State approves two more bachelor degree programs at Edison
Feb 21, 2007
Edison College received approval on Feburary 20 from the Florida Board of Education for two new bachelor degree programs in secondary education. Edison officials worked closely with local education leaders to respond to a critical need in the community.
In June 2006, Edison College President Dr. Kenneth Walker hosted a meeting of the region’s public school superintendents, who identified a growing need for teachers, especially in the critical subject areas of science and mathematics. The consensus among the group was that secondary education programs at Edison would offer new options to local students who would like to pursue the field of education and also meet the needs of the largest employers in southwest Florida—the school districts.
“The mission of Edison College is to meet the needs of the community and to provide access to anyone who wants a college education,†said Edison District President Dr. Kenneth Walker. “There are many students who need a baccalaureate degree but can’t attend a university. Edison College is among numerous community colleges that have reinvented themselves to become four-year, open door colleges in order to meet the demands of their communities and a globally-competitive environment in the 21st century.â€
Edison College students will soon be able to earn a four-year bachelor’s of science in secondary education in either mathematics for grades 6–12 or biology for grades 6-12.
Administrators from Edison and Florida Gulf Coast University worked closely together in developing the new programs. Students will actually take three upper-division classes from FGCU in order to complete the degree. Edison’s District Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Noreen Thomas, says the process was a very collaborative one.
“Rather than duplicate courses, we built on the strengths of each institution and combined them to achieve the best possible outcome for the student,†says Thomas. She and her counterparts at FGCU began working together on this initiative last summer, because everyone involved wanted to do more to “grow our own†teachers in southwest Florida.
Edison submitted its application for the baccalaureate degrees to the state in August 2006. After nine national reviewers evaluated the application, the staff for the Board of Education recommended approval on January 22, and the board approved the measure at a hearing in Tallahassee on February 20. The school currently offers a baccalaureate degree in Public Safety Management, approved by the state in 2005.
Edison now begins the process of schedule planning and of adding faculty who will teach the new upper-division courses for the bachelor’s degrees. In addition, student advisors will begin working with first and second year students who want a bachelor’s degree in secondary education. They will advise the students on the correct classes to take in the first two years to ensure the students move easily into the bachelor’s degree program.
The first upper-division classes for the new bachelor’s degrees should be offered in the Fall 2008 semester. If current students attend school full-time to earn a bachelor’s degree, the first secondary education bachelor’s degrees could be awarded in 2010.
Anyone who would like more information on Edison College’s baccalaureate programs should contact Dr. Roger Bober, District Dean of Baccalaureate and University Programs, at 239-489-9295.
Last Updated: February 21, 2007
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