James Watts in The Montreal Gazette Wrote:With grey in my beard and decades of life already behind me, I completed my doctorate in education at Concordia University, at 61. And I loved every minute of it. […]

The “silver tsunami” in university education is reflected in ApplyBoard statistics examining international students in Canada. The percentage of approved study permits for mature students grew from around 15 per cent in 2019 to more than 25 per cent in 2023.

I wasn’t chasing tenure or dreaming of climbing a ladder. My motivation was curiosity. I wanted to enter into the conversation about education and leave behind a contribution that mattered — not because it would impress a hiring committee, but because it might spark thought in someone else.

When I sat down to write my dissertation, I didn’t worry about how it would “sell” on the job market. I wasn’t trying to brand myself or angle for the next opportunity. I was free to write for the sake of understanding, questioning and adding something meaningful to the field. […]

One of the unexpected joys of doctoral study was the encouragement and support I received from younger members of my cohort. Their energy, creativity and different perspectives were a constant source of inspiration. At the same time, I brought to our classroom discussions the wisdom I gained from teaching high school for 30 years.

That combination — my experience alongside their fresh insights — made for some of the richest conversations I’ve ever been part of.

Finishing my doctorate reinforced a lesson: A PhD can be about joining an intellectual community, contributing to an ongoing discussion, and modelling what it looks like to learn for the sheer love of learning.

University of Maine System to lead state in accelerating adult degree completion with new applied 90-credit bachelor’s programs (UMPI)

ACE recommends 1 lower-level credit starting November 1, 2025.

Computer Applications (Sophia Learning)

Computer Applications (ACE National Guide)

4 Challenges, 2 Milestones and 2 Touchstones.

I just noticed that the Yourpace admission criteria state "applicants must be at least 20 years of age at the time of application, unless they have previously earned a bachelor’s or an associate’s degree from a regionally accredited institution."

Am I wrong, or is the "unless...." part new?

I guess it makes the TESU Associate's degree worthwhile for some, even though it is expensive: Someone could graduate from high school while collecting college credits, get a fairly straightforward Associate's at TESU and then transfer to UMPI for the Bachelor's degree, all before turning 18 if they are motivated.

Now if only the Yourpace Computer Science Bachelor's degree would be forthcoming...

If it has already been posted, I must have missed it. 

But SDC now offers Physics I with Lab, included with College Starter.

Physics II with Lab seems to be pending, since it says "lessons are being added".

All, I'm going to be finishing a BSBA in Accounting and Finance in the January 2026 semester as a second bachelor's and wanted to get your thoughts on something. I have met all requirements for both AOSs except for the Capstone, but am also interested in taking the Advanced Auditing class offered that semester. Since I'd need to take three additional courses, what do you think would be the three easiest to take, preferably with no exams?

Thanks in advance......

My MAOL progress....for any adults looking for another reference point on how long it will take. Just over midway in Fall 2 Session (8 weeks) - Started on 10/26, and I just submitted my 3rd final 

This is working full-time, volunteer work, two kids who play soccer, and activities on the weekend. 

The reading is a ton, and some of these papers are very long but in general if you have life experience to call upon the material seems to truly reward life experiences professionally and personally, if you are in management this should be a refresher with reference to acedemic and theory which is good.  

Based on my progress, I will finish in two sessions. I had hoped for one, but it's not in the cards!

The YourPace CBE undergraduate application form now lists as an option the Cannabis Business Certificate from the University of Maine at Farmington. That program’s page in the current UMF catalog shows it consists of these courses:

BIO 101 - Introduction to Cannabis Cultivation (4 cr)
BUS 230 - Cannabis Business Planning (3 cr)
BUS 330 - Operations Management in the Marijuana Industry (3 cr)
CHY 101 - Introduction to Cannabis Chemistry (4 cr)
POS 246 - The History and Future of Cannabis (3 cr)
POS 346 - Cannabis Law and Policy (3 cr)

A surprise it was, I don't know what ICE is doing with all these deportations, can't they see there was a court order limiting that for 72 hours?

Link: College freshman is deported flying home for Thanksgiving surprise, despite court order

Hello everyone!

I'm excited to post some Black Friday deals I have found, to get the ball rolling. I am not affiliated with any of the following, but thought I would share. If you have affiliate links please feel free to post as well.

As always, do your due diligence before deciding if an educational opportunity is the right fit for you:

Institutions
- German University of Digital Studies: 50% off, use discount code (Expires December 1st 2025): GUDS50

Services
- Udemy: Going on right now, expires December 1st 2025
- Coursera: Not sure?
- Datacamp: 55% off for Black Friday.
- Eduonix: This link is from their main page, while they have sales at around 149USD for lifetime, right now I see 99USD for lifetime. I have had quite a bit of good education from Eduonix, I feel good about Eduonix.
- StackSkills by StackSocial: A few interesting courses, but they are somewhat old. If you can score it in a bundle it might be nice. Purchase outright is 17.97USD at the moment.
- International Open Academy: Discounted lifetime membership for 49.97USD. Seems to self-accredit but has some good courses with good materials, including 120-Hour TEFL cert if you need just to check a box. Other topics include American Sign Language (ASL), British Sign Language (BSL), Bartender and Barista Training, Drawing and Illustration, make-up, soap making, Interior Design, Microsoft Office, Coding, Social Media Management, Furniture Restoration, Sewing tailoring and alterations, Bread Making, Photography, and so forth. Reminds me a bit of Style Design College that folded up. So lots of fun topics that make you think "heh okay why not, I'll do that."
- "The Ultimate Lifetime Bundle of StackSkills + Infosec4TC + Stone River": Currently bundled at 109.97USD. StackSkills and Infosec4TC bundled at 79.99USD. Stone River and StackSkills bundled at 89.99USD
- "CyberTraining 365 Online Academy: Lifetime Subscription": Lifetime sub for 79.99USD
- "Stone River eLearning: Lifetime Membership": Deal price is currently 89.99USD (course list). Seems to have a good range of courses, like a Udemy style of all-in, one course is Fundraising for Grassroots Nonprofits, and another course is Google Go Programming, another How Credit Cards Work. Real mixed bag, but price is good if you were going to purchase individual courses

Language Learning
- uTalk: Another one to look into, some good stuff, but as always, is only useful along with other tools. Available in: 2 langs@29.99USD, 6 langs@49.99USD, All langs 150+@99.97USD. Full language list.
- Rosetta Stone (all 25 languages): Say what you want, this one has been a staple of language learning forever. On StackSocial for 179.99USD or add-on StackSkills for 189.99USD.
- Innovative Language: This company has classics such as hindipod101.com, italianpod101.com, filipinopod101.com, thaipod101.com, and so forth. Their deals for Black Friday are rather wholesome and are always on their best price on Black Friday. I see on their site they have some deals listed, they also do deals in their email lists. They are EPIC on YouTube, some of the most down-to-business materials or beginners and mid-level learning around. Very helpful.
- "Language Transfer": A great always-free tool for learning Italian, German, Spanish, Turkish, Japanese, British Sign Language and more, from an English-language speaker's perspective. As always, add this tool to your learning.
If there is enough interest I may make a more inclusive page of learning resources for languages.

Non-education deals
- "SplashID Pro: Lifetime Sub". Nice deal at 39.99USD, one of the very first password managers in existence, I use it personally with no complaints! In active development, seems like a good team that won't get hacked because their personal unpatched Plex server is on their dev's wifi network (cough cough LastPass).
- VPS/VPN hosting deals for IT people: Low End Stock and Low End Spirit. Most hosts have bottom of the barrel pricing right now, I can vouch for Racknerd, great website hosting and routes to Canada. Scavenge for deals though, a few years back I bought direct with an outstanding hosting deal. Doesn't look like RamNode is taking the BlackFriday bait this year, sorry no deals. Web Hosting Canada is on fire along with OVH.

No Black Friday/Cyberweek sales?!
- UniAthena: I didn't see any listed deals


Note: I didn't post ENEB because I know some members on here have affiliate links, please feel free to post! Happy savings! Let me know if anything catches your eye!