Don’t Miss GSU’s: Fishin' Buddies! Walk-A-Thon! The ART of Nature

Get ready to have some fun while helping to raise money for a good cause.  In partnership with Fishin’ Buddies, the School of Extended Learning, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park, the Fishin’ Buddies Walk-a-Thon is a fund-raiser for the S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) Programs for Chicagoland at-risk youth.  In addition there are more than 100 local organizations, schools, businesses and clubs who are supporting the hikers, volunteers and sponsors.

The event takes place on Saturday, June 6^th, 2015 from 10am to 3pm with an onsite check-in at 9am.  Held at the beautiful Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park located on GSU’s main campus, participants will register as individuals or as a team.  Once you register, you can set up your own FB Walk-a-Thon Page where you can post information about your fundraising goal and personalize with pictures, videos and messages.  Then all you have to do is to share your page via Facebook, email or text and ask your support group to help you meet your fundraising goal. 

Not only does the event provide the opportunity to walk for a cause but also gives you a chance to experience the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park.  To help fully appreciate the park, there will be a FB Outdoor Assistant mobile app available to use to further explore the trails and learn more about GSU’s natural areas and student research projects. 

You will also have the opportunity to take a look at the Solo Exhibition Series: Don’t Tread on Me by Chakaia Booker.  The exhibit consists of three outdoor pieces, Serendipity (1998), Meeting Ends (2005) and What’s Not (2009).  Booker is renowned for her work with discarded automobile tires that are cut up into various shapes and sizes and then fastened onto wooden or metal armatures. 

Please see the School of Extended Learning’s website for more details and our online registration form.  Registration fees and donations can be made via debit card, credit card and/or check.

At GSU you will discover a highly diverse student body made up of individuals of all ages and backgrounds and courses that are taught by gifted professors.  At the School of Extended Learning we are dedicated to providing support and resources to all students, faculty, and the community to enhance individual growth and global understanding.

  

GSU’s Summer Young Adult Program

The Intensive ESL Program at GSU is designed to serve the needs of international and domestic students that want to improve their English language skills in order to further their academic success.  Taught by an experienced faculty, this exceptional program prepares students academically, socially, and culturally at the university level.  Students have the opportunity to become immersed in the English language and the program is available for beginner to advanced learners.  Courses start in the Fall, Spring or Summer semesters. 

In addition to our excellent Intensive ESL Program, we also offer our Summer Young Adult Program that is intended for international young adults between the ages of 15-25.  Through this comprehensive program, students will receive English language instruction, participate in workshops on American culture as well as take part in a number of cultural excursions.   Our proximity to Chicago offers students the opportunity to explore some of the area’s best music, sports, theatre, art, nature and shopping as well as the culture and community of the region.

As an all-inclusive program, we provide students with housing, most meals, ESL classes; cultural excursions, insurance, and airport pick up and drop off services.  If addition for those students who are interested, we offer on site TOEFL® testing.

We encourage you to learn more about the American Language and Culture Institute (ALCI) at GSU and the extensive services we provide to both international and U.S. students.  The Institute’s primary focus is to ensure the academic success of students whose first language is other than English.  Our services include tutoring, workshops and courses aimed at improving a student’s speaking, listening, reading, writing and grammar skills as well as test-taking skills and TOEFL test preparation. 

At GSU you will discover a highly diverse student body made up of individuals of all ages and backgrounds and courses that are taught by gifted professors.  At the School of Extended Learning we are dedicated to providing support and resources to all students, faculty, and the community to enhance individual growth and global understanding.

Corporate Training Opportunities at GSU

The School of Extended Learning at GSU believes that investing in lifelong learning provides employees more satisfying, productive working lives. Furthermore, we feel it is one of the best ways to enhance job performance, teamwork and overall corporate competitiveness. Thereby our mission at GSU is to assist companies in their quest to become industry leaders by offering their employees the most effective training available.

Governors State University’s Corporate Education and Training program will bring professional level training right to your company or organization.  The various offerings range from courses such as Supply Chain Optimization Leadership Overview and the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certificate course that focuses on both Advanced Lean Techniques and Six Sigma "Green Belt" methodologies.

Our extensive list of courses allows corporations to delegate Governors State as their regional headquarters for workforce preparation, employee training, business development and technology deployment.  These resources are available throughout the Chicago Southland Area.  While we want to encourage you to take a look at our current training courses and online selections, be sure to check back with us frequently to see about any new courses and training opportunities we may have added.

Furthermore, GSU has partnered with OnCourse Learning.  They are a provider of high-quality, state approved, customized training solutions, textbooks, and occupational tools for both pre-licensing and continuing education.  Courses include topics that cover real estate, appraisal, mortgage, home inspection, IT, engineering, insurance, and bank and credit union industries.

The School of Extended Learning recognizes that on-campus daytime classes are not always possible for students because of work and family schedules or active military service.  We also know that many students – often GSU alumni who found their love for learning here – want to keep on learning for a lifetime. We are designed to meet those needs and more.

We invite you to explore our many degree, certificate and individual course offerings listed on our website.  GSU has a highly diverse student body made up of individuals of all ages and backgrounds and our courses are taught by gifted professors.  Learn more about the rich history, cultural amenities and beautiful campus that contributes to making us one of the top colleges in Illinois.  

ESL Students – Improve Your Skills

If you are a student in the Chicago area and want to improve your English language skills, Governors State University offers a program you may be interested in through our School of Extended Learning.  The American Language and Culture Institute’s (ALCI) program is designed and taught by a professional faculty to prepare students academically, socially, and culturally for success as university students.

Our Intensive ESL Program is for both international and U.S. students and is available year-round.  It is taught by an ESL faculty that is experienced in assisting students who consider themselves English Language Learners, and the program utilizes cutting-edge teaching methods, curriculum design, and up-to-date research.    

Students are provided with specialized course work that includes Listening and Speaking, Reading and Writing, Integrated Studies, Multimodal Composing, Pronunciation and Cross Cultural Contexts.  Our program is also intended to help student with TOEFL test preparation. 

Regardless of whether you are a beginning learner or a student with more advanced English skills, our program can help to prepare you to do better academically at the university level.   Please keep in mind that students applying to the Intensive ESL Program are not automatically guaranteed admittance to Governor State’s undergraduate or graduate programs.  Students are still required to meet the university standards for admission, and the application process requires a transcript evaluation as well as TOEFL® or IELTS scores.

To apply to our Intensive ESL Program, we offer a convenient online application.  The program accepts students 18 years or older, and for students 17 years of age, they need to submit their school transcripts.  For your convenience, we offer an easy online application.   Please see our website for more information.

Along with our extensive ESL programs, GSU’s Office of International Services is available to assist all international students, international faculty, staff and scholars, study abroad students and their families.  We are proud to be home to a diverse population with representation from countries around the globe. We encourage you to learn more about the rich history, cultural amenities and beautiful campus that contributes to making us one of the top colleges in Illinois.