12/20/01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Yury Lerner, UNI professor of industrial technology, (319) 273-2590

Cheryl Smith, program associate, College of Natural Sciences, (319) 273-6809

Vicki Grimes, University Marketing & Public Relations, (319) 273-2761

UNI offers on-site master's program at John Deere foundry

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa's Department of Industrial Technology, through the Division of Continuing Education, is offering an on-site master's degree program at the John Deere Foundry on Westfield Avenue in Waterloo.

There are 14 students in the program that began in spring 2001 and will take three years to complete. Participants will earn master of arts degrees in manufacturing processes/metal casting upon

the successful completion of their course work. Yury Lerner, professor of industrial technology at UNI, is directing the program.

Lerner said the program is for employees with an undergraduate degree and wanting to improve skills in manufacturing processes. Enrollment is not limited to John Deere workers -- one of the students is a metallurgist from the Viking Pump foundry.

"The advantage of an on-site program like this one is accessibility," said Lerner. "Most employees who would be interested in this graduate program are typically on the job when the classes they need are being held at the university."

Classes meet twice a week in a specially equipped conference room at the John Deere Foundry. The students take two courses each semester, one a required course and one an elective.

Lerner sees the program as a way for the university and industry to work together toward mutually beneficial goals. "The university is able to strengthen its programs and expand their reach, and the students have an opportunity to increase their knowledge and skills, which is of course a plus for John Deere."

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