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WCU Educational OUTREACH • page 1 See The Power of Partnership, page 5 The Power of Partnership: U. S. Army Green Berets Attend Western by Chuck Gross Whether their knowledge has come from personal experience, or from watching a Hollywood movie or the History Channel, many people know at least a little bit about the U. S. Army Special Forces. Known commonly as “ Green Berets,” these unique soldiers make up the most specialized combat forces in the Army. Their activities range from thwarting acts of terrorism to supporting humanitarian efforts. They engage in foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, and a broad range of other types of military missions. However, what few people at Western Carolina realize is that, through a partnership with the US Army and the Servicemembers Opportunity College, Special Forces Medical Sergeants are now enrolled as students in Western’s Emergency Medical Care ( EMC) Bachelor of Science online degree program. Western’s online EMC degree program allows paramedics with roughly two years of college to complete a four-year bachelor of science degree. This program, the first of its kind in the country, has been in operation since 1977. In the fall of 2000, EMC faculty members began offering courses in an online format, primarily to paramedics in North Carolina who wished to complete a bachelors degree while continuing to work. In 2006, knowing that Special Forces Medical Sergeants, who are also referred to by their occupational specialty code of 18 Delta, would make superb candidates for the online EMC program, leaders from the Educational Outreach Division and Department of Health Sciences began exploring the possibility of offering the EMC program to this elite group. After more than a year of coordination with officials from the Army Continuing Education System and the Servicemembers Opportunity College in Washington, D. C., and also from the Army’s JFK Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg, Western’s Educ ational Ou tre ach November 2008 Patricia A. Brown Dear Colleagues: Fall 2008 marks the launch of the University’s new image. Its brand message, “ WCU offers opportunities for those who aspire to make a difference in their world” sets the tone and direction of the University in serving the learning needs of our students, the role of our faculty and our engagement in the community. This issue of the Educational Outreach newsletter features a number of partnership relationships that capture the meaning behind the message. It further invites faculty to engage in opportunities of engaged scholarship and service. And, it updates the reader on directions of the Division in fulfilling its core mission. Since our last issue, Educational Outreach has gone through a review and subsequent restructure to include oversight for the Asheville Graduate programs and all off- site programs both distance learning and resident. A roster of offices and contacts are included for ready reference. Our 2007- 2008 annual report is now in print. Should you want a copy please contact our main office at 828- 227- 7397. Our goals for 2008- 2009 continue to include enrollment growth and the enhancement and integration of distance learning. Our expanded focus includes resident as well as distance learners thus blurring the lines between what were distinctively separate entities. As we move forward we are focusing more and more on student retention. How can we best serve our learners? UNC Tomorrow is now serving as our framework for action with a strong focus on 4.2 “ Expanding Access to Underrepresented Populations.” As we forge ahead in our efforts we look forward to working with you in fulfilling our common goals. Patricia A. Brown, Dean Educational Outreach Tri- County Community College is located in the westernmost tip of North Carolina on Highway 64 in Murphy, NC with the Graham County Center in Robbinsville, NC. The College serves commuter students in a remote, rural area consisting of Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties. The Distance Education programs offered by Western Carolina University, Educational Outreach and Tri- County Community College have helped students successfully achieve their educational goals by working together to provide services and degree programs that allow students to take classes closer to their home on the campus of Tri- County Community College. Western Carolina University and Tri- County Community College partnership currently offers two cohort degree programs on the campus of Tri- County Community College; the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Bachelor of Science in Birth- Kindergarten. Students can complete Liberal Studies core requirements and other required prerequisites courses through Tri- County Community College prior to starting the cohort program. Western Carolina University offers the remaining classes for the major through various formats that include face to face, on- line, ITV and hybrid classes. Students like Rebecca Mathis would not have been able to pursue their educational goals without the opportunity to take classes on the campus of Tri- County Community College through the Elementary Education cohort program. Rebecca explains, “ I have always wanted to be a teacher, but after high school I wanted to start my family right away. Little did I know how hard it would be to go back and finish a degree. Since I'm a single mother with a full time job, I would not have time to travel the distance to Western to attend classes. The cohort program has allowed me the opportunity to achieve my dream of being a teacher." Rebecca is scheduled to graduate in May 2009. Partnership with Tri- County Community College Helps Students Reach Their Goals By Debra Smith Our partnership with TCCC also allows students an opportunity to talk to an advisor prior to visiting the campus. WCU's office on the campus of TCCC has been set up to help students understand the admission process, transfer of credits, degree requirements and prerequisites needed for a particular major. WCU’s recently implemented 2 Step program has been a great recruiting tool and a resource guide for students interested in transferring and completing a four year degree. Our partnership with Tri- County Community College results in students that are more successful in achieving their educational goals and the benefits of attending each college is recognized. - - - - - - Lonnie Dockery, our new regional coordinator at Tri- County Community College, began work this month. To contact Lonnie, see the phone listings on page 8 of this newsletter. Educational Outreach is increasingly receiving requests for speakers for community events. The range of interests is broad and provides faculty numerous opportunities to share their expertise with others. If you are interested in being listed in the roster of speakers please contact our office at 828- 227- 7397. We will be updating the list over the next few months. If you are currently listed you will be contacted to update your file. Check out the Educational Outreach Web site to see who and what opportunities are in the roster. WCU Speaker’s Bureau By Pat Brown page 2 • WCU Educational OUTREACH WCU Educational OUTREACH • page 3 The partnership between Western Carolina University ( WCU) and Western Piedmont Community College ( WPCC) is more than a partnership between two schools; it is a relationship between two communities— WCU and Burke County. Indeed, the business and education ( all levels) communities have warmly welcomed and embraced having a Regional Coordinator for WCU in Burke County. Soon after arriving last summer ( 2007), I was invited to join the Education Committee of the Burke County Chamber of Commerce and the local Business/ Industry/ Education Council ( hosted by the public schools). Both groups meet monthly and offer great opportunities for collaboration. The nearly three dozen Burke County leaders in business and education who have been participating in the current Educational Needs Assessment express great pleasure at Western’s initiating the process. The community clearly looks forward to the continued and growing association with Western. One of the business folks commented, “ I hope you’re here to stay.” WCU has been reaching out to the Burke County community for many years and has established a wonderful reputation. A Western Piedmont Community College student, a mother of five, sat in my office recently and exclaimed, “ I just love Western.” She said it rather matter- of- factly, largely because she greatly appreciates the responsiveness of everyone with whom she has had contact at Western as she looks forward to completing her associate degree and transferring to Western. Other students have made similar remarks for the same reason. WPCC students have enjoyed having someone from Western on the WPCC campus where they can just drop in if needed, if only to brainstorm options and to get contact information. They appreciate having such ready access to help them look beyond community college. This seems especially true of those who have lost jobs in which they had worked for many years. Returning to school offers new hope for many of those affected in a region that has been hit hard with many plant closings and the loss of several thousand jobs. WCU/ WPCC Partnership is a Benefit for Both Institutions By Jim Craig As with many areas of the state there is a growing need for more people trained in various areas of technology and healthcare ( Burke is promoting itself as an area to which people would like to retire), and there is a great need for teachers in the public schools. Helping to promote and to recruit for these areas is a shared responsibility. The relationship among WPCC, Burke County, and WCU will continue to grow. There is a common vision of sharing and complementing respective strengths to meet the educational needs of our current and future workforce. - - - - - - Jim Craig is WCU’s regional coordinator at WPCC. page 4 • WCU Educational OUTREACH Wanted: A Few Good Faculty Members By Cynthia Bruce Military Education Director, American Council of Education While many colleges and universities accept the American Council on Education ( ACE) Military Programs recommended credit for military courses and occupations, some may not be aware of how those recommendations are formulated. ACE Military Programs evaluators are drawn from postsecondary institutions, professional and disciplinary societies, education associations, and regional accrediting associations. Therefore, if you are actively teaching college- level courses and are receptive to recommending academic credit for learning in an extra- institutional setting, we encourage your participation. The Evaluation Process Courses are evaluated by teams of at least three subject matter specialists ( college and university professors, deans, and other academicians). Through discussion and the application of evaluation procedures and guidelines, team members reach a consensus on the amount and category of credit to be recommended. Evaluation materials include the course syllabus, training materials, tests, textbooks, technical manuals, and examinations. Additional information may be obtained from discussions with instructors and program administrators, classroom observations, and examination of instructional equipment and laboratory facilities. Evaluators have two major tasks for each course: the preparation of the courses description and the formulation of a credit recommendation. The credit recommendation consists of the category of credit, the number of semester hours recommended, and the appropriate subject area. Evaluators phrase the course description ( which appears in the Guide exhibits under the headings Learning Outcomes or Objectives and Instruction) in terms meaningful to civilian educators. The course description supplements the credit recommendations by summarizing the nature of a given course. Military students are increasingly finding Western Carolina University a military friendly institution. This past year we saw a 32% increase in the number of military students. These include active duty personnel, many of whom are enrolled in online programs, National Guard members, veterans and military dependents. Some 70% of our military students are on campus as resident students. Military students come with a history of credit worthy education and training that is not always understood. The American Council of Education manages the process of assessment and credit award for military education. Cynthia Bruce, Director of Military Education recently published the article “ Wanted: A Few Good Faculty Members” in the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges newsletter and has given us permission to publish her invitation in our newsletter. Cynthia has also agreed to come to campus in February to conduct a military education workshop. Details of her visit will follow. Opening Doors By Pat Brown WCU Educational OUTREACH • page 5 Selection of Evaluators Evaluators are drawn from a pool of faculty members. Evaluation teams are selected by the Program Evaluations Content Review Committee. The Content Review Committee meets weekly to determine the appropriate content/ academic areas from which the slate of potential evaluators for each review team should be drawn. Members of the Committee reflect a diversity of backgrounds in academe as well as professional experience. After the evaluation team has been formed, the Associate Director of Military Evaluations confers with them, reviewing the procedures and responsibilities with which they are charged in conducting the review. Signing up to Serve ACE Review Teams ensure that what an individual learns is more than when, where, and how the individual learned it. Serving on a team helps ensure a formalized process that colleges and universities can trust and allows team members to network and learn from colleagues across the country while validating and supporting students' non- traditional learning. ACE is currently seeking faculty evaluators to aid in recommending academic credit for learning in extra- institutional settings. To be considered as a prospective evaluator, please complete and submit the online Evaluator Application at https:// militaryguides. acenet. edu/ EvaluatorForm. htm. To qualify, you must be actively teaching college- level courses. If you have specific questions about signing up or the evaluator process, send an email to evaluator@ ace. nche. edu; call the Lifelong Learning Resource Center at 202- 939- 9470 or toll free 866- 205- 6267; or visit our Evaluator website at http:// www. acenet. edu/ evaluators. When a review is scheduled that requires your area of content expertise, you will be contacted directly and advised of the opportunity to serve on the ACE team. ACE pays all evaluators an honorarium and reimburses all travel expenses related to the review. We need faculty from all disciplines, but are conducting more reviews in the following fields: • Bioethics • Ergonomics • Foreign language ( Arabic, Farsi, Tajiki, Urdu) • Gaming • Homeland Security • Information Security • Intelligence • Logistics and Supply • Materials Management • Military Technologies • Ordnance and Munitions • Seamanship and Navigation • Weaponry To learn more about Military Programs and its other programs visit our homepage at http:// www. acenet. edu/ militaryprograms. page 6 • WCU Educational OUTREACH This summer marked Western’s 14th year as a host site for the North Carolina Teacher Academy. The North Carolina Teacher Academy is a professional development program for teachers established and funded by the North Carolina General Assembly. The mission of the Academy is to support continuous learning to the growth of a career teacher by providing quality professional development in the areas of school leadership, instructional methodology, core content, and use of modern technology in order to enrich instruction and enhance student achievement. From its opening session in July of 1994 through the 2006- 2007 fiscal year, the Teacher Academy has trained 39,418 teachers and principals, representing 1,783 schools ( 78%) from every local education agency in North Carolina. During the 2006- 2007 fiscal year, two hundred six ( 206) Teacher Academy trainers provided instruction. All North Carolina teachers are eligible to attend the Teacher Academy as WCU Hosts North Carolina Teacher Academy for 14th Year By Bobby Hensley part of a team. The Teacher Academy sessions are held as both Residential Academies and Local Partnership Academies. Each Residential session begins on Sunday evening and ends after lunch on Thursday. Participants receive an honorarium of $ 100.00 per day from the Academy and continuing education units toward licensure renewal upon completion of the follow-up sessions. Priority in selecting attendees is given to teams that indicate how their attendance at a Teacher Academy session supports their school improvement goals, specifically in regard to the professional development needs identified in that goal. An administrator is required to attend as a member of each team. This year participants chose from twenty- one topics statewide. All modules are designed to include a combination of current theory complemented by direct hands- on activities. This summer, Western will hosted approximately 600 teachers from across the state in seven planned weeks. " Western Carolina University has been a Teacher Academy residential site since our first Academy in 1994. Through the years, Western has provided exceptional service to the thousands of teachers and administrators who have attended Teacher Academy sessions there. Western's personal touch and commitment to honoring teachers is unsurpassed." – Julia Kron, Director, NC Teacher Academy WCU Educational OUTREACH • page 7 The Power of Partnership Continued Bachelor of Science in Emergency Medical Care became an official Army Career Degree program in March of 2007. Ten 18 Delta soldiers entered the program in the spring of 2008, and another thirty- four entered the program in the fall term. Becoming a fully qualified 18 Delta requires mental discipline, physical endurance, and a devotion to academic studies that is possessed by relatively few people, either military or civilian. Carefully selected soldiers must complete an extremely intense and demanding training program of instruction in medical sciences, emergency medical procedures, and advanced foreign language. This training lasts over one year, includes rotations in various medical specialties, and qualifies the soldier as the equivalent of an EMT paramedic. Prior to the establishment of Western’s EMC program as an Army Career Degree program, there was no accredited college or university that would maximize the value of this training in terms of academic credit or allow the soldier to apply it towards the completion of a bachelors degree in emergency medicine. Western’s agreement with the Army now allows the typical 18 Delta to begin the EMC program with a guaranteed 52 to 56 transfer semester credit hours, a figure that includes 15 hours in liberal studies. 18 Delta soldiers who have never stepped foot into a traditional college classroom can enter the EMC program with nearly two full years of college credit. In addition, graduates of the EMC program are fully prepared to enter medical school or a physician assistant program— two very common professional goals of these soldiers. It should be noted that these transfer credit hours are not merely token credits granted as a show of support for military students. On the contrary, they are based on the stringent academic standards and recommendations of the American Council on Education ( ACE). Western’s partnership with the Army is a classic win- win agreement. Western’s EMC degree offers the strength and features that military students must have: high quality instruction that is accessible from anywhere in the world, extremely affordable tuition, ease in using education benefits, and ultimately, a degree from a nationally renowned and regionally- accredited university. There is no requirement for these military students to ever be physically present on campus or be logged in to online courses at a specific time. The EMC program is not cohort based, and the flexibility offered by EMC professors is unsurpassed. Several 18 Delta students currently enrolled in the EMC program are deployed to Iraq and other locations. Western Carolina University also benefits in a major way from this partnership. The mandates of UNC Tomorrow require UNC system universities to significantly increase their outreach and services to military members, as well as military spouses and children, stationed in NC. This already fruitful partnership helps Western to become a system leader in meeting these mandates, and by subsequently multiplying enrollments by military students. - - - - - - For more information on military education at Western Carolina University, contact Charles Gross, Director of Military Education ( 828- 227- 2135; cgross@ wcu. edu). Information on U. S. Special Forces extracted from http:// www. goarmy. com. Western Carolina University is a University of North Carolina campus and an Equal Opportunity Institution. 750 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $ XXX. XX or $. XX each. Office of Public Relations/ Publications: November 2008 08- 561 Administration Dr. Pat Brown, Dean 828- 227- 3070 Dr. Regis Gilman, Associate Dean 828- 227- 3072 Lisa Hoyle, Office Manager 828- 227- 3068 Distance Learning Distance Education, General Inquiries 866- 928- 4723 Enrollment Management, Graduate and Distance Education Phil Cauley, 828- 227- 2923 Military Education, Services for Military Students and their Families Charles Gross, 828- 227- 2135 Distance Learning and Online Course Development Valerie Dillard, 828- 227- 3022 Outreach Programs in Henderson, Transylvania and Polk Counties; Gerontology and Aging Programs Marcia Caserio or Paula Smith, 828- 693- 8375 Programs at Western Piedmont Community College/ Burke County Jim Craig, 828- 448- 3507 Programs at Tri- County Community College ( Murphy, Andrews, Robbinsville and surrounding areas) Lonnie Dockery, 828- 227- 7397 Asheville Programs in Asheville ( UNCA Graduate Center) Patsy Miller, 828- 227- 7423 Shirley Bateman, 828- 227- 7423 Student Services Student Services, University Experience Course Bronwen Sheffield, 828- 227- 3074 Continuing Education Continuing Education, Non- credit Programs and Certifications, Professional Development, Conferences and Workshops Dr. Susan Fouts, 828- 227- 3688 Bobby Hensley, 828- 227- 3066 Educational Outreach Contacts Communications and Marketing Communications, Marketing, Publications, Web and Print Services Joni Kenyon, 828- 227- 3069 Jamaica Program Lois Stiles, 828- 227- 3065 Dr. Patricia Brown, administrator 828- 227- 3070 Cherokee Center Cherokee Center, Cherokee Students Roseanna Belt, 828- 497- 7920 Jane Kneller, 828- 497- 7920 Qualla Financial Freedom Bruce Yarrington, 828- 497- 7920 Contract Programs Sue Deitz, 828- 227- 3073 Other Online/ WebCT Technical Assistance IT Services Help Desk, 828- 227- 7487 Educ ational outre ach 138 Cordelia Camp Cullowhee, NC 28723
Object Description
Description
Title | Educational outreach |
Date | 2008-11 |
Description | November 2008 |
Digital Characteristics-A | 1.10 MB; 8 p. |
Digital Format | application/pdf |
Pres Local File Path-M | \Preservation_content\StatePubs\pubs_borndigital\images_master\ |
Full Text | WCU Educational OUTREACH • page 1 See The Power of Partnership, page 5 The Power of Partnership: U. S. Army Green Berets Attend Western by Chuck Gross Whether their knowledge has come from personal experience, or from watching a Hollywood movie or the History Channel, many people know at least a little bit about the U. S. Army Special Forces. Known commonly as “ Green Berets,” these unique soldiers make up the most specialized combat forces in the Army. Their activities range from thwarting acts of terrorism to supporting humanitarian efforts. They engage in foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, and a broad range of other types of military missions. However, what few people at Western Carolina realize is that, through a partnership with the US Army and the Servicemembers Opportunity College, Special Forces Medical Sergeants are now enrolled as students in Western’s Emergency Medical Care ( EMC) Bachelor of Science online degree program. Western’s online EMC degree program allows paramedics with roughly two years of college to complete a four-year bachelor of science degree. This program, the first of its kind in the country, has been in operation since 1977. In the fall of 2000, EMC faculty members began offering courses in an online format, primarily to paramedics in North Carolina who wished to complete a bachelors degree while continuing to work. In 2006, knowing that Special Forces Medical Sergeants, who are also referred to by their occupational specialty code of 18 Delta, would make superb candidates for the online EMC program, leaders from the Educational Outreach Division and Department of Health Sciences began exploring the possibility of offering the EMC program to this elite group. After more than a year of coordination with officials from the Army Continuing Education System and the Servicemembers Opportunity College in Washington, D. C., and also from the Army’s JFK Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg, Western’s Educ ational Ou tre ach November 2008 Patricia A. Brown Dear Colleagues: Fall 2008 marks the launch of the University’s new image. Its brand message, “ WCU offers opportunities for those who aspire to make a difference in their world” sets the tone and direction of the University in serving the learning needs of our students, the role of our faculty and our engagement in the community. This issue of the Educational Outreach newsletter features a number of partnership relationships that capture the meaning behind the message. It further invites faculty to engage in opportunities of engaged scholarship and service. And, it updates the reader on directions of the Division in fulfilling its core mission. Since our last issue, Educational Outreach has gone through a review and subsequent restructure to include oversight for the Asheville Graduate programs and all off- site programs both distance learning and resident. A roster of offices and contacts are included for ready reference. Our 2007- 2008 annual report is now in print. Should you want a copy please contact our main office at 828- 227- 7397. Our goals for 2008- 2009 continue to include enrollment growth and the enhancement and integration of distance learning. Our expanded focus includes resident as well as distance learners thus blurring the lines between what were distinctively separate entities. As we move forward we are focusing more and more on student retention. How can we best serve our learners? UNC Tomorrow is now serving as our framework for action with a strong focus on 4.2 “ Expanding Access to Underrepresented Populations.” As we forge ahead in our efforts we look forward to working with you in fulfilling our common goals. Patricia A. Brown, Dean Educational Outreach Tri- County Community College is located in the westernmost tip of North Carolina on Highway 64 in Murphy, NC with the Graham County Center in Robbinsville, NC. The College serves commuter students in a remote, rural area consisting of Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties. The Distance Education programs offered by Western Carolina University, Educational Outreach and Tri- County Community College have helped students successfully achieve their educational goals by working together to provide services and degree programs that allow students to take classes closer to their home on the campus of Tri- County Community College. Western Carolina University and Tri- County Community College partnership currently offers two cohort degree programs on the campus of Tri- County Community College; the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Bachelor of Science in Birth- Kindergarten. Students can complete Liberal Studies core requirements and other required prerequisites courses through Tri- County Community College prior to starting the cohort program. Western Carolina University offers the remaining classes for the major through various formats that include face to face, on- line, ITV and hybrid classes. Students like Rebecca Mathis would not have been able to pursue their educational goals without the opportunity to take classes on the campus of Tri- County Community College through the Elementary Education cohort program. Rebecca explains, “ I have always wanted to be a teacher, but after high school I wanted to start my family right away. Little did I know how hard it would be to go back and finish a degree. Since I'm a single mother with a full time job, I would not have time to travel the distance to Western to attend classes. The cohort program has allowed me the opportunity to achieve my dream of being a teacher." Rebecca is scheduled to graduate in May 2009. Partnership with Tri- County Community College Helps Students Reach Their Goals By Debra Smith Our partnership with TCCC also allows students an opportunity to talk to an advisor prior to visiting the campus. WCU's office on the campus of TCCC has been set up to help students understand the admission process, transfer of credits, degree requirements and prerequisites needed for a particular major. WCU’s recently implemented 2 Step program has been a great recruiting tool and a resource guide for students interested in transferring and completing a four year degree. Our partnership with Tri- County Community College results in students that are more successful in achieving their educational goals and the benefits of attending each college is recognized. - - - - - - Lonnie Dockery, our new regional coordinator at Tri- County Community College, began work this month. To contact Lonnie, see the phone listings on page 8 of this newsletter. Educational Outreach is increasingly receiving requests for speakers for community events. The range of interests is broad and provides faculty numerous opportunities to share their expertise with others. If you are interested in being listed in the roster of speakers please contact our office at 828- 227- 7397. We will be updating the list over the next few months. If you are currently listed you will be contacted to update your file. Check out the Educational Outreach Web site to see who and what opportunities are in the roster. WCU Speaker’s Bureau By Pat Brown page 2 • WCU Educational OUTREACH WCU Educational OUTREACH • page 3 The partnership between Western Carolina University ( WCU) and Western Piedmont Community College ( WPCC) is more than a partnership between two schools; it is a relationship between two communities— WCU and Burke County. Indeed, the business and education ( all levels) communities have warmly welcomed and embraced having a Regional Coordinator for WCU in Burke County. Soon after arriving last summer ( 2007), I was invited to join the Education Committee of the Burke County Chamber of Commerce and the local Business/ Industry/ Education Council ( hosted by the public schools). Both groups meet monthly and offer great opportunities for collaboration. The nearly three dozen Burke County leaders in business and education who have been participating in the current Educational Needs Assessment express great pleasure at Western’s initiating the process. The community clearly looks forward to the continued and growing association with Western. One of the business folks commented, “ I hope you’re here to stay.” WCU has been reaching out to the Burke County community for many years and has established a wonderful reputation. A Western Piedmont Community College student, a mother of five, sat in my office recently and exclaimed, “ I just love Western.” She said it rather matter- of- factly, largely because she greatly appreciates the responsiveness of everyone with whom she has had contact at Western as she looks forward to completing her associate degree and transferring to Western. Other students have made similar remarks for the same reason. WPCC students have enjoyed having someone from Western on the WPCC campus where they can just drop in if needed, if only to brainstorm options and to get contact information. They appreciate having such ready access to help them look beyond community college. This seems especially true of those who have lost jobs in which they had worked for many years. Returning to school offers new hope for many of those affected in a region that has been hit hard with many plant closings and the loss of several thousand jobs. WCU/ WPCC Partnership is a Benefit for Both Institutions By Jim Craig As with many areas of the state there is a growing need for more people trained in various areas of technology and healthcare ( Burke is promoting itself as an area to which people would like to retire), and there is a great need for teachers in the public schools. Helping to promote and to recruit for these areas is a shared responsibility. The relationship among WPCC, Burke County, and WCU will continue to grow. There is a common vision of sharing and complementing respective strengths to meet the educational needs of our current and future workforce. - - - - - - Jim Craig is WCU’s regional coordinator at WPCC. page 4 • WCU Educational OUTREACH Wanted: A Few Good Faculty Members By Cynthia Bruce Military Education Director, American Council of Education While many colleges and universities accept the American Council on Education ( ACE) Military Programs recommended credit for military courses and occupations, some may not be aware of how those recommendations are formulated. ACE Military Programs evaluators are drawn from postsecondary institutions, professional and disciplinary societies, education associations, and regional accrediting associations. Therefore, if you are actively teaching college- level courses and are receptive to recommending academic credit for learning in an extra- institutional setting, we encourage your participation. The Evaluation Process Courses are evaluated by teams of at least three subject matter specialists ( college and university professors, deans, and other academicians). Through discussion and the application of evaluation procedures and guidelines, team members reach a consensus on the amount and category of credit to be recommended. Evaluation materials include the course syllabus, training materials, tests, textbooks, technical manuals, and examinations. Additional information may be obtained from discussions with instructors and program administrators, classroom observations, and examination of instructional equipment and laboratory facilities. Evaluators have two major tasks for each course: the preparation of the courses description and the formulation of a credit recommendation. The credit recommendation consists of the category of credit, the number of semester hours recommended, and the appropriate subject area. Evaluators phrase the course description ( which appears in the Guide exhibits under the headings Learning Outcomes or Objectives and Instruction) in terms meaningful to civilian educators. The course description supplements the credit recommendations by summarizing the nature of a given course. Military students are increasingly finding Western Carolina University a military friendly institution. This past year we saw a 32% increase in the number of military students. These include active duty personnel, many of whom are enrolled in online programs, National Guard members, veterans and military dependents. Some 70% of our military students are on campus as resident students. Military students come with a history of credit worthy education and training that is not always understood. The American Council of Education manages the process of assessment and credit award for military education. Cynthia Bruce, Director of Military Education recently published the article “ Wanted: A Few Good Faculty Members” in the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges newsletter and has given us permission to publish her invitation in our newsletter. Cynthia has also agreed to come to campus in February to conduct a military education workshop. Details of her visit will follow. Opening Doors By Pat Brown WCU Educational OUTREACH • page 5 Selection of Evaluators Evaluators are drawn from a pool of faculty members. Evaluation teams are selected by the Program Evaluations Content Review Committee. The Content Review Committee meets weekly to determine the appropriate content/ academic areas from which the slate of potential evaluators for each review team should be drawn. Members of the Committee reflect a diversity of backgrounds in academe as well as professional experience. After the evaluation team has been formed, the Associate Director of Military Evaluations confers with them, reviewing the procedures and responsibilities with which they are charged in conducting the review. Signing up to Serve ACE Review Teams ensure that what an individual learns is more than when, where, and how the individual learned it. Serving on a team helps ensure a formalized process that colleges and universities can trust and allows team members to network and learn from colleagues across the country while validating and supporting students' non- traditional learning. ACE is currently seeking faculty evaluators to aid in recommending academic credit for learning in extra- institutional settings. To be considered as a prospective evaluator, please complete and submit the online Evaluator Application at https:// militaryguides. acenet. edu/ EvaluatorForm. htm. To qualify, you must be actively teaching college- level courses. If you have specific questions about signing up or the evaluator process, send an email to evaluator@ ace. nche. edu; call the Lifelong Learning Resource Center at 202- 939- 9470 or toll free 866- 205- 6267; or visit our Evaluator website at http:// www. acenet. edu/ evaluators. When a review is scheduled that requires your area of content expertise, you will be contacted directly and advised of the opportunity to serve on the ACE team. ACE pays all evaluators an honorarium and reimburses all travel expenses related to the review. We need faculty from all disciplines, but are conducting more reviews in the following fields: • Bioethics • Ergonomics • Foreign language ( Arabic, Farsi, Tajiki, Urdu) • Gaming • Homeland Security • Information Security • Intelligence • Logistics and Supply • Materials Management • Military Technologies • Ordnance and Munitions • Seamanship and Navigation • Weaponry To learn more about Military Programs and its other programs visit our homepage at http:// www. acenet. edu/ militaryprograms. page 6 • WCU Educational OUTREACH This summer marked Western’s 14th year as a host site for the North Carolina Teacher Academy. The North Carolina Teacher Academy is a professional development program for teachers established and funded by the North Carolina General Assembly. The mission of the Academy is to support continuous learning to the growth of a career teacher by providing quality professional development in the areas of school leadership, instructional methodology, core content, and use of modern technology in order to enrich instruction and enhance student achievement. From its opening session in July of 1994 through the 2006- 2007 fiscal year, the Teacher Academy has trained 39,418 teachers and principals, representing 1,783 schools ( 78%) from every local education agency in North Carolina. During the 2006- 2007 fiscal year, two hundred six ( 206) Teacher Academy trainers provided instruction. All North Carolina teachers are eligible to attend the Teacher Academy as WCU Hosts North Carolina Teacher Academy for 14th Year By Bobby Hensley part of a team. The Teacher Academy sessions are held as both Residential Academies and Local Partnership Academies. Each Residential session begins on Sunday evening and ends after lunch on Thursday. Participants receive an honorarium of $ 100.00 per day from the Academy and continuing education units toward licensure renewal upon completion of the follow-up sessions. Priority in selecting attendees is given to teams that indicate how their attendance at a Teacher Academy session supports their school improvement goals, specifically in regard to the professional development needs identified in that goal. An administrator is required to attend as a member of each team. This year participants chose from twenty- one topics statewide. All modules are designed to include a combination of current theory complemented by direct hands- on activities. This summer, Western will hosted approximately 600 teachers from across the state in seven planned weeks. " Western Carolina University has been a Teacher Academy residential site since our first Academy in 1994. Through the years, Western has provided exceptional service to the thousands of teachers and administrators who have attended Teacher Academy sessions there. Western's personal touch and commitment to honoring teachers is unsurpassed." – Julia Kron, Director, NC Teacher Academy WCU Educational OUTREACH • page 7 The Power of Partnership Continued Bachelor of Science in Emergency Medical Care became an official Army Career Degree program in March of 2007. Ten 18 Delta soldiers entered the program in the spring of 2008, and another thirty- four entered the program in the fall term. Becoming a fully qualified 18 Delta requires mental discipline, physical endurance, and a devotion to academic studies that is possessed by relatively few people, either military or civilian. Carefully selected soldiers must complete an extremely intense and demanding training program of instruction in medical sciences, emergency medical procedures, and advanced foreign language. This training lasts over one year, includes rotations in various medical specialties, and qualifies the soldier as the equivalent of an EMT paramedic. Prior to the establishment of Western’s EMC program as an Army Career Degree program, there was no accredited college or university that would maximize the value of this training in terms of academic credit or allow the soldier to apply it towards the completion of a bachelors degree in emergency medicine. Western’s agreement with the Army now allows the typical 18 Delta to begin the EMC program with a guaranteed 52 to 56 transfer semester credit hours, a figure that includes 15 hours in liberal studies. 18 Delta soldiers who have never stepped foot into a traditional college classroom can enter the EMC program with nearly two full years of college credit. In addition, graduates of the EMC program are fully prepared to enter medical school or a physician assistant program— two very common professional goals of these soldiers. It should be noted that these transfer credit hours are not merely token credits granted as a show of support for military students. On the contrary, they are based on the stringent academic standards and recommendations of the American Council on Education ( ACE). Western’s partnership with the Army is a classic win- win agreement. Western’s EMC degree offers the strength and features that military students must have: high quality instruction that is accessible from anywhere in the world, extremely affordable tuition, ease in using education benefits, and ultimately, a degree from a nationally renowned and regionally- accredited university. There is no requirement for these military students to ever be physically present on campus or be logged in to online courses at a specific time. The EMC program is not cohort based, and the flexibility offered by EMC professors is unsurpassed. Several 18 Delta students currently enrolled in the EMC program are deployed to Iraq and other locations. Western Carolina University also benefits in a major way from this partnership. The mandates of UNC Tomorrow require UNC system universities to significantly increase their outreach and services to military members, as well as military spouses and children, stationed in NC. This already fruitful partnership helps Western to become a system leader in meeting these mandates, and by subsequently multiplying enrollments by military students. - - - - - - For more information on military education at Western Carolina University, contact Charles Gross, Director of Military Education ( 828- 227- 2135; cgross@ wcu. edu). Information on U. S. Special Forces extracted from http:// www. goarmy. com. Western Carolina University is a University of North Carolina campus and an Equal Opportunity Institution. 750 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $ XXX. XX or $. XX each. Office of Public Relations/ Publications: November 2008 08- 561 Administration Dr. Pat Brown, Dean 828- 227- 3070 Dr. Regis Gilman, Associate Dean 828- 227- 3072 Lisa Hoyle, Office Manager 828- 227- 3068 Distance Learning Distance Education, General Inquiries 866- 928- 4723 Enrollment Management, Graduate and Distance Education Phil Cauley, 828- 227- 2923 Military Education, Services for Military Students and their Families Charles Gross, 828- 227- 2135 Distance Learning and Online Course Development Valerie Dillard, 828- 227- 3022 Outreach Programs in Henderson, Transylvania and Polk Counties; Gerontology and Aging Programs Marcia Caserio or Paula Smith, 828- 693- 8375 Programs at Western Piedmont Community College/ Burke County Jim Craig, 828- 448- 3507 Programs at Tri- County Community College ( Murphy, Andrews, Robbinsville and surrounding areas) Lonnie Dockery, 828- 227- 7397 Asheville Programs in Asheville ( UNCA Graduate Center) Patsy Miller, 828- 227- 7423 Shirley Bateman, 828- 227- 7423 Student Services Student Services, University Experience Course Bronwen Sheffield, 828- 227- 3074 Continuing Education Continuing Education, Non- credit Programs and Certifications, Professional Development, Conferences and Workshops Dr. Susan Fouts, 828- 227- 3688 Bobby Hensley, 828- 227- 3066 Educational Outreach Contacts Communications and Marketing Communications, Marketing, Publications, Web and Print Services Joni Kenyon, 828- 227- 3069 Jamaica Program Lois Stiles, 828- 227- 3065 Dr. Patricia Brown, administrator 828- 227- 3070 Cherokee Center Cherokee Center, Cherokee Students Roseanna Belt, 828- 497- 7920 Jane Kneller, 828- 497- 7920 Qualla Financial Freedom Bruce Yarrington, 828- 497- 7920 Contract Programs Sue Deitz, 828- 227- 3073 Other Online/ WebCT Technical Assistance IT Services Help Desk, 828- 227- 7487 Educ ational outre ach 138 Cordelia Camp Cullowhee, NC 28723 |
OCLC number | 137339311 |