DCP Welcomes Shelley Nelson to the Team!

It is so amazing to see the Degree Completion Program growing! Now that we have a beautiful new east-side location, we’ve been able to add Shelley Nelson as the DCP Campus Director for ACU East.

Shelley may be new in her position as a Campus Director, but she is not new to DCP! Several of our Business Administration students know her already as an instructor from some of their courses. In fact, Shelley has been an adjunct faculty member at ACU in both DCP and the traditional program since 2011. As a resident of Chandler, Shelley brings a great deal of both local and institutional knowledge to the team. She will be a great asset we bring more educational accessibility to East Valley residents. It’s great to have such a familiar face become even more involved in the program and its growth!

When asked about how she feels about leading the new DCP campus in Chandler she explains,“I’m super excited to bring the degree completion program to the East Valley. It’s just perfect for adults who want to finish their degree. The Christian worldview woven throughout each course gives students a new perspective that’s truly life-changing. Can’t wait to get started!”

Shelley has already spoken with several adults in the area who are looking forward to going back to school in a Christian environment in their own back yard. It’s as if they’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this. Now, finishing their degree is much more accessible!

What about you?

Class begin September 22nd at The Grove Church, 2777 S. Gilbert Rd in Chandler, AZ and at the Main ACU campus at 2625 E. Cactus Road in Phoenix. If you are interested in pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Health, Business Administration, or Christian Ministries, apply now or click here for more information.

You can also e-mail Shelley at Shelley.Nelson@arizonachristian.edu for ACU East or
Fernando at Fernando.Cota@arizonachristian.edu for DCP at ACU’s Main Campus.

Announcing New East-Side Location for DCP!

Arizona Christian University is committed to helping adults go back to school to finish their Bachelor’s degrees. Now, to make it even more convenient, we have added a new site to the East Valley for Degree Completion students. The same incredible degrees of Behavioral Health, Business Administration, and Christian Ministries will be offered at The Grove in Chandler this fall.

The Degree Completion Program is continuing as usual at our main ACU Campus on Cactus Rd, in Central Phoenix. The addition of ACU East now allows new students to choose the most convenient option.

An informational meeting will be held at The Grove Church in Chandler, AZ on August 30, 2015. Watch for more details and sign-up info or contact our staff at 602-386-4183 or dcpinfo@arizonachristian.edu to register.

Apply today for either ACU Main or ACU East! You can also e-mail dcpinfo@arizonachristian.edu for more information about our degree programs to find out how you can complete your degree in as little as 20 months!

Are you ready to take the next step toward success?

Call today and speak to Fernando Cota, DCP Admissions Counselor, or e-mail him at Fernando.Cota@arizonachristian.edu, and he’ll be glad to help you put you on the right path toward success and answer any questions you may have.

Don’t forget to check out our website for more info as well.

The DCP Launches New Web Pages!

The Degree Completion Program now offers more comprehensive information along with a brand new look on the recently launched web pages! Check it out to find out more about the program, how to get started, and the three different degrees being offered in the Bachelor Degree program for working adults.

For those wondering if the Degree Completion Program is the right fit, the new site offers more interactive tools in specific items of interest such as financial aid, veteran benefits, or degree requirements. The benefits of the program, as well as the specific course lists in the Behavioral Health, Business Administration, and Christian Ministry degrees, are also outlined.

We even have a new web address! Visit DCP.arizonachristian.edu to check out the new pages and find out all the information you need or to pass the word along to friends or family who might be interested.

Of course the new website still offers the same features of the online application and opportunity to request additional information. All the tools to connect with the DCP on Social Media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter are still there as well.

Is the Degree Completion Program right for you?

Call to speak to Fernando Cota, DCP Admissions Counselor or e-mail him at Fernando.Cota@arizonachristian.edu and he’ll be glad to help you get started and answer any questions. Don’t forget to check out our website for more info as well.

ACU Provides a Christian Educational Environment for Adults

Jena Bitikofer can often be found in the library at Arizona Christian University. She is a Christian Ministries student in the Degree Completion Program who works as a Behavioral Health Technician in a residential program for teenagers ages 11-18. In her classes, she enjoys being able to discuss life’s pertinent circumstances with other adult students who will pray about those circumstances, and keep the focus on the Lord above.

“I like and appreciate being challenged in the DCP program by aiming for the best results with the awesome communication between professors and students,” she explains. “We all have ONE focus, ONE aim, ONE heart that joins us together and that is to worship, praise, and live for the Lord.”

Students like Jena are the backbone of the Degree Completion Program. Adult students are able to immediately apply the lessons being learned in the classroom to real-life professional settings. The courses work to improve current skill sets and give the tools needed to pursue career aspirations and ministry dreams.

Her hope is to open a safe home for battered women and children. She also plans to establish an outreach organization where families can build their lives up again with confidence. The Christian educational environment at ACU is the reason Jena chose the Degree Completion Program. It is through this program that Jena is able to learn from the experienced faculty in the Christian Ministries program that teach her the biblical principles and practical ministry skills she needs with a Christ-centered focus.

Are you thinking about going back to school?

If this is something that’s been tugging at your heart for a while, and you’d like to go back to school in a Christian educational environment, the Degree Completion Program at ACU is for you! We also have degrees in Business Administration and Behavioral Health and each program is taught with a biblical worldview as the foundation.

Call 602-386-4183 to speak to Fernando Cota, DCP Admissions Counselor or e-mail him at Fernando.Cota@arizonachristian.edu and he’ll be glad to work with you on mapping out your individual academic plan. You can also check out our website for more info.

Fernando Cota Joins the Degree Completion Team!

I am so excited to announce the addition of Fernando Cota to the Degree Completion Team here at ACU! Fernando is joining us as the new DCP Admissions Counselor and will be working with the adult students entering in the program.

As a graduate of ACU’s Class of 2009, Fernando is a familiar face to Arizona Christian University. His experience as a previous student gives him a unique understanding of the culture of the University and is valuable in getting new students excited about joining the ACU Community. Fernando has also worked as an Admissions Counselor with traditional students.

For the last eight months, however, Fernando has been on active duty with the Navy, training to become a Corpsman. His training involved learning a lot about Navy medicine, EMT training, Basic Training, Battlefield Medicine, and taking care of Marines in combat.

“I believe I can use my experience in admissions and the Military to better serve our students,” Fernando explains. “Much of my job prior was in helping students line up a plan towards getting into ACU and making sure that they had their applications and recommendation letters ready to go. My Military service, I believe, will help me better serve some of our Military students and Veterans by having that common connection with them. The Military lifestyle is a unique one and I am excited that I not only get an opportunity to share that with our Military students, but that I also get to be a part of helping them reach their educational goals.”

If you’re thinking about going back to school as a working adult, Fernando Cota would be glad to help you. He can work with you to discuss your individual academic plan and help connect you with other students working toward degrees in Behavioral Health, Business Administration, or Christian Ministry.

Give him a call at 602-386-4183, send him an e-mail at Fernando.Cota@arizonachristian.edu, or check out our web pages: arizonachristian.edu/dcp

Going Back to School for Your Behavioral Health Degree at ACU

One of the most popular degrees in the DCP at Arizona Christian University is Behavioral Health – for good reason! Students who earn a degree in Behavioral Health are able to choose from a variety of job opportunities in the mental health community. Earning a Bachelor’s Degree through the Degree Completion Program also prepares them to pursue graduate work leading to licensure in counseling.

Within the Behavioral Health Program at ACU, adults coming back to school can learn about the psychological, emotional and spiritual well-being for individuals as well as families. Students are able to gain these insights in the Degree Completion Program through courses such as Principles of Counseling, Human Development, Addictions, and Abnormal Psychology.

All of the courses within the Behavioral Health curriculum are taught by Christian faculty who are qualified and experienced. They understand the demands and responsibilities of working adults because they are already living and working within the field they are teaching. In addition, all of the instructors teach their subject from a Christian perspective and biblical worldview.

There are a number of great things about getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioral Health through the Degree Completion Program at ACU. The one-night a week format, the convenient location, and the ability to graduate in less than 20 months are all great reasons to check it out.

Are you thinking about a degree in Behavioral Health?

If this is something that’s been tugging at your heart for a while, there’s no better time than today! We also have degrees in Business Administration and Christian Ministry.

Give us a call at 602-386-4183 to speak to Fernando Cota, DCP Admissions Counselor or e-mail him at Fernando.Cota@arizonachristian.edu and he’ll be glad to work with you on mapping out your individual academic plan. You can also check out our website for more info.

ACU’s Degree Completion Program: A Great Experience

Watching students grow in their confidence in the Degree Completion Program at Arizona Christian University gives me the opportunity to see the value that education has on one’s life. Education is worth more than a piece of paper – or the cost in gaining that piece of paper. A Bachelor’s Degree can benefit and transform your life in ways that are significant and profound.

Even within her first semester, I have been able to see that significance in the life of Tamara Yanke. Tamara is one of the students working toward a degree in Business Administration. It has been a joy to watch her grow in her confidence this past semester. She is discovering skills that she never knew she had, and through each course she learns more about developing the gifts that God has given her.

Tamara chose the DCP because she liked the way the program is designed. “If you follow the program the way it is planned out,” she explains, “you will complete your degree in two years!  I still can’t believe I am finished with my first semester and starting on my second.  Going to class one day a week and having the rest of the week to study works well for my busy schedule.  So far it has been a great experience.”

When I asked her what she enjoys the most, she described her experience like this:

The thing I like most about the Degree Completion Program, is the camaraderie and support of the other students and instructors in the program.  In my cohort we were all working adults with busy lives and commitments, but our group seemed to gel from day one.  My cohort group knew my struggles better than anyone else, they encouraged me, helped and support me whenever I experienced difficult times during the semester.  They were my confidants, my friends, and prayer warriors.  I am truly blessed that the Lord brought each one of them into my life.  Even though we have separated into the different degree programs, we are still close and continue to keep up the support.  I am encouraged and excited to see what the Lord and Arizona Christian University has in store for us in the coming spring semester.  James 1:2-4 (Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.)  Hang tuff Class of 2016!

Tamara plans to use her degree to better herself in her current position as Assistant Registrar here at ACU. However, she is open to opportunities that may arise after graduation. As she explains, once she has that Bachelor’s Degree, “There’s nothing to stop me from applying!”

The value of earning an education and pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree is being realized by Tamara, as well as other adults enrolled in the Degree Completion Program. I can’t wait to see how they continue to grow and learn as they achieve their goals!

If you are interested in pursuing a Business Administration, Behavioral Health, or Christian Ministry Degree, apply to the Degree Completion Program or explore our web pages for more info.

Check us out on Facebook or send me a message on Twitter: @Lisa_ACU

 Tamara Yanke has been happily married to her best friend, Mark, for 26 years. They have two grown children and will be adding a granddaughter to their family in the near future.

Transform Your Life – DCP Student Testimonies

Recently, I asked some of the Degree Completion Students to share one way that the Degree Completion Program at ACU was impacting their life. I was both blessed and impacted by the responses. We have some amazing students in our program and their affirmation on the very aspects that we work hard to achieve was incredible.

I wasn’t surprised to receive responses that centered on the “wonderful education” they receive, the fact that our professors are “top notch”, and that the cohorts groups the students join are like “family”.

Many of the students also mentioned and elaborated on the convenience of the scheduling as being a huge impact. Having classes for working adults only one night a week allows them to balance school with their everyday lives and responsibilities and gives them the opportunity to pursue the very career opportunities they are learning about through each course they complete.

Are you thinking about going back to school?

See for yourself what a few of these students have to say:

• Jena (Behavioral Health): Sometimes words just aren’t enough to express how grateful I am to step out in faith and obtain this wonderful education at Arizona Christian University!!
• Becky (Christian Ministries): ACU has given me the time I need to devote to my growing ministry while I still earn my degree in a timely manner. Without the once a week schedule, it would be difficult to maintain the time standards I have set in motion.
• John (Business Administration): Right after I enrolled at ACU, I was able to start my own business. The DCP program has allowed me to complete my degree without interfering with my busy work schedule. At only one night a week, and 5-6 weeks per class, I will have my degree in no time.
• Daniel (Behavioral Health): My wife and I are both are enrolled at ACU in the Degree Completion Program and we totally love it!! Not only are we receiving a great education but also we are surrounded by fellow Christians where God is the center of our lives.
• Kristen (Behavioral Health): The DCP has been such a blessing with my family, work, and ministry responsibilities! Our instructors are top notch, and my cohorts are family. I cannot thank God enough for bringing me into the ACU DCP program.

It’s amazing to watch the lives of these students being transformed and seeing them learn and grow in their skills and abilities. If you are looking for a “wonderful education” that you can “earn in a timely manner” with “top notch” professors and classmates that are like “family”, don’t hesitate!

Transform YOUR Life! Apply to the Degree Completion Program today!

More Than an Education

The adult students at Arizona Christian University (ACU) gain much more than an education in the Degree Completion Program (DCP). Personally, it’s been very rewarding to watch them network and build relationships with other classmates as well as staff and faculty. While students work toward their Bachelor’s Degree by taking class only one night a week for less than two years, they are able to develop bonds that will last far beyond graduation.

Becky Capps is one of the students in our Christian Ministries program, she is planning to use her degree for a Chaplaincy Program or a Spiritual Directorship position. In her current profession, she supports herself as an artist and reaches other for Christ through her “Trust in the Lord” ministry that has over 1,630,000 on FaceBook.

Although she is nearing the age where many would be looking at retirement, that is not at all in Becky’s plans. She explains that, “As a later-in-life student, perhaps the oldest one in the DCP program, I am seeking God’s will to give back in any number of ways. His plans are far better than mine.”

Becky chose ACU to complete her degree after one of the professors introduced her to me and suggested she look into the Christian Ministry Degree where she could take classes with other adult students. She explains:

My plans were to attend another university to finish my Bachelor’s Degree, but I was not feeling it was really the right place and fit for me. After a lot of question and answer time with Lisa, I knew getting my degree in Christian Ministries would be the perfect fit for me. I love the DCP program and have bonded with the other 13 students in my small cohort group.

She loves the Degree Completion Program’s once-a-week classroom schedule and the fact that the teachers truly care about seeing her become successful. “Plus,” she adds, “The smaller group classroom allows me to concentrate better, and listen to the other students share ideas while we work together.” The personal interaction adds to the relationship building and education, “Because the classes are smaller, I am not just a number in a sea of 50 or 100 students, but I am heard and can hear the other student’s ideas.”

The next Christian Ministry Bachelor’s Degree program begins with an Orientation Meeting on May 21^st. Degrees in Behavioral Health and Business Administration will be offered as well. Contact me today to find out how the Degree Completion Program can benefit you and help you reach your educational, career, and personal goals.

Have a question? tweet me: @Lisa_ACU
Check out our website at: www.arizonachristian.edu/dcp or
Call my direct line at 602-386-4118

You can learn more about Becky’s journey through her blog entitled, “Seeking Jesus“.

“What Do You Want for Christmas?”

Have you found yourself asking your friends and family that question? We all want to give that perfect gift – the one that will bring joy and excitement to the faces of our loved ones. However, many times the holidays can bring stress and strain on ourselves as we work toward bringing happiness to everyone else.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the rush of everyday life, and the holidays only bring an additional strain on our sanity, as well as our wallets. If you’re a non-traditional college student on top of your full-time work and family obligations, you may feel overloaded to the max! Maybe, all you want for Christmas is some peace and quiet and relaxation time.

This Christmas, be sure to take a little time for yourself. Take a moment to soak in all of the joy and the festivities around you. Listen to Christmas music. Read the Christmas story. Drink a cup of hot cocoa or tea. Give a gift to someone in need. Hug your loved ones. In other words… take time for a break.

The Best Gift You Can Give

Sometimes, you are the best gift you can give to others. Your time, your love, your attention is far more valuable than gifts with shiny bows and bright paper. Yet, in order to give them all the best of you, it’s up to you to take the best possible care of yourself. Getting the proper rest is a big part of that.

Take a deep breath. Give yourself permission to relax for a moment. And smile. Don’t forget to smile.

Have a very, very, Merry Christmas!