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Show Wednesday, March 29, 2000 THE SIGNPOST Page 9 Future education lies in hands of WSU students By Heather Hotchkiss features writer-The Signpost The Department of Teacher Education in Weber State University's College of Education provides students with a diverse faculty that strives to prepare effective and qualified teachers for our children. WSU is one of the three Utah universities that have state and national accreditation. The Department of Teacher Education graduates approximately 200 to 250 first-class educators each year. Eighty-five percent of them find employment in their first year as professionals. So what makes WSU such a success? The Department of Teacher Education has an inclusive and flexible curriculum in which the department .tries to offer students extensive field experience. practical learning opportunities and a highly skilled professional faculty. "I think we have an excellent faculty that really care about students," said Kristin Radulovich, advisement coordinator. "They put time and energy into making students successful;"In addition to a great Program provides Utah's nurses By Jodi Poll features writer-Thfi Signpost The nursing program at Weber State University is a competitive program that offers its students in-the-field training. Students can go through one-, two- or four-year programs that each have great career opportunities. Once accepted into a program, students train both in the classroom and in clinicals at a hospital. These clinicals allow the students to work directly with patients toward the end of their training. "The hands-on training is what really prepared me for my job now," said Jamie Hislop. a recent graduate of the Registered Nurse program who is now employed at Ogden Regional Hospital as an RN. Wages for an RN can start at $15 or $16 per hour. Nursing students who want to go further can earn a bachelor's degree after two more years. These two years are spent on in-depth nursing practices, which creates top-of-t he-line nurses. Mary Ann Anderson, associate professor in the nursing program, said. "It's like double the education. I am essentially working with my colleagues the students already working as RNs and giving even more in-depth training. When I'm sick, that's who I want to take care of me." In a welcome statement to nursing students by associate professor Debra Huber. director of nursing, she writes. "Students faculty, Radulovich feels the smaller class sizes provide professors and students the opportunity to have one-on-one interactive learning, and that makes "learning exceptional" at WSU. The faculty come to WSU with a tremendous amount of teaching experience. The professors in the teaching program have spent a significant amount of time as teachers in public schools and can relate to what teacher education students are experiencing in the field experience portion of their studies. "Field experience and the quality of field experience is what really sets apart a quality teacher education program," said Michael Cena, professor and department chairman.WSU's teaching program gets students out into the public schools where they are highly exposed to what teachers experience in schools today. The "real-life" interaction with children helps students to see where and how to apply the theories and practices they are learning about on campus. "I look forward to the days I get to go into the y1 4 1 I v- Certified Nursing Assistant Joni Ritchie, WSU student and applicant to the Nursing program, stocks the c-section room at Ogden Regional Medical Center. have the option of several entry and exit points within the program. We recognize the diverse needs of both traditional and nonlraditional students and make every effort to work with students as they move through the program. We encourage upward mobility of our students while valuing each level of nursing and the contributions that each level brings to the practice arena." The WSU nursing program is a statewide program. Besides the classes taught on WSU's campus, WSU instructors also go public schools," said Heather Anderson, a student in the teacher education department. "It is in the public classrooms, with the children, that the beneficial learning takes place." Marilyn Lofgreen, teacher education faculty adviser, feels the close relationships that are established with the students and professors is a unique characteristic of WSU. Lofgreen loves to see students succeed, but feels that when they leave "they are taking a piece of the faculty with them." Cena said that in the future people are going to see more work being done collaboratively with school districts, state offices of education and the universities to try and have in-depth experiences to train teachers. Cena changed the old slogan, "it takes a village to raise a child" to " it takes a community to mentor a teacher." "Our future is to build the future, the future that we dream of for our children and for all those children yet to be," said David Greene, dean of the College of Education. "Our job is to make our vision for the entire com- 1 ieml HhraJi J to the students. The program has reached places such as Moab, Ephraim. Roosevelt, Logan, Cedar City and is currently in Payson. Utah. The locations are set up for the convenience of students, and allows them to keep their jobs in their own communities. "It's a real advantage to the students, and we now have a higher level of health care all around Utah." Anderson said. Hislop said. "The program was hard work, but 1 love my job. and in the end ... it was worth it." 1 311 - Y Instructor specialist Marilyn Lofgreen and teacher education student Jamie Hoch role play meeting with concerned or angry parents to discuss students' grades. munity as real as we can, right here and right now." It used to be that there was always a need and demand for quality math and science teachers. But today there is a national shortage for all teachers and even a bigger demand for quality teachers. "Our institutions are Tech sales By Jennifer Dunyon features writer-The Signpost Weber State University's technical sales department is providing hands-on training for students interested in making sales their career. "We want people to be the best salesperson that there is," said department Chairman Carl L. Grunander. The Department of Sales and Sendee Technology is doing just that, according to many local and national sales and marketing businesses. The four-year program is one of a kind in the country. To the department's knowledge, there are similar degrees from other institutions, but they are usually two-year degrees and they lack the technical aspect. This department provides experience that relates to the practical experiences graduates will encounter in the workplace. This is one of the aspects that ranks this major as one of the most popular majors listed under WSU in "The Best College For You" article in Time magazine's 2000 Princeton Review on Universities. 'There's real-life learning to the program." said Joseph Ince, a sophomore in the technical sales department. "It teaches you a lot of people skills." The faculty all have had practical experience in the field. Many of them have worked in customer service, as motivational shakers, as sales and marketing reps and as business consultants. Grunander has taught for over 20 years and is a consultant for many businesses in customer service and sales training. '"I producing very fine teachers," Lofgreen said. "That is why our principals and superintendents are anxiously awaiting our graduates."The College of Education lives by the philosophy of building up individuals by giving them the help that they need to have a positive attitude for money, "There's real-life learning to the program. It teaches you a lot of people skills.' "The faculty stays current with the needs of the industry today," Grunander said. "They are student oriented and want to see them succeed."Senior Mike Parkes agrees. 'The professors actually care about what you're doing," he said. C. Daniel Litchford Jr., professor in the department, teaches courses in sales and sales personality profiling. I le has taught for more than 28 years and is a motivational speaker as well as a certified trainer in many sales aspects. "Our program is designed to train someone to go into the professional world of selling," Litchford said. His No. 1 criterion for people considering a major in this department is whether they want to become a professional salesperson. At times, more than half of his students already have jobs in sales and are looking for ways to improve or to move to new levels. The department offers a practical hands-on approach that distinguishes it from the business department where there is a more theoretical approach. Another benefit in this department is job placement. "We have amazing job placement." said Cathy McKilrick. the department secretary. "So many corporations are calling saying. 'We want your students to work with us.'" r ,1 t I I and become the best that they can be. And then they prepare students to help the children in the public schools to do the same. "The reason our program is competitive," Cena said, "is because the children of Utah really do deserve to have the very best quality people." experience Joseph Ince, WSU sophomore She went on to say that every month they get stacks of job offers which give the students a chance to be picky. One recent experience at the job fair was with Shaw Industries, a large carpet manufacturer. They took resumes for second interviews and were astounded at the number of qualified students from the sales department. The representative spoke with Grunander and was very impressed with the representation from WSU compared to other universities. Starting wages in sales are competitive. The Rocky Mountain Region, of which WSU is a part, states in a study done from Sept. 1, 1998 to Aug. 31. 1999, that new college graduates with a bachelor's degree going into the sales field start off on an average of $32,502. Most are a starting base rate, plus commission.When asked why he chose to major in sales. Parkes said money was a reason. "Definitely the money." he said. "I've seen sales as having the best high making money." He said he's seen thai, based on their skill and desire, people in sales can increase their earnings. I le also said. "It's a lot of fun too. I've never had so much fun in school." |