December 2009
KU Continuing Education–Leading the Community in Lifelong Learning
Firefighters work to contain a simulated propane emergency as part of a mobile training course delivered by KUCE’s Kansas Fire & Rescue Training Institute.
Kyle Garcia Director of Marketing KU Continuing Education
Nestled off of Bob Billings Parkway in the former Maupintour building is the University of Kansas Continuing Education center (KUCE). Despite its 120-year history, many in the local community do not realize that KUCE touches the lives of tens of thousands of Kansans each year. KUCE reinforces the local and regional economy and supports the outreach initiatives of the University of Kansas in many ways, including training thousands of police officers and firefighters in every county in Kansas, delivering international aerospace training programs, disseminating life-saving medical information and providing lifelong learning opportunities for seniors. “Since the inception of the first School of University Extension in 1891, the University of Kansas has been a leader in lifelong learning,” said Frederick W. Pawlicki, executive director of KUCE. “By responding to the educational
needs of working people across our state or citizens without access to a college, KU Continuing Education has evolved into a national leader in the delivery of high-quality professional education, workforce development and distance learning.” KUCE serves more than 70,000 people of diverse backgrounds and age groups. With more than 1,000 courses, programs and conferences, the unit supports KU’s academic, research and community service initiatives. KUCE’s services extend locally, nationally and across the globe with programs serving all 105 Kansas counties, 50 states and 55 countries. KUCE enlists KU’s world-class faculty to offer courses for post-graduate working professionals, Independent Study for KU credit and a variety of other non-credit courses designed for professional development and personal growth. At the heart of KU’s Independent Study program are more than 150 undergraduate and
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