A History of U of C Continuing Education
Continuing education at the University of Calgary dates back to the 1960s – even before the University gained autonomy. As the years passed, the demand for continuing education courses grew steadily.
Today, society hungers for lifelong learning. University of Calgary Continuing Education focuses on meeting that need with high-quality courses and programs.
Timeline
- 1945
- The University of Calgary originated in 1945 when the former Normal School became a branch of the Faculty of Education of the University of Alberta.
- 1964
- The first non-credit programs are offered in Calgary through a branch of the U of A Department of Extension.
- 1965
- The U of C Division of Continuing Education is formed. Its mandate is to bring the resources of the university within the reach of as many Albertans as possible. The division encompasses the Evening Credit Programme, the Summer Session Program, and the Extension Programme, which includes non-credit evening classes in a variety of subjects.
- 1968
- One of several extension courses offered in the spring of 1968 is: "What is a Computer?" The Course is for people who are considering taking further courses in computer programming, or just want to know what a computer is, and what it can do.
- 1972
- A total of 79 extension courses are offered.
- 1977
- The Division of Continuing Education becomes the Faculty of Continuing Education, taking on new responsibilities for distance education, teaching and research in the field of adult and continuing-education, and collaborating with other educational agencies. The Faculty begins exploring the use of cable television for distance education.
- Continuing Education's first non-credit travel study group, an archaeological field trip to Greece and Egypt, departs November 28 and returns December 22 with U of C professor, Dr. Peter Shinnie, accompanying a group of some 35 people.
- 1978
- The first English as a Second Language (ESL) program is offered by Continuing Education. This was the Summer Language Bursary Program supported by the Council of Minister's of Education Canada for Francophone students.
- 1979
- The French Centre becomes part of Continuing Education. Formerly housed in the Faculty of Humanities, it is intended as an area for students of French to practise their oral skills.
- 1982
- Almost 500 extension courses offered; more than 10,000 registrations received.
- 1983
- On-Campus evening credit courses become the responsibility of individual faculties, as part of the 'extended-day' concept. The Faculty of Continuing Education focuses its credit offerings on off-campus credit, and spring and summer session credit courses.
- The Otsuma Girls High School from Japan is Continuing Education's first international ESL client.
- 1987
- Almost 1,100 extension courses are offered; more than 23,000 registrations received.
- 1989
- The FLAG program, later renamed FLIP, the French Language Instruction Program, moves within the umbrella of the French Centre from the Faculty of Education where it has resided since 1979. The program provides French instruction in university credit courses.
- The first open enrollment international ESL program is held in the summer with 2 students.
- 1991
- Management Certificates, a Continuing Education program area, teams up with the faculty's first corporate partner, Shell, making management courses accessible downtown.
- 1994
- The faculty announces the Master's of Continuing Education (MCE) program specializing in workplace learning. The new program offers a groundbreaking format, utilizing online distance delivery, which combines "computer-mediated" communication and intensive three-week spring study sessions on campus. (In 2004, MCE moves to the Faculty of Education)
- The Centre for Distance Learning and Interactive Technologies is launched through the Faculty of Continuing Education to serve students across Canada.
- 1995
- The first course for the newly launched Teacher Assistant Certificate is taught by teleconference to 13 Alberta students.
- 1996
- The Faculty of Continuing Education is on the World Wide Web.
- 1997
- The Faculty makes headlines across Canada for innovation in education as it launches Weekend University, which offers degree-credit courses on Saturdays. Weekend University is part of Special Sessions.
- Administration of field school programming is centralized in the new Credit Travel Study Office in the Faculty of Continuing Education, Special Sessions. Faculties and academic departments across the campus now turn to the CTS office for support in the development and administration of their international group programming.
- The Object Oriented Software Technology (OOST) Program is launched through Continuing Education. The diploma program is a fast track, 10-month training program that focuses on skills and knowledge that enables graduates to successfully work and compete in the e-business and object oriented software development fields. (Over the next few years, the successful program expands to two other Canadian universities, but is eventually dismantled in 2005 following a downturn in the IT industry.)
- 1999
- The Avid Learners' Academy is established, opening the doors of selected university credit classes to the general public on a non-credit basis.
- The first online course is offered in November via the WebCT platform. It was Learning Online, a course that prepared students for the first set of business courses that were to be offered online in the upcoming winter session of 2000. The first business courses offered online were: Business Management, Marketing Principles, and Using the Internet For Business
- 2002
- The Faculty of Continuing Education launches a project to work even more closely with on-campus units, and off-campus partners, to "raise our sights" to even higher levels of lifelong learning excellence.
- 2003
- The same year the U of C graduates its 100,000th student, Continuing Education graduates its 7,000th certificate student. Continuing Education offers 11 Management Certificate programs, three Adult Learning Certificate programs, an e-Learning Certificate, a Teacher Assistant certificate, computing Certificates in several specializations within the Software Developer and Software Management umbrella, Web Designer and Web Developer certificates, a French Language Studies Certificate, a Spanish Language and Culture Certificate, three specializations of the Visual Design Certificate, and an Environmental Management Certificate. Several designation programs are also offered in partnership with several professional organizations.
- 1,656 non-credit courses are delivered through the faculty between April 2002 and March 2003 generating 27,868 registrations.
- 820 credit courses are offered through the faculty's Special Sessions office generating 18,166 registrations.
- The faculty's first online conference in e-Learning is held in August attracting over 200 delegates world-wide.
- 2004
- The U of C Board of Governors approves the motion to change the Faculty of Continuing Education to University of Calgary Continuing Education – an academic unit. In this new structure, which takes effect on July 1, Continuing Education will continue to adhere to U of C policies and processes and is led by a director who reports directly to the University's provost and vice-president academic.
- 2005
- More than 21,000 registrations are received from some 17,000 students enrolled in 1,378 non-credit courses offered between April 2004 and March 2005.
- The Special Sessions office receives more than 21,000 enrolments for 1000 courses in Spring/Summer Sessions, Credit Travel Study, and Weekend University.
- 1,068 registrations are received for the English Language ESL Program. (220, regular session; 483,summer; 365, evening classes)
- This year's Continuing Education graduating class is the largest ever, including 413 lifelong learners who have earned certificates in a wide range of programs including: 12 Management Certificate programs, Adult Learning, Career Development, Teacher Assistant, Visual Design, Web Designer, Software Development, and Systems Management.
- The Real Estate Development Certificate is offered through Continuing Education, in partnership with the Faculty of Environmental Design.
- 2006
- University of Calgary French Centre celebrates its 30th anniversary serving French students.
- 2007
- Continuing Education purchases a new registration system from the Toronto-based company, Destiny Solutions. Once fully implemented, the OneCE system will provide a rich online experience that enables self-service for students, including real-time online registration and web-based access to profiles, courses, and financial information. The system will add efficiency to the administration of Continuing Education from the development of courses and certificate programs, through to delivery.
- 2008
- In July, The new OneCE web-based registration system goes live, a milestone that promises to revolutionize the administration of Continuing Education courses and program for students and staff.
- 2009
- The responsibility for the provision of degree-credit courses through Special Sessions is transferred to the University's Student and Enrolment Services.
- 2010
- In October, Continuing Education settles into the new University of Calgary Downtown Campus. Continuing Education is the first of several U of C offices and services scheduled to move into the new location. Approximately half of Cont Ed's staff (35 people) relocate to the second floor of the new building at 906 8th Avenue SW. In November, Business and Professional Programs conducts the first Business Seminars and courses held at the new location. This marks the beginning of a new level of convenience for students and corporate clients in the downtown core.