Recently in Bachelor of General Studies degree Category

The Lumina Foundation estimates that in order to meet the demand for educated employees the United States needs to raise the percentage of adults with a college degree from 38 percent in 2010 to 60 percent by the year 2025.  

"Capitalizing upon the idea that working adults have 'banked' valuable applied learning through their work," says Carol Williams, associate dean for continuing education, "we will offer working adults a way to turn that learning into meaningful college credit through a 'reverse internship' concept. Individuals will be able to convert their prior learning into college credits equivalent to a standard practicum or internship that will be usable toward degree requirements at Eastern." 

Eastern is currently creating an interactive "reverse internship" tutorial to be incorporated into our Credit for Lifelong Learning (CLL) program.  Student "competency statements" will be an essential part of the "reverse internship" model. Students selected in the fall participated in a January CLL Portfolio Development workshop that incorporated the new "reverse internship" tutorial. Portfolios that were due at the end of January are being assessed by the faculty.

A benefit of the program is that it will decrease the cost of completing a bachelor's degree at Eastern for students participating in the program by 6-9 percent.  Anyone interested in the "reverse internship" should contact Joanne Melody ( melodyjo@easternct.edu ), coordinator of the program for the School of Continuing Education at Eastern.

By Carol Williams, Ph.D., Associate Dean of the School of Continuing Education
Eastern Connecticut State University

It's not too late to register!
Call 860-465-0206 for an advisement appointment today.
Phone advisement appointments are also available.
Visit the website at: http://www.easternct.edu/ce

Spring Semester has started at Eastern Connecticut State University.  The last day to register for a Spring course is Jan. 23.

Registration for EasternOnline is now closed.

The Second Seven Weeks Courses run from Mar. 12 - May 12.  The last day of registration is the day the course starts. 

The following Global Field Courses (short-term study abroad) still have seats available:  Nepal (Psychology), Florence, Italy (English-Writing Abroad), Jamaica (Education), and Cuba (Art).  To learn more about these Global Field Courses, visit http://www.easternct.edu/ce/GlobalFieldCourses-list.htm 

To view all Spring courses:  go to http://eweb.easternct.edu/wfbprod/bwskfcls.P_TermSel

If you would like to attend part-time or are interested in the Bachelor of General Studies, please, call 860-465-0206 to schedule an advisor appointment.  Phone advisement appointments are also available.

Carol Williams, Associate Dean
School of Continuing Education at Eastern 

Spring Registration at Eastern Connecticut State University is open to the public.  To view courses, visit http://eweb.easternct.edu/wfbprod/bwskfcls.P_TermSel

Do you want to attend Eastern part time or pursue the Bachelor of General Studies?  Call (860) 465-0206 for an appointment with an advisor. 

Classes start on Jan. 18.   There's still time to register. 

Here's how to get started:  http://continuingeducation.easternct.edu/HowToGetStarted.htm

Carol Williams, Associate Dean
School of Continuing Education at Eastern

Do you have 60 or more prior college credits and live in southeastern Connecticut?  If so, you should check out the Off-Campus Programs page on the School of Continuing Education's website.  Eastern maintains a site in Groton where Eastern courses are offered in the evenings and on Saturdays. You can complete a "Fast Track" Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) degree with a concentration in either Management or Human Services Administration.  Classes are offered in seven-week modules, either two nights a week or one day a week on Saturdays.  This program is especially appropriate for those with an associate degree from Three Rivers Community College.

Gail Turner is the Eastern Groton Site coordinator and a wonderful advisor.  She will spend time with you to figure out the best way to complete your bachelor's degree in a timely way.  You can even take advantage of our well-established Credit for Lifelong Learning program to get credit for what you have previously learned on the job.  To get started, call Gail at (860) 446-9457 or e-mail turnerg@easternct.edu.

 
P.S. There is a special scholarship available for part-time students who attend the Groton Site.  Through the generosity of the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, 10 individuals with financial need will be able to receive a $500 R.E.A.C.H. scholarship this fall.  See Gail for details.

Carol Williams, Associate Dean
School of Continuing Education at Eastern

The Bachelor of General Studies Degree (BGS) is a flexible degree program available to part-time and full-time students who are 25 years of age or older. The BGS is especially appropriate for those who have gained significant learning through work and life experience.

Credit requirements for the BGS degree can be met through college coursework (taken at Eastern and other regionally accredited colleges) in combination with a maximum of 60 credits of nontraditional learning such as Eastern's Credit for Lifelong Learning (CLL) program (open to those 25 years and older), CLEP (College Level Examination Program) and DSST tests, and American Council on Education (ACE) credit recommendations for military training.

Upon entry to the BGS program, each student completes a learning agreement with a Continuing Education advisor. This agreement outlines the student's proposed plan of study and ensures that all degree and University requirements will be met.  There is no time limit on when prior transfer courses were taken.  A minimum of 30 credits must be earned through actual coursework completed with Eastern.

For more information about the Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) degree, call the School of Continuing Education at 860-465-0206. 

As an integral part of Eastern Connecticut State University, the School of Continuing Education (SCE) has a multi-faceted role in serving the residents of Connecticut.

SCE is dedicated to advising adults who want to return to college to finish their degree or attend college for the first time. The advisors in the School of Continuing Education are experts at assisting part-time and Bachelor of General Studies students.  Our Fast Track Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) Degree Completion Program was designed for busy individuals who are at least 25 years old and who already have 60 or more prior college credits. The Fast Track is the quickest, most efficient way for most people to finish their bachelor's degree. In addition, you can accelerate your degree in many ways, through Credit for Life Long Learning, Fast Track courses, and by taking CLEP and DSST tests.
 

In addition, SCE runs a comprehensive winter and summer session schedule with such choices as online classes and accelerated classes in one-week, two-week, three-week and five- or six-week formats. Many students accelerate their degree by taking these accelerated formats.

In addition to college credit courses, the School of Continuing Education offers thousands of professional, non-credit courses through its affiliation with Gatlin Educational Services/Ed2Go.  Every fall and spring, the school makes available the SHRM® Learning System course for those seeking to take the Society of Human Resources examination.

SCE provides additional learning opportunities to all Eastern students with:

·         Off-campus sites (Groton, Sub Base, and Manchester and Capital Community Colleges) 

·         EasternOnline

·         Global Field Courses, which are short-term study abroad experiences

The School of Continuing Education also manages facility rentals to organizations in the community.

If you have questions, please, call (860) 465-0206.

Associate Dean Carol Williams
School of Continuing Education at Eastern

I'm just back from a few days of vacation in Florida -- strangely it was cooler and dryer there than in Connecticut.  Having been away for a few days, I was surprised when one of our advisors, Joanne, told me how many people she had seen in the office this past week.  There has been a steady stream of potential students coming in to see our advisors this summer -- it seems much busier than usual. 

I asked Joanne what these students have told her about why they decided to come back to finish their bachelor's degree.  Joanne said that the predominant reason is career related.  Many students can see that their potential career growth is hampered if they don't have a bachelor's degree.  They may even have been hired by someone quite a bit younger than they are.  Other people may want to change careers.  The bachelor's degree is usually required for career advancement, since each new job attracts many applicants and employers can create a smaller pool for interviews by sorting on the basis of who has a bachelor's degree. 

I spoke with Kate, one of our other advisors, this morning.  Kate has an appointment today with someone who was working on his degree at Eastern quite a few years ago but dropped out.  Today he is meeting with Kate to see how quickly he can now finish a Bachelor of General Studies degree.   Kate is excited to reconnect with him and find out why he has now decided to complete his bachelor's degree.  

Each of our students in the School of Continuing Education has a special story and a unique perspective on why it is important for them to finish their degree.  If you'd like to share your story, we would love to hear it, and, you just might inspire someone else to take the plunge and go back to school this fall!!

Carol J. Williams, Ph.D.

Associate Dean

School of Continuing Education

Eastern Connecticut State University

If you missed the public Info Session at MCC on April 26, don't worry.   We want you to know that if you have an associate's degree, or 60 or more prior credits and you live near Manchester, you can continue taking courses from Eastern Connecticut State University at MCC that will count toward your bachelor's degree.  Eastern is offering two "Fast Track" programs at MCC.   "Fast Track" courses are offered in 7-week modules, two courses per semester.

The first program leads to the Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) degree with a Major Concentration in Human Services. This program has been ongoing for three years.   Courses are offered once a week on Saturdays.  The second program is new and  leads toward the BGS degree with a Major Concentration in Management.  Courses are offered on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.  This program is available this coming Fall 2011.

To see how you can graduate through one of these "Fast Track" programs, call to speak to an Eastern advisor at (860) 465-0206.  Ask for Joanne or George.

P.S.  Most "Fast Track" students are able to finish their bachelor's degree in two years!

--Carol Williams, Associate Dean, School of Continuing Education

Take Courses Toward Your Bachelor's Degree

At Manchester Community College

On Eastern's Fast Track

Find out how ...

Information Session at MCC

For those with 60 or more prior credits

Tuesday, April 26

6:15 pm or 7:15 pm

Learning Resources Center Room A142

Manchester Community College

Call (860) 465-0206 today to register!