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UWRF offers Master's in Community Education with Goddard College

By Samantha Wenwoi
MARCH 30, 2007--A new memorandum of understanding with a Vermont college gives community education graduate certificate students at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls the opportunity to earn a master's degree in their field of study.

UWRF has teamed up with Goddard College in Plainfield, Vt., in an agreement that allows students to apply up to 12 credits earned at UWRF toward the completion of a master's of arts in education with a concentration in community education from Goddard.

And with the exception of a required one-week per semester residency at the rural liberal arts college, the degree can be finished from the comforts of home.

The agreement has two attractive benefits in particular , said Stan Potts, UWRF certificate program coordinator and instructor. "It will bring more students into the community education program certificate program and offer an alternative way for students to earn a master's degree."

He said the Goddard graduate course of study will provide community education graduate students with valuable, in-depth knowledge. "For the person seeking a deeper understanding of community education and how to implement programs along with a very practical application, this is a wonderful opportunity."

According to a program description on the Goddard College Web site, its low-residency degrees in education with a concentration in community education are designed for working adults engaged in community education and related fields. Its student s are encouraged to use their experiences in the work place as a catalyst for a baseline of study as the concentration is for both skilled practitioners as well as those interested in pursuing jobs in community education.

Created by Potts in 2003, the UWRF community education graduate certificate program is designed for students who hope to embark on careers which engage communities in comprehensive and effective school-community partnerships including community education directors, after-school project directors and others such as principals, school administrators, extension agents and adult educators. Offered via the Internet, the program is comprised of four three-credit graduate classes and one three-credit practicum. Participants have the benefit of paying Wisconsin resident tuition regardless of location.

Community education students transferring 12 credits will enter the second semester of Goddard's three-semester program. The application fee, normally $20, is waived for students who have been enrolled in the UWRF community education certificate program within the past two years.

The MOU agreement expresses the pledge that both UWRF and Goddard have made to community education, said Susan Fleming, dean of the college for academic programs at Goddard. "The UWRF and Goddard program recognizes the contributing nature of community educators and the need to offer programs that integrate theory and practice to enhance both individual community educators and the field itself."

Founded in 1863, Goddard College is a private liberal arts college with approximately 600 students. Recognized for innovation in education, the college uses a self-directed, mentored system of intensive residencies, which can be completed at Goddard's main campus in Plainfield or a satellite in Port Townsend, Washington. Among Goddard's notable alumni are actor William H. Macy and writer and director David Mamet.

Located in the Lower St. Croix National Scenic Riverway on the eastern edge of the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area, UW-River Falls is a public liberal arts university with 6,000 students. Educating learners since 1874, the University has strong programs in the arts and sciences; business and economics; education and agriculture, food and environmental sciences. Notable UWRF alumni include space shuttle astronaut Daniel Brandenstein and Metropolitan opera singer Patricia Steiner.

For more information on this new program, contact Potts at 715-425-3759 or by e-mail at commed@uwrf.edu or the Goddard College admissions office at 800-906-8312 or by e-mail at admissions@goddard.edu .

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