Reflective Essay on Theme III, Issue No. 2: Continuing
Education and Lifelong Learning
As part of the Academic Affairs Division of CSUSB, the mission
of the College of Extended Learning (CEL) is to develop and
deliver high quality, innovative educational programs tailored
to the diverse personal and professional learning needs of
the many communities it serves. CEL is the continuing education
center on campus and, like its many counterparts within the
California State University System, it is a self-supporting
unit.
In its earlier history, CEL was a thriving enterprise with
annual revenue exceeding 6 million dollars at its peak. It
derived most of its enrollments and income from a strong Summer
Session program and a very successful Conference Services
program. Complementing these large programs were the American
Culture and Language Program, and CEL's Extension Programs
unit, which offered a balanced array of professional development
and personal enrichment certificates and courses. In addition,
the Open University program provided a mechanism for non-matriculated
individuals in the community to take University courses on
a space available basis.
In short, from the 1980's until 2000, the College of Extended
Learning was in a growth mode and was financially stable
with enough reserves to enable the building of a new classroom
building-the Yasuda Center for Extended Education-in 1995.
This facility, which was constructed in part through a
gift from the Yasuda Women's University in Hiroshima,
Japan, is tangible evidence of CEL's deep and continuing
relationship with that institution. Over the course of
the last fourteen years, more than one thousand Yasuda
students have studied English on the CSUSB campus and
participated in uniquely rewarding "homestay"
experiences. During this period, the educational effectiveness
of this College was evidenced by the steady growth of
programs intended for local, regional and international
audiences. In this sense, "effectiveness" is
tied to a growing demand for programs that require individuals
or their employers to pay registration fees. CEL's continuing
education activities included professional growth courses
and certificates offered through the extension and contract
education units, professional conferences for regional
and national audiences, noncredit English language development
programs for international students and contracted international
groups, and the Summer Session and Open University programs,
which provided community access to CSUSB's regular curriculum.
Several standout programs developed in those years, as
described in the Full Report http://thewasc.csusb.edu/edueffrev/thm3/thm3iss2fr.htm continue today; however, it is important to note that
the bulk of enrollments came from CSUSB matriculated students
(Summer Session) and from conference enrollments.
Beginning in 2001, the Summer Session program left the College
of Extended Learning and became funded through the state as
part of the conversion to "year - round operations".
This, combined with the national economic downturn, the impact
of September 11 on CEL's international programs and a decrease
in conferencing activity, has resulted in a nearly 50% loss
of enrollments and revenue for Extended Learning. While its
mission remains the same, clearly the College is in a period
of review and transition. It is evaluating the performance
of its programs, the potential of new programming directions
and its ability to do the type of market research required
to develop continuing education programs that are in demand.
The losses in programs and revenue experienced by CEL-indeed,
experienced by most continuing education operations within
our state system-does not imply that the College is not contributing
significantly toward the educational effectiveness of the
University. A quick review of the College of Extended Learning's
quarterly catalog reveals a broad array of primarily noncredit
certificate programs and courses that address the professional
growth needs of employed individuals within our immediate
region, as well as on-line learners. Enrollments in several
successful extension programs attest to CEL's achievements
in serving our population, as do unique international programs
and conferencing activity. In addition, the College of Extended
Learning exists as a vehicle for non-matriculated students
to attend University courses, and for the University to deliver
degree programs off campus, and internationally. Without doubt,
CSUSB would be much less able to connect with the outside
community if it were not for the outreach provided by the
College of Extended Learning.
Although it has scaled back, there is every reason to be
optimistic about the future, considering the continuing growth
within the Inland Empire and the increasing requests for degree
programs and training by international audiences. To continue
to be an effective arm of CSU San Bernardino, CEL's future
will depend on careful, strategic planning that is informed
by solid market research-some of which is already available
through various assessments and focus groups. It must link
its activities to the University's strategic plan, develop
a higher profile as an educational resource within our region,
and serve greater numbers of lifelong learners within the
community. The College of Extended Learning is an underutilized
vehicle that the University could use to greater advantage.
It has the potential to incubate new academic programs, deliver
more degree and certificate programs off-campus, and better
serve the professional development needs of the University's
alumni. While financial imperatives tempt all continuing education
enterprises to look increasingly outside of the University
for self-supporting revenue, in the future the College of
Extended Learning will become more relevant and useful to
the University by connecting more closely to academic departments
and colleges.
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