Monday, March 03, 2008

Governor Doyle Rolls out Growth Initiative for UW Colleges and Extension

MENASHA – Governor Jim Doyle has announced the next steps for the Adult Student Initiative, an important part of his overall University of Wisconsin Growth Agenda that will allow more adult students to receive UW degrees. Governor Doyle dedicated $2.5 million in his 2007-09 budget towards the initiative.

“By removing barriers and increasing opportunities for higher education, we are, together with the UW Colleges and UW-Extension, making it easier for adults across the state to pursue more education and acquire a bachelor’s degree,” Governor Doyle said. “We are creating more opportunities for people of all ages, no matter where they live and work, to get the University of Wisconsin education that can improve lives, communities and Wisconsin’s competitive advantage in the global economy.”

Governor Doyle was joined Thursday by UW System President Kevin Reilly and UW Colleges and UW-Extension Chancellor David Wilson at UW-Fox Valley in Menasha to make the announcement. The goal of the Adult Student Initiative, which will receive $2.5 million in state funding on July 1, is to build upon the current work of the UW Colleges and UW-Extension to further connect adult learners to UW associate and baccalaureate degree programs.

The new funds for the Adult Student Initiative will enable UW Colleges and UW-Extension to make even more bachelor’s degrees available online, support giving credit for prior learning activities, create an accelerated online associate degree, and provide even more services to help students succeed.

UW Colleges and UW-Extension have a history of providing access and support to students of all ages and from all backgrounds. UW Colleges provides the foundation of the bachelor’s degree through its associate degree in arts and science. The associate degree is offered throughout Wisconsin on the Colleges 13 campuses and online. Select bachelor’s degrees can also be completed on the Colleges campuses. New this year at the UW-Fox Valley, Marathon County, Washington County, and Fond du Lac campuses, select courses are offered in accelerated formats to enable busy adult student to complete coursework and degrees more quickly.

The UW-Extension is increasing access to degrees by providing incentives for the UW four-year campuses to put upper-division courses online. This enables adults to continue or complete work on their bachelor’s degrees where they live and work. Extension has also developed a one-stop UWin website www.uwin.wisconsin.edu where anyone contact an advisor to find out the most convenient way to start, continue or complete a degree.

To learn more call toll free, (866) 505-UWIN, or visit the UWin Web site, www.uwin.wisconsin.edu.

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