June 11, 2010

Intensive WED graduate summer program set

by K.C. Jaehnig

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- A mix of business and technology education instructors and corporate and military trainers arrive on the Southern Illinois University Carbondale campus Sunday, June 13, for an intensive, graduate summer program.

The 24 students, enrolled in the Department of Workforce Education and Development’s off-campus master’s program, start classes at 7:30 a.m. Monday, winding up their course June 25. Most are graduates of the department’s undergraduate program offered at military bases ranging in location from Bangor, Wash., to Groton. Conn. (Visit http://wed.siu.edu/Public1/OCDP/general_information/program_info.php for more detail.)

“This program has been in existence more than 20 years, “ said Tracy M. Matthews, a research assistant who is coordinating the on-site sessions. “It was started to give an opportunity to students graduating from our off-campus undergraduate program a chance to complete an advanced degree. We have 61 off-campus master’s students at varying stages of completion in the program.”

SIUC’s workforce education and development department is one of the largest of its kind. Its graduate programs have made U.S. News & World Report’s top 10 rankings twice. For more information, log on to http://wed.siu.edu/public1/.