Continuing Studies refines mission

Continuing Studies at UConn has received a makeover and a new name.

Formerly the College of Continuing Studies, reporting to the Provost, the unit is now known as the Center for Continuing Studies and operates under the aegis of Vice Provost Veronica Makowsky. The Center will continue to be financially self-supporting.

In addition to strengthening its existing degree programs, the Center is launching a new initiative to foster the development of interdisciplinary collaboration in emerging fields through academic partnerships.

The administration of classes offered during May term, summer break, and winter intersession is being moved to the Registrar's Office, taking effect for May Term 2007, a step Makowsky says will help the University more closely tailor its course offerings to students' needs.

"The main purpose of the Center for Continuing Studies is education for the returning adult," Makowsky says.

The changes are part of an academic restructuring proposed by Provost Peter J. Nicholls and approved by the Board of Trustees in February.

A committee of faculty, staff, and continuing studies advisory board members worked with Makowsky, vice provost for undergraduate education and regional campus administration, to plan the unit's new direction.

Nicholls says the aim was to integrate Continuing Studies more closely with the rest of the University, and to do so "in a way that highlights the fact that UConn is a research extensive university."

Sue Nesbitt, interim director of continuing studies, says, "Now everything we do is done with the thought, 'How does this fit with a land grant research university, the leading public university in the Northeast?'"

The name change reflects the fact that Continuing Studies does not have tenured or tenure-track faculty, as would a full-fledged school or college.

Its handful of permanent academic staff generally have administrative responsibility for their programs in addition to teaching, rather than substantial research expectations.

As part of the changes, a new committee of tenured and tenure-track faculty has been established to oversee the curriculum of the Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) program. Similar committees were already in place for the Master of Professional Studies (MPS) programs.

A number of further changes have been made to strengthen the BGS program, a degree program designed for adult students.

BGS students will now, for example, have the same general education requirements as any other UConn undergraduate.

Previously, some were given exemption from foreign language and laboratory science requirements.

"This is about academic rigor," says Nicholls.

Makowsky says the measure is not expected to reduce access to the program, since the majority of students do have the requirements they need.

The administration is working with the regional campuses, however, to ensure that the needed courses are provided at times when BGS students are most likely to be able to attend - afternoons and evenings.

The Center's market research and planning department has begun actively recruiting returning adult students, and BGS counselors have been integrated into advising teams at the regional campuses - where more than 80 percent of BGS students are based - so they can better advise adult students.