East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania will host a Grand Opening of its Extended Learning Center in the Lehigh Valley at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 17.\u00a0 The Center, located at 60 West Broad Street in Bethlehem, Pa., will open this fall for people seeking to complete undergraduate degree programs or pursue graduate education for professional or personal advancement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe opening of our Lehigh Valley Center is an indication of a new direction being taken in higher education,\u201d said Dr. Marcia G. Welsh, East Stroudsburg University president.\u00a0 \u201cLike other colleges and universities, ESU intends to provide convenient, accessible, and affordable education alternatives to interested individuals with a busy lifestyle.\u00a0 It\u2019s not about inviting students to campus anymore \u2013 it\u2019s about taking the educational experience to them, where they live and work.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Jennifer Serowick, director of extended learning at ESU, it\u2019s important to know that the Lehigh Valley Center is unique in that it will not offer programs for students who wish to start a higher education degree program, but is instead a facility focused on offering degree completion programs for those who wish to complete a college education they began years ago or for transfer students.\u00a0 \u201cThe Lehigh Valley Center will be the first extended learning facility operated by ESU, modeled after the university\u2019s first successful program in Center City Philadelphia,\u201d said Serowick.\u00a0 \u201cESU\u2019s Philadelphia program launched in January 2011 and now boasts two cohorts and nearly 40 students.\u00a0 The Lehigh Valley Center will enable ESU to offer accelerated degree programs in a delivery manner that will work for today\u2019s busy students.\u201d<\/p>\n
ESU\u2019s Lehigh Valley Center will initially offer undergraduate degree completion programs in the fields of computer security; hotel, restaurant and tourism management; and public health (with concentrations in health services administration or community health) based on a feasibility study conducted by MGT of America that predicted economic growth in these industries.\u00a0 A graduate degree program in reading with reading specialist certification will also be launched in January.\u00a0 Additional program offerings will be announced in the coming months.<\/p>\n
Cohorts for each of the degree programs at the Lehigh Valley Center are scheduled to begin in October 2012, Serowick added.\u00a0 \u201cESU\u2019s accelerated degree programs offer affordable tuition, financial aid for eligible students, and a cohort model in which faculty support a group of students to progress through the program together.\u00a0 Educational assignments and experiences geared towards adult\u00a0learners also\u00a0enable students to make use of the Lehigh Valley\u2019s many resources.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Marilyn Wells, vice provost and dean of ESU\u2019s Graduate College, explained that ESU\u2019s accelerated degree completion program is intended to lead students to a bachelor\u2019s degree that, depending on the number of existing credits held by a student, can be finished within two years.\u00a0 Credits earned from other institutions and programs are easily transferred into one of the degree programs offered at ESU\u2019s Lehigh Valley Center, where academic advisors will work with students to prepare an individual transfer credit evaluation so each prospective student will know exactly what he\/she will need to graduate. Students could potentially take up to 30 credits per year.\u00a0 Programs are offered in various formats but all are on a set schedule for the duration of the program so students can arrange work and family responsibilities. Two courses (six credits total) will be offered during each eight- or nine-week session and typically meet two evenings per week and\/or Saturdays.\u00a0 Courses are scheduled throughout the year to help students earn their bachelor\u2019s degree within two years.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother great aspect of the Lehigh Valley Program is that there will be opportunities for East Stroudsburg University to become part of the local community,\u201d said Dr.Van Reidhead, provost and vice president for academic affairs.\u00a0 \u201cOur hope is that local businesses and organizations will take the opportunity to use ESU\u2019s Lehigh Valley Center for meetings, seminars and workshops at a reasonable cost.\u00a0 Our location is prime real estate in Bethlehem\u2013 and it\u2019s in a secure, accessible and comfortable environment.\u201d<\/p>\n