William Penn University Online Program Helps Working Professional Turn “No Right Time” Into the Right Time

07/30/2026

For many adults, earning a college degree can feel like something that has to wait until life slows down. Between full-time careers, raising children, and everyday responsibilities, finding time for school often seems impossible.

For Aimee Glenn, that reality never changed. Instead, she found a way to make it work.

Glenn lives in Eddyville, Iowa, with her husband, two children, and three dogs. She works full time at Vermeer, where she manages the company’s Travel Department and remains on call around the clock. Even with a demanding career and a busy family life, she made the decision to return to school through William Penn University’s online Business Management program.

“I got a two-year degree right after high school while also working full-time but was eager to focus more time working than pursuing a four-year degree,” Glenn said. “I’ve worked in management since I was 17 and never needed a four-year degree for what I was doing.”

That changed when Vermeer offered tuition reimbursement for eligible employees.

“There’s never a ‘right time’ to go back as an adult with kids and a full-time job,” she said. “It’s something you have to decide you want to make time for.”

For Glenn, making time didn’t mean sacrificing what mattered most.

“My family is the most important thing to me and my top priority,” she said. “I didn’t want to do anything that would take time away from them. I’ve found ways to ensure school never gets in the way of family time.”

Instead, school fits around the rest of her life. Early mornings before work and late evenings after her family has gone to bed have become dedicated study time.

“The online program is the only reason I’m able to take classes,” Glenn said. “I don’t have the time during the day or two evenings a week to take in person classes. I can work on homework early in the morning before I start work, or later in the evenings once my husband and kids go to bed.”

While the schedule requires commitment, she said the flexibility has made earning her degree realistic.

“It’s a sacrifice waking up early and going to bed later, but I know it’s just for a short period of time,” Glenn said. “The workload is a lot less than I thought it’d be. The teachers are all amazing and understand that most of the online students are adults with full-time jobs and families of their own. They work with you when you’re available, usually outside of the normal 8-5 hours.”

One of the biggest surprises has been the online community itself.

“I really love seeing all the other student’s discussion posts and am constantly learning new perspectives that I never would have thought of myself,” Glenn said. “A lot of the younger college age students are from all over the world and it’s fun to get to know them and hear about their experiences and viewpoints. I also love that most of my classmates are adults working full-time and we can all relate with each other.”

That sense of connection extends beyond classmates.

“I’ve enjoyed all the classes I’ve taken and have had all amazing teachers who all always go above and beyond to ensure everyone had the support they needed to succeed,” Glenn said. “The online director, Georgetta, is also amazing and is a calming presence throughout every aspect of the program.”

Even after nearly two decades in management, Glenn has found new ways to approach leadership through her coursework.

“I’m constantly looking for ways to be more effective and efficient, and I’ve learned so many ways to achieve this,” she said. “WP has taught me to sometimes take a step back, look at the bigger picture, and take the time to come up with a plan.”

Like many adult learners, balancing work, family, and school has come with challenges. Some courses have required far more time than others, but she credits her instructors and determination for helping her succeed.

“The Accounting classes weren’t fun and I had to relearn a lot of the math, but the teachers were always helpful,” Glenn said. “I’d do a lot of extra research and find videos or tutorials online to help me understand the homework better when needed.”

As she works toward graduation, Glenn says the degree represents more than career advancement.

“I’m doing this for myself and to show my kids, nieces, and nephews that it can be done, at any point of life,” she said. “Teaching my kids good work ethic like my parents taught me is really important to me.”

Looking back, she believes the combination of experience and education has made her stronger both professionally and personally.

“I’ve always thought work experience was more important than education for a lot of career paths but am seeing that having both is even better,” Glenn said. “It’s a small price to pay for everything you learn and being able to apply that knowledge to your job and life is priceless.”

For other working adults wondering if it’s too late to go back to school, Glenn’s advice is simple.

“My advice is to start off with one or two easier classes each term and to slowly ease into school,” she said. “I had no issues catching on to the online program and really love how easy and simple it is. I emailed the teacher or my advisor anytime I had questions, and they always worked with me anytime I needed extra support.”

For Glenn, earning a degree hasn’t required putting life on hold. Instead, William Penn’s online program has allowed her to keep investing in her career, her family, and herself—all at the same time.