Celebrating 50 years of adult learning
In celebration of 50 years of Adult Education, Upper Iowa is proudly recognizing the accomplishments and achievements of alumni who have graduated from the Self-Paced, Online, or Center learning experiences, all of which stemmed from the original Coordinated Off-Campus Degree Program, launched in 1973. New stories will be added to this page, UIU.EDU/50years.
About Upper Iowa’s Self-Paced Program
The Self-Paced degree program, designed in 1973 to provide educational opportunities to working adults wanting to earn a bachelor’s degree, has helped nearly 3,500 UIU alumni achieve their educational goals during its 50-year span. The program also created a blueprint for UIU’s foray into other expansions in adult- focused education.
Stories
James F. Odle ’80
James F. Odle graduated from UIU's Self-paced program in June 1980. Jim was made aware of this program by a co-worker while he served in a civilian capacity for the Air Force at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. He had previously earned an Associate Degree at Weber College, Ogden, Utah…
Phil Matthews ’83
Phil Matthews ’83 looks back with pride at a journey that took him from being born a “poor country boy” in Durham, North Carolina to a nearly 40-year career with stops around the world in the early days of the modern telecommunications industry. Matthews began his long career with General Telephone…
Merlin Sebastian ’76
After eight years toiling in the “computer room” at John Deere’s Quad Cities location, Merlin Sebastian ’76 knew that a college degree would be necessary to reach his goal of working in the company’s systems department. Originally from Postville, Sebastian was aware of Upper Iowa and took classes via UIU’s…
