In the University Without Walls building on Campus Center Way, the new open concept space was recently shared with people of the department’s past and present who were all there for one mission—to sort through challenges and help build its outreach for the future of the program. 

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As part of a departmental initiative put forth by Julie Skogsbergh, UWW Department of Interdisciplinary Studies interim chair, the program held its first summit last week to share ideas and set in motion a strategic plan on how the online program can reach more adult and non-traditional students who want to continue and complete their bachelor’s degrees with UMass Amherst.  

The UWW Department of Interdisciplinary Studies is the original flagship program that opened its doors in the early 1970s for what was then called continuing education for non-traditional students acknowledging that learning happened outside the walls of academia. The program evolved to meet the needs of adults of diverse backgrounds, offering college credit for related work and life experience and eventually shifting to a fully online program.  

In recent years, 90% of enrolled students are 25 years and older, with the average age being 37. Many are parents, active military personnel, veterans and first-generation college students, Skogsbergh said. 

UWW celebrated its 50^th anniversary last year, a year later than originally planned due to the pandemic, and a number of individuals who attended that event last April also attended the summit. 

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“I want to be here for the next 53 years, which is why you’re sitting here today,” Skogsbergh told the gathering of about 30 active faculty, emeritus faculty, staff, students, alumni members and former directors. “UWW is all of us and it’s going to take all of us going forward as we start to put our hearts and our heads together.” 

John Wells, senior vice provost for Lifelong Learning, and Joe Bartolomeo, associate provost of Interdisciplinary Programs and professor of English, opened the summit noting the program’s strengths and its challenges.

Each of the summit participants introduced themselves explaining their connection to UWW and its people. The program helped change their lives, and for some it was an emotional reunion. Current faculty and staff members, some of whom were former UWW students, shared how their lives are continuing to change for the better because of the diversity of UWW students.

“Every time I read a portfolio, my world gets bigger,” said Abby Dallman, UWW Interdisciplinary Studies senior lecturer and chief undergraduate advisor. 

After introductions and department overview, participants formed small breakout groups to discuss UWW’s strengths, challenges and opportunities UWW can create and work toward. 

Among the priorities and initiatives discussed include actively reigniting connections with transfer partners at community colleges in Massachusetts and the Northeast capitalizing on the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education MassReconnect program that started this year, which offers free community college for students ages 25 and older.

UWW is also working to build its outreach presence locally at the UMass Center in Springfield through hybrid course offerings and its Social Justice Residency weekend in late spring 2024. 

More information about the UWW Interdisciplinary Studies degree completion program can be found on its website.