Thursday, April 17, 2014

HIGHER EDUCATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT TO BENEFIT NORTH COUNTRY RESIDENTS

 The Center for Community Studies at Jefferson Community College will conduct a Higher Education Needs Assessment survey on behalf of the SUNY North Country Consortium and the Jefferson Higher Education Center (JHEC) beginning in mid-April.  The purpose of the survey is to hear from residents in Jefferson, northern Lewis, northern Oswego and western St. Lawrence counties regarding the Bachelor and Master's degrees they would like to see offered in the Watertown and Fort Drum areas.  In addition to examining the demand for various fields of study, the study will also assess the best modes of delivery, such as classroom, online, independent study or hybrid learning, to best accommodate the needs of adult learners, as well as identifying the student services most critical to those students’ success.  The SUNY Consortium and JHEC partner schools will then use this information to develop programs that will meet both the interests of students and the needs of the workforce.

The study will involve both telephonic and online surveying.  JCC students working for the Center for Community Studies will be making telephone calls over the next two weeks to over 450 adults who recently completed college coursework, are currently working on college degrees, and/or are interested in beginning college studies in the near future.  Adults who are not contacted but would like to participate in the survey are able to do so using the following website link:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SUNYNCC


About the SUNY North Country Consortium
The SUNY North Country Consortium was formed in 1985 in response to the expansion of Fort Drum, the influx of new residents and the increasing demand for higher education in the area. The consortium is a collaborative partnership of seven SUNY institutions who share resources in order to better serve students, particularly those affiliated with the U.S. Armed Forces. This partnership of institutions brings four-year degrees and higher degree programs to Fort Drum and the Jefferson Higher Education Center for the benefit of North Country residents, Soldiers and their Family Members. Most Soldiers find they can continue classes wherever they go, including deployment locations.  The schools’ military friendly course offerings, transfer policies, and student services cater to the needs of these patriots, as well as family members and veterans and former service members utilizing GI Bill or vocational rehabilitation benefits.
Member colleges:
Jefferson Community College
SUNY Canton
SUNY Empire State College
SUNY Institute of Technology
SUNY Oswego
SUNY Potsdam

SUNY Upstate Medical University
 

SUNY Canton Empire State College SUNY IT Jefferson Community College SUNY Oswego SUNY Potsdam Upstate Medical University