On the list of the most uncomfortable conversations to have with your boss, asking for tuition help is usually close to the top, right behind requesting a raise.
And for prospective students who have their heart set on getting an online degree, the conversation can be even more challenging, considering many employers are not familiar — or even comfortable — with the idea of virtual learning.
While asking the boss to chip in for education is never easy, prospective online students can increase their chances of getting a “yes” by avoiding these mistakes.
[Find out how to convince an employer to pay for an online degree.]
1. Don’t show any insecurity or doubt about the online nature of a degree: While many employers are coming around to online degrees, some bosses who went through a traditional program might not understand the sophistication and effectiveness of today’s online programs, says Matthew Rascoff, vice president of learning technology and innovation at the University of North Carolina system.
“There is, I think, still some stigma,” he says.
One way to combat any negative preconceptions about online learning is to be confident about the degree, experts say. If a prospective student talks as if an online degree is inferior, in other words, an employer might start to think it is.
“Don’t talk down the value of the degree because it is an online degree,” says Brian Krueger, a career expert and founder and CEO of the entry-level job site CollegeGrad.com. “Talk about the value the employer will receive from your increased skills.”
If adults want to pursue an online version of an on-campus program, they can also point out to employers that the courses and faculty are the same.
“I think one of the biggest mistakes students make is talking about online learning as if it is separate and distinct,” says Jennifer Bott, interim dean for the Miller College of Business at Ball State University. “Institutions increasingly are not making a distinction between online and regular programs.”
2. Don’t use terms that confuse your employer: The world of online learning has its own vocabulary, some of which can throw a boss for a loop if not explained. “Don’t walk in thinking they can understand things like ‘asynchronous,’ ‘synchronous’ and ‘blended education,'” Bott says.
If students are interested in pursuing one of the growing number of competency-based learning programs, they’ll need to be able to explain how their degree model differs from others. Those programs tend to have unique cost structures, which students should also be prepared to discuss.
[Learn more about employer tuition benefits for college.]
3. Don’t focus too much on the program and not enough on the institution: While it’s important for online students to choose programs that will give them skills to add to their company, the institution is often just as important, says UNC’s Rascoff.
“Online students sometimes focus too much on the name of the program and not enough on who is behind it,” says Rascoff. “The institution oversees academics, hires the faculty. Programs don’t do those things, institutions do.”
Picking a program at a respected institution “will give you a credential that has more value for you as an employee and your employer,” he says.
4. Don’t assume that online education isn’t covered in the company policy: “Sometimes policies were written when online education wasn’t as popular,” and therefore don’t mention virtual learning, Bott says. Still, she says, students shouldn’t assume that online education doesn’t fit into the existing tuition reimbursement policy.
If online education isn’t specifically mentioned in the company guidelines, it’s worth it to ask whether they can be amended, or whether other funds set aside for conferences or other training could be used for an online degree, says Vicki Salemi, a career expert for the job board Monster.
[Discover what employers really think about your online bachelor’s degree.]
“Why not have a conversation with your boss?” she says. “Think outside the box.”
Fortunately, David Done, a meter reader for a New Jersey power company, didn’t have to think outside the box when he asked to pursue an online associate degree in wireless networking through Pace University. His company had a tuition reimbursement policy that allowed online education — his best option as a working father of three.
When he applied, he needed to clearly explain why his education would benefit the company.
“If you have any kind of tuition reimbursement, I would take advantage of it,” he says. “School is just so expensive right now. I wouldn’t be able to go to school if I didn’t have this.”
Trying to fund your online education? Get tips and more in the U.S. News Paying for Online Education center.
More from U.S. News
What Employers Really Think About Your Online Bachelor’s Degree
Employers, Students Remain Skeptical of Online Education
7 Myths About Online Education
Avoid 4 Mistakes When Asking an Employer to Pay for an Online Degree originally appeared on usnews.com
