Division of Extended Studies

Division of Extended Studies
Name	Division of Extended Studies
Type	Academic unit
Established	20th century
Headquarters	University campus
Leader title	Director

Division of Extended Studies The Division of Extended Studies is an academic unit providing continuing education and professional development outside traditional degree programs. It serves non-traditional learners including adult learners, working professionals, and international students through flexible online learning, certificate programs, and workshops. The division collaborates with universities, community colleges, research institutes, and industry partners to deliver curricular and noncredit offerings.

Overview

The division often operates within a public university or private university structure, coordinating with schools such as School of Business, School of Law, School of Medicine, College of Arts and Sciences, and School of Engineering. It aligns with institutional strategies like those seen at University of California, State University of New York, University of Michigan, Harvard University, and Stanford University while responding to regional needs exemplified by City of Los Angeles, County of San Diego, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and State of Texas. Leadership commonly reports to university figures such as the provost, chancellor, dean, or president and engages with external funders like the National Science Foundation, Department of Education, European Commission, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Programs and Courses

Offerings include noncredit certificate programs in fields linked to information technology, healthcare administration, project management, and entrepreneurship. Courses mirror professional standards such as those in Project Management Institute certifications, American Nurses Credentialing Center CE, and Society for Human Resource Management credentials, and incorporate methodologies from learning sciences, instructional design, adult learning theory, and distance education. Delivery formats range from synchronous webinar sessions and asynchronous massive open online course platforms to hybrid residencies modeled after programs at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Coursera, edX, Udacity, and FutureLearn.

Administration and Governance

Governance structures include advisory boards with representatives from Chamber of Commerce, industry advisory board members from firms like Microsoft, IBM, Google, Amazon, and policy liaisons to agencies such as the Department of Labor and World Bank. Administrative functions encompass budget oversight aligned with Board of Trustees policies, compliance with accreditation agencies like Middle States Commission on Higher Education, WASC Senior College and University Commission, and Higher Learning Commission, and risk management comparable to practices at Office of the General Counsel. Staffing models draw on faculty appointments, adjuncts, and continuing education specialists akin to roles in American Association of University Professors contexts.

Partnerships and Community Engagement

The division forges partnerships with community colleges such as City College of San Francisco, Los Angeles Community College District, and workforce boards including California Workforce Development Board, New York State Department of Labor, and European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training. Collaborative initiatives involve nonprofit organizations like United Way, Goodwill Industries International, and YMCA, as well as collaborations with cultural institutions such as Smithsonian Institution, Library of Congress, and Metropolitan Museum of Art. International collaborations reach entities like United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, World Health Organization, and university networks including Association of Pacific Rim Universities and Russell Group.

Student Services and Support

Services include academic advising aligned with practices at National Academic Advising Association, career counseling similar to National Career Development Association frameworks, and technology support using platforms from Blackboard, Canvas (learning management system), Zoom Video Communications, and Google Workspace for Education. Accessibility and accommodations follow guidelines from agencies like the Americans with Disabilities Act and Office for Civil Rights, while financial aid and scholarship coordination mirrors policies from Federal Student Aid and private foundations such as the Knight Foundation.

Impact and Outcomes

Outcomes are measured through metrics comparable to IPEDS reporting, employer satisfaction surveys drawing on methods from Gallup, and workforce impact studies similar to reports by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and World Bank. The division contributes to regional economic development initiatives like Economic Development Administration projects, advances professional licensure preparation for bodies such as State Bar of California and American Medical Association, and supports lifelong learning priorities echoed by European Union strategies and UNESCO reports.

Category:University divisions