The world is changing, and Long Island University”™s satellite campuses in Rockland and Westchester are changing with it.
To better meet the educational needs of working adults, the college has merged its program offerings to deliver expanded course opportunities at its Orangeburg location in Rockland and its Westchester campus on the grounds of Purchase College.
“This will give us the opportunity to provide our students with more flexibility in their scheduling,” said Dr. Sylvia Blake, chief operating officer of the Westchester and Rockland graduate campuses, as well as a small educational site it maintains at West Point for approximately 50 students, primarily United State Military Academy cadets.
Most of the 1,000 students who attend LIU”™s campuses are adults taking continuing education courses and finishing up their degrees, said Blake. “Nearly 60 percent are ”˜career changers”™ ”¦ and we are seeing some young students coming in that are continuing their education because the job market is so difficult.”
Offering a range of programs, including early-childhood certification, mental health and school counseling, and library and information science, Blake said the school is “very career conscious with an eye on the job market. We also realize people need the flexibility ”“ if they live in Rockland, they can take a class here during the week and then go to Westchester for a weekend class.
“Even though times are tough, there are some areas that are understaffed, particularly in secondary special education and bi-lingual education. There are areas of need in the state.”
Because LIU merged, it is able to offer increased scholarship funding, an expanded network and a larger faculty to work with students. There will also be a broader selection of internships and student-teaching placements.
While the Internet is useful for handing out assignments and giving students an opportunity to download text if they need to, LIU is “a one-on-one learning situation,” said Blake. “When it comes to the kinds of careers we are readying our students for, it really requires personal interaction. I don”™t think it”™s really in anyone”™s best interests to have a school or mental health counselor who”™s gotten their degree or certification on the Internet.
“Some of what is learned in the classroom is not just from the teacher. You also learn from peers. Learning face-to-face is a social level that conveys not just what is said, but how it is said,” added Blake.
An open house is scheduled at the Rockland Campus on the night of Aug. 18 and at the Westchester campus Aug. 24 in the afternoon. MBA classes begin at the end of August. For information, go to rockland@liu.edu or Westchester@liu.edu.
