| As the job market grows increasingly competitive | | | | For the past two years, Hjelle has completed |
| during economic downturn, professionals and students | | | | approximately two courses annually by downloading |
| alike are under more pressure than ever to keep | | | | her assignments at truck stops or rest areas. Hjelle is |
| updating their educational qualifications. Many | | | | pursuing a degree with the hope of "someday coming |
| employers are requiring their workers to have | | | | off the road and [getting] a decent job," she told the |
| completed post-secondary campus-based or online | | | | newspaper. |
| degree programs. | | | | This fall, the mother of two teenagers was given the |
| Consequently, professionals with varying ranges of | | | | Great Plains Region Outstanding Continuing Education |
| experience are pursuing higher education. However, | | | | Student Award and recognized for her achievements |
| many employees are unable to take time off from | | | | by former instructors. Steven Schmidt, an instructor at |
| their current jobs or forego their family commitments in | | | | the university who teaches online courses in Spanish, |
| order to attend classes and complete coursework at | | | | told the media outlet that he considers Hjelle's |
| a traditional brick-and-mortar university. | | | | circumstances the most challenging within which to |
| Fortunately, individuals who wish to further their | | | | complete college coursework. |
| education without drastically changing their schedules | | | | "Many students have difficulty online right from the |
| may take online courses or enroll in online colleges. | | | | comforts of the campus library, and she was out on |
| Online education is allowing many individuals, such as | | | | the highway and very remote," he told the media |
| Julie Hjelle, to get a degree while they continue to | | | | outlet. "The fact that she did this largely from the cab |
| work. | | | | of a semi truck perfectly indicates how much learning |
| Hjelle is currently working toward an online degree in | | | | is changing," he added. Online colleges allow their |
| social science at the University of North Dakota while | | | | students to complete their degree programs on their |
| holding jobs as an aide in a nursing home and a truck | | | | own time without maximum length of enrollment |
| driver between Grand Forks, North Dakota and | | | | regulations that are typically enforced by traditional |
| Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, The Morris Sun Tribune | | | | universities. At her current pace, Hjelle's will complete |
| reports. | | | | her degree by the time she is 45 years of age. |