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by Robin Doddy
So says UW-P’s first Extended Degree Program graduate, Marianne Niemann of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. "Being the program’s first graduate (December ’80) does have some meaning for me," she said. "At first, I felt like a guinea pig, as the program was still new. The staff in the program kept pushing me; I guess to see if it could be done."
According to Marianne, her achievement in being the first graduate of the Extended Degree Program has proven that the program does indeed work. The Extended Degree Program itself seems to have grown and become a lot easier for students and faculty alike.
"I think the biggest difficulty came from teachers who had never done that type of teaching before," explains Marianne, "because I felt I was being compared to classroom students, which made me a little self-conscious. However, as I got toward the end, teachers had courses specifically designed for EDP and I whizzed right though!"
Marianne enrolled in the Extended Degree Program after being out of college seven years and has worked as a production records clerk with 3M Company in Prairie du Chien. After a divorce, she realized she needed more education which could open up more opportunities to aid her in getting ahead in the job world and, in turn, benefit her in supporting her young son, now eight years old. She left her job at 3M in May to remarry and move with her family to DeKalb, Illinois, where she plans to use her business degree as a tool in securing a good job.
"Finishing my degree through Extended Degree has left me feeling very good and happy about myself," she said, "and I’ve tried to encourage others, such as former co-workers with some college training, to take advantage of the program. It's been a worthwhile experience," concludes Marianne.
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