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Briefly... UNCW offers non-credit classes online
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Gay Christian Activist to
Lecture Wednesday
The Rev. Mel White will lecture on
“Stranger at the Gate: To Be Gay and Chris
tian in America” at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct.
11, in the Warwick Center Ballroom.
A follower of the “soul force” principles
of Gandhi and King, White received the
American Civil Liberties Union’s National
CivilLiberties Award in 1997 in recognition
of his efforts in the struggle for justice for
sexual minorities. In 1999, White and part
ner, Gary Nixon, founded Soulforce Inc., a
non-profit corporation dedicated to teaching
and applying the principles of non-violence
in the cause of justice, not just for sexual ori
entation, but “for all God’s children who suf
fer injustice and discrimination.”
Media Rally on Bond
Referendum Tomont)w
Night
A 12-stop bond issue media campaign
wiU conclude at the Cape Fear Community
College tomorrow night. Thirteen commu
nity college presidents and three university
chancellors, including Chancellor James R.
Leutze, toured the southeast yesterday and
today to raise awareness of the Community
College and University Higher Education
Bond Issue that will be voted on during the
Nov. 7 general election.
The rally will take place at 5:30 p.m. at
the Schwartz Center
Education Technology
Fair Thursday & Friday
More than 50 companies will display and
demonstrate the latest educational software
and hardware for students from preschool
through college-age at the Coastal Educa
tion Technology Fair Thursday, Oct. 5, and
Friday, Oct. 6, in the Warwick Center ball
room.
Heather Grady
Staff Writer
UNCW recently unveiled WebU,
a newly expanded program of over
1,200 on-line, non-credit classes
focusing on continuing education
students.
The topics for study cover a
broad range of subjects such as per
sonal finance, computing and per
sonal development, among others.
Also available are certification
preparation classes for Novell Ser
vice Administrators, Cisco, Lotus
and Microsoft Engineering.
“WebU enables UNCW to share
educational opportunities with a di
verse audience, providing public
access to online courses to improve
job skills, develop professionally
and enrich their lives,” said Woody
Sutton, associate director of
UNCW’s Community Outreach Ser
vices.
Prior to registering for a class,
potential students can read a bio
graphical sketch of the instructor,
view evaluations from past students
and receive a list of the technical
specifications to run the program.
"There is also a list of frequently
asked questions, a search directory,
a demonstration option and a list of
supplemental reading materials to
aid in the course.
The instructor releases two les
sons each week and students have
up to 10 days to complete the les
sons. The classes often span a six-
week period, however, an additional
six-week period can be allowed
without charge, according to the stu
dents’ lifestyle needs.
“Our goal is to better provide ser
vices to our community,” said
Michelle R. Howard-Vital, vice
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chancellor for Public Service and
Extended Education.
The cost for enrollment ranges
from $69 to $129. The cost is typi
cally more for certification classes.
The program, which began under
the auspices of the Division of Pub
lic Service and Extended Education,
has been in conceptual stages over
the last few months.
“WebU began two years ago in a
pilot phase. During this phase we
learned that most of the students are
highly motivated, self-directed
learners,” said Hunter Thompson,
director of Community Outreach
Services.
Student evaluations have been a
large element in determining the ef
ficiency of the program, even since
the earliest stages. Statistics
showed that 63 percent of past stu
dents were interested in taking an
other on-line class according to
Sutton.
“Ninety-three percent of the
overall evaluations were favorable,”
said Thompson. “We thought that
was a positive number. We wanted '
to ensure that the quality was high,
so that student success rates would
be as well.”
WebU is also accessible to inter
national students because it offers
capabilities for
Chinese, French, German, Italian,
Korean, Portuguese and Spanish
native speakers.
According to Howard-Vital, as
the program expands, more courses
will be offered depending on the
needs articulated by the community.
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Hanover Center
(Nes' Harris Teeter)
3501 Oleander Drive
362-0054
Smith Creek Station
(Near Home Depot)
228 Ea^wood Riijad
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