience at The University of Scranton has given her the confidence and
desire to earn another advanced degree - a doctorate, which she plans to begin
working on soon.

Teresa Marie Tyson and several family members made a special flight to attend
the ceremony, where Tyson was awarded her Master of Science in Curriculum and
Instruction. "It was the proudest moment of my life," said Tyson, who
emphasized the academic excellence for which The University of Scranton is
known.

Other students also lauded the quality and convenience of online education,
describing how the Internet-based classes fit their busy lifestyles. "When I
first enrolled in the online program, I had an hour commute to work and the
closest college was another hour on top of that," said Bobbie Bie, who earned
a Master of Science in Educational Administration. "The flexibility and
convenience of the online program really appealed to me. It allowed more time
to spend with my family since I was avoiding the commute." Bie said her
master's degree will help her become a department head or curriculum
coordinator, plus she can now teach courses at her local community college.

For Marguerite Musgnug, a 10-year teaching veteran, the online master's
program provided stability and assurance that life's interruptions would not
derail her educational goals.

"My husband and I moved around a lot the first few years we were married, and
each time, I was in the middle of a master's degree program," she explained.
"I wanted the online format in case we moved again, since it would allow me to
finish, no matter where I was living."

Whether students choose to focus on Curriculum and Instruction or Educational
Administration, all online participants benefit from an interactive learning
experience that features streaming video lectures, online message boards, live
chat rooms, virtual office hours and more.

Students Recognized for Outstanding Performance

Four of The University of Scranton's online graduates were honored for
superior academic achievement, which included maintaining a 4.0 grade point
average:

-- Laura Anne Bell, Vienna, VA - MS in Educational Administration
-- Lori Leigh Wilt, Waynesboro, VA - MS in Educational Administration
-- Jaime Leann Ottinger, Vail, AZ - MS in Curriculum and Instruction
-- Jennifer Ann Counselman, Charlotte, NC - MS in Curriculum and
Instruction

For a complete list of graduates, visit
http://matrix.scranton.edu/news/images/summer2009/2009_CGCE_Commencement.pdf.

The University of Scranton is currently accepting applications for the next
online session. For more information about earning a master's of science
degree in education, call 800-605-5346 or visit http://www.uscranton.com.

About The University of Scranton

Nestled in the Pocono Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania, The University
of Scranton was founded in 1888 and has been educating students in the Jesuit
tradition since 1942. It is consistently ranked among the top 10 Master's
Universities in the North by U.S. News & World Report. The University of
Scranton is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher
Education (NCATE) as well as the Commission of Higher Education of the Middle
States Association of Colleges and Schools. The College of Graduate and
Continuing Education is accredited by the Pennsylvania Department of
Education.

About University Alliance Online

The University Alliance (UA) facilitates the promotion and online delivery of
associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees as well as professional
certificate programs from the nation's leading traditional universities and
institutions. Powered by UA's technology and support services, our university
partners have surpassed 300,000 online enrollments - making UA the largest
facilitator of e-learning in the country.

Contact:

Sandy Levine, VP of Marketing Services
The University of Scranton/University Alliance Partner
813-621-6200
http://www.uscranton.com

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SOURCE The University of Scranton

Sandy Levine, VP of Marketing Services, The University of Scranton-University
Alliance Partner, +1-813-621-6200