By Faith Morgan
WKTV Intern
Going back to school is not the easiest path. There is, of course, the financial considerations, but if you have a full-time job and family, there are those obligations as well.
“It was tough, not gonna lie,” said Christine Lentine, senior director of Finance and Administration for Kids’ Food Basket, who recently attended and completed Aquinas College’s undergraduate CPA prep program. “I have a great husband who knows that this would require some extra work for him and balancing home life was good. Professionally, your regular job doesn’t stop when you have an exam. It was definitely a labor of love balance throughout the semester. And I did it.”
Another thing that made returning to the hallow halls easier was the 20% tuition discount offered by Aquinas College to members of the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce.
“Now is the day and age to take action” said Brenda Hennink, Aquinas’s director of Adult Student Recruitment. “There’s a sense of urgency to fill some of the talent gaps which have been heightened due to circumstances. The need to stand out has been increased.”
There’s always the hesitation of not having enough time to commit to schooling for full-time workers with personal lives outside of school, according to Hennink, adding that Aquinas tries to work within those personal schedules offering both daytime and evening courses to benefit busy day-time schedules with limited programs of study for evening courses.
The only requirements for the Aquinas tuition program for WKACC members are the person must be at least 23 years of age and that work full-time or pastime for a business they work for is a member of the WKACC. There is no limit to how many members can use the discount and it can be used for a degree or non-degree.
Classes at Aquinas start every eight weeks so enrollment is when it is most convenient to the student, Hennink said, adding that the discount lasts for seven consecutive years or until a degree is received, whichever comes first.
Continued eduction provides an avenue for personal growth, according to Lentine, which is perhaps why several WKACC members, like Lentine, have taken advantage of this discount.
“It’s really important to not just fall into the status quo and not improve, to make sure we’re improving each day better than the day before,” Lentine said. “Especially at a nonprofit organization, our community is entrusting us with their donor dollars and staff time. And the work that we put into the community depends on the quality of our staff’s education. And so while it can be tough for short-term the long-term payoffs are going to be worthwhile for you as a professional as well as for the team you work with and your company.”
But is the discount worth it?
“Definitely,” Lentine said. “Any type of discount is really helpful. So it not only influenced my decision to go back to school but also to be at Aquinas as opposed to a larger online university for those classes.”
For more information on the discount and programs offered you can visit aquinas.edu/wkacc-discount
