Annual Reports 2004-2005
Division of Lifelong Learning and Community Engagement
The Division of Lifelong Learning and Community Engagement (formerly known as Continuous Learning) was formed in spring 2005 to include units that specialize in educational programs and services for learners of all ages. The division offers nontraditional degrees and certificates for working adults, a variety of community outreach programs, services for adult nontraditional students, assistance with certificate programs, summer session coordination, and testing services. The units are the Center for New Learning, the Office of Adult Student Access Services, the Office of Continuing Education and Extension, and Testing Services. In addition, the division offers assistance to the campus in the areas of certificate program planning and summer session coordination. The division’s Marketing Office assists with market research and community connections.
Community
- To demystify the process of going back to school for potential nontraditional students, Adult Student Access Services and the Center for New Learning sponsored the first Start Here, Start Now session in summer 2005.
- Continuing Education and Extension conducted two camps related to fire science: “Basic Fire Science Camp” and “Advanced Fire Science Camp.”
- Continuing Education and Extension programming in 2004-2005 brought approximately 2,000 visitors to Oshkosh, most of whom patronized local hotels during their stay.
- The 325-plus-member Learning in Retirement organization is one of the largest and most active in the Midwest.
Teaching
- Adult Student Access Services started a new student mentoring program to provide support for nontraditional students.
- Eight workshops were sponsored by Adult Student Access Services to help returning students update their skills.
- The Nontraditional Student Organization was started to help students find support from each other.
- William McConkey, a teacher in the Center for New Learning and the division’s marketing and community relations director, was named a Wisconsin Ideas Fellow by the UW-System Board of Regents in May 2004.
- The Center for New Learning held a 25th anniversary celebration in May to highlight the history of UW Oshkosh’s Bachelor of Liberal Studies Program. Liberal studies alumni from all over Wisconsin attended.
- The Center for New Learning had its largest graduating class in spring 2005. Seventeen graduates received their degrees in June. The department also had its largest graduation total for both a calendar year (32 in 2004) and academic year (33 in 2004-2005).
- In 2004-2005, Continuing Education and Extension offered 220 noncredit programs, including 150 Living in Retirement programs. There were 12,456 participants, including 8,210 LIR registrants.
- In 2004-2005, Continuing Education and Extension offered 63 credit outreach course sections, serving 497 credit students.
- Program Development and Planning coordinated development and approval activities for three new certificate programs, including the Global Educator, Leadership for Social Justice and Technology Leadership in the Classroom.
- Program Development and Planning coordinated centralized activities for a Summer Session Pilot Project, which supplemented the regular Summer Session offerings by providing more than 20 additional summer courses in nine different departments within the four colleges. Further support provided additional course sections for graduate students in the College of Business.
- In 2004-05, Testing Services administered more than 19,900 exams for faculty in 23 different departments. Another 6,700 exams were administered for licensure, certification, professional school application or placement purposes. More than 156,000 answer sheets were scanned and results reported back to faculty for classroom tests.
Partnership
- Adult Student Access Services led a yearlong project, funded by a UW-Extension grant, to foster “Economic Development in Rural Areas” through a NEW ERA collaboration with public libraries.
- Continuing Education and Extension worked in partnership with the following to provide programming: the Grand Opera House, UW-Green Bay’s Continuing Education and Social Work department, Fox Valley Technical College and Appleton and Oshkosh fire departments.
- In 2004-2005, participants in Continuing Education and Extension conferences contributed an estimated $131,000 in revenue to the local economy through patronage at area hotels, restaurants and businesses.
- Program Development and Planning prepared the “Request for Entitlement To Plan” a bachelor’s degree program in Fire and Emergency Response Management in concert with UW Oshkosh faculty in partnership with UW-Extension, Fox Valley Technical College, state fire chiefs and other personnel in the firefighting community. The request was granted by the UW-System in June 2005.
Stewardship
- Student mentors in Adult Student Access Services worked with UW Oshkosh’s Graduation Project to assist college seniors who left the university before completing their degrees.
- Continuing Education and Extension provided support for the Leadership for Social Justice Certificate Program’s first cohort, which began in spring 2005.
- The Marketing Office completed a demographic, economic and educational analysis of six counties within the Fox Valley area and published a report. The office also conducted a research study of for-profit, noncredit training activities in the Fox Valley and completed an analysis of economic development planning and higher education in the Fox Valley.