European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 1, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday March 1, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 3 Boston u. Heads new aces offerings agreements cover Post degree courses by Mary Hladky education writer Boston University has won the right to offer the lion s share of graduate level education programs in Usa eur under new agreements announced Friday by the army continuing education system of fice. But new agreements for undergraduate and vocational technical programs for sol Diers in Europe Are on hold pending the results of a general accounting office study of military education programs. The study was prompted by a complaint from City colleges of Chicago. The new postgraduate program agreements allow a fully accredited Mas Ter of business administration degree to be offered for the first time. Previously Only a master of science in business administration program was available. Boston University will continue to offer the program. It the master s program is of course the Glamour degree in business said Robert Lamb vice president for overseas programs for Boston University. The problem of offering it Here is it takes More hours to Complete it and it is highly Struc  a Soldier May have trouble squeezing in the course Load to obtain a degree during a Normal three year tour Lamb said. The student would have to take two courses per term for three years to Complete require ments. Under the new agreements which take of act oct. I Boston also will offer Mas Ter s degree programs in computer information systems education International relations and administration along with a certificate of advanced graduate studies in education. The University of Southern California which has offered master s degrees in Edu cation International relations and systems management now will provide Only the systems management program. Us chose to withdraw its master of arts in International relations program in Europe said Bill Chapman an education specialist at aces. That program has been picked up by Boston. Students already working on master s degrees in education and International re lations will be Able to Transfer most or All course credits from one institution to an other. The universities and aces have not yet worked out final details of How the Transfer will be done. We have ensured that the new agreements will affect As few students As possible and that they provide a Liberal Transfer of credits provision Chapman said. All students currently enrolled in graduate programs that May be affected by the implementation of the new agreements will be contacted individually by army education Center  although some students May face losing some course credit we Hope no one will be Hurt by that he said. Specialized graduate programs currently offered by Embry Riddle aeronautical University Are not affected by the changes. The new agreements Are designed to streamline the education system for serv ice members by allowing Only one institution to offer each degree program. Previously both Boston and us offered graduate level education and International relations programs. Safe eliminated duplication of both graduate and undergraduate courses among institutions in 1983. All services followed suit in the Pacific in 1983. The army hoped to Start the same sys tem in Europe when it issued a request for proposals in november 1984. But the objection by City colleges of Chicago halted army efforts to end duplication in undergraduate and vocational technical education. City colleges of Chicago a two year institution that offers Liberal arts vocational technical and general education courses filed its protest one year ago be cause officials believed the army s plan would prevent two year colleges from successfully bidding on education contracts. In order to win the right to offer a full array of undergraduate courses and pro Grams City colleges of Chicago would have to join with a four year University so it could award both associate and Bacca laureate degrees. Acc officials believed that was unfair As Well As Complex. We could t bid our own academic program said Debra Barger assistant Dean for acc s european Headquarters in Wiesbaden. It prohibits a two year institution from  the move to limit the number of institutions offering a program also sparked controversy among other colleges and universities and is expected to anger some students. Opponents charge the services Are eliminating Competition among institutions and free Choice for students. There will not be a Choice in terms of institutions said or. Steve Morena european academic director for us. I feel the greater number of alternatives a per son has for making a Choice is  but supporters say the change will end confusion in education programs caused when several institutions offer the same course or program and not enough Stu dents enrol in All of them. As a result some classes Are cancelled and students end up Short the credits they need to Earna degree. Three institutions providing education to service members in blur pc have written to Congress to disagree with acc. They arc the University of Maryland which currently offers undergraduate de Grees in Many Fields big Bend Community College a two year school that offers Basic skills education and Central Texas College also a two year institution that offers vocational technical training. But Barger said the proposal is supported by the american association of Community and Junior colleges. Acc filed its protest with the Gao but also approached sen. Alan j. Dixon d 111., for support. A resulting amendment to the omnibus defense authorization act of 1986 forbids the armed forces from pro curing Post secondary education services in a Way that excludes Community colleges from offering courses just because they do not offer a baccalaureate degree. The amendment also says at least two institutions must be authorized to provide any category of Post secondary services which effectively kills the army s attempt to allow Only one to offer one kind of pro Gram. The legislation Only addresses under graduate programs. In addition the legislation mandated the Gao study of the education needs of service members civilians and Dod employees outside the United states and the most effective Way of meeting those needs. Results of the study which centers on the european theater Are due to Congress by sept. 1. College and University officials expect no changes in Usa eur undergraduate and vocational technical programs until after the Gao study goes to Congress. Pieces from doomed spacecraft a photo Large portions of the space shuttle Chal Lenger s main engines sit in a warehouse at Complex 39 at Kennedy space Center Fla. The engine parts have been recovered from the floor of the Atlantic Ocean by Salvage Crews. The space Agency is con ducting a continuing search to find parts from the ill fated spacecraft