From Start to Finish: AAB Law and Paralegal Studies Graduation Support

Each student in the Associate of Applied Business in Law and Paralegal Studies program at UC Online has access to a student success coordinator who offers support from enrollment to graduation. With the support of student success coordinators and excellent faculty, UC Online’s AAB Law and Paralegal Studies graduates have seamlessly transferred into the Bachelor of Science in Law and Paralegal Studies program (check out this alumna success story!), or have moved on to work for law firms in the greater Cincinnati area, at state and federal government agencies, and in legal roles in a growing number of private companies. Read on to meet Anthony, your student success coordinator, and learn about the support you will receive while in the Associate of Applied Business in Law and Paralegal Studies program!

Step-by-Step with Anthony G.

Program: Associate of Applied Business in Law and Paralegal Studies

Background:

I’ve been working in higher education since 2014, and the majority of my roles – be it teaching, tutoring, or advising – have been in service of online students from a variety of graduate and undergraduate programs. I enjoy problem-solving and working one-on-one with students to ensure they receive the information and support they need to succeed in their programs.

Orientation Support:

All new students have the support of both a student success coordinator and an academic advisor. Before beginning the program, students will meet with both to discuss their educational backgrounds, motivations, and time commitments, along with important program details and university processes. These conversations help to ensure students are making the best choices possible when registering for coursework.

In addition to working with the student success coordinator and advisor, students will complete an asynchronous orientation to learn how to be successful online students at UC. The program director, Page Beetem, also offers a live, virtual orientation just before the semester begins to ensure students feel prepared to begin and have the opportunity to ask questions.

Administration Support:

UC Online has dedicated staff for financial questions. As a student success coordinator, I will connect students to our resources in the One Stop office or financial aid office when questions about tuition or financial aid arise.

In addition to the support students receive from their student success coordinator and academic advisor, they also have the support of the program director, Page Beetem, as well as the rest of the program faculty – all of whom are part of the professional paralegal community; the faculty are fantastic resources for both programmatic and career-related questions.

Course Registration:

Students will self-enroll in courses through Catalyst – UC’s Student Information System. The first time students enroll, the program’s academic advisor walks them through the process. The advisor will also create an electronic graduation plan students can use to register moving forward.

After initial advisement, students can connect with their student success coordinator throughout their time in the program for additional registration assistance. Students can always reference the registrar’s handy “Registration How to Guide” for self-guided assistance when enrolling, as well; the guide contains both written and video-based instructions for navigating Catalyst.

Check-ins:

All students can expect to hear from me proactively via email multiple times each semester; often, these emails will contain important reminders about upcoming deadlines, but these communications are also opportunities for students to ask questions or provide feedback.

New students can expect a check-in call between the middle and end of their first semester to discuss their initial impressions, wins, and challenges. Graduating students can also expect an exit interview during which they can provide insights on their time in the program.

As a student success coordinator, I strive to be a trusting support students can turn to with their questions, concerns, and feedback. Online education is challenging, and I am here to provide guidance when challenges arise (from issues with university processes to academic difficulties and school-life balance conflicts). My goal is to ensure students in this program never feel like they’re facing challenges alone.

Graduation Support:

The AAB in Law & Paralegal Studies is designed to be completed in five semesters. If students cannot attend full-time, they are welcome to enroll in a part-time schedule, which will extend their graduation timeline. Students who have transfer credits that apply to the program may shorten their timeline in some cases.

The primary way for students to track their graduation timeline is to use the electronic graduation plan the program’s academic advisor creates at the start of the program. This plan maps out all of the courses a student should take between the start and end of their program. If students veer from the plan, they should reach out to their advisor to have the document amended; doing so ensures the student always has a clear picture of their graduation timeline.

Students are expected to keep the program up-to-date on their enrollment intentions each semester. Any time a student needs to alter their schedule or sit out of a semester, they should proactively reach out to me and their advisor to provide an update on their intentions. Each semester, I will also frequently reach out to confirm every student’s enrollment plans. This open communication saves everyone time and ensures students are always aware of the implications of their plans for their degree timeline.

Learn more

Learn more about our Associate of Applied Business in Law and Paralegal Studies program to see if it seems like a good fit for you. If it is, I look forward to meeting you and guiding you from enrollment through graduation!