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Frequently Asked Questions About Continuing Education
Why do we need an Office of Lifelong Learning? Why can't academic units conduct their own continuing education programs or events?
There are two reasons. Academic units have primary missions to deliver courses for academic credit. Continuing education activities and programs can serve to support those missions, but it is wrong to use time and resources from these units to develop and manage programs. It is also grossly inefficient to use academic resources when there are professionals who, by doing this business regularly, provide economies of scale and expertise that make programs more likely to succeed. The TWU academic mission is compromised when state dollars intended for academic purposes are used to fund or support non-credit educational events. Even something as simple as departmental secretarial support of a non-credit event uses dollars intended to support the academic programs and mission of the university.
How long have we had an Office of Lifelong Learning at TWU?
The Office of Lifelong Learning evolved from a long history of continuing education at TWU. The "Office of Continuing Education" was established as part of the Graduate School in 1979. The only staff was a graduate student assistant until a part-time secretary (shared with Faculty Senate) was hired in 1985. The first full-time Coordinator was hired in 1987. The office was renamed and restructured in 2001, when distance learning functions and other academic supports were added.
Why does Lifelong Learning take a percentage of funds earned by programs or non-credit courses? How is that determined?
Lifelong Learning operates like a business. It must pay its own way. As a result, the costs of doing business must be factored into the costs and pricing of the services and products. Just like any other business, we must charge prices that reflect the costs. Our costs are determined by what it takes to operate our office plus the direct costs of the specific program, and any university costs that we are required to pay. While it may seem that using departmental employees is keeping program costs down, the real cost of using departmental employees is not being factored in as a real cost. For example, a few hours work time for the average TWU department secretary represents a real cost of over $50.00 in addition to the academic work they did not do during this time.
Who pays the costs of Lifelong Learning? Does Lifelong Learning use general revenue funds?
Lifelong Learning operates on a private sector business model. Lifelong Learning salaries and costs are paid from revenues generated from the various fees and charges that are generated. The majority of the costs have always been paid by this model, but beginning in September 2004 no general revenue funds will be used for the Office of Lifelong Learning.
Why are distance education and continuing education housed in the same office?
The mission of the Office of Lifelong Learning is to provide quality, innovative lifelong learning opportunities to a diverse student population by extending the educational resources of Texas Woman’s University. Distance learning is an academic function. It is owned by academic units and the coordination of distance learning functions is a critical component of academic affairs. As such, the Office of Lifelong Learning is the logical destination for this responsibility.
Why is the Office of Lifelong Learning under the Academic Affairs unit?
Lifelong Learning is a support component of the academic departments and schools. Continuing Education Units must be managed by the academic side of the University and all distance learning functions are academic in nature. SACS criteria for evaluation also recommend placement of continuing education within the academic component.
What is the difference between Lifelong Learning and Conference services?
Lifelong Learning supports non-credit programming and activities in partnership with Academic departments and outside groups. At TWU, Conference Services was designed to handle "outside groups" needing food or space. In some cases, Lifelong Learning programs involve Conference Services facility usage. Lifelong Learning helps generate additional revenue for this and other auxiliary units at TWU.
How does Lifelong Learning contribute to TWU?
Lifelong Learning provides supplemental income to employees that teach in their events. We are among the top customers for printing services, the mailroom and food services on campus. More important, almost $400,000 income was provided for academic departments and over $50,000 was paid for capital improvements to university facilities over past fiscal years. For distance learning, we coordinate the strategic efforts of a number of units to manage the processes and issues of distance learning classes and programs. Additionally, we have worked to establish new non-traditional programs and expand the evening and weekend offerings of the university.
Does Lifelong Learning pay overhead?
Auxiliary units of the university contribute to the costs of the university. Contributions can be made in percentage allocations or direct payment of costs. In the case of Lifelong Learning, cash payments have been made to help fund critical upgrades of facilities. At various other times, additional continuing education funds have been used toward university overhead and expenses. By eliminating the need for general revenue funding of its activities, Lifelong Learning frees funds that can now be used for academic programs and faculty.
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