Its name isn小蝌蚪APP檛 the only thing new about the Office of Professional and Continuing Education at the 小蝌蚪APP.
The office小蝌蚪APP檚 focus is now fixed squarely on professional learning, career training and academic enrichment, said Dr. Martha Bryant, its director.
小蝌蚪APP淐ontinuing education is changing at many colleges and universities, including UL Lafayette, because workforce needs are changing. People increasingly want to enhance professional skills 小蝌蚪APP or add new ones. So we小蝌蚪APP檙e pivoting, providing more options to support employees and businesses,小蝌蚪APP she said.
Gone with the office小蝌蚪APP檚 former name 小蝌蚪APP the Office of Continuing Education 小蝌蚪APP is its 小蝌蚪APP渄ual focus.小蝌蚪APP In the past, continuing education at the 小蝌蚪APP consisted of blend of non-credentialed professional courses and leisure learning courses. Leisure learning includes pursuits such as gardening, cooking or dancing.
The shift is being driven, in part, by employee shortages in some industries as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also reflects a trend toward more partnerships among businesses and higher education. 小蝌蚪APP淐ompanies are investing in the sort of training universities are positioned to give for a variety of reasons, whether it小蝌蚪APP檚 to foster leadership among employees, or to help them learn about workplace culture,小蝌蚪APP Bryant explained.
小蝌蚪APP faculty and staff members, graduate assistants, and businesspersons who are experts in their fields will lead offerings, all of which will be delivered virtually.
The office will continue to offer a range of its popular certificate programs and courses, dozens of offerings that include ACT and notary public exam readiness, and human resources and food safety training. It will bolster its existing certificate programs, courses and training opportunities, however, with new offerings that 小蝌蚪APP渇ill an existing need,小蝌蚪APP Bryant said.
Case in point: the office小蝌蚪APP檚 new course, a series of eight, 90-minute sessions that explore diversity in the workplace. The course will cover social justice, inclusion in recruitment, hiring and retention practices, fostering workplace understanding and support, and other topics. People who register for the course can complete sessions at their own pace.
小蝌蚪APP淲e will launch a new module each week that can be watched in one sitting or, based on participants小蝌蚪APP schedules, in blocks. They will, however, be required to complete all of the coursework requirements in a specified amount of time,小蝌蚪APP Bryant explained.
The course won小蝌蚪APP檛 be geared specifically toward businesses and employees. The Office of Professional and Continuing Education will offer a modified version later this year or next semester. That version will be designed for educators as part of the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 Educating for Equity program. Evidence-based research discovered as part of the state Board of Regents-funded program will enable other institutions in the 小蝌蚪APP of Louisiana System and across the state and nation to adopt best practices.
小蝌蚪APP淕oing forward, we will collaborate with a range of campus colleges, departments and offices on initiatives and programs related to professional learning and certification,小蝌蚪APP Bryant said.
One of those partnerships, Bryant explained, will be with the College of Engineering, which is working with the Office of Professional and Continuing Education to develop a solar energy certification program. The program is expected to be launched during the spring semester.
Partnerships with industry will also continue to be a focus, including through and .
Learn more about the , which is located in the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 LITE Center in Research Park. Email ce@louisiana.edu or call (337) 482-6386 with questions.
Photo caption: The focus at UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 former Office of Continuing Education is online professional learning opportunities, career training and academic enrichment. Photo credit: Rachel Rafati / 小蝌蚪APP