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AST 401 provides
credit for students with prior learning
By Janee Mitchell
AST 401, Assessment of Prior
Learning, opened this past spring semester with one session.
This year, the fall session has shown in increase in enrollment.
There are now two sessions open and counting, students are
encouraged to continue enrolling in the program.
AST 401 will cost the same as
regular tuition classes; however, it is expected to be cheaper
for the student. AST 401 is less expensive under the credit for
prior learning, because there is a reduced fee for the credit.
Employees also receive a discount on enrollment into the
program.
The credit hours received are
based on the amount of credits the student requests and is
offered on a credit/ no credit basis. Students must turn in
written requests for credit when they start the course. Students
are required to have past learning experience to take the
course. Sharon Chanley, director of the Credit for Prior
Learning program, said that it would be best for students to
apply to AST 401 early, instead of waiting until their applied
study term.
Chanley has already received a
high response rate to the course, with 30-40 contacts for
students interested. There are two sessions open with 15 seats;
five slots are left open for the fall semester. There is no
deadline to sign up; however, students should allow a reasonable
amount of time to get the work done. AST 401 is a self-paced
course and students work one on one with Chanley.
Students can use any level of
college learning, whether it’s in class or out of class, to
apply for the credit. Students entering into AST 401 should
bring documentation or certification of their prior learning
experience to the course. Chanley said that this program is a
benefit to the students because it gets them to look at things
they’ve learned and know outside the classroom. “Most of the
learning in our lives is outside the classroom”, she said.
Chanley said that the program has
become more flexible over the years since her involvement began
in 1991. Students are able to turn in requests for credit at
anytime, and there is more focus on what is learned. She has
confidence that when she leaves in May, Margot Duley, dean of
the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, will be very
supportive in seeing that the program is maintained.
The program is more improved now
and helps the student greatly but there are some limitations.
There are not enough AST 401 classes to meet the needs of the
students. Also, there are some programs that will not allow the
credit for prior learning. Students should check with their
program of study before taking the course.
Chanley said the students who
have already taken the AST 401 course are excited about the
program. She also said that the students were happy to have
their prior learning legitimized.
Chanley enjoys the program and
the service it provides for students but she has additional
goals for the program. She said she would like to see expansion
in the program, that it would be widely accepted around campus
and that faculty would recognize it and why it is a legitimate
course.
Chanley also said there shouldn’t
just be AST 401 courses, but it needs to evolve into seminars
and independent studies for the student portfolios. After it has
evolved in such a way, Chanley said there might not be a need
for the course anymore.
Chanley also said that there is
one disadvantage of the program. Students will not be allowed to
enroll in the course until after they have submitted their final
paper. This is pesky for students who receive financial aid
because since they will be considered for enrollment yet, they
are not given funding for those credits.
Financial aid students often have
more credits then they are paid for because of the program
credits. Chanley is working on a way to register students in the
course for financial aid purposes.
Students interested in the AST
401 course are encouraged to contact Sharon Chanley at
217-744-8047 or chanley.sharon@uis.edu.
Class rings hope to
bring identity to UIS
By Chris Sabo
UIS has begun the process of
selecting a unique “University” ring, which will be offered to
graduating students and alumni as well.
In the spring of 2004, the
student union along with the Alumni Association began thinking
of ideas to help establish UIS in the eyes of its students and
alumni. Both groups agreed on the idea of a class ring.
The class ring at UIS would be unique, however. Instead of
every class designing their own individual ring, the university
would decide on specific characteristics that “promote
togetherness, continuity, visibility and unity.”
Current SGA President Tyson Roan
feels a class ring would be a great addition to a new campus and
help establish individual traditions here at UIS. “The student
feedback has been very positive unilaterally. A class ring with
help establish a firm base as an Alumnus of UIS.”
Not all students feel a class
ring will bring school spirit to a new university. Chris Zak, a
communication grad student thinks, “a class ring doesn’t seem to
fit on this campus. There isn’t any campus cohesion. Most
students come to class and commute, want their degree and really
don’t care about much else.”
Former SGA president and current
student ambassador to the Alumni Association Jason Stuebe feels
class ring will help distinguish UIS from other universities.
“There
is a real issue on this campus of identity,” Stuebe said.
“There’s just not this sense of this being a place that you will
always remember your times. We don’t have football games. We
don’t have tailgating. We don’t have that stuff that’s
associated elsewhere. So this is just a step, I think, in the
right direction at building a tradition, in building a sense of
identity as … University of Illinois at Springfield, something
that you can show off and be proud of.”
The Office of Alumni Relations
has spent most of the summer working with a class ring company
to come up with a ring “unique” to UIS. Backed by the SGA, this
process appears to be in the works. Class rings will be
available to graduates of UIS and alumni exclusively.
The first university ring
ceremony should take place in the spring of 2005.
ICCB approves
funding for student organizations
By Stephanie Orr
The following clubs were approved for funding at
the Oct. 3 meeting of the Inter-Club Council Board:
·
MidKnights was
approved for $450 in order to purchase t-shirts.
·
Human Services Club
was approved for $30 to hold a meet and greet.
·
Chemistry Club was
approved for $25 for an event where they will make ice cream
with liquid nitrogen. Chemistry Club was also approved for $174
in order for several members to attend the American Chemical
Society Conference.
·
The Muslim Student
Association and the Pakistan Student Association were approved
for $1,550 for an event on Nov. 7 where the community is invited
to take part in Ramadan.
·
Descendants of
Africa were approved for $500 to have authentic African food
brought to the International Festival on Oct. 24.
·
UIS Percussion Club
was approved for $200 to bring a speaker and artist to campus
for all students.
The next scheduled meeting of the
ICCB is Oct. 17 at 5 p.m. in the Student Organization Resource
Center.
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