Pursuing multiple TESU degrees; residency/RA requirements?

[bruh]

Hello!

I'm pursuing a bachelor's degree and two associate's degrees from TESU. What are the residency/RA credit requirements for those like me? Would it be enough to fulfill the residency/RA requirements with my BA coursework? or would I need to fulfill the requirements for each of these degrees as if I was getting them alone?

I was having an email conversation with a TESU program advisor, but the answers were sort of not explicit enough for my personal understanding. At the end of it, my understanding of the advisor's answers was that it's general/overall as opposed to degree-specific, but the link that they referred me to sewed some doubt in my mind once again since the terms/conditions aren't explicit for the case of people seeking multiple degrees in one graduation.

Me: Is there a residency requirement for each of these additional degrees? and/or a RA credit requirement? If so, how many credits is it for the requirement(s)? If not, then does that mean fulfilling the residency and RA credit requirements for my bachelor's degree alone is sufficient?

Program Advisor: It would be a general Residency Requirement. If you need to pay the Residency Waiver Fee the fee will be good for 15 months from when it is paid. If you are requesting multiple degree programs you will need to request for graduation for all of them within that time. If you are requesting graduation for all of them at the same time you will just need to pay one fee for all of them. If you earn 16 credits of Online, Guided Study, and/or ePack credit with us before you request graduation that will cover all of your degree programs and you won't have to pay the Residency Waiver Fee.

Me: Thank you. So as an example, my understanding is that since it's a general residency requirement instead of a per-degree residency requirement, then that means I can do 13 credits that go towards my BA plus another 3 credits that go toward my AAS, and I still would not have to pay the residency waiver. Would that be correct?

Program Advisor: The Residency Requirement has to do with how many credits are earned with us overall. Please see the link below regarding the Residency Requirement and Residency Waiver Fee: Thomas Edison State University: Fees | Tuition and Financial Aid (tesu.edu)

I also didn't get to touch on the RA requirement in particular with them yet. Might anyone know if TESU's RA requirement changes if you're seeking multiple degrees?

Thank you!

[rachel83az]

It's generally advised not to talk to TESU unless you really have to. They... really don't know what they're talking about half the time.

TESU's residency requirements apply to credits taken over your entire scholastic career. Technically, they don't even need to be used in a degree program for them to count toward the residency requirements. But they'll probably get counted as electives, if nothing else.

[bruh]

It's generally advised not to talk to TESU unless you really have to. They... really don't know what they're talking about half the time.

Oh dang... I didn't know that. Would it hurt to at least ask TESU, provided I'm getting help from the community here at Degree Forum? I'd assume not, but especially since I'm asking questions about how to do as little with them as possible, it's probably sorta sus to be asking them and giving myself as another case study to make their policies a little less lenient.

TESU's residency requirements apply to credits taken over your entire scholastic career. Technically, they don't even need to be used in a degree program for them to count toward the residency requirements. But they'll probably get counted as electives, if nothing else.

And wow what?! Thanks for the heads-up.

[allvia]

It's generally advised not to talk to TESU unless you really have to. They... really don't know what they're talking about half the time.

Oh dang... I didn't know that. Would it hurt to at least ask TESU, provided I'm getting help from the community here at Degree Forum? I'd assume not, but especially since I'm asking questions about how to do as little with them as possible, it's probably sorta sus to be asking them and giving myself as another case study to make their policies a little less lenient.

TESU's residency requirements apply to credits taken over your entire scholastic career. Technically, they don't even need to be used in a degree program for them to count toward the residency requirements. But they'll probably get counted as electives, if nothing else.

And wow what?! Thanks for the heads-up.

You should definitely consider this forum your most qualified TESU advisor resource. Would it hurt if you at least ask them (you asked), possibly - if you get wrong information (and it happens more often than it should). I will say I don't think they mean to give bad information, I just think they answer questions from a TESU (and all TESU) point of view - meaning they assume you'll be earning all/most of your credits through them. To keep things together keep asking here on the forum (and it makes for a good personal history of your journey); you can keep building off your primary thread here: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...ughts-recs

[bruh]

You should definitely consider this forum your most qualified TESU advisor resource. Would it hurt if you at least ask them (you asked), possibly - if you get wrong information (and it happens more often than it should). I will say I don't think they mean to give bad information, I just think they answer questions from a TESU (and all TESU) point of view - meaning they assume you'll be earning all/most of your credits through them. To keep things together keep asking here on the forum (and it makes for a good personal history of your journey); you can keep building off your primary thread here: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...ughts-recs

Ohh okay I got it, thanks.

I'll make sure to post updates to that thread too; I thought I should leave it behind since I personally know what to do already. I didn't think about that either, what you said about making a good personal history of my journey for others to refer to/for myself to look back on. Very cool.

But for questions like the original one that started this current thread, shouldn't I start a new one indeed? Or would it actually be okay/appropriate to ask questions like this on my primary thread too even though it's not about planning out classes— well, on second thought, perhaps it is still about planning out classes.

Another concern then: Will the community still be able to notice me posting questions on my old thread? Feels sorta like commenting for help on an old YouTube video; no one may see it except the OP. I see in Degree Forum's menu bar a "View Unread Posts" tab; is that usually how people who frequent these forums find people to help?

[allvia]

You should definitely consider this forum your most qualified TESU advisor resource. Would it hurt if you at least ask them (you asked), possibly - if you get wrong information (and it happens more often than it should). I will say I don't think they mean to give bad information, I just think they answer questions from a TESU (and all TESU) point of view - meaning they assume you'll be earning all/most of your credits through them. To keep things together keep asking here on the forum (and it makes for a good personal history of your journey); you can keep building off your primary thread here: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...ughts-recs

Ohh okay I got it, thanks.

I'll make sure to post updates to that thread too; I thought I should leave it behind since I personally know what to do already. I didn't think about that either, what you said about making a good personal history of my journey for others to refer to/for myself to look back on. Very cool.

But for questions like the original one that started this current thread, shouldn't I start a new one indeed? Or would it actually be okay/appropriate to ask questions like this on my primary thread too even though it's not about planning out classes— well, on second thought, perhaps it is still about planning out classes.

Another concern then: Will the community still be able to notice me posting questions on my old thread? Feels sorta like commenting for help on an old YouTube video; no one may see it except the OP. I see in Degree Forum's menu bar a "View Unread Posts" tab; is that usually how people who frequent these forums find people to help?

This new topic is fine for the general subject it is, but it would work well with your original because 'we' would be able to see what you already have and put the question/answer in context specific to your situation. Meaning people won't need to question what you've already told us (which can cause delay in you getting your answer). In your post here for example you said for 'someone like you' - well that bares the question, how many RA credits you already have ...etc? Your original thread already provides that. Now, they may still ask for updates to clarify if something has changed since (say) six months ago - but they won't be blind to relevant information you already provided.

Yes, the community will see any new posts you put on your older thread because they become relevant (new) again and appear at the top area of the listings. In short, any new post can revive life into even the oldest of threads.

[LevelUP]

Can do 13 credits that go towards my BA plus another 3 credits that go toward my AAS,

Course credits can also be reused for both bachelor's degrees and associates degree.  They can also be reused to go from one bachelor's/associate's to another. However, there are restrictions on how many can be used for the AOS.

You need a total of 30 RA credits, and adding additional degrees doesn't increase the requirement. This can come from taking TESU courses/epacks, TECEPs, and RA from other schools.

So your situation, you could do the following:
1. 16 credits as a flat-rate term or multiple terms (Then you don't have to pay residency wavier)
2. 13 credits I count as your RA transfer credits
3. Do 1 credit TESU course, TECEP exam or ASU 1 credit course, or Tel Learning course

Your total would be 30 or 32 RA credits.

[TopHatWombat]

As another example for OP, I had 9 sh from my first TESU degree 20 years ago. Now that I’m doing my second degree, I only need 7 more in order to hit 16 for the current residency requirement.

[bjcheung77]

Hmm, Calculate your Pell and take it from there. I would get your courses complete first and do so when you're closer to the final 16 credits. https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid394467