As announced in the Winter 1997 issue of the Georgia Center Quarterly, the Georgia Center is "Celebrating 40 Years of Service" this year. The celebration will feature a special conference September 23-25, 1997, as well as events and activities during that week that highlight the Center's past accomplishments and its future plans. Details of the September conference, "A Celebration, With Conversations About the Future," will be presented in future issues of the Georgia Center Quarterly. Since January of 1957, the Center has been the focal point of The University of Georgia's continuing education efforts, building its clientele to the present day's 140,000-plus through on-campus, off-campus, and distance education programs, and through various support services.
During this time, the Center has established ongoing relationships with a number of client groups. Profiled here are three representative "client areas"--family, consumer, and other life sciences; forestry; and pharmacy--that have been part of the Center's programming efforts since the beginning, and part of The University of Georgia's continuing education programming even before that.
All three areas are served through the Georgia Center's Department for Program and Conference Development of the Division of Instructional Services. The department combines residential and off-campus instruction and provides registration services to many Center programs, representing virtually all colleges and schools of UGA. This fiscal year, Program and Conference Development has held more than 450 programs for more than 34,000 participants. Also, check out the "Honor Roll" of clients who have been Georgia Center partners for 10 years or more.
Groups such as these continue today to help the Georgia Center achieve its mission "...to serve the learning needs of adults and organizations and to provide leadership in developing the theory and practice of continuing education."
Reflected through these programs are the longstanding and successful public service and outreach efforts of The University of Georgia...the innovations, commitment, and hard work of thousands of dedicated University staff and faculty...and, most importantly, the optimism and accomplishments of a citizenry seeking to better themselves and society through continuing their education.
Since then, The University of Georgia's continuing forest resource education program, today cosponsored by the Georgia Center and the Daniel B. Warnell School of Forest Resources, has helped foresters and those in forestry-related professions stay up-to-date on technology, methods, and trends in the field. The program is able to provide timely and practical information that can be used immediately. The program is still going strong today--for fiscal year 1995-1996, 29 programs were conducted, with 1,724 participants. In calendar year 1996, participants hailed from 26 states (with 49 percent from Georgia) and from more than 300 organizations of business, government, or education.
The program serves a major audience in Georgia. According to information from the Georgia Forestry Association (GFA), while other Georgia products--peaches, pecans, and peanuts--may garner the headlines, Georgia's forest industry creates more of an economic impact. Georgia's forest products industry contributed more than $16 billion to the state's economy in 1996 and employs more than 144,000 people directly and indirectly statewide. Also according to the GFA, Georgia is the largest timber producer in the Southeast, and, since 1982, has been the national leader in reforestation since 1982, planting nearly 3 billion trees in the last decade.
Throughout the years, the success of UGA's continuing education program has been due, in part, to the collaboration with the Warnell School of Forest Resources, one of the top forest resource schools in the nation. The school's faculty and research programs have contributed to the depth and breadth of the continuing education courses. In 1996, the school became an official cosponsor for the Georgia Center program, formalizing the long collaboration of programs and faculty.
"The Georgia Center and the Warnell School of Forest Resources complement each other very well throughout our programming. Their strengths play off of each other for the benefit of the participant," said Susan A. King (left), forest resource specialist with the Center and the School, who coordinates the continuing education program.
Over the years, the forestry profession has grown and changed in response to changing environmental and market conditions, such as the rise of the global marketplace, the growing understanding of environmental concerns, and the public's desire/demand for more input in forest management decisions. Foresters must be as well-versed in computers and public speaking as they are in determining the volume of a timber stand.
Some programs have been around for years, all the while changing to reflect new technology, new research, and new issues in forest management. New programs are added continuously to meet the needs of foresters and other forest resource professionals. The audiences for the courses have expanded also, as the continuing education program attracts more than foresters. Wildlife biologists, environmental scientists, hydrologists, lawyers, real estate appraisers, and others regularly attend forest resource courses.
Subjects being offered in 1997 include forest finance, timber cruising, thinning methods and operations, logging cost analysis, forest road construction, global positioning systems, image processing, geographic information systems, negotiating skills for foresters, and timber income tax.
According to King, courses are developed with the forester in mind, from the planning stages through the instructional presentation. "We are also guided by an advisory council made up of Georgia foresters in governmental agencies, industry, academia, private practice, and financial institutions and associations. We literally involve the whole state, as the entire state is a stakeholder in what we do," she said.
One of the goals of the Forest Resource Program is to advance scientific field practices, leading to better utilization of forest resources with less negative impact upon the environment. Keeping foresters well-informed can contribute to the wealth and health of all citizens. The Warnell School of Forest Resources is a source of instructors for the courses, but many others come from other institutions, government agencies, industry, and private practice. With such expertise in teaching, the Forest Resource Program regularly draws a national group of participants.
The programs focus on the educational needs of the practicing professional forester, which are monitored through feedback from program participants, communication with organizations, and periodic surveys. As needs are identified, programs are developed accordingly, through collaboration between Georgia Center staff and faculty, faculty at UGA, other experts in the field, and potential students.
For more information, contact
Susan A. King
Department for Program and Conference Development
Georgia Center for Continuing Education
The University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia 30602-3603
Phone: 706-542-3063
e-mail: kings@gactr.uga.edu.
Family, Consumer, and Other Life Sciences
The "Georgia Conference on Family Life," held May 9-11, 1957, at the Georgia Center is an early example of the Center's commitment to address issues related to families. In the years since, the Center, often in collaboration with The University of Georgia College of Home Economics, which is now the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, has developed a far-reaching public service and outreach program that thrives today, with benefits for all Georgians.
Programs of the Center's Family, Consumer, and Other Life Sciences Program Section relate to the well-being of individuals and families, addressing current issues, such as nutrition, child development, marriage and family development, textiles, personal and home safety, and consumer economics. For fiscal year 1995-1996, the section conducted 117 programs for 9,451 participants, at UGA and throughout the state.
From 1957-1973, the Georgia Center provided programs related to nutrition, child and family development, aging, and other topics relevant to families and consumers. Then in 1973, a concentrated effort was made by administrators from the School of Home Economics, the Cooperative Extension Service, and the Georgia Center to initiate a tripartite arrangement to provide continuing education programs for professionals and paraprofessionals within their disciplines. No comparable program existed in the nation to serve as a model for the Georgia effort. (Note: UGA's School of Home Economics was founded in 1933, became the College of Home Economics in 1978, and then became the College of Family and Consumer Sciences in 1990.)
"The 1973 arrangement set the stage for many successful programs. Wanda J. Grogan, who was the Center's home economics public service representative at the time, formed an advisory committee of home economics professionals to help shape the goals and activities of the various UGA units involved. We've always served a number of audiences and the advisory committee was central to coordinating everything," said Trudy P. Cain (right), head of the Center's Family, Consumer, and Other Life Sciences Program Section. "Through the foundation provided by the vision of Dr. Grogan and the support of that advisory committee for the original arrangement, the University has been especially active in outreach programming."
Annual conferences for groups such as the Georgia Nutrition Council and the Georgia Association of Family and Consumer Sciences have been developed and coordinated for many years, as have a variety of programs, as detailed below.
In 1979, external funding from the Governor's (Georgia) Office of Energy Resources provided for energy management counseling to limited income and elderly persons. The scope of this energy education program has evolved and continues today in new directions, including intergenerational programs.
In 1985, The University of Georgia celebrated the Bicentennial of its founding with a variety of activities and educational initiatives. One of the official events was a conference called "Mathematical Models in Experimental Nutrition," which was hosted by the College of Home Economics and the Georgia Center. "The success of this conference led to what is now a biannual national conference on mathematical modeling conducted at various locations around the U.S.," said Cain.
In 1986, a statewide needs survey was issued that resulted in the Georgia Center's development of an independent study curriculum for dietary managers. This program, approved by the Dietary Managers Association, qualifies persons to sit for a national examination for certification as a "Certified Dietary Manager." The curriculum was updated in 1994. A total of 836 individuals have participated in the program since its inception, and 385 students are currently enrolled.
Two major curriculum projects were developed through W.K. Kellogg Foundation funding, part of a 1984-1990 grant to The University of Georgia for programs at the Center and UGA's Cooperative Extension Service and Department of Adult Education.
The "Comprehensive Child Caregiver Program" consists of a 90-hour independent study program designed to meet training needs of early childhood care providers in the state, leading to a "Certificate of Completion." Students must also complete a specified number of activities with children. Course development was assumed by the Georgia Center, in collaboration with faculty from the College of Family and Consumer Sciences and UGA's Cooperative Extension Service.
The second Kellogg project is the "Marriage and Family Therapy Post-Graduate Program," which evolved in response to both a perceived need of practitioners for increased availability of training in marriage and family therapy (MFT) and a licensure law passed in Georgia in 1985 that restricts persons using the title "marriage and family therapist." This program, made up of four 45-hour courses developed by the Georgia Center, provides an avenue for practitioners to meet MFT licensing requirements. Faculty from the College of Family and Consumer Sciences serve as consultants, instructors, and advisory committee members.
Since 1991, two community-based Injury Prevention Programs have been funded by the Georgia Department of Health and Human Services in cooperation with two private non-profit agencies. The objectives of these programs include: identifying and eliminating safety hazards in and around the home; making referrals for individuals; mobilizing community resources; and providing injury prevention educational opportunities to elementary aged children, injury prevention counselors, and other interested groups.
Many programs of the Center have been produced in conjunction with agencies outside of the University. Projects focusing on the development, piloting, and implementation of educational materials, procedures, and policies have been developed for Georgia and federal agencies such as the Department of Human Resources, Office of Regulatory Services-Child Care Licensing, Office of Nutrition, Office of Energy Resources, Department of Education, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
"Our department has been blessed with outstanding individuals. Whether they're creating great programs, developing new audiences, participating in professional organizations at the regional, state, and local levels--the staff and faculty always bring extra effort to their work," said Cain. "We're proud of their ongoing service to Georgians and to others nationwide."
Developing partnerships with other departments and colleges on campus has facilitated growth in many areas of programming. For example, an exciting new initiative was announced last fall--the development of the Gerontology Outreach Program, an umbrella concept through which UGA will provide a range of services to improve the quality of life for older adults, by offering educational and training opportunities for caregivers of older adults. The Georgia Center, the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, and UGA's Gerontology Center are leading this effort. A statewide needs assessment is complete and programming is being planned to influence and facilitate quality care and services through training and policy.
According to Cain, development of future programs will naturally take into account the rapidly changing society and audiences. Programmers will have to match their predecessors' agility in program design. "Numerous factors are likely to impact our programs of the future--technological advances, policy changes such as welfare reform, and public concern in areas such as nutrition and health and child, family, and consumer needs. These provide the Georgia Center, the College, and Georgia citizens new opportunities," Cain said.
For more information about Family, Consumer, and Other Life Sciences programming:
Trudy P. Cain, head
When the Georgia Center opened in 1957, The University of Georgia's College of Pharmacy, then the School of Pharmacy, was already offering continuing education programs for pharmaceutical practitioners. One of the first programs was held in 1949--the "Annual Pharmacy Seminar," which was designed to keep practitioners abreast of new developments, practices, and standards.
In light of the high attendance at this seminar (more than 100 practitioners attended) and other programs, the Georgia Pharmaceutical Association adopted a resolution endorsing the continuation of postgraduate programs. Today, the College of Pharmacy, through its Office of Postgraduate Continuing Education, is offering more than 150 program activities annually, including live programs and correspondence/home study (audio and video, computer-assisted, monograph, and teleconference). All program activities are approved by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education, for continuing pharmaceutical education (C.P.E.).
According to Charles G. Gammill (right), public service associate and coordinator of pharmaceutical services since 1976 (a position "jointly staffed" through the College and the Georgia Center), the opening of the Georgia Center provided access to facilities with "everything needed to develop, produce, and implement an educational experience all in one place."
"The partnership between the Georgia Center and our office is a mutually beneficial relationship of programming, facilities, and faculty," said Gammill. Pharmacy programming grew from 9 on-campus programs and 756 registrants in 1964 to 23 on-campus programs and 1,896 participants in 1996.
The partnership is reflected by the "joint-staffing" of Gammill's present position, which began in 1958 when C. L. Braucher was "co-staffed" with the Georgia Center, devoting half of his time to public service activities. In 1967, Albert W. Jowdy was appointed director of pharmaceutical services, which included continuing education programming, for the College of Pharmacy. In 1985, Pharmacy's public service program was reorganized into the Office of Postgraduate Continuing Education under the direction of William M. Ozburn, with whom Gammill works today.
For fields such as pharmacy, innovations, new standards, and even new regulations require the practitioner to stay up-to-date. "Society sets standards through expectations. They then elect legislators, who appoint regulators, who in turn issue regulations setting standards for practice. If you want to practice in a particular field, you will follow these standards," Gammill said. And of course, the knowledge base continues to grow rapidly. "You must seek to learn and 'update' yourself if you're going to continue to practice," Gammill said.
Legislation was enacted requiring continuing education for pharmacy practitioners in Georgia in 1986, 37 years after the first pharmacy seminar offered at the School of Pharmacy. Under this legislation, practitioners must complete 30 hours of "approved continuing pharmaceutical education" during the two-year licensing period following the last re-licensure period.
The College of Pharmacy offers programs that generally fall into three areas: (1) institutional programs focusing on better treatment protocols, pharmacotherapy, quality assurance, administration, and so forth; (2) community-based pharmacy to increase the pharmacist's role as a member of the health-care delivery team, the pharmacist's provision of pharmaceutical care, and the pharmacist's skills as a manager of a community pharmacy; and (3) certificate programs in management, consultant pharmacy, and pharmacokinetics-- all designed to increase competency.
A wide range of subject matter, indicating signs of the times, can be found at any conference or program sponsored by the Office of Postgraduate Continuing Education. Early conference topics ranged from "Good Employee Relations Make Good Business" ("Drug Merchandising Conference," 1962) and "Experience With a New Concept in Community Practice" ("17th Annual Spring Pharmacy Seminar," 1965) aimed at the business goals of practitioners, to technical subjects such as "High Purity Process Water: Production Methods" ("Good Manufacturing Practices," 1976) and "Food-Drug Interactions" ("Nutritional Concepts for Pharmacy," 1979).
The innovations of the College of Pharmacy were not limited to invitations to The University of Georgia and the Georgia Center. The College also produced a statewide tele-lecture series with live phone lines for questions/answers in 1969 (which won a National University Continuing Education Association "Award of Merit"); lecture seminars for regular public television broadcasting in 1973; and independent study, audio-cassette, and video-cassette courses. Several programs themselves have vastly expanded, such as the "Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Conference," initiated and developed by the College of Pharmacy in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
"The first GMP Conference in 1976 was held in one room and hosted about 50 participants," Gammill said. In 1996, there were 462 participants; 49 were international guests. The College of Pharmacy saw the opportunity to present, in the neutral atmosphere of the Georgia Center, a program where regulatory and industry representatives alike could be encouraged to discuss manufacturing processes.
To identify new trends, issues, and topics, " ...needs assessment surveys, evaluation instruments, and membership on the state's Professional Tripartite Committee are utilized," as stated in the College's strategic plan. The plan also states: "Program offerings are designed to meet practitioner requirements and to serve the public interest." The compiled information is available to guide other providers and sponsors of continuing education and professional organizations in designing and building programs. The practitioners " ...are in the forefront, in contact with society," said Gammill. "Our first responsibility is to serve the people of the State of Georgia. We do this through these practitioners, who are a primary source of program development information."
Goals identified for 1997, and beyond, include: acquiring funding for a "Georgia Health Education Alliance"; making continuing education available to health care professionals in their workplaces and communities and establishing a network of health care institutions to support this delivery method; developing a certificate program for pharmacists in pharmacotherapy--particularly important as drugs available only by prescription become over-the-counter medication; and implementing a non-traditional pharmacy doctorate in Georgia. The College is also developing a World Wide Web page dedicated to continuing pharmaceutical education.
"We have just scratched the surface. We must reach untapped resources. Our continuing goal is working to benefit all people in society--the young adult, the mature adult, and the elderly adult alike," said Gammill.
For more information, contact
Charles G. Gammill, coordinatorThroughout the last 40 years, the Georgia Center has been privileged to serve a dynamic array of clients from the worlds of business, government, and education. Here's a list of conferences, institutes, clinics, workshops and so on that have been developed and held at the Center for the last 10 years or more (most "or more"), and continue with us today.
Web administrator: webmaster@gactr.uga.edu All contents copyright © 1997 University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education. All rights reserved. Last revised: Tue, Jul 8, 1997, 1:47 PM URL: http://www.gactr.uga.edu/GCQ/gcqspr97/clients.html