> Distance education technology is enabling five Kankakee Community College students to take advantage of University of Illinois resources through a new agriculture partnership. The Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences department at University of Illinois has opened its sequence of four introductory agricultural science foundation courses to Illinois community college students. In all, 36 students from eight community colleges-including five from KCC-are enrolled in the first class, Introduction to Animal Sciences,.
“ACES ACCESS was developed to expand the range of agriculture courses that community colleges can offer their students, with the understanding that many Illinois colleges are challenged by declining financial and faculty resources,” said Laurie Kramer, associate dean of the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.
The program, called ACES ACCESS offers courses taught by University of Illinois professors. Students use distance education technologies and course management systems such as WebCT. Courses with laboratory experiences offer one or two Saturday sessions at the U of I Urbana-Champaign campus.
The Spring 2010 ACES ACCESS course will be Introduction to Crop Sciences. Introductory courses in soil science and horticulture will follow in 2010-11.
“We are excited about the opportunity to work with the University of Illinois to deliver online transfer courses which will enhance baccalaureate degree obtainment for student transferring from community colleges,” said Dennis Sorensen, KCC dean of instruction, who assisted the University of Illinois with the program’s development. “Agriculture continues to play an important part of the Illinois economy. The relationship with the University of Illinois will enhance the ability of KCC and other colleges to meet Illinois workforce needs.”
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 48,000 jobs are available each year in agriculture, many with international opportunities.
For KCC students, the University of Illinois courses in ACES ACCESS are offered at KCC’s tuition rate and enrollment is through KCC’s registration process. The classes are included in KCC’s new Agriculture Transfer curriculum. Course credit is awarded by KCC and credits transfer to University of Illinois and other four-year institutions.
KCC’s Agriculture transfer emphasis is a two-year program for students who enroll full-time. It satisfies the basic freshman and sophomore course requirements for agriculture majors. Upon completion, students are prepared to transfer as juniors into an agriculture program at select Illinois four-year colleges or universities.
Scott Stewart is the KCC agriculture program director. He can be reached at sstewart@kcc.edu or 815-802-8859.
