Jacques Henry Dubois

Jacques H. Dubois, age 66 of Cocoa Beach, FL passed away November 1 2011 at Wuesthoff Hospice Care. Jacques was born in Brussels, Belgium, on December 15, 1944. His family came to the U.S in 1957, when his father took a posting at the Belgian Embassy, in Washington, DC. Jacques graduated from Wilson High School, 1963, and pursued B.A ('67) and M.A. ('70) degrees at the University of Maryland, College Park Campus (UMCP). Jacques remained with the University of Maryland system, as a graduate teaching assistant, and later as a faculty member in the Department of French and Italian, at UMCP. In 1974, he transferred to University of Maryland University College (UMUC) the ""Worldwide Campus"" of the Maryland system. At UMUC he held a number of administrative positions, including: in Academic Affairs, where he established the Course Challenge Examination Program, and the Experiential & Prior Learning Assessment Program. He was an Assistant Director for the Off-Campus Programs, where he managed a number of college programs with federal agencies, and later he became Community Liaison Administrator, where he coordinated academic programs with the State's community colleges as part of the University Maryland System's articulation program. In 1980, Jacques accepted a position as Director of Special Academic Areas, at Prince George's Community College, in Maryland, where he had an opportunity to focus on innovative and nontraditional programs, including developing and growing distance learning, a weekend college, and travel-study programs. During his tenure at Prince George's Community College, Jacques presided over a region-wide distance learning consortium (Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania) of community colleges and 4-year colleges, and universities. In 1993, as a consultant, Jacques accepted to direct the national ""Going the Distance"" project for the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). The project which focused on degree-completion through distance learning was a key factor in changing national perceptions about technology-delivered instruction and innovative modes of learning. The project made extensive use of nationally distributed satellite delivered video-conferences. In 1994, ""Going the Distance"" brought Jacques to Florida, where he served as consultant to one of the task force committees, for the Florida Statewide Distance Learning Task Force. In 1995, while still directing ""Going the Distance,"" Jacques accepted a joint appointment from Brevard Community College and University Central Florida to assist with the expansion of their distance learning programs. In late 1995 and early 1996, Brevard Community College was able to develop sufficient courses to offer an entire A.A. degree completely at-a-distance, and to launch its online program through America Online. During that same period, University of Central Florida launched its first Web-based online courses. In 1997, Jacques resigned his joint BCC/UCF appointment to devote more time to PBS' ""Going the Distance,"" which he directed through conclusion of the project in 2002. From 1998 through June 2008, he remained as consultant to WBCC-TV and assisted BCC's public television station through the hectic conversion from analog TV to digital TV, and to a complete new telecommunications facility. Since 2008, Jacques has devoted more of time to community and civic activities, including: serving on the Cocoa Beach City's Land Management Committee, helping to create ""Friends of the Thousand Islands Sanctuary, Inc."" a non-profit corporation to support the conservation and passive recreation activities of the Thousand Islands. Jacques also serves on the board of ""1513 Foundation, Inc."", and was appointed to the Brevard County Historical Commission, in 2010. Jacques was an avid windsurfer and kayaker, who enjoyed living in Cocoa Beach, since 1995. He is survived by his ex-wife Lynn Rae (Patterson) Dubois. Viewing will be at Beckman - Williamson Funeral Home Cocoa Beach Fl. Friday Nov. 4th 2 to 4 PM. Reception following at Community Church Hall CB. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to a charity of your choice. You may sign the guestbook at beckman-williamson.com