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LGC Adds 2 Programs, 45 New Students
08/21/07
By Diane Knich
The Post and Courier
Friday, August 17, 2007
Advanced degrees in social work, education administration offered The Lowcountry Graduate Center is adding programs in social work and educational administration to its offerings this fall, making it possible for more local working adults to earn advanced degrees. The center, a collaboration between The Citadel, the College of Charleston, the Medical University of South Carolina, Clemson University and the University of South Carolina, now has 14 degree and certificate programs, director Skip Godow said. Center administrators expect about 20 students to begin working on doctoral degrees in educational administration this fall and 25 to begin working on master's degrees in social work, he said. Both new degrees are offered through the center by the University of South Carolina. Shari Bouis, principal at Cario Middle School in Mount Pleasant, is one of the students who will begin working on her doctoral degree in educational administration later this month. Bouis said her job has irregular hours, and she has two young children, so she would not be able to travel to USC in Columbia or to South Carolina State University in Orangeburg for classes. "But I can still do this because it's local," she said. Educators are typically "lifelong learners," she said, so they want the opportunity to earn the highest degree in their field. The new doctoral program "is a wonderful opportunity for me to finish my studies in educational leadership so I can apply them at my school," she said. The center, which was launched in 2001 to expand graduate opportunities so students wouldn't have to travel to other parts of the state to earn advanced degrees, surveys potential students and employers before starting new programs, Godow said. The center is on International Boulevard in North Charleston. A needs assessment conducted in 2002 found that programs in electrical engineering, social work and educational administration were "a screaming need," he said. "The master's degree in social work is the premier credential" for people working in social services, he said. And educators who are working in schools with students in kindergarten through 12th grade, especially principals and assistant principals, have expressed a great deal of interest in earning doctoral degrees, he said. About 70 people attended an information night the center held in January for professionals interested in the educational administration doctoral program, he said. Another 30 or so sent e-mails saying they were interested, he said. Center officials have to do a lot of marketing to bring in students, he said. Even though many adults are interested in the programs, it can take a few years of planning before they make the commitment to enroll. Signing on for graduate school is a huge time and energy commitment for adults who already have full-time jobs and families, Godow said. About 350 students are now enrolled at the graduate center, he said, and he's pleased with its success. The programs not only appeal to potential students but to business leaders, he said. Quality graduate programs are a draw for high-tech businesses considering locating in the Lowcountry, Godow said. And the center's collaborative approach to offering graduate education is a boon for the state's taxpayers, he said. Instead of having to hire many faculty members and build facilities, the center is taking advantage of resources at the state's colleges and universities. Working together and sharing resources can be tough sometimes for groups that aren't used to it, he said, but it's worth the effort. "It's a new way of doing things that works. It's not without its challenges, but it works." Reach Diane Knich at 937-5491 or dknich@postandcourier.com.
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