Despite a successful career, Greg Atkins always felt something was holding him back. Two [years ago, at the age of thirty-eight, he climbed to a position of prestige in state government [as assistant commissioner of New Jersey’s department of community affairs.
Yet, despite his experience, he felt he could go no further without an academic degree. However, with a demanding job and small children at home, there was little time to attend classes. “I’ve been raising a family and my job requires that I attend meetings in the evening,” Atkins said. “It is very difficult to get back in the classroom, even for night classes.”
But Atkins found the answer, as did many professionals, at Thomas Edison College in Trenton, N.J.–a non-traditional college without a campus, or even scheduled classes, that offers twelve degree programs.
After receiving credit for courses taken more than two decades ago and for his experience in social work and state government, Atkins can fulfill the balance of the requirements for a bachelor’s degree at home. Late at night, on weekends and any time he can find the time, Atkins studies. A year from now, he plans to have a bachelor’s degree in public administration–just one step, he says, on his way to a master’s degree and a doctorate.
