U.VA. TASK FORCE REPORT AFFIRMS IMPORTANCE OF
PROVIDING EDUCATION TO NON-RESIDENTIAL STUDENTS

	CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Feb. 11 -- Delivering education to
off-Grounds students is an important function of the University of
Virginia, according to a report and discussion at a Feb. 7 Board of
Visitors committee meeting. 
	David W. Breneman, dean of U.Va.'s Curry School of Education
and chair of a task force that spent approximately a year
investigating the University's role in continuing education, said the
22-member group endorsed the concept of delivering a wide range of
programs and courses to non-traditionally aged students. 
	"There was no sentiment for the University to get out of the
continuing education business. Adult professional education is a
growing field," Breneman said.
	The task force discovered that although the University has
been active in continuing education for more than 80 years, no mission
statement supporting such a position has been adopted. Since U.Va.'s
"purpose is to create, preserve, disseminate and apply knowledge to
promote the intellectual, social, cultural and economic well-being of
the Commonwealth and nation," the University must develop and deliver
continuing-education programs of the highest academic quality, the
report recommends. 
	The task force's top recommendation, an advisory committee,
composed of the provost and deans from participating schools, has
already been created. The committee will work with the division on
policy issues identified by the task force.
	The report suggested that the division expand its non-credit
offerings and adjust prices to generate revenue. The advisory
committee should also examine the costs and benefits of the division
offering an alternative, off-Grounds bachelor's or master's degree
aimed primarily at adult, part-time, non-residential students, the
report says. 
	Extension courses were first offered at U.Va. in 1912; U.Va.
President Edwin A. Alderman formally made continuing education a part
of the University in 1915.
	The division now has about 30,000 enrollees annually in its
offerings; about 10,000 register for credit classes, and the remainder
attend special programs and events.
	The division has seven regional centers located in
Charlottesville, Hampton Roads, Lynchburg, Northern Virginia,
Richmond, Roanoke and Southwest Virginia. In addition, it maintains a
University Center at the FBI Academy in Quantico.
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February 10, 1997