University of Wisconsin - Extension

For More Information:

Kay Taube (608) 262-7277 taubeks@conted.uwex.edu

Holly Breitkreutz (608) 262-8096 breitkreutz@learn.uwsa.edu

Populations are aging worldwide. People born today can expect to live beyond their 75th year. According to figures from the UW-Madison Institute on Aging, the fastest growing age group in our country is the 85-and older group. By the middle of the 21st century, one in five Americans will be over 65, and there will be 15 to 18 million persons over the age of 85. These population trends will result in the need for a range of professionals with knowledge and expertise in aging.

In response to this need, Stacy Barnes, Deputy Director of the Wisconsin Geriatric Education Center (WGEC) announced that UW-Extension and five collaborating University of Wisconsin institutions will receive nearly $160,000 over the next five years from the federal Bureau of Health Professions to partner with the WGEC to develop an online certificate program in gerontology. The five partnering campuses, UW-Parkside, UW-Superior, UW-La Crosse, UW-Madison, and UW-Milwaukee and the WGEC currently offer face-to-face certificate programs in gerontology and view this project as an excellent way to expand their offerings and attract new students. UWEX and University of Wisconsin Learning Innovations will provide facilitation and support for the program.

"This kind of partnership is a win-win situation for both the students and the academic institutions involved," said Barbara Emil, Dean of Outreach and E-Learning Extension. "Internet instruction meets the needs of today's non-traditional learner--those with career, family, and community responsibilities competing for their time. At the same time, the Internet offers a rich learning environment that integrates a number of learning resources and engages learners from a variety of professions. Similarly, by collaborating, the five UW institutions gain access to a wider base of research findings, knowledge and expertise."

University of Wisconsin Learning Innovations will design and develop an initial pilot course, which will be offered during the fall 2003 semester. As the course is being tested, UWLI will provide ongoing learner support services, including advising, technical support, and registration. UWLI currently supports about 300 print-based independent learning courses, and partner with 10 UW campuses to offer more than 100 fully online courses to 8,000 students.

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In partnership with the 26 University of Wisconsin campuses, Continuing

Education Extension brings outreach and e-learning education to

more than 200,000 lifelong learners each year, from all 72 Wisconsin

counties, all 50 states, and 73 countries worldwide.