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May 2006
A new graduate course designed for practicing educators will be offered in July at the University of Southern Maine/Lewiston-Auburn. College in Maine: The Aspirations Trail, will focus on the challenges, opportunities and aspirations associated with higher education in Maine. The class will visit various community colleges and campuses of the University of Maine System. Class participants will examine the critical issues that are a part of the on-going K-16 collaborative efforts to help all students prepare for and find success in higher education programs. Videos, group discussions, cooperative learning, and action planning will actively engage students in transforming theory into practice.
The course instructor will be Dr. Zark VanZandt, Dean of USM/L-A and Professor of Human Resource Development. VanZandt says the primary audience for the course is K-12 counselors and administrators, those working with aspirations programs (such as Upward Bound), college admissions and advising personnel, and upper-level undergraduate students who plan to work with youth and adults making career transitions. He describes the course as “a unique academic venture that will examine the changing face of higher education in Maine.”
Aspirations Trail students will identify barriers to student success in college and explore factors that contribute to student aspirations to pursue post-secondary education. They will also examine how issues of diversity are addressed at Maine colleges; analyze individual behaviors that impact college experiences of traditional and non-traditional students; describe models of change that have contributed to higher rates of college attainment; and develop strategies to educate schools and communities about the critical challenges facing college students in the 21st century.
Students will also be expected to articulate a developmental framework for preparing K-12 students for post-secondary readiness. Course requirements will include reading assignments (to be completed prior to the course), maintaining a journal, analysis of selected readings, and the preparation of an action plan.
The course (LAC 599, CRN #X6479) will meet the week of July 10-14, 8:00am-8:00pm. Students will visit the campuses of USM, UM, UMF, UMM, UMA, SMCC, CMCC and KVCC. This course is available for 3 graduate credits or 5.0 CEUs. In addition to graduate tuition or CEU processing fee, a program fee ($325) will be charged to cover all room, board, and travel expenses.
Registration for this course is open and ongoing. Anyone interested is encouraged to contact Christa Hamor at (207) 780-5072 to register or for more information. |
