New degree opportunity at two year campuses
Dan Posca
Issue date: 4/21/09 Section: News
Chancellor DavidWilson of the UW-System is proposing a new Bachelors of Applied Arts and Sciences Degree (BAAS) for two year campuses. This degree is meant to target both adult students and those not transferring to a four year.
Chancellor Wilson will be meeting with the other UW chancellors to see if they are open to the proposal. They will look into seeing if there is a market for the degree and how it will affect tuition costs. The chancellors
are also looking into how potential employers will view this degree. A draft of their proposal should be ready in early April.
The degree will require the student to attain 120 credits; however, if attending a four year school, they only need to take 25-35 of those credits in the UW-System. These credits will have to be in the 300 or 400
level courses and can be taken online so that the student will not have to commute to a four year campus. Student will also have the opportunity to meet with their professors at the four year campuses.
Enrollment should increase in two year schools with the availability of this degree. However, Chancellor Wilson wanted people to be sure that, "We are not pursuing this degree for the tuition boosting purposes."
They believe that the Board of Regents will accept their proposal; however the final decision is not up to the board. It is for the UW-System as a whole to decide. The UW-System will decide in June if this degree is a worthwhile pursuit.
Chancellor Wilson will be meeting with the other UW chancellors to see if they are open to the proposal. They will look into seeing if there is a market for the degree and how it will affect tuition costs. The chancellors
are also looking into how potential employers will view this degree. A draft of their proposal should be ready in early April.
The degree will require the student to attain 120 credits; however, if attending a four year school, they only need to take 25-35 of those credits in the UW-System. These credits will have to be in the 300 or 400
level courses and can be taken online so that the student will not have to commute to a four year campus. Student will also have the opportunity to meet with their professors at the four year campuses.
Enrollment should increase in two year schools with the availability of this degree. However, Chancellor Wilson wanted people to be sure that, "We are not pursuing this degree for the tuition boosting purposes."
They believe that the Board of Regents will accept their proposal; however the final decision is not up to the board. It is for the UW-System as a whole to decide. The UW-System will decide in June if this degree is a worthwhile pursuit.

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