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Online Grad Program Trains Community Ed Staff
Editor's Note: For more information contact: Deborah
Wulf, marketing manager, outreach and graduate studies, UW-River Falls,
715/425-0680, deborah.wulf@uwrf.edu
APRIL 15, 2005--The competition for federal funds among after-school programs
is fierce. Having well-trained community education directors and after-school
coordinators may make the difference on winning financial support, according
to Stanley Potts, Ph.D., past president of the Wisconsin Community Education
Association.
"Today, the programs with highly trained staff are likely to emerge
as winners in the race for adequate funding," said Potts, of the
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. "The shortage of formal,
learning opportunities for staff working in community education and after-school
programs hasn’t helped."
To meet the need for training, Potts assisted the University of Wisconsin-River
Falls in developing an online, graduate certificate in community education.
The University developed this program in partnership with the National
Community Education Association, the premier professional organization
for community education staff. Students earn the graduate certificate
by completing four, three-credit courses and one independent project.
"All course work is provided via the Internet and other distance-learning
tools, making it accessible to students everywhere," said Potts.
"The compressed course schedule is also a popular feature. Colleagues
from around the country will follow the same schedule and complete the
program together, within one year."
In December 2004, Christy Lewis of Gloucester, Virginia, was the first
student to complete the graduate certificate. A community education director,
Lewis said she appreciated the flexibility that UW-RFs’ online courses
afforded her.
"The online format allowed me to pursue graduate level courses and
course work in a convenient and flexible learning format," she said.
The online format means that students pay the tuition of a Wisconsin resident,
which is often considerably less than comparable institutions around the
country, said Potts.
A new cohort of students will begin with the start of the introductory
course in June. An optional, live teleconference on June 28 will help
familiarize students to the online software used and the course content.
All participants need to apply and meet the minimum requirements for graduate
study at UW-RF before registering for classes. Visit the Web site at http:/www.uwrf.edu/outreach
or call the UW-RF Graduate Studies Office at (715) 425-3843 or (800) 228-5607
for more information.
UW-RF is a member of the prestigious University of Wisconsin System of
colleges and universities. With a national reputation for excellence in
teacher education, UW-RF consistently provides high-quality, innovative
and learner-centered courses and programs. Located in western Wisconsin
just 30 minutes east of Minneapolis/St. Paul, UW-RF has approximately
6,000 undergraduate and graduate students in more than 40 programs in
four colleges: Agriculture, Food & Environmental Sciences, Arts and
Sciences, Business and Economics, and Education and Professional Studies.
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Last updated:
Monday, 18-Apr-2005 13:32:16 CDT
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