University of Massachusets Athletics
It's Never Too Late For Education
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June 26, 2000
By Ryan NadeauThe Maroon & White
Duncan Gillan was a football player at UMass in the late 1970s. He won two Yankee Conference titles and was a member of the 1978 team that played in the inaugural Division I-AA national championship game. What Gillan was not, until this past May, was a UMass graduate.
Once his playing career was over following the 1978 season, the former football letterwinner could never focus on working towards his degree. Instead he moved to New York to pursue a career in investment. He became a success and moved to Boston, where he has been the Vice President of Investments at Gruntal & Company for the past five years. He and his wife, Ruth, live in Brookline with their two children, a 12-year-old son, Mac, and a 10-year-old daughter, Kathryn.
One day while he was talking with his kids they asked him what type of college degree he had. Gillan did not hesitate. He answered that he never got one. A light instantly went off in his head.
"It was right then and there that I knew I had to go back and get my degree," said Gillan. "I had to set a good example for my children. How could I sit there and stress the importance of them getting a college degree while I myself never finished mine?"
Gillan explored the possibilities of fitting college back into his already busy schedule. That is when he learned of the University Without Walls program. Gillan decided it was his best option.
"I can't say enough about the University Without Walls program," said Gillan. "The program allowed me to get my degree in Business Communica-tions. It was the best way to get it done."
The program allowed Gillan to finish his degree in two part-time semesters. Last fall, he commuted to Amherst for a full weekend once a month and worked during the week on-line. This spring, Gillan commuted to Amherst every other Saturday morning and continued to work on-line during the week. He still has to complete a three-credit independent study, but he will be finished in August.
Gillan thanked former UMass football coach and current Assistant Athletic Director Mike Hodges for his help throughout the process. Gillan also said that his wife and his children have been extremely supportive of him.
"They're real proud of me," Gillan said. "They were real understanding about me missing certain things on the weekends. We went through three different seasons of my children's sports where I was missing."
He might have missed some of his kids' sporting events, but it was the price he had to pay in order to set a good example.
"The important thing is that my kids get to see how important an education is," Gillan said. "I just didn't feel right telling them how important it is without ever having finished myself."
Beside setting an excellent example for his children, Gillan also hopes that some other former student-athletes might follow suit and return to get their degrees.
"Student-athletes should not ever think that they have to leave [UMass] without getting their degree," said Gillan. "By the same token, no one should be afraid to come back anytime. There are plenty of people at UMass who want to help you out. There's always a way to get it done."
Gillan might not have gotten his degree in the conventional manner, but he found a way to get it done. Now he'll be able to tell his kids he has a Bachelor's degree in Business Communications from the University of Massachusetts. Proof, once again, that when it comes to education, it is never too late.