Colorado Tech Online Students and Alumni
Meet Gail Chapman
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Preparing for the Future While Improving the Present
Single mom Gail Chapman knows more than she'd like about downsizing. It's already happened to her once, and she's pretty sure it could happen again. But if it does happen again, she'll have a degree in Criminal Justice to help her land on her feet. "There will always be crime. That's about as much job security as you can get these days."
But Gail isn't one to sit around and wait, especially for bad things to happen. Since she is more than halfway through her Criminal Justice Bachelor's degree program, she was able to apply for a position as project manager of a security division within American Express. She got the job and started in early March. "The main reason I was hired was because I was working towards my degree. I was able to show them how much I had already learned—and everything was as up-to-date and relevant as you could get—and talk about the classes I had coming up. I have no doubt it is what made me the perfect candidate for this position."
Staying More Connected Online
Colorado Tech Online isn't Gail's only experience with higher education. She received an Associate's degree in Computer Science from Missouri 's State Fair Community College in the late 1980s. "Having had both the traditional and now the online learning experience, I can say online students don't miss out on anything. I interact more and stay in touch with my online classmates more than I ever did with the students I sat next to in the [community college] classrooms day after day. And I can't even begin to compare the professors. At community college, never once did a professor hand out her home telephone number. At Colorado Tech Online, home numbers are the norm. The professors are there for you and let you know it. They really care."
And it's a good thing the professors are so caring, because there is a fair amount of homework. Gail definitely takes advantage of her professors when she has questions, but has her two daughters to help as well. "We have regularly scheduled homework days together. We'll all sit down with our assignments and when we're finished, we'll play. It's actually a nice motivator."
Making a Difference
Although Gail concentrates on computer crime in her new job, she does hope one day to broaden her focus by working as a police officer. Her oldest brother is a cop, and Gail joined the Phoenix Sheriff's Posse in April. Once she's completed her Posse training, Gail can do everything a deputy officer can and even get into Search and Rescue, if she decides that is what she wants to do.
"My goal is to make a difference. Right now I'm doing it as a project manager, but in the future, I'd like to make a difference as a law enforcement officer of some sort."
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