Shatter the Glass Ceiling With Education By Kathleen Wells, Ph.D. You've got talent, creativity and ambition. So what is stopping you from advancing up the corporate ladder? If you are confident you are not meeting gender discrimination, take a look at your educational level. Is it in line with other executives in your company both male and female? If not, do not despair. When you are busy juggling work and family, it is easy to jump to the conclusion that you cannot continue your education. Not so. Education and college degrees that are fully accredited are only a phone line and Internet server away. Sandy Cerreta, a graduate student at the University of Arizona, checked out her field and found women who were not rising above the glass ceiling were missing higher education achievements in their portfolios. She chose not to be stuck under a glass ceiling and enrolled in graduate school. Whether you are able to attend a local university as Sandy is, or whether you need distance education, there are programs available from freshman to doctorate in a wide range of fields that will fit all your needs. There's a good reason while professionals are going back to school. According to a March '98 census Bureau report, employees with a professional or master's degree earn almost $30,000 more than employees with a bachelor's degree. In addition to the obvious benefit of having more opportunities and an increased salary, there are other benefits to gaining higher education. Of course, there is the value of knowledge itself, but on a more ethereal note, you make new friends and build a wider circle of friends for support and encouragement. This same circle of new friends can be beneficial to you? networking circle as well. You also have a golden opportunity to be a positive role model to your children. It is critical to tell children to "do as I do" not "do as I say--not as I do.? Show your children by example that you value education. Sandy wanted to model strong participation and growth in the workforce for her young daughter, and she is by attending classes to progress on her career path. Few would argue the benefit of any education, so here's what you need to know to get more of it your way, on your time line and combined with your hectic schedule. First, to find a program that meets your needs there are several places to research. If you are looking for distance education, you ca? start by using a search engine to find online universities. Many universities now have distance education. If you have your way in business without any college, check out Cochise College's Online Campus at www.cochise.org. This is a fully accredited community college where you can get your first two years of classes all online. You can then move into an online program for a bachelors, masters and perhaps even a doctorate. Only you set the limits! If there is a university you always thought about attending or where you did undergraduate work? explore their Web site and see if they have distance education programs. If you are looking for local universities and what degree programs they have, go to a reference librarian and ask for the "college blue books.? This is a set of books that list degree programs, colleges, fields of specialization, etc. The books give you contact information, tuition costs, etc. When you find a program of interest, two things to check first are the tuition/fee structure and if the institution is accredited. As for tuition, yes, it is expensive, but how do you place a value on knowledge? If you must be pragmatic, look at the costs of the education compared to the increased earning potential over the life of your future career. Should you be unable to handle the tuition completely, get a low interest educational loan. It will be worth it in the long run. You want a school that is regionally accredited. North Central is one of the biggest and best-recognized accreditation bodies in this country. State Approved is not good enough. For most things, i.e., just having the credential on your resume, an institution that is not regionally accredited is all right. A few years from now, however, if you decide to utilize your expertise to teach at the local university, the lack of regional accreditation will keep you from being able to do this. Lindsay Robledo is a student with graduate degrees from a state approved university. She wants to move from the corporate arena into teaching now that she is older. In order to be credentialed to teach, she will have to pursue another graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution. Since none of us can see down the road with total clarity, I strongly recommend you only consider fully accredited schools and save yourself the possibility of this difficulty in the future. Your future employer is also more likely to prefer an online degree from an accredited university. A recent survey of hiring managers by Vault.com found that 75 percent of hiring managers felt an online degree from a traditional university is more credible than one from an online-only institution. You've found a program, so now what can you expect of the work? Don't expect it to be easier than traditional work. Do expect to do the work around your schedule. Expect to spend lots of time online communicating with others in the program and with your instructor. Most women who reach the executive level are quite disciplined and self-motivated. This is all you need to succeed in a distance education program. The online campus at Cochise has courses that are typically broken into eight units suitable to be taught in either eight or sixteen week semesters. The instructors give you some guidance, but you read on your own, study and react to classmates and instructors in online forums and in chat rooms. Tests are taken online and papers ar? e-mailed. Most work is done at your convenience. Is it easy to maintain house, family, career and education? No. Is it worth it? You bet. You will come out with an increased self-esteem, a sense of pride in your accomplishment, better opportunities and increased salaries. You will have been a living role model to your children and, perhaps most importantly, to your daughters. Continuing higher education opens many doors. Cerreta says? "I refuse to allow any door to close without seeing what is inside." Also see: • Do your personal expectations limit you? • Learn what you love! Dr. Kathleen Wells is a professional career coach and instructor at the University of Arizona. Ask her all your career-related questions.