WEST LIBERTY, May 12, 2016 — It was a bittersweet moment for Dr. Miriam Douglas as the inaugural class of the Bachelor of Arts in Community Education degree program graduated last Saturday. She’s confident the graduates are prepared for the professional world but she already misses their presence on campus.
“We are very proud of our first group of graduates, many of whom have jobs already in the field that they prepared for here at West Liberty. But I will miss their enthusiasm for our community and their contributions in the classroom,” said Dr. Miriam Douglas, program director. Graduates include Ramsay Core, Michael Hensley, Brady Lytton, Christian Rice, Teracyn Rich, Morgan Wagner and Mary Ward.
The community education degree offers students a path into community, non-profit, or non-formal education careers, like community outreach coordinators, parks and recreation leaders, non-profit administrators, grant writers, programming specialists, transition specialists and English teachers.
Employers need these types of degree-prepared employees, according to Douglas, who has mentored the students in the new program and worked with Dr. Keely Camden, dean of the College of Education, who spearheaded the development of the program.
“The accelerated 120-credit hour (three-year) degree prepares students in all aspects of community education through working and teaching in 21st Century non-formal and informal learning environments,” she said.
Community education students select from one of seven majors: Community Arts, Disabilities Services, Educational Leadership in Faith Organizations, Museum Education, Outdoor Education or Sports, Recreation and Wellness. Most recently, a new major, Teaching English and Global Education, was added to the mix.
“The latest major added is for students interested in teaching English abroad or teaching English as a second language right here at home,” Douglas said.
Students appreciate the benefits of the many internship opportunities and the chance to study abroad that is built into the curriculum.
Dr. Douglas, who joined the WLU faculty in the fall of 2012, is a native of Germany and also has a master’s in foreign languages from West Virginia University, so she facilitates the study abroad.
“Students have the opportunity to go on a two-week faculty-led study-abroad trip, which is open to students state-wide,” she said. She has been taking the students to Germany for two weeks of travel and study during the summer semester.
Another instrumental leader in the Community Education program is Lou Karas, director of the Center for Arts and Education, located in WLU’s Main Hall. Her classroom offers a hands-on approach to skill learning that is useful for students seeking community employment. Karas also spurs partnerships with some remarkable places to learn.
“We are excited to have such incredible partners as the Warhol Museum, the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum, the Children’s Museum of the Ohio Valley, area church youth organizations, the Schrader Environmental Education Center and Oglebay Institute to support Community Education majors and provide hands-on experiences,” Karas said.
“I’ll miss this group of students. Their enthusiasm and commitment to working in the non-profit sector is amazing. They will do great things, I’m sure,” Karas said.
A breakdown of the degree tracks that each of the graduates completed include: Ramsay Core, Michael Hensley and Mary Ward, Outdoor Education; Christian Rice and Teracyn Rich, Educational Leadership in Faith Organizations; Morgan Wagner, Community Arts. Brady Lytton completed the highly personalized Interdisciplinary degree program that combined Community Education with Graphic Design.
“The best thing about this BA in Community Education degree is its flexibility. It builds on the general studies courses, community education core courses and the student’s choice of majors. Then it adds unique features like the study abroad,” Douglas said. “It’s all about working with our students to ensure they graduate with the skills and education they will need to land their dream job in that field they are passionate about. We wish our Community Education graduates the very best.”
Douglas is pleased to list the many community events that her students took part in, including Show of Hands entrepreneur pitch event, Kaleidoscope fundraiser for the Gabriel Project, Gary E. West Event Center open house, “You’ve been here before” art gallery in downtown Wheeling, participation in Prezi presentation software competition and many other community outreach projects.
“Our students already made a difference in the community. Their futures are bright,” she said.
The program is growing too, according to Douglas who states that next fall, the number of students in the program is about triple the initial student count. For more information on the program, please contact Dr. Douglas at miriam.douglas@westliberty.edu or call 304-336-8561.