Administration

Communications

C-SC Connected Campus Program helps Wells Fargo Senior VP complete degree
Friday, May 08, 2009

CANTON, Mo. – Tyson Pyles, a Texas native and currently senior vice president of community banking measurement and reporting at Wells Fargo in Gold River, Calif., began as a traditional Culver-Stockton College student in the Fall of 1989, when he signed to play football. Pyles completed two years of study at C-SC and then moved on to take classes at various other schools. In the end, Pyles came back to C-SC almost 20 years later to complete his degree through C-SC’s Connected Campus Program.

C-SC’s Connected Campus program is an online program designed for students of age 23 or older who have started a degree, and want to complete it. It requires that students have an associate’s degree or 50 hours of college credit completed. The program is designed with those who hold down a job in mind. The program’s flexibility allows the student to schedule study time when it is convenient for them.

Pyles found the C-SC program through the C-SC website and chose to finish his degree in business administration through that program.

“I chose the Connected Campus program because C-SC is a very special place to me and getting my degree from C-SC would carry on that special meaning forever. I also liked that the program gives you a real four-year college degree and not some sort of online certification,” said Pyles.

The connected campus program allows students to work closely with professors through online courses.

“The C-SC professors provided the ‘wow’ factor for me. They are experts in their field and because class sizes are so small you get individual attention and feedback. The professors were flexible when I needed them to be and disciplined when I needed that, too. After attending several other schools, I have a pretty good insight into the typical college professor. None, I mean none of the C-SC professors fit that model,” said Pyles.

The C-SC professors are impressed with how Pyles performed in the classroom.

“Tyson Pyles is just the type of adult learner we are seeking in the Connected Campus program. The online classroom allowed him the flexibility of scheduling class work around a busy family and work schedule. He brought a wealth of experience and insight to the discussion forums and written assignments. It is a pleasure to work with people like Tyson who are focused on finishing their college education and realize its value. I am glad to be a small part of helping him achieve that goal,” said Jim Cosgrove, professor of business administration.

Kim Gaither, assistant professor of finance, also had the chance to work with Pyles through the Connected Campus program.

“Tyson’s work was superb, which is always a delight, but more importantly Tyson's ability to go above and beyond textbook learning and to share with other students enriched the experience of each class. I am proud that Tyson Pyles is a graduate of our institution as he continues in a very successful career.”

Pyles’ degree is a culmination of 20 years of work and he said that not finishing his degree has always weighed on him personally. Pyles felt that the Connected Campus program helped him complete a long-time goal.

“Everything about the program was great. I never had any significant problems or issues with any of the technical or administrative stuff. The staff support was outstanding, and I could tell that C-SC was rooting for me to be successful. I really believed that this would be a unique experience and it was,” added Pyles.

Pyles has had 17 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at Wells Fargo for 14 years and currently lives in Gold River, Calif., with his family. He hopes that all of his hard work will make him an example for his children.

“My boys have watched me do homework and work towards this for the last few years and I hope that it has an impact on them. I want them to know that it is never too late to finish something you started.

Pyles will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in business administration.