School of Extended Learning Helps Students Boost Test Scores, Skills
While unemployment rates remain high, the School of Extended Learning (SXL) at Governors State University has a few helpful ideas for those seeking employment and educational opportunities. Executive Director Amy Barsha shares, “It’s crucial that adults gain new skills to evolve with the changing market needs.”
SXL, a leader in regional adult continuing education, offers many academic test preparation programs and certification courses to help individuals be successful in higher education, and enter or re-enter into the workforce.
Test preparation helps adults and traditional students alike get structured practice to excel on academic entrance exams. SXL offers the ACT and SAT, GRE and LSAT exams, and results have been impressive. Mary Mancusi is one example.
Mancusi credits a comprehensive LSAT test preparation course for playing a part in getting her into law school. “We learned about the different types of questions on the LSAT and the best way to approach the test. The instructor, Professor Gardiner, whittled the LSAT questions down to their simplest forms and made them seem easy and straightforward. As a result, by the time I took the real LSAT, I felt confident and prepared.”
This GSU alumna and Crete-native got into not one — but TWELVE— and ended up with her top choice, Notre Dame Law School.
SXL has helped adults taking certification preparation courses achieve similar success.
Trevor Hoskins started as a line worker at a Ford Motor Company plant in Illinois. When sharing with a co-worker his desire to go to college, Governors State University (Governors State) was recommended for its affordability and quality. After comparing Governors State's curriculum with the requirements for the job he wanted (Ford Production Supervisor), he enrolled in the Interdisciplinary Studies program (IDSS) in May 2016. With his associate degree and prior learning assessment credits, Hoskins was able to earn his bachelor's degree in only two semesters.
It was not an easy road, but a great mentor helped. Hoskins met College of Business Professor Tricia Kerns, and she encouraged him to enroll at the School of Extended Learning (SXL) in a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB) certification program to help his work at Ford. And it did help. With his new knowledge, Hoskins was able to produce record production numbers and show substantial improvement in his department during the biggest launch in the history of Ford Motor Company.
“Lean Six Sigma forces you to touch the problem. Then you look at the processes and how they affect people,” Hoskins shared.
Hoskins began his Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification training and hopes to someday be a Plant Manager at Ford Motor Company, and a partner in an investment group.
Humbled by his own success, Hoskins credits his parents, especially his mother, Trennese Jones, and God.
“Everything I have is because of God’s grace, coming from a great father, and a faithful mother. Everything GREAT I have achieved is because of my mom.”
For more information on SXL programs, visit www.govst.edu/sxl and www.govst.edu/waystopay for financing options.