The mission of The University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education is to serve the learning needs of adults and organizations and to provide leadership in developing the theory and practice of continuing education. This mission is fulfilled by talented faculty and staff of the Center's four divisions--Academic Credit, Communication Services, Hotel and Operating Services, and Instructional Services--who, during the fiscal year 1995-1996 (FY 95-96; July 1995 through June 1996) served more than 140,000 people through on-campus, off-campus, and distance education programs and through various support services for administrative meetings. Through the Director's Office, logistical and management support were provided by several units.
Highlights of FY 95-96 included: record enrollments in the American Language Program and University System of Georgia Independent Study; technological upgrades for the Department of Television Services (with a switch to a KU-band satellite system) and for WUGA-FM (an increase in power and an upgrading of the antenna system); the creation of the Department of Conference and Event Services, a cross-divisional effort, to provide planning services and logistical support for all meetings, conferences, events, stage presentations, and exhibits; and the continued refinement of the overall educational programming and customer service. One special initiative for the year was a study conducted by the Department of Marketing Services, with assistance from all Center departments, that assessed the economic impacts of the Georgia Center on Athens/Clarke County, Georgia, and the surrounding communities.
High priority strategic and operational efforts for next fiscal year (FY 96-97; July 1996 through June 1997) include an orderly transition by Fall Quarter 1997 of the Evening Classes program to an expanded day schedule, with retention of student advisement by the Georgia Center; reorganization of the Georgia Center to accommodate the reality of reduced resources; continued planning for an expanded Georgia Center noncredit continuing education program at the University System CenterGwinnett; and finalization of a new Georgia Center pricing structure and services format.
This Georgia Center Quarterly "Year in Review" summarizes the accomplishments and "status" of each division, with glances at stats, facts, and programs. Special staff achievements can be found below. Also included is a summary report of the Georgia Center's economic impact study, with totals and discussions of the research methods.
The division coordinates programs offered by the University as part of a consortium of University System of Georgia institutions at the University System Center Gwinnett, in Lawrenceville, Georgia, established by the Board of Regents in 1984. The University currently offers upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses for resident credit at the University System Center Gwinnett.
During FY 95-96, the Division of Academic Credit enrolled a record high 696 students in the American Language Program, resulting in the largest number of countries (39) ever represented. The Macintosh computer laboratory allowed the department to improve computer-assisted components in lower- and upper-division courses. Evening Classes' "Trigon Program" for faculty development received an "Innovative Programs Award" from the National University Continuing Education Association (NUCEA). Evening Classes offered 452 classes with a 26 percent increase in student registrations (6,709 in FY 95-96) and a 20 percent increase in course registrations (11,198 in FY 95-96), the highest-ever enrollments. University System of Georgia Independent Study had 9 percent increases (a five-year high) in student registrations (3,352 in FY 95-96) and course registrations (4,404 in FY 95-96). Independent Study established a World Wide Web site with an on-line catalog with links to various educational sites. Four new Independent Study courses were developed including three with multimedia components, 21 courses were revised, 56 courses were updated, and 21 courses were formatted for electronic course guides. An Independent Study Author's Guide was published. The University offered at the University System Center Gwinnett 127 classes (16 via distance learning), one new degree program (master's in speech-language pathology via distance learning), two continuing education certificate programs ("English as a Second Language" and "Training and Human Resource Development"), and two special event programs via distance learning. The Off-Campus Credit program as administered by the division was discontinued; the registration responsibilities for off-campus credit courses were transferred to the University Registrar's Office in October 1995.
Several internal University decisions have affected long-term direction for the Division of Academic Credit. By Fall Quarter 1997, Evening Classes' role in course scheduling will end after a 40-year period in which Evening Classes has been the only entity on campus that provided a comprehensive, consistent, and coordinated schedule of evening classes.
Plans for FY 96-97 include adding to the staff of the American Language Program and expanding its services to students, and developing new delivery methods for University System of Georgia Independent Study courses, including offering courses utilizing the World Wide Web.
The five functions of the division are: (a) the provision of support services in marketing for the Georgia Center; (b) the provision of support services for developing, reproducing, and/or publishing written and visual materials; (c) the provision of support services for electronic media production; (d) the development of new technology delivery platforms for educational programs and electronic outreach (distance education); and (e) the management and operation of UGA's public radio station, WUGA-FM, a member of National Public Radio and Peach State Public Radio and an affiliate of Public Radio International.
Affiliated with the Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission, the division provides cultural and educational television productions for Georgia Public Television. Communication Services supports two-way video instruction throughout the state and nation through the Georgia Statewide Academic and Medical System (GSAMS). As a charter member of the National University Teleconference Network (NUTN), the Georgia Center has access to high quality teleconferences offered by more than 200 institutions of higher learning. With state-of-the-art satellite uplink capability, the Center is able to originate teleconferences viewed nationally and internationally.
The division significantly expanded both its services and capabilities during FY 95-96, in support of programs at the Georgia Center. The service responses of the division continue to grow in terms of numbers of projects and people served. Most significant in the past year, however, is the growth in capabilities made possible by the following: the addition of a new KU-band satellite uplink in Television Services; expanded power and an enhanced antenna system for WUGA-FM; and a more comprehensive approach to the marketing function with the first full year of operation of the "new" Department of Marketing Services, which now includes the Graphics Services Unit to provide full service capabilities of design and production for corporate and activity marketing pieces and exhibits. Also, the Printing Services Unit was separated into the Print Shop and the Copy Shop, offering quick response to client requests.
The Division of Communication Services will continue to find innovative and improved ways to support the educational program of the Georgia Center for FY 96-97, with plans to upgrade equipment (in particular, purchasing new video cameras); to expand marketing efforts for Television Services products and for the Center overall, through ongoing efforts by Marketing Services; to develop more programming for GSAMS and teleconferences; and to focus efforts in preparing grant proposals for division-wide projects and in developing fundraising campaigns for WUGA-FM.
The Department of Food Services is a multifaceted operation including the Commons Coffee Shop Cafe, the Savannah Room Restaurant, and the banquet operations. The Department of General Services directs the planning of capital improvement programs for the Georgia Center and coordinates the fiscal planning for the division, as well as coordinates programs for safety and security for employees and guests, for the protection of property and equipment, for grounds maintenance, for building engineering and repair, and for telephone, mail, and message services for all Georgia Center departments and guests. The Department of Lodging Services oversees a hotel operation of 200 guest rooms, providing housing for conferees, visiting government staff, University guests, alumni, and student parents. Funds are reserved from this operation to maintain the condition of the hotel. Housekeeping Services, which serves the entire building, and the Georgia Center Gift Shop are also managed by Lodging Services. The Department of Conference and Event Services, created during FY 95-96, provides planning services and logistical support for all meetings, conferences, events, stage presentations, and exhibits. The Department of Special Event Services plans and manages social events, receptions, entertainment, and banquets related to educational conferences and University of Georgia activities. Events requiring special attention to environment are planned, promoted, and produced for regional audiences using facilities not committed to other educational programming.
The Division of Hotel and Operating Services, during FY 95-96, improved direct customer service in two ways. First, a new operating feature, the Central Booking Office, within the Department of Conference and Event Services, was initiated, along with the Division of Instructional Services, to provide one point-of-contact for clientele for both conference and non-conference events. Second, in a reorganization of Housekeeping Services, of the Department of Lodging Services, "floor supervisors" were provided to improve supervision and on-the-job training for service employees. Indirectly, customer service was strengthened by a number of design and construction projects, including the replacement of the deck area in the Pecan Tree Courtyard; a relocated and expanded conference registration area; the new Central Booking Office; a new library; and new offices for Department of Television Services productions, Community Programs, and University System of Georgia Independent Study. In addition, new air conditioning units were installed in the Banquet Area. For the benefit of clientele and the local community, seven performing arts programs and dinners were produced, generating significant revenue for the Department of Food Services.
A few numbers give an idea of the busy year of the division46,348 guests were housed in the hotel, more than 145,000 meals were served through a variety of restaurant and banquet services, more than 23,000 attended special events, and some 45,000 attended meetings and other non-conference events.
Concurrent with these transitional factors, through its departments--Program and Conference Development, Governmental Training, and Community Learning Resources--Instructional Services achieved many goals during FY 95-96 and is making significant plans for the future. The division served 70,257 participants with 1,263 different offerings which provided 24,348 instructional hours for individuals, professionals, businesses, government organizations and agencies, and those in University-based disciplines.
These figures represent decreases in participants (77,067 for FY 94-95), offerings (1,989 in FY 94-95), and instructional hours (32,080 in FY 94-95). Contributing factors to these decreases were: elimination of University class space for certain courses offered by Community Programs; the closing of the Personal Adult Learning Lab; and, perhaps most relevant, the pursuit of more accurate records. In an effort to increase efficiency and effectiveness, the Department of Community Learning Resources purged inactive students from its Noncredit Independent Study courses. Also, participants who were once counted in both Governmental Training and the Department for Program and Conference Development are now being counted only once. Also some programs that were previously co-sponsored with the Georgia Center and University schools and colleges are now independent; the schools and colleges are maintaining their own records.
The major goals established for FY 95-96 were achieved. In an effort to fulfill the goal of excellence in customer service, the Central Booking Office was officially established in late 1995. A joint effort between the Division of Instructional Services and the Division of Hotel and Operating Services, the Central Booking Office is staffed by the general manager of the Department of Conference and Event Services, of Hotel and Operating Services, a conference coordinator, and a senior secretary. The Registration Services Office also underwent extensive renovation that will greatly enhance customer service during the registration process. The "Families/Children At-Risk" program that began in January 1995 completed its first year and included training and technical assistance for personnel in schools; municipal, county and state government agencies; and other providers. This will continue to be a major focus for the division. As part of the emphasis on incorporating new technologies into instructional programming, a cross-divisional team was formed to promote and manage distance education programs. This effort increased the number of distance education programs offered by 75 percent over last year and the numbers of sites, participants, and instructional hours also increased dramatically. Additionally, the Computer Training Labs were upgraded, with "Windows 95" installed on all systems and a "Windows NT" server put into place. Another innovative program was the "Exploring the World Wide Web" on-line tutorial created as a Community Programs course and made freely available on the Web in July 1995. This tutorial was accessed more than 32,000 times during the year.
Along with these new beginnings, several projects reached successful completion. The benchmarking effort with Tuskegee University was completed in April. After 10 years of service to the Georgia Center, the Personal Adult Learning Lab, an experimental initiative begun through W.K. Kellogg funds, was phased out, as mentioned earlier. The major effort for FY 96-97, and beyond, will be to restructure the noncredit programming of the Center, allowing for an expansion of the client pool that will, in turn, create a sound and adequate financial base for the Center. This will include a review and evaluation of current program groups, an identification of potential new client groups, the development of a major continuing education program presence at the University System CenterGwinnett, and the development and expansion of program partnerships with on-campus colleges, schools, centers and institutes.
The Year in Review, 1995-1996:
Brewer, Pat B., head of the Department of Evening Classes, and Elizabeth H. Hardaway and Sylvia R. McLaurin, public service faculty members in Evening Classes, received an "Innovative Program Award in Continuing Education, 1996" from the National University Continuing Education Association (NUCEA) for "The Trigon Program" for faculty of the Department of Evening Classes. Brewer became chair-elect of the Division of Special Sessions, Certificate and Off-Campus Programs of NUCEA, 1996-1997 and is currently serving as president of the Georgia Association for Women in Education, 1995-1997. McLaurin again served as editor of Practicum, a publication of the Georgia Association of Adult Educators (GAEA).
Special Staff Awards and Honors
Copas, Ernestine M., associate director for academic credit, is serving as chair of Region III of the National University Continuing Education Association (NUCEA), 1996, and also served as chair-elect for the region during 1995.
Delaney, Joseph, director, State Financial Management Program, Governmental Training, earned the designation "Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM)."
Evelyn, Nancy Bennett, photographic supervisor, and Ellen L. Walker, design and production manager, both of the Department of Marketing Services, received an "Award of Excellence" from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) for the Georgia Center's exhibit at the 1995 annual meeting of the National University Continuing Education Association (NUCEA). Evelyn also received two "First Place" awards and a "Fifth Place" award in the 1995 competition of the University Photographers Association.
Gilbert, Linda S., staff development associate of the Director's Office, received a sponsored internship from the Association of Educational Communications and Technology (AECT)/DISC to attend the 1996 National AECT Convention.
Goodrum, Rosemarie E., academic year teaching associate with the American Language Program, served as program chair of Women's International Day at The University of Georgia, held in March1996. Healy, Michael F., research and planning specialist of the Department of Marketing Services, was elected chair of the 1997 Strategic Marketing Planning Competition of the Marketing and Promotions Division of the National University Continuing Education Association (NUCEA).
Heiges, Nancy M., a graduate teaching assistant of the American Language Program (ALP), was honored for her HyperCard program "The Mysterious Hitchhiker," which received "First Prize, United States Category" in the International Materials Development Competition of the Berlitz Publishing Company. Susan K. Gill, an ALP public service faculty member, illustrated the program.
Holtz, Harold F., Jr., head, Governmental Training, of the Georgia Center and The University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government, was honored by the Georgia Municipal Association, which renamed its elected officials training institute the "Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute" in January 1996. Holtz also received the "Association County Commissioners of Georgia Career Achievement Award."
Miller, Martyn J., head of the American Language Program, served as chair of Microcomputing Special Interest Group (MicroSIG) of NAFSA:Association of International Educators and received an affiliate travel grant from Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, (TESOL).
Mills, Helen H., head of the Department of Community Learning Resources, was selected as a "1996 Olympic Games Torchbearer for Athens Community" for July 1996 .
Morgan, Leneva J., public relations specialist with the Department of Marketing Services, was selected as a member of 1996-97 Leadership Athens, sponsored by the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce.
Silvian, David A., producer/director with the Department of Television Services, received a "Program of Excellence" award from the National University Continuing Education Association (NUCEA) for the teleconference "African Americans with Learning Disabilities," a joint project with The University of Georgia College of Education. Silvian also received an "Award of Distinction" from the Communicator Award Series for "School Daze," a "stay-in-school" video produced with the College of Education and a "Third Place" award from the United States Distance Learning Association for "Career Planning: Unlocking Potential."
Simpson, Edward G., Jr., Georgia Center director and associate vice president for services (outreach) at The University of Georgia, served as president of the National University Continuing Education Association (NUCEA) for 1995-1996 and is a member of that association's board of directors.
Valente, Janet S., human services training associate with the Family, Consumer, and Other Life Sciences Program Section of the Department for Program and Conference Development, is president-elect of the Georgia Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, 1996-1997.
Wright, Christine E., public service representative with the American Language Program, was elected second vice-president for membership of the Georgia Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages.
WUGA-FM won several awards for the year's programming. The show "The Commons" was recognized by Public Radio News Directors, Incorporated (PRNDI, Inc.) with the following awards: (a) "Award of Journalistic Excellence, First Place, Division B (medium market), "Daily News Program," Mary Kay Mitchell, host, executive producer; John Hawkins, technical director; producers David A. Bryant, Robin D. Hilton, and Melinda M. Weir; (b) Two "First Place Daily Newscasts, Award of Journalistic Excellence," Hilton and Weir; and (c) an "Award of Journalistic Excellence, First Place, Division B, Commentary/Essay" for "My Salvation," by Pete McCommons of Athens, Georgia, and an "Award of Journalistic Excellence, Second Place, Division B, Commentary/Essay," for "Baseball Reflections," by Bryant. Hilton, Weir, and Maggie Holtzberg, a free-lance producer, won a variety of awards for their reports during the year from the Georgia Associated Press Broadcasters Association (GAPBA): Hilton--"First Place, Best Use of Sound" for a report on blacksmithing and "Second Place, Best Public Affairs Reporting" for a report on Controlled Choice; Holtzberg --"First Place, Best Feature Reporting," for "Sacred Harp Singers," and Weir--"First Place, Best Public Affairs Reporting, for the report "Ed Wright Shooting" and "Second Place, Best Specialized Reporting" for "Healthy House."
Among the accomplishments of the "Committee on Organizational Culture" (COC), which works to support the Georgia Center's efforts to become an increasingly hospitable environment for all, were the development of a mentoring project for new full-time employees and the launching of a monthly Center tour for new employees. Members were: Carmen Shuler White, chair of the Committee on Organizational Culture and head, University System of Georgia Independent Study and Off-Campus Credit; Joseph M. W. Allen, educational program specialist, Department for Program and Conference Development; Annie L. Burgess, custodial supervisor, Department of Lodging Services; Margaret H. Caufield, conference coordinator, Department for Program and Conference Development; Kimberly Dixon, staff development associate, Director's Office; Martyn J. Miller, head, American Language Program; Beverly Marie Noell, housekeeping coordinator, Department of Lodging Services; Donald R. Reagin, public information coordinator, Department of Marketing Services; Janice M. Reaves-Hickson, producer-director, Department of Television Services; James Washington, Jr., public service associate, Director's Office; and Harry (Bix) Williams, III, plumber I, Department of General Services.
The "Environmental Scanning Teams, 1985-1995" were part of the ongoing Environmental Scanning program at the Georgia Center (see p. 3). Some 90 scanners from these years were still employed in 1995 by the Georgia Center, as follows (an asterisk denotes six or more years of service): Joe Allen, Phil Allen, Grover Andrews*, Vivian Ashley, Charlotte Bachler, Mike Barrett, Karen Bishop, Linda Bishop, Beverly Bourgeois*, Pat Brewer*, Brad Cahoon*, Lynn Cahoon*, Trudy Cain, Roger Comley*, Ernestine Copas*, Gene Craven*, James E. Davis*, Judith DeJoy, Joe DeLaney, Sandy Dinnan, Kim Dixon, Margaret Dowdle-Head*, Susie Driver, Teresa English*, Jeannie Epps, Bill Evans*, Bill Evelyn, Nancy Evelyn, Dick Field, Richard Foster, Kathy Fraser, Tom Gaines, Linda Gilbert, Cathy Gleaton, Paul Glick, Dick Granum, Chuck Hale, Jacque Hall*, Janine Hall, Beth Hardaway*, Jerry Hargis, Bill Haynes, Mike Healy, Ruby Heaton, Al Henderson, Janice Reaves-Hickson, Robb Holmes, Hal Holtz*, Jack Huff, Lisa Johnson, Pam Kleiber, Bonnie Lawson*, Anne Lee, Gordon Maner, Malinda Matthews, James McCay*, Jay McGaughey, Donna McGinty*, Sylvia McLaurin*, Martyn Miller, Helen Mills*, Mary Kay Mitchell, John Myers, Wayne Nobles*, Randy Pace, Mike Pasquale*, Margot Peter, Cheryl Prichard*, Don Reagin, Jo Reynolds*, Clate Sanders, Janice Saylors, Doris Scott*, Jim Shehane*, Karen Shetterley, John Shores*, Kitty Shollenberger, Carol Shutt, David Silvian, Ed Simpson*, Amy Skelton, Mitch Skelton*, Jan Smith*, June Sparks*, Janet Valente, James Washington, Carmen White, and Steve Wilson.