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Student in Japan earns bachelor’s degree online
	A woman living and working in Japan is the first person to earn her bachelor’s degree in letters, arts and sciences entirely online through the Penn State World Campus.   Yuki Ikeura, from her hometown of Hiroshima, completed the course work for her bachelor’s degree in the spring, all online, through Penn State’s Distance Education program.   Though she wanted a degree from an American university, she also wanted to continue with her everyday life in Hiroshima.   “Several of my co-workers were finishing their master’s degrees through distance learning programs offered by universities in England,” she said. “I decided to start looking for universities that would offer me a bachelor’s degree. With sources such as books and the Internet, I chose what I found to be the best—Penn State.”   Ikeura said one of the most important factors during her online education experience was the motivation she received from her adviser Karen Lesch and her proctor in Japan.   “Over the past five years, my academic adviser has sent me endless encouraging e-mails, including comments on my course work and my future plans. If you have an academic adviser who is seriously dedicated to helping you accomplish your goal, then you too become a serious and dedicated student. Her support was especially vital in helping me through those difficult moments of doubt that every distance learning student inevitably faces,” Ikeura said.   That doubt can come easily in the face of many hours invested at home alone as a distance education student studying, reading and writing.   “Some people miss the interaction with other students,” she said. “But on the other hand, I was able to develop a very good relationship with my academic adviser and instructors by e-mail.”   Lesch, who has been Ikeura’s adviser since she first enrolled in the program, said Ikeura deserves all the credit. “She has been a remarkable and gifted student,” Lesch said.   Cyber alliances also helped Ikeura with the daily logistics of taking classes online. She said a technical support team was available to help solve any Web site access problems and, when registering for new classes, she was told ahead of time about the availability of textbooks.   “I believe that Penn State has the students’ best interests at heart and will do everything possible to help students overcome challenges,” she said.   Ikeura hopes to go on to graduate school in the United States and study international affairs.   “Although I have really enjoyed Penn State’s distance learning courses, I am excited about returning to the United States and studying in a residential setting,” she said, adding that her ultimate goal is to work for the United Nation’s Children’s Fund.   There will be many others following in her footsteps. According to Dr. Gary E. Miller, associate vice president for Outreach and executive director of the World Campus, enrollment in the World Campus’ letters, arts and sciences bachelor’s degree program has surpassed 500 students, exceeding the goal of 350 for this fiscal year.