College degrees are a bit easier to come by for Middletown-Odessa-Tow-nsend residents now that Wilmington University has opened its local campus.
The three-classroom campus is located at 621 N. Broad St., in Middletown, and offers undergraduate and graduate programs.
An open house and ribbon cutting ceremony were held Jan. 8. The first semester started Monday.
Dr. Peter Bailey, assistant vice president of administrative affairs, said there are 15 courses for block I and nine courses for block II offered at the Middletown location.
“We tried to find how we can serve Middletown and offer as many classes as possible in the space we have,” he said. “We received an impressive turnout at all three of the information sessions we held. We are hoping to continue to attract new students as the semester goes on.”
The new Middletown site is equipped with wireless technology and multimedia capabilities.
Students can choose from three undergraduate degrees – a Bachelor of Arts in business management, an accelerated degree completion in organizational dynamics, and a Bachelor of Science in government and public policy.
Graduate degrees are offered in business administration and education, which has concentrations in applied technology in education, instruction: gifted and talented, instruction: teaching and learning, and school leadership.
Bailey said this is the first Wilmington University location to offer the government and public policy program.
He said there also are fusion courses offered, where students take part of a course online.
“Students love fusion courses because online learning requires students to do a lot more on their own,” Bailey said.
Dr. Betty Caffo, Wilmington University vice president and provost, said President Jack Varsalona began to think about what the university could offer to students in the area three years ago.
“After setting up a committee led by Dr. Pete Bailey, we soon realized that Middletown was a prime location and began offering evening classes at Middletown High School,” she said.
Caffo said the venture was successful and the committee eventually aimed to open a permanent location.
Karl Kalbacher, New Castle County director of redevelopment, said the Middletown site would benefit area residents.
“In these economic times, people go back to school,” he said. “Having a university open a new site in this area is something I think a lot of people really needed.”
Julie Johnson, Appoquinimink School District Board of Education member and Middletown resident, said she earned her Master of Special Education from Wilmington University’s Dover campus.
“I think it’s going to be a great thing for working adults in the area,” she said. “I’m excited they have some flexibility. I would have loved to have had classes here instead of driving to Dover.”
For more information, go to www.wilmu.edu/middletown, email info center@wilmu.edu or call (877) 967-5464.
Middletown, Del. —
