Alumnus James Roberts Earned Two Degrees Without Having Set Foot on UGA Campus
by Michael Childs
After more than 25 years of teaching, James W. Roberts (BSEd ’92), MSEd ’93, EdS ’95) has been enjoying retirement in Central Florida. And thanks to distance education programs at the University of Georgia College of Education, his retirement is greatly enhanced.
Roberts, 61, taught electronic technology at West Georgia Technical College from 1974-99. And, along the way, he earned three degrees at UGA.
Roberts earned all three of his degrees at UGA through distance education while being employed full-time at West Georgia Technical College. He says he only step foot on the UGA campus four times during his EdS.
“My life has certainly been enhanced due to the extra salary earned with the higher degrees, said Roberts. “My students also benefited from my educational experiences because my courses became better organized, written and conducted.”
Roberts’ earliest memories of UGA are of Dr. John Scott, now an associate professor emeritus of the occupational studies department.
“I have never met a more dedicated individual,” said Roberts. “Regardless of the number of students he had in a particular quarter, I always felt as if I was the only one. I often worked with him on VICA activities and he performed those duties with the same level of detail and excitement as he did in his lectures.
But Roberts’ most cherished memory, he said, is one that he has had to explain many times prior to his retirement.
“This memory is one that I am certain no other UGA alumni can share. I earned a BSEd and a MSEd without ever setting foot on the UGA campus. And I only attended four classes on the UGA campus while earning my EdS,” he said.
“This was all made possible mostly by Dr. James Rosebrook, who shared my vision of Distance Education opportunities. I attended many Distance Ed courses at my own institution, some at a couple of high schools in the area, and some at Carroll Technical College. In addition, Dr. Rosebrook brought his courses to various institutions in my area to aid in this accomplishment,” said Roberts.
Roberts said he was a leading advocate of Distance Ed at West Georgia Technical College and developed many Distant Ed technology courses for his department there.
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