College of Professional and Continuing Education Studies

CPCS is a new college, established May 2023, that will be critical to the success of the university’s engagement goal. The CPCS is provides extensive educational and professional development opportunities across three primary domains. These domains are designed to meet the needs of traditional and nontraditional students, professionals, and community members, fostering lifelong learning and professional excellence.

• The first pillar of CPCS is the academic component. The college will offer undergraduate and graduate programs that cater to a diverse student population. These academic programs are continually evolving to meet the changing demands of the global job market and to equip students with the skills necessary for success in their respective fields. Faculty within the College will actively engage in scholarship activities as well as research opportunities.  There will also be a strong emphasis on securing external grants and funding that align with the mission of College and with the needs of the community and industry.
• The second pillar is the Center for Continuing Education which serves as another bridge between the university and the community. This center is essential for workforce development providing critical training and credentials for professionals seeking to enhance their skills or meet professional requirements.  The Center also offers a diverse range of lifestyle programs that promote personal growth. A major infrastructure component is also in process that will further enhance the services provided by the Center to include instructional course design, marketing, registration, enrollment, fee collection, student and faculty support, and student assessment, evaluation, and certification. This enterprise system will provide the opportunity for data analysis to enhance marketing, enrollment, finance management and reporting.
• The third pillar is support for online and adult learning primarily through the Center for Distance Education.  The Center currently provides a range of support for over 130 online degree programs housed within various colleges across the university.  Support for online students includes online admissions and enrollment, onboarding and student success, advising, and technology support, while support for online faculty include instructional design support, an online faculty training program, educational technology and innovation support, as well as marketing and recruitment for the programs. The CPCS is also instrumental in advocating for adult learners through policy changes and the development of systems for the expansion of alternative credentials and pathways from non-credit to credit programs.

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