The State System of Higher Education Board of Governors yesterday approved a new Master of Science degree in Strategic Communication at IUP, designating it to begin admitting students in June through the Communications Media department. The 36-hour program is designed to prepare students for careers in diverse fields such as crisis, political, health, and strategic online communication, and communication management. Its director will be Dr. Mark Piwinsky
Full-time students taking courses year-round can complete the program in one calendar year. Students may choose one of two tracks…the Applied Track with advanced production and writing requirements and an internship, or the Research Track, which could lead to a Ph.D. in Communications Media and Instructional Technology.
The Board of Governors also approved changes in IUP’s tuition structure, allowing the university to reduce tuition rates for sopme students at the two regional campuses and for out-of-state students. In-state freshmen and sophomores at the Northpointe and Punxsutawney campuses will be charged 80 percent of the tuition rate of students at the main campus. That would drop the cost from $309 per credit to $247.
Hoping to attract more out-of-state students, IUP says domestic out-of-state students will pay tuition on a per-credit system at a significantly lower rate than they are currently charged. The savings will amount to about $4,000 for a 12-credit semester. Currently, there are about 500 students from outside of Pennsylvania, not including international students.
Finally, the Board of Governors yesterday approved the one-year contract with APSCUF, the faculty union at the State System schools. The new deal takes effect on June 30th, with negotiations to begin during the summer on a long-term contract.
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