{"id":4262,"date":"2012-11-29T18:31:14","date_gmt":"2012-11-30T00:31:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/profs.wisc.edu\/?p=4262"},"modified":"2012-11-29T18:31:14","modified_gmt":"2012-11-30T00:31:14","slug":"uw-system-flexible-degree-program-to-begin-in-milwaukee-next-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/profs.wisc.edu\/?p=4262","title":{"rendered":"UW System Flexible Degree Program to Begin in Milwaukee Next Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

Governor Scott Walker and University of Wisconsin System President \u00a0Kevin Reilly provided<\/a> more details about UW System’s Flexible Option<\/a> degree program at a press conference in Milwaukee yesterday. The program was announced<\/a> earlier this year, but with few details. Many UW System campuses, including UW-Madison, already offer online courses or degrees, but this is the first degree program that awards credit for demonstrated competencies.<\/p>\n

Enrollment in the program will begin in Fall 2013. Four degrees will be offered by UW-Milwaukee — bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing, a bachelor’s degree in diagnostic imaging, a bachelor of science in information science and technology, and a certificate in professional and technical communication. UW Colleges will also offer general studies courses in a flexible, online format and award associate of arts and science degrees. Several other campuses, including UW-Parkside, hope to have programs ready by Fall 2014.<\/p>\n

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Students enrolled in the program will work at their own pace and can take Flex Option courses or take free online courses through MOOCs — massive open online courses, such as Udacity<\/a>, edX<\/a>, and Coursera<\/a>. Students may also receive credit for work outside the classroom, such as military\u00a0experience\u00a0or on-the-job training.<\/p>\n

Students must demonstrate\u00a0competency\u00a0by completing assessments designed by UW faculty, and students will be held to the same standards required for all UW degrees, which will not be differentiated from a traditional brick-and-mortar degree.\u00a0UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Mike Lovell said he is “confident that the UWM degrees (students) earn through the new Flex Option platform will carry the same prestige in the workplace.”<\/p>\n

Increasing the number of degree-holders in Wisconsin is a primary impetus for the program. Currently<\/a> only 25.5% of Wisconsinites have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 31.2% of Minnesotans. Minnesota enjoys higher per-capita income and lower rates of poverty, unemployment, and incarceration.<\/p>\n

This degree program is meant to reach out to the estimated 700,000 to 1 million state residents who have some college credit, but have not completed a degree. Governor Scott Walker told reporters yesterday that he might even take advantage of the program to complete his degree.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Governor Scott Walker and University of Wisconsin System President \u00a0Kevin Reilly provided more details about UW System’s Flexible Option degree program at a press conference in Milwaukee yesterday. The program was announced earlier this year, but with few details. Many…<\/p>\n

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