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SCI to Offer Teaching Certificate ; Students at Springfield Campus Can Earn Bachelor's Degree in Education From Benedictine

Posted on: Friday, 8 April 2005, 12:00 CDT

Benedictine University will offer an elementary education bachelor's degree at Springfield College in Illinois starting this fall.

Students could pursue a kindergarten-through-ninth-grade teaching certificate at the campus, which will allow graduates to teach anywhere in the state.

The elementary education degree is the fifth bachelor's program offered through Benedictine at the SCI campus.

"We keep getting a tremendous amount of students wanting to do an education degree," said Sue Doddek, SCI spokeswoman. "Certainly the statistics in the state of Illinois reflect a need for this type of program."

Doddek cited a state estimate that 12,000 new teachers will be needed in Illinois by 2007.

Chuck Flamini, curriculum coordinator for SCI, developed the program, which recently was approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education. He said graduates of the K-9 program will be eligible to teach middle school.

"That particular niche is an even greater need than just elementary education," said Flamini, who is retired from the Springfield public schools. "They'll come out able to teach both."

SCI is holding an information session on the new program at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Dawson Hall on the SCI campus, 1500 N. Fifth St. Flamini and Rich Campbell of the Benedictine education department will be available to answer questions.

The curriculum is designed for transfer students, but Doddek said SCI is targeting two other groups: traditional freshmen and career- changers. Freshmen entering SCI would earn an associate's degree, then continue through the Benedictine elementary education program.

The program includes one semester of student teaching. It's designed as a junior- and senior-year program, but the actual completion time will vary.

"In a perfect world, with a kid transferring in after having an associate's degree, it could be possible (to finish in two years)," Flamini said. "But there will be some folks coming in who have some other classes they need to complete, so it'll be more of a case-by- case basis."

The proposal Flamini presented to the Board of Higher Education estimated an inaugural class of about 25 students. He said that number was intentionally conservative, however, and actual enrollment should be closer to 60.

"There's a huge number of people beating down the doors today," he said. "And there were large numbers expressing interest even before the official announcement."

Flamini is in the process of interviewing instructors. He expects to hire about seven new teachers who will join the school as adjunct faculty. Existing SCI faculty members could also teach some courses, he said.

Both daytime and nighttime classes will be available, Flamini said.

Source: State Journal Register

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