Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - Educators who are looking for a way to further their education and careers without leaving their hometown can now do so thanks to a new partnership between Gateway Technical College in Racine and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

UWP will now offer its off-campus Master of Science in Education (MSE) degree program on the Gateway Technical College campus. The two-year program offers an adult education emphasis with a human services concentration.

"This is an opportunity that most of these students probably wouldn't get without this program," said Carol Sue Butts, the Provost and Vice Chancellor for UWP.

Because these students are working adults, they do not always have the availability of coming to Platteville and finishing their masters degree on the UWP campus.

Butts said that this program is designed to meet the educational needs of working adults. Class times are also designed with the working adult in mind, meeting Friday nights and Saturdays.

Classes are taught by instructors both in person, and via ITV (interactive television).

"For one class, the instructor may be located in Milwaukee, and for another class, the instructor may be here in Platteville," Butts commented.

By utilizing the 2 + 2 + 2 model, students can now receive their associates degree from Gateway, finish their degree and receive a bachelor's degree two years after that from Upper Iowa University, and then spend two more years completing their masters from UWP, all without leaving Racine.

Gateway is not the only campus that is taking advantage of the high quality program that UWP has to offer. Approximately 60 students are already enrolled in the course. Milwaukee and Madison provide this program in conjunction with UWP to students, and UWP also offers this program in Platteville as well.

"This program is one way that the university is able to reach out to working adults," Butts said.

"The benefits of this program are great for those students who are enrolled in the program. By earning their master's degree, they not only become better teachers, but they are also able to open the door to better jobs that will further their career."