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Monday, October 19, 2009 Long-standing UNI-community college partnerships continue B.A. degree programs CEDAR FALLS -- Iowa's longest running distance education partnership between an Iowa public university and community colleges will graduate 18 students in December with B.A. degrees in elementary education from the University of Northern Iowa.
Since 1995 UNI's 2+2 program has provided access to higher education for Iowans who are location-bound with family priorities and fixed job schedules and cannot move to the UNI campus. To date, UNI has graduated 190 2+2 students who are gainfully employed in education and other professions in their home communities.
Students in the current statewide cohort (group) are from the following community colleges: Eastern Iowa CC/Davenport and Clinton; North Iowa Area CC/Mason City; Western Iowa Tech CC/Sioux City; Northeast Iowa CC/Peosta; and Southeast Iowa CC/Keokuk.
Students take two years of courses at their community college and then the equivalent of two years through UNI. Their program is the same curriculum as the elementary education B.A. degree program offered on campus. In addition the same faculty teach courses and supervise field experiences and student teaching.
Roger Kueter, program director, says 2+2 has been successful because of the strong relationships between the university and the Iowa community colleges. "When we started the program on the DMACC-Carroll campus, we did so because the Carroll community wanted residents to have this opportunity. We continue our close affiliation with all community college campuses involved."
To accommodate Iowans who work and have family responsibilities, the part-time program offers 5 to 7 credit hours per semester with courses offered after 4 p.m. UNI faculty members teach via distance learning using the Iowa Communications Network (ICN) and Blackboard/WebCT. Students occasionally visit the UNI campus on a Saturday during the semester for a face-to-face class.
Kueter emphasizes that 2+2 students are treated like any other UNI student. "Transfer credit evaluation is the same and 2+2 students attend the Teacher Education Convocation and graduation when possible," he says. These students also have access to all UNI facilities and services including student advising, the writing center and mentoring.
"The only thing they're missing," Kueter says, "is living on campus. But the 2+2 cohorts become a close-knit group that gives students a social, emotional and educational network."
Donna Douglas, professor of middle level education, Department of Curriculum & Instruction, is the 2+2 academic program advisor. "We want to be sure interested people and current students are successful," she says. Douglas begins advising and working with the students after Kueter generates a cohort from several locations.
Kueter is currently organizing a statewide cohort for the 2+2 elementary education B.A. degree program that will begin in 2010. Ninety-one students have inquired to date. He encourages interested persons to begin their community college associates degree course work, contact him, and contact UNI Admissions to receive the Admissions Partnership Program assurance of guaranteed admission to UNI, provided all requirements are met. For more information, contact roger.kueter@uni.edu, (319) 273-2203, or visit www.uni.edu/2+2
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