Jwan Seavers, a member of the first graduating class of BGSU's Bachelor of General Studies program, poses with Raymond Schuck, Ph.D., during commencement in April 2026. (Contributed photo)
First graduates of the Bachelor of General Studies program showcase the impact of flexible, student-centered degree
The first graduates of Bowling Green State University's Bachelor of General Studies program earned their degrees this spring, marking a milestone for a flexible academic pathway designed to help students complete unfinished educational journeys. Created to support adult learners, transfer students, working professionals and students with accumulated college credits, the program offers a personalized route to degree completion while recognizing the realities of life, work and family responsibilities.
Key Highlights
First graduates
Four students earned the first Bachelor of General Studies degrees in Spring 2026.
Flexible pathway
The program allows students to combine coursework from multiple subjects into a customized degree plan.
Growing impact
Additional students are already on track to graduate through the program in summer and Fall 2026.
"Each of the Spring 2026 graduates represents a different story about the value of the degree and how it serves the needs of students. There is tremendous reason to be excited."
RAYMOND SCHUCK, PH.D.
PROGRAM COORDINATOR AND PROFESSOR OF COMMUNICATION
The first students of the new Bachelor of General Studies program at Bowling Green State University marked a major milestone when they earned their degrees this spring.
The Bachelor of General Studies program allows students to combine coursework from multiple subjects into a degree pathway tailored to their goals and previous academic experiences. The program is designed to support a wide range of learners, including adult students, transfer students, working professionals and students who have accumulated credits over time without a clear pathway to graduation.
“I can see the excitement of folks who see that this is providing an opportunity to finish their bachelor's degree, and I have felt that excitement for each of the Spring 2026 graduates,” said Raymond Schuck, Ph.D., program coordinator and professor of communication. “Each of the four Spring 2026 graduates – Ruby Michalec, Johnny Hackathorn, Kristen Doerner and Jwan Seavers – represents a different story about the value of the degree and how it serves the needs of students. There is tremendous reason to be excited.”
Work schedules, family responsibilities, changing career goals and life circumstances can interrupt or reshape a student’s academic journey, diverting them from a linear path to a degree.
For Jwan Seavers ‘26, the program created an opportunity to complete a degree while balancing work and family responsibilities. Seavers first attended BGSU Firelands, the university’s regional campus in Huron, Ohio, from 2007-12 before returning to complete the Bachelor of General Studies degree.
“I chose BGSU initially because the program I wanted to get into was available at the Firelands campus, and it allowed me to work, take care of my kids and go to school,” Seavers said.
Now working with families through a Head Start program, Seavers said coursework in human development helped create a professional path, while the completion of a degree was supported.
For Johnny Hackathorn ‘26, the program helped connect years of coursework in a variety of subjects into a completed degree. Hackathorn attended BGSU Firelands on and off since 2000, studying areas including computer science and electrical engineering technology before completing the Bachelor of General Studies program this spring.
Hackathorn, who now serves as an engineering manager after beginning his career as a controls engineer, said his experience at BGSU Firelands strengthened both his technical knowledge and confidence to continue advancing professionally.
Ruby Michalec ‘26 said the program also created a pathway for coursework that previously did not align with a traditional major structure.
“Before the Bachelor of General Studies, I took classes from multiple subjects without a major to make them all fit within,” Michalec said.
Michalec said the supportive environment at BGSU Firelands played a major role throughout her educational experience.
“BGSU Firelands has many professors who care about student experience and making sure it happens in a way that students are comfortable with,” she said.
According to Schuck, those stories demonstrate the broader purpose behind the program.
Rather than requiring students to fit within a previously defined academic track, the Bachelor of General Studies emphasizes knowledge of multiple fields of study and individualized academic planning, allowing students to work closely with advisors to earn a degree aligned with their personal and professional goals.
The program also reflects Bowling Green's continued commitment to expanding access to higher education and supporting students at different stages of life and career development.
As the program continues to grow, university leaders expect the Bachelor of General Studies to serve an increasingly important role for students seeking a flexible and personalized pathway to degree completion.
While this spring’s graduates represent the program’s first cohort, their experiences illustrate the broader impact the degree is intended to have: helping students finish what they started and apply their education in meaningful ways within their careers, families and communities.
“The excitement will continue,” Schuck said. “Already, two more students are planning to graduate with the Bachelor of General Studies degree in August 2026, and at least one more student is planning to graduate at the end of the Fall 2026 semester. Many more students have begun their journey toward completion in semesters after that.”
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Updated: 07/16/2026 12:16PM