鶹's Centre for Continuing Education to Become the School of Continuing Studies
There’s a great deal of excitement in the air at the former Centre for Continuing Education (CCE) these days. That’s right – former. After much study and discussion, CCE will become the School of Continuing Studies (SCS)/École d’éducation permanente on May 1. As well, all the major program units will be renamed and one new unit will be born (see below).
According to Dean Judith Potter, both the name and nature of continuing education at 鶹 are changing for a number of substantial reasons. “We are stepping up our collaborations with 鶹’s faculties and schools to help them provide enhanced professional development opportunities for their clienteles, which is consistent with 鶹’s desire for excellence in all academic and research areas. As well, the new names more clearly reflect who we are today and where we are headed as we reach out to diverse communities of learners in local, national and international contexts.”
The Evolving Nature of Continuing
Education
Many of the changes at CCE are related to the explosion of
knowledge and the reliance on continuous learning for strong
economies, healthy societies and fulfilled lives. “Before making
these changes, we consulted with other leading universities in the
U.S. and Canada and had a good look at their continuing education
approaches. As well, we did in-depth market studies locally to
learn more about our own clientele and their learning needs.”
While re-examining many aspects of continuing education at 鶹, it became apparent that CCE’s moniker no longer fully captured everything that was going on at 688 Sherbrooke St. West and environs: “Today, we are actually more akin to a ‘school’ – in the 鶹 academic-unit sense – than a centre. As well, ‘Continuing Studies’ is more inclusive and reflects the breadth of our current and projected programming,” says Potter. “It also aligns us with the predominant nomenclature used at other prominent North American universities.”
Ongoing Improvements on Many Fronts
Within CCE, the past few years have seen some significant
program-level changes, which the new names also seek to reflect.
“We have revitalized major programs and added many new options,
especially within the two largest academic units: the former Career
and Management Studies, and English and French Language Programs.
Their new names (Career and Professional Development, and Language
and Intercultural Communication) are a more accurate reflection of
these new directions.
“As well, we’re actively improving the quality of our services on all levels,” says Potter. To accommodate the many new programs and courses and a larger and more diverse clientele, the new integrated Client Services unit has longer opening hours and increased service options. Workshops, instructional design support and other resources for instructors have also been expanded. There are new workshops available to help students with study skills and assist them along their diverse career paths, and a new scholarship and bursary program is under development.
Increased Visibility On and Off Campus
In line with the Dean’s mandate to raise the profile of continuing
education at 鶹 are two high-profile initiatives. “One of the
biggest recent developments for us is opening the new 鶹
Writing Centre (MWC).” The MWC is a pan-university initiative that
will help improve written communication at 鶹 and beyond,
consolidating numerous writing courses, workshops and related
services for undergraduates, graduates and the continuing education
community.
“Another positive development is our joining 鶹’s Capital Campaign. We are aligning our fund-raising and ‘friend-raising’ goals with the wider university community. This makes a lot of sense because many of our students and alumni are also 鶹 alumni, so there’s much common ground as we connect with them. Our alumni have shown considerable interest in our new programming and some are contributing to various projects and initiatives we have under way to help current students, such as donating for bursaries and student awards.”
Clearly, CCE’s transformation into the School of Continuing Studies is the culmination of much hard work and many positive changes: “We have new academic and personal development programs, increased student registration, a talented and committed team, a new visual identity and greater community awareness of our offerings,” says Potter enthusiastically. And the outreach activities will continue: “It’s an exciting time. More and more people are going back to school, taking refresher courses and changing careers. Our revitalized organization is more committed than ever to help them meet their personal and professional goals.”
Highlights of Academic Unit Name Changes
- Career and Professional Development / Développement de carrière et perfectionnement professionnel (replaces Career and Management Studies / Études professionnelles et de gestion): CPD will continue to offer a wide variety of credit programs and courses, while adding a range of stimulating short courses, workshops and webinars for working professionals.
- Faculty Partnerships and Summer Studies / Partenariats universitaires et études d’été (replaces General Studies / Études générales): Tasked with raising the profile and activity level of continuing education throughout 鶹, this unit works closely with the faculties to help them reach new audiences and communities of learners. This unit also coordinates summer programs and courses.
- Language and Intercultural Communication / Langues et communication interculturelle (replaces English and French Language Program / Programmes de langues anglaise et française): Over the past two years, this unit has revamped its intensive language programs by integrating many cultural elements. As well, it has expanded its offerings to include non-credit and customized language courses and will extend its reach to include other languages this fall.
- Translation and Written Communication / Traduction et expression écrite (replaces Translation Studies / Études de traduction): As well as offering accredited translation programs, this unit’s portfolio now encompasses the 鶹 Writing Centre. It will also deliver many workshops and one-on-one tutoring, and will provide fee-for-service offerings for the business community.
- Personal and Cultural Enrichment / Programmes de perfectionnement personnel et culturel (new unit): After piloting a successful series of stimulating events in 2010, PACE will be officially launched as a unit focussed on learning for individual and societal enrichment. The flagship subunit of PACE is the 鶹 Community for Lifelong Learning / Les communautés d’apprentissage continu de 鶹 (the renamed 鶹 Institute for Learning in Retirement, MILR).