Information Digest 1998-1999: Continuing Education

CONTINUING EDUCATION

As part of the mission of the University System, public service and continuing education act as an interface between the 34 institutions and the communities which they serve. Such activities are an extension of the traditional on-campus learning process and have been established to improve the welfare of Georgia's citizens and serve business, industry, government, and professional organizations. The public service/continuing education component consists of the following:

Instructional services--offering primarily non-degree credit work designed for the purpose of upgrading skills or personal development
Applied research--finding pragmatic solutions for identified problems
Consultation--providing expertise for solving problems
Technical assistance--providing support for completing a task

Board policy mandates that each institution will offer a variety of conferences, institutes, short courses, workshops, seminars, and training programs. The principal unit awarded for participation in these non-degree credit activities is the Continuing Education Unit (C.E.U.), defined as "ten contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction."

The C.E.U. is accepted nationally as the unit for measuring participation in non-credit continuing education programs. There are two categories of continuing education activity, and only those individuals who take programs that meet the criteria for Category I may be awarded C.E.U.'s. Activities in Category I must meet administrative criteria, including being a part of an institution with a continuing education staff that has a library with reference resources and program criteria that include specifying outcomes of the learning experience and stating requirements for measurement of goals and completion of the program. Programs in Category II do not meet the criteria for inclusion in Category I but may meet the needs of the community or help satisfy the service mission of the institution. Category II activities are planned educational events of an instructional nature, with individually registered participants. "Continuing Education Activities" include both Category I and Category II programs. The rapid growth that has occurred in this area is displayed below.

CONTINUING EDUCATION ACTIVITIES 1976-77 -- 1997-98
12 Month Period*	No. of Programs	12 Month Period*	No. of Programs
1976-77	7,118	1987-88	13,645
1977-78	8,434	1988-89	11,987
1978-79	9,094	1989-90	13,883
1979-80	9,124	1990-91	14,018
1980-81	9,197	1991-92	15,876
1981-82	10,032	1992-93	16,329
1982-83	10,694	1993-94	17,241
1983-84	11,378	1994-95	17,045
1984-85	12,143	1995-96	18,945
1985-86	12,556	1996-97	19,844
1986-87	13,361	1997-98	21,244

Sources: Policy Manual, 1983; Utilization of the Continuing Education Unit (C.E.U.) within the University System of Georgia, 1988; 1997-98 Annual C.E.U. Report