Chemeketa Community College launched the first Bachelor’s degree program offered by an Oregon Community College last fall and the cohort filled rapidly.  However, many individuals who have childcare or work schedule conflicts, or who live far from the Salem campus,  and who could not attend in-person classes asked if the program could be expanded to an online format.

Since its inceptions, the Chemeketa BAS in Leadership and Management has been thriving, and is now in its third term on the Salem campus with 29 students.  As Chemeketa opened applications for Fall 2024, we added a new option for students – the Zoom cohort.  This group of students will attend class one night a week via Zoom and then complete the rest of their work online, ensuring a flexible and practical learning experience. 

Tim Ray, Dean of Ag Sciences and Technology at Chemeketa, reports the addition was made due to significant interest in a remote option.  “Some of our advisory committee had asked that we start with a remote option, but we wanted our first cohort here on campus to test our model.  Now that we know we are on the right track, we feel ready to launch a remote option.”

This innovative option makes Chemeketa’s program more accessible than ever, particularly for those who cannot make it to the Salem campus once a week. It further strengthens the program’s mission of helping working adults gain the benefits of a bachelor’s degree in an accessible, affordable, and achievable model.  Students will attend class via Zoom one night a week from 6-9 pm on Wednesdays for the first four terms and then Thursdays for the last three terms.  Marg Yaroslaski, Instructor of the BAS in Leadership and Management, reports that weekly class time is crucial to student success: “Students are not listening to lectures for three hours in class – instead, we are actively discussing and working together to put the learning into our work contexts and learn from each other.  Our work in the classroom helps students make immediate changes at work.”     

Applications for the Salem Campus and Zoom cohorts are currently open on the website: go.chemeketa.edu/BASLeadershipManagement. Applicants must have an AAS or an AGS with a technical course presence and at least three years of work experience, showing increasing responsibility.