LIN HEATH
Lin Heath travels most of the week and gets his work done with the help of computers and e-mail. So when it came time to pursue a graduate degree, the UW Online Graduate Program in Civil Engineering was the right fit.
"I'd been looking for some time for a program that would allow me to do what I wanted to do, but with flexibility," Heath said. "I don't have time to take classes. I travel 60 to 70 percent of the week. Any sort of structured environment doesn't work for me."
Heath is a consultant for construction engineering and bonding projects, dealing mostly with situations where "something broke that needs to be fixed." He wanted a graduate degree to improve his technical knowledge of engineering and make him a more credible expert for legal proceedings and negotiations, an important part of his job.
He considered some classroom programs in Atlanta, Georgia, where he lives. But they didn't work with his work and travel schedule. Other programs lacked the focus on heavy construction, a very specific branch of civil engineering. The UW program overcame all those limitations and gave him a practical, real-world approach to engineering.
"I like most of the content, the courses. All of the courses have interesting material for me and have applicability to what I do," Heath said. "I deal with projects in the heavy construction industry. This program is tailored for that."
He also likes the instructors, because they showed real-world savvy and skills.
"These are the real people, and most of them do research," he said.
Heath said he's happy with the online format, since he already relies on e-mail, the internet and computer tools to do his job. He works on classes in the evening or during flights between work and home.
"I'm not uncomfortable being alone. I'm not intimidated by it," he said. "The way this program is set up, you have most of the weekend to do the work."
When he completes the degree, he will be adding another important credential to a lifetime of achievement. Heath has a bachelor's in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M and a master's in business administration from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas. He also has two sons and a daughter, ages 17, 19 and 25. He has been married for 29 years.
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