MTSU officials seek input on proposal

Initial classes offered at the proposed MTSU South satellite campus would include course work for a Master of Education degree, but Middle Tennessee State University officials want to know what other subjects might be of interest to potential students.

"We do want people to understand that the initial course work offered in the Bedford County location will be for the Master of Education degree with additional offerings planned," said David Foster, MTSU continuing education director. "The online survey will help us to determine other course possibilities."

MTSU's College of Continuing Education and Distance Learning has placed a survey online at www.mtsusouth.com, and public input is sought by the university.

Some MTSU graduate classes in education already will be offered next summer in Shelbyville. With the appropriate approvals, a full-blown program could be established by the fall of next year at the Medical Arts Building on Dover Street, behind the former Bedford County Medical Center.

The goal is to receive approval from the Tennessee Board of Regents and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission for the Medical Arts Building in Shelbyville to become an off-campus center and offer additional classes.

"Right now we need people to go to the web site and fill out the survey," said Foster. "We need to collect as many surveys as possible so that we can include those in our needs assessment. Anyone can fill out the survey, and it will only take a couple of minutes. We've had 300 responses but could use five times that many, since we want to accurately represent the views of the citizens of this region."

The educational partnership between MTSU, Motlow State Community College, the Tennessee Technology Center at Shelbyville, and Bedford County, among others, took root more than a year ago. In addition to the online survey, officials have been sending out letters to area businesses asking for their support.

"People are already saying 'MTSU is coming to town,'" Foster noted.

Dr. Mike Boyle, continuing education dean, called MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee and Bedford County Mayor Eugene Ray the "drivers" behind this education initiative. A supporting cast has included Motlow president Dr. Mary Lou Apple, Bedford County school officials and key legislators.

"I have never seen such a grass-roots groundswell of support," Boyle said. "This is a program that will benefit the entire region. It is vital that residents in the area access the web site and fill out the interest survey."

Dr. Dianna Rust, MTSU's director of outreach and distance learning, said organizers plan to present the formal proposal to the TBR at its January meeting. "However," she said, "we want to complete a draft, including financial projections, as early as next month. So we hope to receive many interest surveys and letters of support within the next couple of weeks."

Added Boyle: "Everyone is agreeing that this is a great partnership. MTSU and President McPhee are committed to this. The benefits of a program like this will affect the entire state of Tennessee in a positive way. If everything is approved as we hope, there will be a grand-opening celebration at the appropriate time."

WHAT YOU CAN DO

For more information, call MTSU's College of Continuing Education and Distance Learning at (615) 898-2177. The interest survey can be accessed at www.mtsusouth.com.