Northern Arizona Universitiy
Cowden Learning Communty-Three-year Degree Program
Address: NAU Box 5612
City: Flagstaff
State: AZ
Zip or Postal Code: 86011
Country: US
Program Director (or best person to contact): Patricia Ruppert Brown, Ph.D.
Email: Patricia.Brown@nau.edu
Phone: 520-523-0333
Fax: 520-523-9984
Web Address: http://www.nau.edu/3year
Brief Program Summary
The Three Year Degree Program has the flexibility, innovation, content and appeal for those who desire or require a different type of academic program. This program is a viable alternative for students who are well prepared for college and who anticipate continuing their education in professional or graduate school. NAU has created an entirely new program of support which integrates the academic and social life of the student. All freshmen in the Three Year Degree Program are required to live in Cowden Learning Community (CLC) for their first year of college. Cowden houses students in the Three Year Degree Program, New Century Honors Program and Education House. It is a twenty-four hour "quiet" hall.
In this program it is expected that students will have to attend at least one summer but the student may opt to attend a community college near home rather than stay on campus. The accelerated benefit of a three year degree will enable traditional students to develop an alternative to four years of study.component, when necessary, can be completed at home in a community college setting, saving the costs of housing as well as higher tuition.
Sources of funding
Program Reports To:
Are students charged an additional fee: No
The number of persons in each of the following categories are teaching academic credit bearing courses
Fulltime Tenured Faculty: 0
Fulltime Probationary Faculty: 0
Fulltime Instructors: 0
Fulltime Retired Faculty: 0
Fulltime Adjunct Faculty: 1
Fulltime Graduate Students: 0
Fulltime Residence Hall Staff: 0
Parttime Tenured Faculty: 0
Parttime Probationary Faculty: 0
Parttime Instructors: 0
Parttime Retired Faculty: 0
Parttime Adjunct Faculty: 0
Parttime Graduate Students: 0
Parttime Residence Hall Staff: 0
Academic staff involved in the program that weren't included as faculty above
(Academic staff are personnel who are involved in providing academic services to students such as advising.)
Fulltime Academic Staff: 0
Parttime Academic Staff: 0
Non-academic staff involved in the program
(Non-academic staff are personnel who are involved in providing services that do not directly involve academics such as residence hall staff or staff who organize social activities that are not tied to academics.)
Fulltime Non-Academic Staff: 0
Parttime Non-Academic Staff: 0
Number of faculty offices in the residence hall: 3
The approximate percentage of students in each grade level
First Year: 50
Second Year: 35
Third Year: 0
Fourth Year and above: 20
Graduate Students: 0
Total Number of Students: 105
Year the Program Began:1996
Academic Courses Offered In The Community
All majors may apply to the three-year program except Secondary Education and Nursing
Other Academic Offerings
Classrooms in hall
Summary of Facilities and Facilities Budget
Computer Resources in the Residence Hall
computer lab; all rooms have internet set up
The Role of Community Partnerships
The Role of Leadership Development
The Role of Research
Summary of Assessment Activities
Summary of Extracurricular Activities Formally Associated with the Program
The Role of Interdisciplinary Studies
How Diversity Issues are Addressed in the Program and in Courses
How Diversity Issues are Addressed Among Faculty and Students
Student Demographics
75% of students in the Three Year Degree Program are White and 25% are Hispanic, Asian, African American and Native American.
Over 2/3's of the students are female.
Faculty Rewards for Participation in the Program
Release Time:
Salary Supplement:
Travel Funds:
Other:
Description of Other Rewards
Disciplines Represented by the Faculty
The most represented majors included:
Hotel and Restaurant Management
Exercise Science (pre-Physical Therapy)
Biology (pre-Medical)
History, English or Speech Communications (pre-Legal)
Elementary Education
Business Administration
Willing to Serve as a Consultant:
Yes
Greatest Challenges for this Learning Community:
Suggested Bibliography