UW-Green Bay’s Adult Degree alumni celebrate new beginnings

A recent weekend marked a new beginning for a group of UW-Green Bay graduates who know a thing or two about the subject. About 20 graduates from UW-Green Bay’s Adult Degree Program met on August 6-7 to identify ways to better serve its alumni base.

The group met Friday evening for a reception at Brett Favre’s Steakhouse. Saturday’s events included a brainstorming meeting in the morning with a lunch sponsored by the UW-Green Bay Alumni Association at Shorewood Golf Course for about 40 alumni and guests. During this time, prizes from the UW-Green Bay campus and out in the community were raffled off, including a football signed by the Green Bay Packers. The event ended with a Green Bay Packers tailgate experience at Lambeau Field, followed by the annual Packers scrimmage.

Inaugurated in 1978 as the “Extended Degree Program,” this degree path for working adults has graduated almost 700 students and has experienced exponential growth in recent years, as noted by Eric Craver, director of marketing and recruitment for the program.

“In 2004, the program offered one degree, one major and fewer than 20 classes per semester for about 140 students,” he said. “Today, we serve more than 700 students, we offer three different degrees in two majors with nine areas of emphasis in place or developing. We also offer about 75 classes per semester — most of which are delivered fully online.”

Craver said the group wants to capitalize on its growing alumni base by focusing on opportunities for involvement, leadership, as well as professional networking, social activities and a broader engagement with the UW-Green Bay Alumni Association.

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Photos provided by Eric Craver, Adult Degree Program, UW-Green Bay