Committee Members:

T. Keister Greer, Chair	Elizabeth A. Twohy
Champ Clark	Walter F. Walker
Elsie Goodwyn Holland	Joseph E. Wolfe
Robert G. Schoenvogel	John P. Ackerly,III, Ex Officio

I. ACTION ITEM (Mr. Low)

II. REPORTS BY THE VICE PRESIDENT AND PROVOST (Mr. Low)

III. FACULTY PERSONNEL ACTIONS*

BACKGROUND: The Division of Continuing Education has roots that go back to the early 1900's. It was formally named the "Extension Division" in 1922, and became the "School of General Studies" in 1961. It was renamed the "School of Continuing Education" in 1971.

In 1977, at the request of President Frank Hereford, the Board of Visitors adopted the following resolution:

DISCUSSION: The President and the Provost recommend that the Division of Continuing Education be redesignated a "School" of the University. It has delivered both credit and non-credit courses for most of the past century. As a result of Board of Visitors action last year, it is now offering the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) degree to adult students.

Recognition of the Division as a School of the University will enhance the status of that degree, will appropriately recognize the importance of continuing education within and outside the University community, and will send a strong message that life-long learning and educational outreach are enterprises that are valued at the University of Virginia and are integral to the University's mission.

The recommendation is that the name be changed to the "School of Continuing and Professional Studies." This name was chosen because of its consistency with the names currently being used by comparable universities for similar units.

Additional background and elaboration of the rationale for this change is provided in the attached memorandum from the Dean.

ACTION REQUIRED: Approval by the Educational Policy Committee and the Board of Visitors

APPROVAL TO RENAME THE DIVISION OF CONTINUING EDUCATION THE SCHOOL OF CONTINUING AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

WHEREAS, the Division of Continuing Education was designated as a School of the University from 1961 until 1977; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Visitors adopted its present name in 1977; and

WHEREAS, the Division of Continuing Education has been a credit-granting unit of the University for many years and, as a result of action by the Board of Visitors in 1999, is now authorized to award the degree of Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS); and

WHEREAS, it is appropriate to recognize the credit-granting and degree-granting status of the Division by redesignating it as a School of the University; and

WHEREAS, redesignating the Division as a School of the University will enhance the University's role in life-long learning through continuing education and reaffirm the Board's commitment to educational outreach throughout the Commonwealth;

RESOLVED that the name "Division of Continuing Education" be changed to "School of Continuing and Professional Studies," effective February 26, 2000.

II.A. Vice President's Remarks

DISCUSSION: The Vice President and Provost will use this portion of the Educational Policy Committee meeting to inform the Board of Visitors of recent events which do not require formal action, but of which the Board should be made aware.

ACTION REQUIRED: None

II.B. Research

DISCUSSION: The Vice President for Research and Public Service will report on the growth of the University research enterprise and will update the Board on current issues affecting the University's research agenda.

ACTION REQUIRED: None

II.C. Desktop Computing Initiative (DCI)

DISCUSSION: The Interim Vice President and Chief Information Officer will report on the status and implementation of the Desktop Computing Initiative (DCI).

ACTION REQUIRED: None

MEMORANDUM

To: John T. Casteen, President and Peter Low, Vice-President and Provost
From: Sondra Stallard, Dean
Re: Proposed Name Change for Continuing Education
Date: January 22, 2000

I write to request that the University's Board of Visitors change the name of the Division of Continuing Education to a name that appropriately reflects Continuing Education's mission of educational outreach and that enhances and elevates the status of continuing education within and outside the University community. I propose that the name be changed to the School of Continuing and Professional Studies. My rationale for the proposed change follows.

"Extension work" has been a part of the University of Virginia's history since the early 1900's. In 1913, President Alderman announced the value and necessity for "university extension work" and began the process of establishing regional educational centers. Officially named the "Extension Division" in 1922, this arm of the University served 101 communities by the 1950's and administered both Clinch Valley College and George Mason College.



As the University's outreach to the Commonwealth flourished, the Board of Visitors recognized the importance of the "Extension Division" and changed its name to the "School of General Studies" in 1961. Both credit and non-credit coursework was offered by the new School, including a Master of General Studies degree begun in 1969. In the late 60's, the term "continuing education" came to represent the concept of lifelong learning and, in keeping with the times, the University's Board of Visitors again changed the name of the School to the "School of Continuing Education" in 1971.



When Frank Hereford became President of the University in the mid 1970's, he believed that the University should focus on residential education. In 1977, President Hereford introduced a resolution to the Board of Visitors to change the name of the School of Continuing Education to a "Division of Continuing Education."

During the past decade, there has been renewed interest in educational outreach among administrators, faculty, and staff at the University of Virginia. In 1996, the Provost's Task Force on Continuing Education made up of deans, faculty, and staff confirmed that educational outreach is an important part of the University's mission. In the current Undergraduate Record and Graduate Record, the University's Statement of Purpose and Goals notes that the University will provide continuing education programs of the highest quality to the Commonwealth and the nation."

 

Members of the Board of Visitors, President Casteen, the Provost, the Faculty Senate, and others have acknowledged the importance of University public service and outreach and have recognized that Continuing Education plays an important role in expanding the influence of the University within the Commonwealth. The Virginia 2020 Task Force on Public Service will endorse Continuing Education's central role in meeting the educational needs of citizens of the state and will recommend strengthening this important aspect of University public service.

 

This renewed interest, the increased demand from the public for non-residential adult education, and a growing awareness of the political necessity of responding to the workforce development needs of the Commonwealth makes it an opportune time to confirm the University's commitment to lifelong learning. Changing the Division's name to one that appropriately recognizes its importance within and outside of the University community sends a message that lifelong learning and educational outreach are enterprises that are valued at UVA and are central to the University's mission.

In many ways, Continuing Education has operated like a "school" of the University for years. Because of the high public regard for the quality of our educational offerings, there is an enormous demand for University of Virginia continuing education courses around the state. In fact, UVA is so well known for the quality of its adult education programs that demand far exceeds our ability to deliver courses in many disciplines. Presently there is a sizeable off-Grounds population of students, and the number is growing annually. In 1998-99, Continuing Education processed 21,309 registrations in 1,348 credit courses around the state. We processed 11,922 non-credit registrations over that same period. Predictions are that growth in the non-traditional student population will skyrocket over the next decade, especially in areas of professional development.

Continuing Education currently serves as a conduit for graduate degree programs offered by the Curry School, Engineering, and Architecture. However, it is important to note that Continuing Education also offers credit courses and professional development certificate programs that are not offered on Grounds. Many courses listed under Continuing Education mnemonics meet the professional development needs of business, industry, and government organizations. The series of courses we offer at the FBI Academy and our credit certificate programs in accounting, procurement, and technology are examples. Other courses, such as the instructional technology certificate programs for K-12 educators designed in collaboration with Curry faculty, are delivered solely for off-Grounds students by Continuing Education. As are all credit courses offered by Continuing Education, these courses are vetted through an approval process involving faculty of the relevant academic disciplines to ensure academic rigor.




Although Continuing Education has been in the "credit" granting business for many years, it has recently re-gained its "degree-granting" authority. As a result of Board of Visitors action last year, Continuing Education is now offering, for the first time in two decades, a degree program that does not "belong" to another school -- the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS). Students admitted to this rigorous program earn a degree from the University of Virginia. The first student to graduate may be only a year away.




It is important to the University and to BIS students that our graduates earn a degree from, and are alumni of, a School of the University.




Action by the Board of Visitors to change the name of Continuing Education will enhance the status of the BIS degree program and allow it to flourish.

Throughout the nation, adults comprise the fastest growing population of students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees and professional development studies. Driven in part by advances in technology, most peer institutions are developing and promoting their educational outreach efforts on a scale that is unprecedented. Within Virginia, out-of-state institutions compete with UVA and Virginia Tech for adult students in degree and professional development programs, and this competition is likely to increase.

 

In order to achieve a competitive edge, many of our peer institutions have expanded their offerings to meet the burgeoning needs of the adult learners. A number have changed their names to reflect their increased emphasis on educational outreach; some, such as NYU and Johns Hopkins, have added "Professional Studies" to their official names to underscore their commitment to professional development and certification. Most of our peer institutions are now known as "schools" or "colleges" of extension, continuing education, continuing studies, or professional studies.

 

In a climate when "branding" is critical to establishing a favorable market position, "Division of Continuing Education" does not have cache, nor does it reflect that this activity is important to the University's mission. The current name makes our program seem somewhat less robust than the programs offered by our peers, and certainly more "tentative." The current name is confusing to our customers. Students often inquire what "school" we are a "division of," or wonder if the credit courses we offer really are for "university credit." Many applicants believe that Continuing Education is a division of the Curry School of Education.

 

The current name does not adequately reflect what we do, is confusing to our students and prospective students, implies that adult education programs are not a serious part of the University's educational enterprise, and limits our ability to compete with our peer institutions. A School of Continuing and Professional Studies, on the other hand, speaks of class, quality, and academic seriousness in a way that is befitting of the University of Virginia as the foremost provider of adult education in the Commonwealth. It will distinguish us from the Curry School and emphasize our commitment to professional development. In the long run, the new name will help to attract new students to our community of learners.

In the next decade, successful fundraising will make the difference between schools that excel and those that operate at the margin. Here and at other universities, outreach units have been neglected or ignored in development efforts. Most continuing education programs are just beginning to recognize the importance of and potential for fundraising, although some, such as Johns Hopkins and Harvard, are already successful. There is potential to raise money for outreach and public service at the University of Virginia. This potential will be enhanced significantly by changing the name and elevating the status of Continuing Education to a "School."

Opportunities abound in Continuing Education for fund-raising. Our programs attract students who have no other affiliation with the University and there are potential donors among those who attend our "signature" programs such as the Jefferson Symposium, the Civil War Seminars, and Summer on the Lawn. Indeed, there is an opportunity to name the new school with a seven-figure gift. Private funds will enable us to offer financial aid to adult students, develop new educational programs to meet workforce development needs, and hire outstanding faculty to teach off-Grounds. I believe that donors will find the new name and the elevated status of Continuing Education much more compelling than the present name.

I hope you will ask the Board of Visitors to consider this proposal at the February Board meeting. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this opportunity with you and the Board, or to provide any additional information you may need.