University Corner: Fort Hays State University
Interview with Dr. Lawrence V. Gould
Provost/Chief Academic Officer
Fort Hays State University
Dr. Lawrence (Larry) V. Gould is Provost/Chief Academic Officer at Fort Hays State University (FHSU). He is a nine-year veteran of the Army National Guard in Massachusetts, New Mexico and Indiana. He retired as a captain in 1978. During his tenure at FHSU, he has served as a faculty member in political science, president of the Faculty Senate, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, executive assistant to the president and director of the Docking Institute of Public Affairs. He previously taught at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and was a research associate with the Centre for Foreign Policy Studies at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada. Gould has played a key role in the development of the FHSU domestic distance learning environment and internationalization of the campus. FHSU now has over 2,400 students in China participating in cross-border distance education programming. He is on the Executive Board of the National Consortium for Continuous Improvement in Higher Education and a member of the Implementation Board for the American Democracy Project. Finally, Dr. Gould is the recipient of two prominent national awards for provosts—the National Academic Advising Association’s 2000 Pacesetter Award and the William M. Plater Award for Leadership in Civic Engagement.
Q: What is Fort Hays State University’s background in military education and, as Chief Academic Officer, how have you promoted this program area?
A: Since its origins as a military base along the Smoky Hill Trail in 1866, Fort Hays State University has been aligned with military interests. Today, the institution’s mission remains focused on providing education for active military, veterans and others serving our country. The institution is marketed by military liaisons all over the country, FHSU representatives participate in Navy, Coast Guard and National Guard education fairs, our web site and marketing is military friendly and we have special accommodations for the soldier in enrollment, advising and career support services. Most importantly, we have one of the largest array of distance education programs for soldiers on the move in the country.
Q: What makes Fort Hays State unique in the benefits and programs it offers military service members?
A: FHSU’s personalized advising has received outstanding reviews by our current service members. This is reflective of all our advising and the military student is the beneficiary of a long history of the finest support services around. Our uniqueness finds its origins in our effort to do everything we do better than other institutions. In addition, the BGS degree is one of the most flexible degrees for military personnel. It has 58 hours of free electives. Up to 30 hours of credit by exam are allowed and up to 64 hours total can be a combination of ACE military credits and credit by exam. It has a 21 hour of emphasis rather than a major and the concentration can be rate/MOS-related. We have graduate level programming that is equally flexible and wide-ranging in choice of concentrations.
Q: What online degree and certificate programs does Fort Hays State offer and how do these distance learning programs fit in with the lives of active and transitioning military personnel?
A: For members of the military and their families, FHSU offers 28 online degree programs at the associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s levels. They can be found at http://www.fhsu.edu/virtualcollege/ degrees/bachelors/index.htm. The university also offers 62 certificates and certifications. Program areas include justice studies, business, education, degree completion, leadership, special education, nursing, enformation and telecommunications, social sciences, health and human performance, and instructional technology.
Q: What branches of the military is Fort Hays State University serving?
A: FHSU is an approved SOC, SCONAV, SOCAD, SOCCOAST university. The university currently has active students from the Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard and National Guard.
Q: What are some of Fort Hays States’ main goals in meeting the future challenges of online and military education?
A: We take pride in our reputation as a full service university that is small enough to address students by name, but big enough to have industry partners, and students from around the world. To keep our high quality course offerings and student services reputation we are currently working with companies to produce mobile technology tools that will allow students to complete their courses regardless of location or assignment. Equally important, we are driven by a continuous quality improvement culture that adds value to every support service we use to help make the FHSU learning experience second to none. This is also a culture of innovation that adds new degrees and courses completely accessible to the soldier. New programs in hospitality management, international business, environmental health science and higher education administration will soon be added to the menu of choices for those who enroll at FHSU. ♦