Reports the results of a survey that identified 2,500 certificate programs at more than 400 universities. Discusses findings related to quality, nomenclature, governance, management, curriculum, faculty, students, and finance. (SK)

A survey of 816 continuing education registrants indicated that the school could switch from a print to website course calendar without affecting registration, provided a print calendar option was retained. The school should also work to motivate more people to register online. (SK)

Asserts that many faculty resist distance education, especially for undergraduates; they regard face-to-face as necessary but ignore its quality; they consider good teaching to be faculty centered; their property rights claims seek to preserve their professional role rather than the syllabus itself. (SK)

Forces driving change in professional and continuing education--globalization, technology, and competition--challenge educators to find funding for technology, develop recruitment and reward systems for staff, prune existing programs, and widen markets. Serious efforts to develop the knowledge base on costs and effectiveness of distance education…

University of Washington's online educational certificate programs were developed with support of organizational and business partners. The online degree program in computing and software systems involved two campuses, community colleges, the governor's office, a software alliance, and private industry councils. Partnering allows rapid development…

Categorizes part-time faculty in adult and higher education as moonlighters, whose specialization matches a curricular need; migrants, who teach full time elsewhere; apprentices, graduate students seeking teaching experience; full-time wannabes; and early and semi-retirees. Discusses ways to recruit, motivate, and integrate part-time faculty. (SK)

Outlines a process for writing a business plan for university certificate programs. The plan's sections include executive summary, rationale and objectives, prospective student profile, external involvement, program characteristics, marketing and promotion, and program administration. (SK)

Although the boundaries of academia have blurred, the individualistic and disinterested nature of universities remains unique. Three areas of change face university continuing education: the use of for-profit institutions as benchmarks, better application of the philosophy of independent thought, and promotion of the ways in which a university…

Discusses the following trends in British higher education: funding changes, University for Industry, widening access, and revitalization of liberal adult education. Addresses the prospects for an extended role for higher education in lifelong learning and continuing education. (SK)

A survey of 34 continuing-education institutions found that diverse units administer graduate certificate programs. A better model would involve shared governance by graduate schools and continuing education schools. Each brings different strengths: graduate schools offer quality assurance, and continuing education has a market orientation and…

Part-time faculty-development programs should begin with an infrastructure specifying hiring, promotion, and salary criteria and course evaluation. Development should focus on providing faculty with a broader context, programmatic content when needed, training in instructional methods and technology, and a faculty "home." (SK)

Describes methods for assessing graduate students: precourse, incourse, postcourse, and long-term assessment as well as the educational process that students experience. Addresses comprehensive program evaluation via peer review. Lists eight suggested readings and 12 related Web sites. (SK)

Numerous economic factors favor greater involvement of higher education in international education. Attention should focus on infusion of international content into undergraduate curriculum, recruitment of international students, language training, study abroad, internships/work study, and certificate programs. The responsiveness of continuing…

Digital convergence--the merging of television and computing--challenges localized monopolies of public television and continuing education. Continuing educators can reposition themselves in the electronic marketplace by serving as an educational portal, bringing their strengths of "brand recognition," local customer base, and access to…

Mega-universities (involved in distance teaching) such as Britain's Open University are open to people, places, methods, and ideas. They succeed because of well-designed multimedia materials, personal academic support for learners, efficient logistics, and faculty who conduct research. (SK)