By NORINE ROWE
NAS Patuxent River Public Affairs Department

PATUXENT RIVER NAVAL AIR STATION, MD-Station personnel took advantage of the convenience of one-stop shopping last week when higher-ed hopefuls from the military and civilian ranks turned out in full force for the annual college fair here. Many colleges and universities offering programs in the southern Maryland region were represented at the June 7 event, sponsored by the Navy College Office at Pax.

"The college fair gives station personnel an opportunity to explore course offerings, admission requirements, tuition costs and financial aid all in one convenient location," said Christie Dunn, director of the Navy College Office at NAS Patuxent River. "Our goal is to cater to the needs of students by bringing college representatives to one location where station personnel may explore the variety of educational opportunities available to them," she added.

While some station personnel came to the college fair with specific educational goals, many came to explore the wide range of course offerings and degree programs available. Some personnel wanted to explore continuing education programs to upgrade or gain new job skills, hoping to improve their chances for promotion. Others wanted to earn a degree that would make them more marketable once they separate from the service.

"Continuing education is important for everyone in any job field, whether you're in the service or not," said PRCS Kevan Lee, a logistician with the Naval Air Systems Command. "It helps you develop better job skills and improve self confidence while opening avenues for personal and professional advancement."

With 19 years of military service under his belt, Lee plans to earn his college degree while in the service so he's prepared to enter the civilian workforce with marketable skills once he retires from the Navy. And like many others at the college fair, he came to get an overview of the variety of educational options available to him.

AT1(AW) Kyle Lutick of the Naval Research Lab, another college fair attendee, also had his eye on the future as he explored the range of educational options available to him. "I don't want to be flippin' burgers when I get out of the Navy," said Lutick who currently has an associate's degree and wants to earn a bachelor's degree before he separates from the service. Since he travels a lot in his work, Lutick was gathering information at the college fair about online courses that would make it possible for him to continue his higher education studies while on travel.

To address the needs of adult students who have to fit educational goals around work requirements, many of the educational institutions at the college fair offer a variety of flexible learning options. Distance learning, online courses and televised instruction are becoming a standard feature at institutions of higher education that serve a broad mix of adult students. For those who are trying to balance the simultaneous demands of career, family and school, such flexible learning options are becoming more and more a necessity. Take, for instance, the student who can't afford the time it takes to travel to classrooms at distant campus locations. For them, if the program they are seeking is not offered locally, pursuing their higher education goals might be impossible if not for televised or online instruction. Recognizing this need, many colleges and universities have stepped up to the plate with a surprising variety of distance-learning options.

One such course is the Professional Master of Engineering degree offered by the University of Maryland, College Park via instructional television. Because of this wide-ranging format, there is no minimum amount of students required to register at an individual site. This means that even if only a few students at Pax River are interested in the program, they will be able to enroll. Also, broadcasts are live and interactive, so students have the opportunity to ask questions of the instructor and take part in class discussions.

University of Maryland University College also offers some innovative, distance-learning options geared towards the working adult. In addition to online master's and certificate programs in education and teaching, UMUC also offers graduate certificate programs in Distance Education and Technology and Training at a Distance.

In addition to providing distance-learning options, leading educational institutions are developing programs designed specifically for local residents. Johns Hopkins University, for example, has developed a degree program for southern Maryland residents leading to a bachelor of science in engineering science. Local residents may obtain the engineering foundation courses required by Johns Hopkins University, up to 72 credit hours, at the College of Southern Maryland. Further coursework offers areas of concentration in civil engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, environmental engineering science and mechanical engineering. These areas of concentration also satisfy the pre-requisite education requirements for graduate studies in the program areas.

To meet the needs of the professional work force at NAS Patuxent River, many institutions of higher education offer programs of study in the local region. Some of these institutions, like Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the Florida Institute of Technology, offer programs in the station's Frank Knox Employee Development Center. Many other educational institutions offer programs in the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center. The College of Notre Dame, for example, offers a master of arts in management at SMHEC. Bowie State University also offers a variety of educational programs locally, including an information systems analyst certificate program, a bachelor of science in technology and a master of science in management information systems.

With all these "opportunities at your doorstep," station employees may now actively pursue their higher education goals within the local region.

-USN-