University News
Moline Foundation Gift Supports New Master of Arts in Community and Economic Development Degree at WIU-QC
June 7, 2016
MACOMB/MOLINE, IL — The Moline Foundation is helping Western Illinois University to increase the leadership capacity and knowledge base of community leaders across the western Illinois region and beyond. To support Western's new Master of Arts in Community and Economic Development degree, the community foundation has awarded $10,000 to the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (IIRA), which is housed at WIU. The new degree program is set to begin the Fall 2016 semester at the WIU-Quad Cities campus, as well as online.
According to IIRA Director Chris Merrett, the monetary gift will be used to support graduate assistantships, travel costs for guest lecturers and create opportunities for students to experience first-hand innovative community and economic development projects in the region.
The foundation's generosity will also help to provide course software and other curricular materials, Merrett noted.
"The Master of Community and Economic Development (CED) degree is an interdisciplinary field that draws on a range of academic and professional disciplines. Community and economic developers work in community-based organizations; city, state and federal government agencies; foundations; social service agencies; banks; utilities; think tanks; investment firms; and universities," he explained. "The Moline Foundation recognizes the potential of the CED program to prepare graduates to become local and regional leaders with the social mobilization, civic engagement, business management and strategic planning skills needed to help improve the economic well-being and overall quality of life in their respective communities."
The Moline Foundation is headquartered in Moline and was established in 1953 to provide philanthropic support for projects that benefit the communities in the Quad Cities area. McDonough, Warren and Henderson Counties were added to the foundation's service area in 2003.
To learn more about the Moline Foundation, visit www.molinefoundation.org or contact (309) 736-3800.
For more information about the Master of Community and Economic Development (CED) degree, contact the WIU School of Graduate Studies at (309) 298-1806 or via email at Grad-Office@wiu.edu, the IIRA via email at iira@wiu.edu or online at www.wiu.edu/IIRA/community_and_economic_development/.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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