Annual Report 2006-2007
Division of Lifelong Learning and Community Engagement
The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is committed to lifelong learning and community partnerships. Throughout the institution, this commitment is expressed through the many ways in which our students, faculty and staff are involved with the community.
Continuing education, nontraditional programs, community outreach, adult education — all of these are among the terms that describe the focus of the Division of Lifelong Learning and Community Engagement. The division consists of the following departments: Adult Nontraditional Student Resource (ANSR) Office, Center for New Learning, and the Office of Continuing Education and Extension.
2006-2007 Highlights
Center for New Learning
In 2006-2007, the Center for New Learning (CNL) implemented the new Bachelor of Fire and Emergency Response Management Program. In addition, the CNL developed and prepared for delivery of the human services major online. Courses will be offered online in fall 2007. The UW Oshkosh faculty, administration and Board of Regents approved the Bachelor of Applied Studies (BAS) Program in spring 2007. Courses for the BAS also will be offered in fall 2007. More than 100 students graduated from the Organizational Administration Program, and classes for the new online version have been offered. During 2007-2008, the CNL will continue to develop and build all of these new programs while maintaining enrollment and services in existing programs.
Adult Nontraditional Student Resource (ANSR) Office
In 2006-2007, office staff assisted 261 potential students and met with enrolled undergraduate and graduate nontraditional students in an additional 958 visits, providing resource information and support. Five workshops were sponsored to help 33 returning students update their skills. ANSR staff members presented to 185 students attending four orientations. To demystify the process of going back to school, the ANSR Office and CNL cosponsored a Start Here, Start Now session for 20 potential students. Ten monthly newsletters provided visibility about the office’s services to approximately 1,500 undergraduate students, 1,200 graduate students and to campus staff and faculty. The ANSR Office sponsored two open houses and six Lunch Bunch sessions with 75 nontraditional student participants. A Divorce Support Group was started in spring 2007. The Nontraditional Student Organization (NTSO) was approved as an official organization in fall 2006 and met nine times to provide student discussion and support. The ANSR Office plays an integral role in reexamining policies and practices across campus related to granting credit for prior learning. During the first full year of the Graduation Project, the ANSR Office worked with 132 former students who live in 12 different states and one foreign country to help them complete their baccalaureate degrees. Twenty-two of these students graduated in 2006-2007.
Lifelong Learning and Community Engagement
In 2006-2007, the Office of Continuing Education and Extension served 3,527 people from across the state of Wisconsin through 52 programs. Programming included professional development conferences, seminars and workshops for social workers, counselors, educators and others. Continuing Education also offered several camps for area youth, including Fire Science Camp, Broadway Bounce (musical theatre workshop), GOAL (academic camp), Choir Camp and String Camp. The Learning in Retirement program grew to 350 participants and in the last year offered 173 programs, processing 9,684 registrations for those programs. Continuing Education also collaborated.