Open House Thursday for Lincoln Campus Adult Education Program
Lincoln College Expanding Accelerated Bridge to Education to local residents

[February 21, 2018] 

LINCOLN

Area residents will have a chance Thursday to attend an open house showcasing Lincoln College’s adult education program – Accelerated Bridge to Education (ABE). The program, which has been highly successful in Normal, Peoria and Oglesby, will be coming to the Lincoln campus beginning this summer.

To kick off the new program, an open house has been set for this Thursday, Feb. 22, in Lincoln Center Room 128A from 6-7:30 p.m.

“For some time we have wanted to expand our adult education program to Lincoln and surrounding communities. We know there is a need for more adult education opportunities close to home and we are pleased to be able to help fill that gap with a program that has been very well received at other locations,” said Dr. David Gerlach, President of Lincoln College. “This is a flexible and affordable program that will be available to adult learners.”

Beginning the week of June 10, Lincoln College ABE will be offering accelerated hybrid evening courses toward the Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Management on the Lincoln Campus. Under the ABE program, students attend class one night a week for four hours (6-10 p.m.), supplemented by online learning for five weeks. Upon completion of each five-week session, students earn a full three credit hours toward their degrees, just as they would if they had completed a semester’s work in a traditional program. By offering nine sessions of five weeks in a 12-month period, a student can earn 27 credits in a year by taking one course at a time.

“This is a great way for working adults to make rapid progress toward their college degrees,” said Vance Lane, Executive Director of the ABE program. “The five-week sessions are manageable for adults trying to juggle their work and family obligations.”

“We have found that many students appreciate having the option to skip a five-week session during the year. They may have a project at work that requires them to devote some extra hours, or they may have family obligations during certain times of the year,” he explained.

The Accelerated Bridge to Education program is geared toward adult learners aged 23 and older and is currently offered in Normal, Peoria and Oglesby. Students take one class at a time and are able to complete a semester’s work in five weeks. The Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Management is the most popular major among ABE students.

At just $300 per credit hour for both tuition and fees, the ABE program offers a significant savings over most other four-year institutions, including public universities in Illinois.

In addition, ABE currently offers online five-week courses toward the Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership. Students still attend class via webcam for four hours one night a week supplemented by online learning. This is an attractive option for working adults who would have to drive a long distance to attend a face-to-face class. Beginning in Fall 2018, additional courses in this webcam hybrid format will be offered toward the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and the Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration.

[Mark Gordon
Public Relations and Media Manager
Lincoln College]