School for Adult Learning celebrates 10 years
By Crystal Abrell
Distribution Manager
The University of Indianapolis School for Adult Learning hosted a 10-year anniversary dinner Friday, April 11 in the Schwitzer Student Center Dining Room. Around 100 alumni, students and faculty joined to honor the SAL. SAL students are adults from many different backgrounds, circumstances and walks of life.
The SAL originated in 1998 with assistance from the Lilly Foundation. Lilly provided the UIndy with an “enable” grant, which helped more adults to become educated. In 2003, UIndy provided 50 adult students with bachelor’s degrees. By this year’s 10th anniversary of the program, 500 adults had earned bachelor’s degrees from UIndy. The School for Adult Learning is now completely financially self-sustaining
The SAL accelerated program offers two baccalaureate degrees: organizational leadership and liberal studies. The academic year contains three five-week intervals. Minors in psychology and business administration also are available to all students in the program.
Dean of the SAL and Associate Provost Patricia Jefferson said UIndy created the SAL program to provide adult students with a program that is flexible, accessible and accelerated.
“One of the purposes of our program is to give adults an opportunity to get a college education without quitting their jobs and still having time for family and their everyday life,” Jefferson said.
Students must be at least 24 years old and can range up to 80 years old. The same admission procedures apply for SAL students as they do for all UIndy’s students. Regular students can be accepted into the program after special consideration.
According to Norma Seib, a 2007 graduate who completed 18 credit hours a semester within two years and is now in the UIndy School of Nursing, the SAL accelerated program allowed her to be able to return to school and finish the degree she desired.
“The accelerated program provides much flexibility, has interesting coursework, and provides great interaction with my colleagues,” she said.
Gerry Conklin, another SAL graduate, was a Blackhawk pilot who attended the SAL after leaving the military. After graduation from the School for Adult Learning, he obtained a high leadership position in his company.
“There were open arms, a welcoming feeling. The fact that they were able to take a lot of my background and incorporate that into a degree was a wonderful opportunity for me,” Conklin said.
Jefferson said she looks forward to the future of the program and has a positive outlook for the goals of SAL.
“I hope to get more people involved in our program,” Jefferson said. “It would also be wonderful to have more majors for the students to choose from. We really make our adult students feel welcome and have exceptional professors to guide their learning.”
