Classes started last fall. Additional degrees in gerontology, youth development, along with shared courses in family and consumer sciences teacher education are in development. With this new collaboration, which is still in its early development stages, a student will receive a degree from one of the eight schools, but would take classes, via distance learning, from all eight.
Credits transfer seamlessly, organizers say.
Virginia Moxley, associate dean for academic affairs for Kansas State University's College of Human Ecology, said participants interacted to explore solutions to the challenges facing a multi-state distance education alliance. Project directors are Moxley and Sue Maes, also of K-State. Institutional participants include Kansas State University, Iowa State University, Montana State University, North Dakota State University, Oklahoma State University, South Dakota State University, Texas Tech University, and the University of Nebraska. Under the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance, these institutions are partnering to start master's and postbaccalaureate certificate programs in several areas. This would include family financial planning, gerontology, and youth development, and shared courses in family and consumer sciences teacher education.