Bay Path University’s Revolutionary Online Liberal Studies Program Recognized for Excellence

Longmeadow, MA—The American Women’s College at Bay Path University has been helping women complete their bachelor’s degrees at twice the rate of the national average since its inception in 2013, thanks to its digitally-enhanced learning model: SOUL (Social Online Universal Learning). This innovative approach to education has placed its Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Liberal Studies degree among the 50 best in the nation, as ranked by TheBestSchools.org.   

“The American Women's College seeks to accommodate our students by offering a Liberal Studies degree, complimented by our Women Empowered by Learners and Leaders (WELL) program, to develop well-rounded, articulate, critical thinkers and leaders,” Chief Administrative Officer Amanda Gould said.  “Our adaptive coursework can help students refresh on content, as needed, on each student's customized learning path, even if they have had to take breaks in their learning. With our fully-online, accelerated schedule, credit for prior experiences, and generous transfer policy, many students are able to finally obtain an undergraduate degree that may have been in progress off and on for many years.”

TheBestSchools.org ranked colleges based on six major categories: academic excellence; strength of faculty scholarship; reputation; financial aid; range of degree programs; and strength of online instruction methodology. The University’s program placed 21^st on the list, in which the editor highlighted the freedom it provides to students, particularly adult women who have other responsibilities, including family and work obligations, to design an academic program to suit their needs and schedule.

The American Women’s College at Bay Path University’s SOUL model uses data-driven intervention strategies to help mitigate achievement gaps and has been recognized with more than $5 million in support from industry thought leaders and organizations. SOUL was developed after The American Women’s College was awarded a grant through the "First in the World (FITW)" competition administered through the US Department of Education’s Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE). The four-year $3.5 million award was used to develop – and continually hone – the program by improving educator access to learning data, allowing for targeted feedback and personalized guidance. SOUL has been recognized with several other grants and awards from national foundations, the federal government, and awarding agencies.

“The American Women's College is focused on being responsive to students' needs.  From accommodating complex lives with flexible delivery, to using adaptive technology to create customized learning paths, to building an entire network of support and community, we try to find ways to meet students where they are and provide them the opportunity to change their lives with education,” Gould said. 

The American Women’s College at Bay Path University continually seeks to make further strides in online education to increase the benefits and success of women across the country. To learn more, visit The American Women's College webpage.

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About Bay Path University

Bay Path University was founded in 1897. With locations in Longmeadow (main), East Longmeadow (Philip H. Ryan Health Science Center), Sturbridge (MA), and Concord (MA), Bay Path’s innovative program offerings include traditional undergraduate degrees for women, The American Women's College on-ground and online, the first all-women, all-online accredited bachelor’s degree programs in the country; over 25 graduate programs for women and men; and Strategic Alliances, offering professional development courses for individuals and organizations. Bay Path’s goal is to give students confidence in the fundamentals of their chosen field, the curiosity to question the ordinary, the leadership to show initiative, and the desire to make a difference.