PATRICIA AUMANN
Patricia Aumann is the Director of the South County Education and University Center at St. Louis Community College at Meramec. Since joining the CCM program, her future goals have become both more ambitious and more realistic. She hopes her work experience and her studies will lead to a position as dean. Trish always thought she’d work in student services, but with this program, she has realized that her true talents and interests might lead her in a different direction. They might even lead her to a presidency. At this point she is open to exploring a variety of career options. No matter what level, Trish has come to recognize the fact that she has the qualities it takes to be a true leader.

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Testimonial

For me, the residency was a key component of the program. It helped the students develop connections with their faculty members and cohort members, which made the experience much more personal and more like a face-to-face classroom experience. The faculty members asked questions at residency that started me on a real journey of self-discovery. The residency also allowed me quiet time to think about the journey I was on and where I might be going, it showed me that I have the strength to admit I might want bigger things for my professional life. Through it all the faculty members and CCM staff were there to answer questions and help me work out problems and fears, as well as to support me on my journey.

It really helped me to get to know the rest of the cohort at residency. The whole week was so intense. I could barely keep track all the information we were given and all the activities we did to be introduced to our curriculum and teams. Developing the cohort relationships and spending time on campus was great at the time, and proved even more valuable later. For me, the personal support in the program has been and still is really important. My family said they would support me, and my coworkers said the same thing, but while they were able to support me in some ways, it just wasn’t the same with them since they weren’t facing the pressure of getting projects done and juggling family and work. When I was caught up in the middle of it, knowing that I have to get these assignments done no matter what, I could always call someone in the cohort and say: “This is the most horrible week. I’m really struggling.” They could sympathize and would always say something to help motivate me or make me laugh. If a cohort member is not going through the same thing right then, they’ve been through it at some point. They understand and support you in a way that you cannot get anywhere else.

I’ve been in a graduate program before, and was comparing that face-to-face experience to the on-line experience from the beginning. I was surprised to find that the on-line experience, combined with in-person residencies, gave me the same depth of learning and interaction that I received in my previous classroom experiences. The interactions with the faculty in this program are among the best that I have ever had in my life. They are all committed to what they are doing. Even if their piece in the program is small, they are still committed to our success. This program is not just about producing students with degrees, it is about creating change agents. It is really obvious from the very beginning of the program that the faculty believe in the mission of Antioch and McGregor and the program. They want to help us, to inspire us to believe in ourselves.

Before I received the CCM material in the mail, I never considered a management degree because I was intimidated by the business component. Even though this program is not an MBA, accounting and statistics are a part of it. I was pretty intimidated even after I decided to enroll. However, our professor, Bert Landau, got rid of that fear before I ever met him in person. He got online and told us we could do it. He gave us every support. Even online, when you can barely tell there is fear or uncertainty when a student faces a new concept, Bert seemed to know when to make comments that were funny or supportive, and he had a second-sense about when to clarify things for us. He was always available when we had a question. Each of the faculty members I encountered was like that. They presented very challenging work, constantly kept us on our toes, made us think and respond critically, but did it with support and commitment that made it a better experience for me and for the cohort as a whole.

For me, the teamwork was a difficult component. At work, I try to motivate my staff through teamwork. It doesn’t always work very well, but I believe in the importance of doing it. I found the challenge of working in a team in an on-line environment was even more difficult than in-person. However, I’ve learned more in the team projects than in any individual projects that I’ve done, but it was definitely the tougher part of the journey for me. I can’t even imagine this program without the cohort and team elements. I really think it is key in terms of the whole philosophy of CCM. It was not an easy journey, but I wouldn’t trade it. The program would lose some of its heart without this key piece.

When I talk to potential prospective students, I tell them the program is very difficult. I do that because I’ve encountered the perception that an on-line program might be easier than a face-to-face program. It is harder in many ways, though it is more convenient to be able to work on-line whenever you want. I also tell prospective students this program is worth every sacrifice you would make to be in it and to work through the difficult times and challenging assignments. Almost every day, I have a moment at the end of the day when I think I must be crazy for doing all this. Then there is the balancing moment, some days five or six moments, when I appreciate so much what I’m learning. I’m not doing this just to get the degree and the credentials. It is really changing who I am, I have found resources that I didn’t know I had. There is support in the program to be whoever you can be, and to make the most of the program and of yourself. Everybody -- the faculty, the support staff, your fellow students -- are there for you. The learning experience itself is the highest quality that I could ever imagine. For a potential student who really wants to learn and grow, this is the best program possible.