Contact information: 413/775-1420
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Contact: Liz Carroll
Phone: 413/775-1420
E-mail: carroll@gcc.mass.edu

Media contact: Liz Carroll
Marketing & Publications
413/775-1420 | carroll@gcc.mass.edu

Release date: January 10, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Education students and alums invited to attend free University Without Walls event

Turn your life experience into college credits

"I had always wanted a bachelor's degree,” says Gwen Hawk, who graduated from GCC in 1999, "but you know how life gets in the way.” Hawk supervises two Head Start classrooms in Turners Falls, a job she loves. "I was starting to hear that bachelor's degrees were going to be needed to stay in the field. I really love my job and wanted to keep it. So when I heard about the University Without Walls at a meeting like this one, I decided to go.” Pending approval of her 18 life experience credits, Gwen Hawk will receive her bachelor's degree from UMass in May.

Hawk will share her story of that journey at an informational dinner event, which is free, on Tuesday, January 18, at 6 p.m. in Room 111 of the GCC East Building. (RSVP by Friday by calling 775-1270.) All GCC students and alums are invited to come, although this event is geared toward those interested in education.

"It's one of the only options for GCC grads who are working,” says Kim Audette, Evening Advisor for the Education Department. "University Without Walls has been one of the few programs in the area to offer flexible scheduling and life experience credit.”

Audette has steered many GCC students toward UWW, including two former students. "D.W. graduated two and a half years ago from GCC with a degree in early childhood education, and is completing her work at UWW. She will now be employable by the school system as a teacher and will be able to further her dream to work with special needs students,” says Audette. "Another student, S.H., graduated with a liberal arts in education degree from GCC. While she has been attending UWW, she has also continued to take some courses here and those have been accepted by UWW. She is pursuing a degree that she created with the help of UWW staff in the field of public service administration.”

"They educate working people,” explains Hawk, "people who have full-time jobs. So classes are planned at night and on the weekends and, of course, there's on-line now too. Everything is planned around knowing that you are not available Monday through Friday at normal working hours. Also, you can earn college credit for your work experience, like I did.”

"This is part of an effort by GCC's education department to provide additional support to evening students,” says Audette.

Hawk's message to students and alums is that "changes are coming in the field of early childhood education,” referring to growing calls for a bachelor's degree for early childcare workers. "They look a little scary, but they are going to be good for everyone. Don't be afraid of them, because the people at UWW are every bit as accommodating and nurturing and caring as the people at GCC are,” says Hawk. "They will bend over backwards to make things work for you.”