Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
2/28/03
For immediate release
Contacts:
Kris Phelps, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7329,
kphelps@iastate.edu
Lynette Spicer, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515)
294-1327, lspicer@iastate.edu
Adult Learner Looks Toward New Career After Retiring From Current Job
AMES, IOWA---Wendell Powell is the epitome of a "lifelearner," a concept fostered by Iowa State University Extension. Powell, at age 53, recently completed his Bachelor of Liberal Studies (BLS) degree from Iowa State University. Several years before that, he completed an associate's degree from Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC).
Throughout the course of his studies Powell worked full time as a locksmith on DMACC's Ankeny campus. Armed with his new degree, he's taken on a second job. For 16 hours each week Powell works as a coordinator at the ISU Center on the DMACC campus. He now secures the equipment and classrooms the Iowa State instructors teaching evening courses on the DMACC campus---and, of course, he's there to help the students working on BLS degrees from Iowa State.
The number of students like Powell--those who complete their degrees off the traditional college campus--is growing. The BLS degree, offered by all three Iowa regent universities with similar requirements, is tailored to just that sort of student. The program lets students amass their credits, old and new, from various institutions into one cohesive degree program. Students can take courses at a community college, on any of the three regent campuses, via the Iowa Communications Network (ICN), or online. And rather than focus on a single major, BLS students concentrate on three areas from the fields of communications and arts, humanities, natural sciences and math, social sciences and professional fields.
"I was glad not to have to go to the Iowa State campus," Powell said. Because he worked full-time in Ankeny while taking classes, a daily trip to Ames would have been a great inconvenience.
"I'm glad I made the decision to get the degree, but I'm also glad I'm done with it," he said.
Powell plans to take early retirement from DMACC in 2004. At that time he'll really put his new degree to work, although he's not certain what line of work he will pursue. With a broad based liberal arts degree, he'll have many choices.
Each semester Iowa State offers evening courses on the DMACC, Ankeny campus. Summer courses begin as early as May 12. Some courses begin in June. Iowa State, the University of Iowa, and University of Northern Iowa are cooperatively offering BLS courses each semester on the ICN. This summer's course is Law and Society from UNI.
For a list of all BLS courses Iowa State will offer this summer, see www.lifelearner.iastate.edu/degree/bls.htm.
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