Iowa State University
12-19-95

Contacts:
Mary Jane Brotherson, College of Family and Consumer Sciences, (515) 294-3677
Michelle Johnson, News Service, (515) 294-8986

IOWA REGENTS UNIVERSITIES TO USE ICN AS PART OF COOPERATIVE GRADUATE TRAINING PROGRAM

AMES, Iowa -- A new cooperative graduate training program in early childhood special education will enable Iowa State University to share its expertise with the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa via the Iowa Communications Network (ICN).

The three-year program is in response to an increased need in the number of early childhood educators and other professionals who are capable of guiding and nurturing children experiencing a broad array of developmental disorders and conditions.

"The program combines the unique strengths of each university in the early childhood education, child development and family studies disciplines," said Mary Jane Brotherson, ISU professor of human development and family studies. "On a national level, there is a severe shortage of teachers and leaders in the field of early childhood special education. The regents cooperative graduate program is Iowa's response to this trend."

Each of the three regents universities will enroll nine graduate students into the cooperative program. Students will be able to take six courses, two from each university, at ICN classroom sites located on the three campuses and at three additional sites in the state.

Each university also will host a week-long summer institute for the 27 students enrolled in the cooperative program. ISU will host the summer institute in 1997.

The regents universities graduate training program is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education and is conducted in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Education and the Bureau of Special Education.

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