NDSU student Daryl Fellbaum is finishing his bachelor's degree at 73-years old thanks to the university's Degree Completion Program.

Daryl Fellbaum walked into the Career and Advising office in Ceres Hall and introduced himself by saying “I’m 73 years old and all I have ever wanted is a degree from NDSU.”

“It’s something I started a long time ago and I wanted to finish it,” said Fellbaum, who was just a few credits shy of a history degree when he left NDSU in 1971. “I thought a few times about coming back to finish my degree.”

He contacted NDSU a few years ago to see how many credits he would need to graduate. Then, when options for classes moved online, he knew it was finally time to complete his degree.

“With the opportunity to take online classes, while living in Wyoming, it was really an ideal time to come back. The online system really makes it easier for more people to be able to complete their degree,” he said. 

Fellbaum said his advisor offered a lot of support during his transition back to college. Jessie Bauer, assistant director for student success initiatives at the Career and Advising Center, is the contact for students who are coming back to finish their degree.

“She’s gone out of her way to help me research the best classes to take. Anytime I’ve called to ask her questions she has always been so helpful. I appreciate everything she has done to try and help me be successful at this,” Fellbaum said.

The transition to taking online classes has been a learning curve for Fellbaum. He never used online services like Blackboard, Zoom or online textbooks. He had help from friends locally, as well as his advisor and professors, to transition to online learning from a few states away.

Fellbaum is scheduled to graduate in December of 2023 and is looking forward to that moment of walking across the stage.

“I started something and wanted to finish it,” Fellbaum said. “I’m very proud to be back.”

Fill out an interest form or visit the Degree Completion Program website for more information.