Open SUNY Online Teaching Ambassador 2018 – Clinton: Rita Ward-Slater

Rita Ward-Slater received a B.S. in Health Education from George Williams College (1980), an M.S. in Community and School Health Education from Western Illinois University (1981) and a Ph.D. in Education from Southern Illinois University (1985). Dr. Ward-Slater is a retired Associate Dean for Institutional Research (2011) and now adjunct professor in the Allied Health & Nursing and Business/Accounting departments at Clinton Community College.

She started teaching online in 2003, adding a second course in 2010. Upon retirement, she developed and coordinated the Health Studies Certificate program, offered partially online. Both courses have been redeveloped as OER offerings. Since Fall of 2017, she has developed four new OER courses for the new Health Services Management program funded by the Achieving the Dream grant. Five of the courses have been certified and one is pending certification through Lumen Learning.

I have always been a strong advocate for affordable and accessible higher education. I am delighted to be a member of the team of online educators. Online learning gives a much-needed opportunity to our students living in a rural community. Many of my students are nontraditional, balancing working in the healthcare setting with family and school. OER is perfect for them!