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Idaho State University MBA Program Goes Online
Giving A Voice To Some Special Young Men
BY MARYLAND DOLL
B
ack-to-school season could take on a whole new meaning for the Wood River Valley thanks to Idaho State University’s latest course addition. This fall the ISU College of Business will be offering a new fully online MBA program, making it easier for Valley residents to achieve a master’s degree in business administration without having to commute to Twin Falls (or farther) to attend classes. The program is just one of several online educational opportunities ISU will be offering in the fall as part of an effort to facilitate higher learning regardless of geographics. The University’s MBA program has always consisted of “Core I” and “Core II” coursework, with the Core I previously being the only one offered online. However, because of a growing demand and need from students, the entire program will now be offered online, as well as in the classroom. This addition, says ISU Director of Graduate Studies Heidi Wadsworth, allows the University to “offer the highest quality MBA at the most affordable cost with tremendous flexibility for our busy students. The online option is an opportunity for us to grow our program even more and to serve a greater population.” However, this isn’t the first attempt by ISU to provide outreach to the Wood River Valley’s growing population of educated professionals. Besides the new MBA program, the University also offers a Summer Spanish Institute, which provides graduate level professional development credits, allowing educators to earn credits that go toward the renewal of their teaching certificates. Another tool for educators is the utilization of the Idaho Education Network (IEN), available at Wood River high schools, which delivers coursework in ISU’s doctoral program in Higher Education Administration. Lastly, ISU has an online Bachelor’s in Workplace Training and Leadership course which recognizes a student’s work experience and technical skills while granting up to 24 competency-based credits toward their degree, now available as an MA program. This is not to mention the many other online credential programs available on the ISU website. Although it can be difficult to completely replicate a classroom setting and the attentiveness that comes with being able to interact with your professor and peers, moving classes onto the web brings higher education to a
The four men in the V.O.I.C.E. program helped clean up and refurbish the home that includes Jamie Ellison’s office, a kitchen, laundry room, recreation room and guest room. They filled it with donated chairs and other furniture. The Weekly Sun File Photo BY KAREN BOSSICK
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acota Ratcliffe opens the door at Pet Grooming by Debbie and offers a calculated smile. “Hello. How are you?” he greets his co-workers, who are busy stocking shelves with beef hide sticks and sweet potato dog chews. It’s only a few words. But it’s enough to make people sit up and take notice. “I met Dacota in high school and for four years he walked around with his head down, going from point A to point B clutching his computer bag. He didn’t want to communicate. He didn’t know how to communicate. He came to the V.O.I.C.E. II program this year and he blossomed,” said Jamie Ellison, who oversees V.O.I.C.E. II. V.O.I.C.E. II, or Vocational Occupational Independent Career Education, was started by the Blaine County School District this year to help youngsters who deal with such issues as Asperger’s and Down’s syndrome make the transition from high school to living and working in the community. Young adults between the ages of 18 and 21 learn work skills, and they learn how to live and recreate independently. Four students offered to be pioneers: Ratcliffe, Nathan Lago, Thomas Moell and Tadd Saldivia. Ellison, who oversees the program, expects as many as nine participants this year and, perhaps, 15 next year. Ratcliffe was diagnosed at 12 with Asperger’s syndrome, characterized by nonverbal communication and difficulties with social interaction. But today anyone observing him wash dogs or lean into a push mower at Debbie’s might just think he’s a quiet guy. “He started talking, walking and doing other things
normally. But as he got older, we kept hitting bumps. He was very quiet, not social. He never took social cues. He kept to himself. And normal things everybody said to do didn’t work,” said his mother, Daphne Ratcliffe. “Two years ago I never thought Dacota would be able to leave home by the time he reaches 25. But, thanks to V.O.I.C.E., I can see it happening. His social improvement and self-confidence has been phenomenal.”
THE COMMUNITY—“OUR CLASSROOM”
Lago has Down’s syndrome, which limits his intellectual ability. He was a popular student at Wood River High School where he was elected homecoming and prom king. But he graduated without learning to read. Ellison worked with him to figure out how he could hold down a job at McClain’s Pizzeria, without someone having to hold his hand every minute. An alarm on Lago’s iPad tells him when it’s time to head to work. When he gets there, he calls Ellison to say, “Game on.” Pictures on his laptop remind him of tasks he has to perform, starting with stocking ice. He’s also learned to recognize some words by sight. “It’s neat because I don’t have to go to work with him anymore,” said Ellison. “Nathan didn’t know how to use the phone before. Now he can call me and hold a conversation. People tell me, ‘I can’t believe Nathan rides the bus.’ ‘I can’t believe Dacota had a conversation with me.’ ” Legally, schools have to provide help for special needs students as they transition into adulthood. V.O.I.C.E gives the students an opportunity to learn independent living skills so they can achieve the highest level of independence possible, said Debi Gutknecht, director of special services for the school district. The program has been a dream of Ellison’s since he
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