Alverno College, located in Milwaukee, will kick off the 2015-16 school years with a new hybrid degree program intended to accommodate the schedules and needs of working women.
The new flexible option will be available in three majors – business, liberal studies and communication – with a format that combines in-class instruction and online learning.
At the heart of the flexible program is an emphasis on preparing women to be innovative leaders.
“The world needs more strong, educated female leaders,” Jill Moore, academic director for adult programs, said in a press release. “That’s why we’re building an emphasis on leadership into these classes. Our students will graduate with the skills they need to be effective leaders in any career environment.”
Program classes will be held each week on Wednesday evenings with additional work to be completed online. Two eight-week sessions will run each semester, and students will be able to pursue up to two four-credit courses in each session so that they can complete 16 credits per semester.
That equation means that a full-time student who continues classes in the summer will be able to earn their four-year degree in three years.
Alverno College will offer financial aid to students enrolled in at least eight credit hours each semester.
Also this week, Alverno named Kevin Casey, Ph.D. dean of its School of Arts and Sciences, effective July 1.
The School of Arts and Sciences is Alverno’s largest school and breaks down into four divisions: humanities; arts; behavioral sciences; and natural sciences, mathematics and technology.
At the helm, Casey will oversee the school’s operations and will collaborate with faculty to support student achievement.
Casey started his Alverno career in 1987 as a professor in history. He chaired the History Department from 1992 to 2004 and from 2012 to 2013. He also was the associate dean of the Humanities division from 2002 to 2009.
Casey is well versed in evaluating student learning, outcome-based teaching, study assessment and teaching history. He previously taught at Augustana College in South Dakota, Hastings College in Nebraska and North Central College in Illinois.
He completed his doctorate and Master of Arts in History at Northern Illinois University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and Philosophy from the University of Minnesota-Morris.
