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Florida Tech’s Extended Studies Division began in August
1972 and was known as Off-Campus Programs. At that time 42
students enrolled in a master’s degree program in electrical
engineering at the Naval Air Test Center in Patuxent River,
Maryland.
In 1976 a number of in-plant courses were offered
with several other firms, including Martin Marietta Aerospace
in Orlando
and the municipal government in St. Petersburg, Florida.
From
that time, Extended Studies has grown to more than 1,425
students per year enrolled in 32 degree programs.
Alumni
of the Extended Studies Division and the Virtual Campus
include astronauts, military generals, CEOs of
Fortune 500
companies, divisional leaders in high technology, aerospace
and defense. All branches of the military have been—and
continue to be—represented in our classrooms.
All from such humble beginnings.
Ten
sites in five states give structure to the Extended
Studies Division. With geographic representation
mostly on the eastern
seaboard, each site has its own personality and
flair. Several sites are housed on military bases, while
others are located
in larger metropolitan areas. Either way, all graduate
degree and certificate programs are taught by quality
faculty with
a passion for excellence in education.
Program offerings
are current and meet the needs of today’s
adult learner. Students feel comfortable sharing
their positive experiences. Ken Peach ’96 tell
us, “When
I completed my graduate degree program at the
Orlando site, the hospital
I worked for named me a vice president with a
commensurate salary increase.”
Students are engaged
in classroom discussions no matter the topic. The
best and the brightest
challenge
their
professors in discussions about the latest
in economic modeling and
statistics, information technologies, the global
business environment and more.
Academically
talented students are selecting to attend any one of Florida
Tech’s ten Extended Studies sites to
attain an excellent education. At this time,
over 11,000 master’s degrees have been awarded to
individuals employed in all phases of public and private
sector, federal, state
and local governments.
Educational opportunities for the purpose
of job promotion or personal satisfaction
will
continue to drive adult
learners to pursue a graduate degree or
certificate. The proof is
in the timeliness of programs being offered
by colleges and universities across the
globe. Each
University
College Extended
Studies site director keeps abreast of
educational trends and up-to-date teaching methodologies.
Today’s
students tend to be practical problem solvers. Their
life experiences make them autonomous, self-directed,
and goal- and relevancy-oriented—they
need to know the rationale for what they
are learning.
They are motivated
by professional advancement, external
expectations and the need to better serve
others. Their
demands include time and
scheduling, money and long-term commitment
constraints.
Our global community requires
excellence in education and specialized
career training.
The mission
of the Extended Studies Division is
to reach out,
both in
distance and
scope, within each community where
we have a presence.
The achievements of yesterday are our
goals of tomorrow: shaping minds,
creating the
future. |
Analyzing Today