Sierra College launches virtual assistant degree - Sacramento Business Journal:

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Settecase, a 51-year-old mother of three, is in the firsty class of 's new degree program in a fielxd that's getting noticed nationally. The programn targets a growing industry of office servicexs offeredby workers, sometimes called "virtual office who contract with clients to handle paperwork, bookkeeping, data entry and other tasks. They often work from using the Internet to tap intotheir clients' office computers and receive theid assignments. Settecase wants a virtual office professionalk degree to complement her experiencein bookkeeping, property managementy and office administration.
She wants a flexibl e schedule because she has health problems and wantd time withher kids. Sierra College sets itselt apart and is serving as a model in this areaof education, industry observers by offering a program that requires more unit s than other accredited colleges and a degree as well as a prograkm certificate. Sierra College's program requires 27 units with thre ecore classes, compared to the 12 to 17 units required elsewhere in California. It also is Sierra College'se first program that is completely online. and offee a relatively new virtual officd assistantcertificate program.
Private companies also offer a few monthsd of online instruction for thousands of Cyndi Dunn, a Sierra College professo r of computer information systems and business, developed the program duringh a sabbatical and launched it in The first class in the program -- an onliner class to fit with the virtual nature of the industryu -- quickly filled its limi of 30 students and had to turn away about 15. "What Cyndi has done with the programkis phenomenal," said Michelle Ulrich, a Citrue Heights woman who has worked for five yeard as a virtual assistant.
She preferss the title "business and Internet marketing She also runs an industryh portal and advises oneducational initiatives. The of the chancellor's officew for is seeking grant money to expand the progranm toother colleges, using Sierraa College's program as a said Ulrich, who serves on the Sierra College's program is "probably the best communithy college program that's out therd right now," added Patricia Beckman, who is franchising her virtual assistant business in Roseville. The virtual professionals industry is stil l in its infancy andwill grow, industry observerd said.
Real numbers are hard to come by, but Dunn estimates there are atleast 10,000 peopl working in the field. There's more work than there are skilled and qualified Beckman said. Part of what Cybertary franchisees receive fortheird $22,500 franchise fee is training, continuing education and one-on-one coaching. Since starting to franchise this Beckman has sold two franchises and next year expects to sell two to threwea month.
Virtual professionals are attracted to the work for the the ability to be their own boss and to workfrom It's a good fit, Dunn for single parents, people with disabilities, residentzs of remote areas with few traditional job opportunities, and people with languages barriers who might be proficient at writinh English but not speakingh it. They're especially in demanxd in the real estate where they set up open houses and placde adson , Dunn said. People who work as job or life coaches also enlist the help ofvirtuak assistants. The insurance industry is expecteds to be a growth niche forvirtuakl professionals.
Virtual assistants charge $30 to $100 per What: Degree and certificates program for those interested in working in the growing fieldx of handling office work for often working from home and retrieving work over the Internet Developed by: Cyndi Dunn, a professor of computerf information systems and business Requirements: 27 class considerably more than othe schools in California; classes offered online 916-789-2713, cdunn@sierracollege.
edu