The Knowledge Exchange at GSU’s School of Extended Learning

One of the big ideas that GSU has pursued since it was founded more than 40 years ago is to make education accessible.  The School of Extended Learning is one of the ways we meet those needs.  We serve individuals who find on-campus daytime classes not always possible because of work and family schedules or active military service. 

We also serve the needs of U.S. and international English Language Learners through our programs from the American Language and Culture Institute.  In addition we have programs designed to meet the needs of lifelong learners such as our Knowledge Exchange.  

The unique and diverse non-credited courses that makeup the Knowledge Exchange are intended to encourage shared learning and the free exchange of opinions and ideas.   Specifically targeted for retired and semi-retired learners, courses take place within an open, relaxed and friendly environment and are reasonably priced. 

The morning session classes are 10-12 p.m. with an hour break between the start of the afternoon 1-3 p.m. session.  The lunch break between classes is a great time to enjoy lunch with other Knowledge Exchange participants and to continue classroom discussions and share ideas.   On occasion we offer Lunch and Learn lectures which are free and open to the public.

An example of a course from the Knowledge Exchange Winter 2015 session is World History: The Middle Ages.  This course examines major developments in Europe from roughly the year 1000 CE to 1500 CE.  The major events covered include the Crusades, the Plague, the Hundred Years’ War, the development of the nation-state and the rise of trade and towns. 

Another course is Great Decisions, an annual staple of the The Knowledge Exchange which employs the Foreign Policy Association’s book Great Decisions as a tool for engaging in lively and informed discussions about world affairs.  This year’s class includes topics on Privacy in the Digital Age, Syria’s Refuge Crisis, and Sectarianism in the Middle East.

We encourage you to come out and join the fun!  See the School of Extended Learning’s website for all the details. 

We invite you to explore our many degree, certifcertificate and individual course offeringsicate and individual course offerings listed on our website.  Each college has stellar programs and world-class professors; all of which are focused on delivering academic excellence in a small-class setting.  Learn more about the rich history, cultural amenities and beautiful campus that contributes to making us one of the top colleges in Illinois.  

GSU’s Naperville Education Center Continues to Grow

Governors State University Naperville Education Center (NEC) is attracting more and more students by offering exceptional programs along with our convenient location and class times. Currently the NEC has Bachelor of Arts degree programs in criminal justice, psychology and interdisciplinary studies for students entering with an associate’s degree or 60 college credit hours. Most Bachelor of Arts programs will except up to 80 credits.

Furthermore, NEC’s range of programs includes a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt course that provides the tools to become green belt certified and a practitioner of Lean Six Sigma.  Students learn advanced Lean techniques and Six Sigma Green Belt methodologies through a hybrid format.  You will learn to integrate theories of business, statistics, and the elimination of waste in order to achieve tangible results.

A new program to GSU’s Naperville Education Center for the Summer 2015 Semester is our Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology.  This program is designed to develop competent and creative professionals who have the capacity to function in a variety of clinical settings, including research and academic settings. It is based upon the scientist-practitioner model that calls for psychologists to be trained both as scientists and as practitioners.

We are also recruiting students for NEC’s 2015 Fall Semester for programs that include a Master of Arts in School Counseling, a M.A. in Educational Administration / Principal Leadership Program and a M.A. in Multicategorical Special Education/LBS l Unlimited Endorsement.  Please see our website for all of the details. 

More news from NEC is that we now have a SBDC International Trade Center satellite office.  And coming soon are plans for a B.S. in Computer Science program.  The NEC is located at 2244 W. 95th Street on the third floor of the Fry Properties Building.

Academic excellence and innovation are natural partners. At Governors State University you’ll find an abundance of both.  We have a highly diverse student body and our courses are taught by gifted professors. Our rich history, cultural amenities and a beautiful campus all contribute to making us one of the best colleges in Illinois.

GSU’s American Language and Culture Institute

The School of Extended Learning’s American Language and Culture Institute (ALCI) serves the needs of both international and U.S. students who wish to improve their English language skills.  ALCI’s primary focus is to ensure the academic success of students whose first language is other than English.  The Institute provides English Language Learners a range of services designed to improve speaking, listening, reading, writing and grammar skills as well as test-taking skills and TOEFL test preparation.  

The ALCI offers an ELS Summer Youth Program which provides international young adults an opportunity to be immersed in the English language. Participants will receive English language instruction, workshops on American culture and history as well as cultural excursions. The program is open to international students between the ages of 15-25 and includes housing; most meals, ESL classes, cultural excursions, and even airport pick up and drop off services.  We offer TOEFL® testing on site if desired.

The ALCI exceptional programs also include the Cultural and Professional Development Experience, which is a 10-week summer program held at GSU.  The program provides participants with an American cultural experience that includes evening and weekend excursions to museums, restaurants and historical sites in the Chicago area.  

Furthermore, while participating in the program, you will have the opportunity to meet and coordinate with members of the GSU faculty to discuss pedagogy and research practices.  Participants will also receive instruction in speaking and listening, reading and writing and multimodal literacy.  For those who have an interest, TOEFL® test preparation and onsite TOEFL testing is available.  The program includes housing, two meals a day, local transportation, textbooks, all course instruction, evening and weekend trips and insurance. In addition participants will sign up for a free online orientation course that is provided three weeks prior to the beginning of the summer program.

To discover out more about ACLI’s broad range of services, workshops, private tutoring, community outreach programs and socialization opportunities, please see our website or contact one of the staff.

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.  

Learn More About: Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification

Would you like to learn the proper techniques for achieving resolution of a problem?  Or are you a college or graduate student looking for a competitive edge in the hiring process or currently unemployed and need to enhance your credentials for future employment?  The solution can be found at the GSU School of Extended Learning’s unique course offering called Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification.

The course is designed for anyone who would like to get a thorough understanding of Six Sigma Methodology.   During the training, you are prepared to become Green Belt certified and to apply the techniques at an organization.  As part of the instruction, the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification offers assistance with project planning and a variety of statistical tools.  Students are instructed in methods to integrate theories of business, statistics, and the elimination of waste with a goal of achieving real, tangible results.     

The School of Extended Learning’s course also lays the foundational framework for Six Sigma Black Belt Certification.  An interesting statistic from the 8th Annual iSixSigma Global Salary Survey indicates that professionals with Black Belt Certification in the U.S. earn an average annual salary of $122,627.  Additionally their statistics show that U.S. professionals who complete any Six Sigma training earn $12,642 more than those without it (2011QP Salary Survey). 

The Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certificate course is offered at the main GSU campus and the Naperville Education Center. In addition Governors State University’s Corporate Education and Training offers the option of bringing the training to your organization or corporation.

At GSU we believe that investing in lifelong learning leads employees toward more satisfying, productive working lives. Lean Six Sigma is ideal for executives, managers, front-line supervisors, business owners, engineers and practitioners of continuous improvement.  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.