Drexel University Announces Launch of Sacramento, Calif., Graduate Center

Drexel University has announced plans to open a Center for Graduate Studies in Sacramento, Calif., and establish a $10 million fund for fellowships for students enrolling in programs at that campus. The center will open in January 2009 offering five master's programs, and will add four more in September 2009.

The programs are intended to address the schedule needs of working adults and will be offered at One Capitol Mall in Sacramento.

"We are excited to bridge the miles between our cities with a common vision toward expanding higher education opportunities in California," said Drexel University President Constantine Papadakis. "We have been drawn by the exciting future of Greater Sacramento, the passion of its community, business and education leaders, and the opportunities available to serve this innovative region."

The $10 million Sacramento Leaders Fellowship Fund for graduate student support is intended to encourage people to pursue advanced education that a growing innovation economy demands.  The fund will be awarded annually based on academic qualifications and need, and to encourage partnerships with area businesses, whose up-and-coming leaders will be able to obtain the practical education they need to succeed. Fellowships will also be available in amounts up to full tuition and are based on the quality of the student's undergraduate record and professional experience

"Drexel has seen enormous success in Philadelphia due to its strong partnership with the business and civic community here," said Papadakis, "and we are looking forward to building equally strong relationships in Northern California."

Beginning in January 2009, the university will offer master's programs in:

• - Business Administration, a program that allows students to continue to work and complete a full MBA program in 24 months. Business Week recently ranked Drexel's Part-Time MBA as #10 in the nation, the best for job changers, and gave its curriculum an "A+". The Princeton Review named Drexel's Entrepreneur program #7 in the nation.
• - Engineering Management, a program designed to bring newer engineers to the level of capable, critical-thinking managers.
• - Higher Education, a program that prepares students with the practical skills, knowledge, and experience to become professionals and leaders in higher education institutions. In the 2007 edition of the U.S. News & World Report America's Best Graduate Schools Drexel's School of Education ranked 16th among the nation's private colleges and universities.
• - Information Systems, a program for tech-savvy professionals who want to move up in their IT career or into one, the MSIS suits anyone who is interested in information systems. U.S. News & World Report ranked Drexel's College of Information Science and Technology 5th nationally for specialized programs in information systems.
• - Library and Information Science, a program for information science professionals, career changers becoming librarians and experienced information professionals seeking the degree to move up in their organizations. Drexel's specialized programs in digital librianship were ranked 6th nationally by U.S. News & World Report.

In September 2009, the university will add master's programs in: Nursing Education and Faculty Role; Nursing Leadership in Health Systems Management; Science of Instruction; and Human Resource Development.

For more information or to attend an information session to learn more about the graduate programs, please visit www.drexel.edu/sacramento/ or call 888.389.3781.

Drexel's Sacramento Center will feature state-of-the-art classrooms including wireless access for student laptops and technology support. Students will be linked to all the resources of Drexel's main campus, including program resources, financial aid, libraries and career assistance. Onsite staff will meet the needs of students and faculty, providing a high level of support throughout the educational process. Drexel will also offer its students the ability to meet and learn from business, civic and community leaders, as it has done with such success in Philadelphia.

"We believe each of these programs will address a need in the Greater Sacramento area," said Drexel's Provost Stephen Director. "The region's high-tech companies can benefit from the technology and business programs, while our nursing master's programs will benefit health facilities and the education institutions that need faculty to teach nursing students."

Drexel said it would add programs in the future based on the needs of the region. The university began exploring opportunities in the Greater Sacramento area in 2007 after University President Dr. Constantine Papadakis was approached by a group of community leaders led by Angelo K. Tsakopoulos, a prominent real estate developer and the founder and owner of Sacramento-based AKT Development.

The Tsakopoulos family, William and Claudia Cummings, Wayne and Mary Prim and their partners have offered Drexel University more than 1,100 acres to build a major undergraduate campus in Placer County. While that offer remains outstanding, Drexel has spent the intervening months only considering how it could best introduce itself to the Sacramento region, and the decision has now been made to lead with the strength of its graduate programs in Sacramento.

"Sacramento is an extraordinary place to bring our innovative approach to education," said Papadakis. "The opportunities in a fast-growing region like Sacramento are considerable. We view the Sacramento Center for Graduate Studies as the beginning of a long relationship with this region. We will continue to work with local business and community leaders to ensure Drexel's success and increasing presence in this dynamic region."