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TRANSFORMATIONAL LEARNING
Advantage Adds Four Advantage Launches Graduate Certificates Mentoring Program
A
busy adults. Four new concentrations being offered extends
T
Avila’s reputation for one of the most effective and trail-
insight to new students, serving as a guide for new students
blazing sources of higher education for working adults.
and to the benefit of both mentor and mentee.
We are excited about the flexibility and additional options these new cutting edge certificates give our students,” said Steve Iliff, Ph.D, dean of Avila Advantage. “These programs make our students even more remarkable to their current employers and enable them to transition to new paths.” The four certificate programs are:
“The mentoring program was added as one more tool for our students to have in their academic toolbox,” said Sarah Sullivan, academic advisor for Avila Advantage and director of the Mentoring Project. “We are here to see our students succeed through graduation and beyond. This is a win-win for everybody involved. The mentees receive assistance from current students, and the mentors receive leadership skills. We currently have a wonderful group of mentors who have exceled in our program and wanted to pay it forward.” The mentoring project will help students understand issues like:
vila Advantage, Avila University’s adult education
division offers accelerated and flexible programs for
■■ Strategic Human Resources Certificate This graduate certificate will prepare students to take the Professional in Human Resources exam. The earned credit hours can roll into a master of arts degree in management. ■■ Leadership Coaching Certification This curriculum is designed for those in a leadership role, or wanting to move in to one. The certificate is the foundation of obtaining a master of science degree in organizational development. ■■ Executive Leadership Using the latest best practices in leadership, this certificate propels careers to the executive levels of management. The certificate lays the groundwork for a master of science degree in organizational development. ■■ Instructional Design & Technology Students gain the skills to utilize adult learning theory, design curriculum and coursework, leverage technology and social media to impact change or enhance employee development within an organization. The earned credit hours are the foundation for the masters of arts degree in management. The addition of these graduate certificates ensures that Avila Advantage remains one of the most effective and trailblazing sources of higher education for working adults in the Kansas City area.
he Avila Advantage Mentoring Project places
students together in an organized structure whereby
an experienced student passes along information and
• School policies for registration
• Understanding class syllabi
• Finding classrooms
• Tutoring and office hours
• Grades
• Financial aid
This program is designed to help students who are returning to school or for those current students in the program who need additional encouragement to reach graduation. All objectives of the project are designed to benefit the mentees and are aimed to give mentees the opportunity of an additional resource in their initial contact with the university setting. By having an additional resource in the relationship with colleagues (mentors), mentees benefit from the mentoring project at different levels: individual, community and networking. Mentors make a firm commitment for one academic year and assist mentees with such aspects as on-line classes and answering questions pertaining to Avila’s systems. Students can sign up for mentoring as a new student or at any time during the Advantage program.