UpDate - Vol. 12, No. 23, Page 9
March 11, 1993
Teaching the First State's teachers

     Teaching Delaware teachers tuition-free during the summer sessions is
one of the University's long-standing educational outreach programs. The
program, which was originally created many years ago to encourage Delaware
teachers to further their education, is funded by the state, with the
balance of its support from the University.
     A similar program  is available at Delaware State College.
     This educational opportunity for the state's public school teachers,
administrators and instructional aides who are certified as full-time by
the state is not generally available at universities in other states,
according to Frank Murray, dean of the College of Education and H. Rodney
Sharp Professor in the Departments of Educational Studies and Psychology.
     "Teachers need to keep up to date in content and technology and also
need to renew and refine their skills. This program benefits not only
teachers but the whole educational structure in the state through improved
teaching in the classroom," Murray said.
     The arrangement is written into the Delaware code, according to Allan
Fanjoy, special sessions administrator.
     Last summer, approximately 1,000 teachers enrolled in University
courses. The teachers select whatever courses they are qualified to take on
the same basis as any other summer session student. They may be enrolled in
a degree program or take courses as continuing education students.
     The program is popular with teachers, both from an educational
standpoint and because it upgrades their professional qualifications and
meets the Delaware Department of Public Instruction's requirements for
continued training, Fanjoy said.
     The College of Education and other colleges design programs and
courses geared for teachers, and there are special institutes for teachers
during the summer in such areas as foreign languages and literatures,
government and computer technology.
     The only expenses a teacher incurs are a $15 general fee and the cost
of books and materials, according to Fanjoy.
     Registration for summer sessions begins May 12. Two five-week summer
sessions run from June 7-July 10 and from July 12-August 13. A longer
seven-week component of the first session runs from June 7-July 29.
                                        --Sue Swyers Moncure