SPC online professors work hard to make personal connections with their students. Jeff Youmans, cybersecurity online professor for the Bachelor of Applied Science in Technology Development & Management degree program has done just that.

Learn more about St. Petersburg College’s Cybersecurity Degrees.

SPC Online professor praised by student, Marine Vet

Professor Youmans started his career as a soldier in the United States Army. He has served two tours of duty, the last of which was with the 7th Special Forces Group in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. For the last eight years Professor Youmans has been teaching at St. Petersburg College. His classes focus on improving the student’s attention to detail, scientific authoring, and teaching them how to communicate effectively in an online environment. The online professor promotes skills to determine facts, research online assertions and present information in a consumable online format so that students will be successful and lead their companies through the 21st century. Without a connection with the students, these skills can be quite difficult to learn.

A great example of how this connection can impact a student’s life can be found in the review left by a student veteran after taking Management Information Systems with Professor Youmans.

“Professor Youmans is an encouraging professor.  He has been the most available professor, I’ve studied under, in an online course.  He holds students to a higher level of accountability in creating discussion posts, which truly fosters communication in the class.  The discussions had more life in this class.
 
I truly appreciate the weekly videos he creates.  I would rate this action as exceeds expectations, as it’s not common practice to go the extra mile to connect with students in this manner.

Professor Youmans makes himself available to students, outside of his published hours of availability.  I sent emails after 9 pm and received rapid responses.  Per his video recommendation, I called him within the first week when I had a question.  He was easy to talk to and available when he said he would be available.
 
As a single parent (with primary custody), and a salaried employee (>40 hours per week), time management is a challenge for me.  Multiple issues hit at once, in both work and home, early in the semester.  I was completely overwhelmed.  I was going to drop this course and re-take it at a later date.  I called Prof Youmans to let him know I was going to drop the class.  In less than 10 minutes, he talked me out of dropping the class, and more importantly gave me hope that I could pass the course.  I passed the course.
I do apologize, but I don’t have a “needs to make better” suggestion at this time.  In Professor Youmans closing video he left the door open for assistance or counseling.  I plan to keep his contact information for guidance in the future.
Respectfully,

John T. Short
Dad
USMC Vet