A New Kind Of Higher Education

Posted

(NAPSA)—Colleges across the country are adapting to a new landscape in which prospective students are more carefully scrutinizing their choices. High schoolers are savvier than ever—more than third nowapply at nine or more colleges, accordingto the NationalAssociation for College Admission Counsel- ing. Applying to 15 or 20 schoolsis not uncommon,counselors say. Driven by a desire to make a dif- Schools thatcan bestprepare their graduates for both a profession and life are the ones thatfuse togethandsatisfyinglife. They're looking for er new elements inside and outside programsthat go beyondthe classroom theclassroom in a way students can and offer hands-on experiences and maketheir own. ference, today’s students want to know they'll receive a solid foundation for both a successful career anda fulfilling real-world projects. They’re also seeking mentors whowill help guide them along the way. With all ofthat in mind, they're ask- ingcollege admission reps everywhere a key question: How does your school guarantee graduates will get the most outofthe experience andtruly be ready for what comes next? Small Colleges Can MeanBig Ideas Small colleges such as Drury Univer- sity in Springfield, Missouri, are on the forefrontofoffering new programs, in Students can use the certificates to create projects that relate to their major area of study and add theseto their digital portfolio upon gradua- tion, giving them an impressive list of experiences to show employers and gradschools. The program guarantees that students will engage in at least three real-world projects. The students can even apply for grants to fundthese experiences, ‘The programis based almostentirely quickly and can provide the kindof one- in small and highlyinteractive learning environments. While many small new academic experience called Your ratio, this program backs that up with small group discussion and team-based part because they're able to move more on-onerelationshipsthat students seek. To that end, Drury is launching a Drury Fusion in the fall of 2019 that helps students customize their education while guaranteeing they'll graduate with credentials in both professional andlife interests. In addition to majors and minors, Druryoffers a growingslate of multidisciplinary themedcertificates that cross intellectual boundaries,challenging students to prove and apply what they’ve learned. Each certificate is 12 credit hours and consists of three hands-on courses anda capstoneproject. Forexample,a certificate in Graphic Storytelling combinescoursesin litera- ture, art and publishing, andchallenges students to create a graphic novel. Othercertificates focus on data analytics, health and well-being, and environmental problems.All aim to teach students to think critically about projects or challenges. schools boast a low student-to-faculty projects. Mentorship is so vital that Drury gives every student a mentoring squad. ‘A newly founded Compass Center matchesstudents with their very own team ofadvisors to help with academic, career and educational success. A 2018 survey of undergraduates by Civitas Learning found that about a quarter had gone more than six monthswithoutcontacting their advisor—and about 3 percent had never doneso. To address this gap, advising at Drurystarts before students even hit campus. Internships, research _opportuni- ties, study abroad trips and a vibrant on-campus social scene continueto be a partof the experience at Drury. Learn More For furtherfacts, go to www.drury. edu/fusion.