New director, new location in the future for KU Continuing Education
LAWRENCE, KAN. – For more than 120 years, University of Kansas Continuing Education has provided courses, programs and conferences that expand the reach of KU across Kansas and around the globe. Beginning in the spring of 2014, KU Continuing Education will continue to grow its mission from a new home on the KU Edwards Campus in Overland Park.
“Continuing Education and the Edwards Campus have similar missions, so it is natural we should share a home in Overland Park,” said David Cook, vice chancellor for the KU Edwards Campus. “Bringing Continuing Ed to the Edwards Campus will allow the university to build on our strengths and expand both our academic programs and opportunities for professional and workforce development.”
KU Continuing Education (KUCE) has locations across the state of Kansas, including locations in the KU Medical Center and the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center in Hutchinson. KUCE staff and operations on the Lawrence campus will move to the Edwards campus in phases beginning the spring 2014 semester. The Kansas Fire & Rescue Training Institute will maintain its location in Lawrence.
Each year, KUCE serves more than 70,000 individuals through noncredit professional training, conference management, and workforce development and educational outreach opportunities. KU Continuing Education trains Kansas law enforcement officers, firefighters and other first responders, and it provides lifelong learning opportunities for adults over 50 through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to bring the academic and research excellence of KU to an even broader audience in the Kansas City area, across the region and beyond,” said Cook, who previously served as associate vice chancellor at KU Medical Center and oversaw the Institute for Community Engagement. “I look forward to working with the KUCE staff to explore new partnerships with business, industry and other area organizations. The new location will fully integrate KUCE and the Edwards Campus, creating a regional hub for undergraduate, graduate and continuing professional development and training.”
The move to the Edwards Campus will coincide with a national search to lead KUCE. Fred Pawlicki is retiring in January after 21 years at KU and eight years as executive director. The new leader will serve as an assistant vice chancellor for professional and continuing education. KU will be looking for vision and strong leadership to map out considerable growth in meeting the needs of business and industry in our communities, the nation and the world.
The KU Edwards Campus at 127th Street and Quivira Road in Overland Park brings high-quality academic programs, research and public-service benefits of the University of Kansas to the greater Kansas City community in order to serve the workforce, economic and community development needs of region.
