SE-Tech online accounting student Gregg Brandt during a recent cycling race.

Gregg Brandt

Published 6/27/11

“Stationary” is the last word to describe Southeast Tech student Gregg Brandt. You won’t find Brandt, an online accounting student, lounging around in pajamas while learning about balance sheets and income taxes from the comfort of home. Instead, Brandt is taking advantage of online flexibility to complete his degree while pursuing his passion: competitive cycling.

Cycling has taken Brandt on a cross-country adventure as a member of the Kenda/5-hour Energy Pro Cycling presented by Geargrinder team. “The farther west I can go the happier I am,” Brandt says. “The atmosphere, people, communities, routes, scenery are all great.”

Living on the road, Brandt finds time in airports and hotel rooms to log in and complete assignments for his Southeast Tech accounting coursework. Brandt has taken traditional classroom courses at a different campus and finds the structure of online courses—assignments, tests, and quizzes—to be very similar.

To be successful in an online course, though, Brandt says students need to be self-starters and active learners. “If you’re doing it just to sit on the couch, it’s probably not going to work. You have to be motivated. You have to appreciate the opportunity you have to do two things at once.”

For Brandt, traveling, cycling, and meeting new people—all while completing his degree online—has expanded the boundaries of a typical classroom. “You can learn and read out of a book in a classroom, but you learn a lot more in the real world.”

Start your adventure today: Enroll in SE-Tech’s 100% online accounting degree

Like Brandt, many potential students are juggling work, family, or other obligations that make completing a traditional degree difficult. Southeast Tech is launching a 100% online A.A.S. accounting degree for the fall 2011 semester to help students achieve their academic goals while meeting the demands of life.

To find specifics on Southeast Tech’s online accounting degree, visit the accounting program page.

Southeast Tech accounting instructor Jill Halverson notes that in addition to being analytically-minded and enjoying math, successful online accounting students share several qualities. What’s top on her list? Good time management skills. “Online courses are not easier or faster than traditional courses,” says Halverson. “Students will find that they will need to spend more hours preparing their assignments than those in traditional courses.”

While Southeast Tech’s accounting program is rigorous, it also has a 97% job placement rate due to the program’s strong reputation and the dedication of its students. The job opportunities for accounting graduates are diverse, and Halverson encourages interested students to meet with faculty to explore all of the possibilities.

In addition to a high job placement rate, the college’s online accounting program stands apart from other options because of the high level of academic support from instructors who want you to succeed. “The entire college has a caring attitude and each student is important to us,” Halverson says. “The staff and faculty are passionate and committed to the education that we provide.”

Registration for the fall 2011 semester is currently open, and Halverson hopes that students will see the practical benefits of earning an online accounting degree, noting that “where SE Tech excels is in preparing our students for the real business world, solidified by our excellent placement rate in related accounting employment.”

To enroll in Southeast Tech’s online accounting program, visit the Apply for Admission to Southeast Technical page and follow the on-screen directions.