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Course and Program Exchanges

WICHE ICE gives member institutions the opportunity to offer and accept courses from other institutions based upon institutional and student needs.  Program exchanges are often in specialized disciplines and allow institutions to offer a degree or certificate program with requirments that are met, at least in part, by WICHE ICE member instititions.  They often will require further accreditation review or agency approvals and  agreements beyond  the scope of the WICHE ICE Operations Manual.

Descriptions of current program exchanges in social work, engineering, nursing and math and science education are below.  Further partnerships will be considered based on the needs of member institutions.

Specialized social work training for online students and practitioners in rural and frontier communities

WICHE ICE benefits institutions and students in a variety of ways.  Institutions can collaboratively offer programs that they do not have the expertise or resources to develop on their own.  For example, WICHE staff and the directors of five Schools and Colleges of Social Work have formed the Western Consortium for Rural Social Work Education (WCRSWE) to offer students the opportunity to pursue an online graduate certificate in rural social work education via WICHE ICE. This program is designed to meet the needs of current students and rural social workers.  Students respond positively to this new opportunity:

•  “Sometimes it is next to impossible to travel 300 or more miles to get the education.  Rural Social Work is in demand all over the West and online courses allow those who cannot travel to earn their degrees.”

• “There is a need to continue to reach my Master’s degree.  Right now I travel over an hour to reach my college.”

In the future, the consortium members plan to offer a certificate in Rural Behavioral/ Mental Health and in Health and Medical Social Work.  These collaborative offerings will be made available through WICHE ICE to member institutions throughout the Western region.

Specialized engineering courses

Faculty members also benefit from their institution’s members in WICHE ICE.  For example, Montana State University Bozeman is offering a road ecology course for fall 2008 to ICE students.  According to Professor Patrick McGowan, “WICHE ICE is a great way to offer this specialized course to other students in the Western region, using the resources of Montana State University and other national experts.”

Electives for PhD nursing students

Given the acute nursing faculty shortage, the Nursing Education Exchange (NEXus) provides an important resource in partnership with WICHE ICE as it offers PhD candidates more opportunities to complete their electives by sharing online courses offered by member institutions.  Students benefit from the convenience of online delivery and they have increased availability of elective courses to complete their PhD coursework from leading Nursing professors from throughout the West. 

Math and Science Teacher Education and In-Service Training

Students enrolled in teacher education programs and teachers in many Western states do not currently have access to specialized online courses in math and science education to help them meet initial and ongoing licensure requirements.  WICHE is working with member institutions so that secondary math and science education students in rural areas, and teachers employed by rural school districts, have increased access to specialized online courses to help them meet licensure and No Child Left Behind requirements.

Supply Chain Management Graduate Certificate

Students can focus on a particular aspect of supply chain management – radio frequency identification (RFID) or lean operations, by enrolling in the graduate certificate program offered jointly by the University of Alaska Anchorage and Boise State University.  Students can earn the 15 credit certificate from either institution to specialize in supply chain management and enhance their career options. Link to Supply Chain Management site»