Courtesy of LSU Continuing Education.
Fundamentals of Supervision holds its first class, meeting the needs of the industrial sector along the Gulf Coast. Considered the flagship course of Professional Development, it is still taught today.
One hundred candles on a cake—that’s a milestone no matter how you slice it. This year, LSU is celebrating one hundred years of their Online and Continuing Education program. Since its founding in 1924, there have been over two million course enrollments from students that span the globe, who are drawn to the Continuing Education Program’s innovative engine of educational resources for all types of learners.
When I spoke with Senior Director of Professional Development & Community Programs Lisa Verma, an Introduction to Excel class was going on in the other room. “I get here at 7:30 so I can make the coffee [for everyone],” she said. Involved team members are onsite, but the program’s reach extends far beyond LSU’s campus, with programs that engage learners far beyond the LSU community. As Verma said, “We’re continuously learning ourselves,” and the variety of initiatives over the years have demonstrated that. The College Credit Online program allows students to complete individual courses they can use for credit at their home university. Instructors for professional development have traveled as far as Washington state to conduct onsite training for companies. And continuing education modules are designed for non-traditional students to complete an education in the context of busy family and work lives.
Courtesy of LSU Continuing Education.
University Extension began hosting the Region 7 Louisiana Science and Engineering Fairs. The state Science & Engineering Fair began two years later in 1952.
“LSU Online & Continuing Education has always had a keen ability to stay current with business and industry trends,” Instructor Thomas J. Karam said. “They put together top-notch faculty who deliver practical and valuable information to companies.”
One of the most impactful programs coming out of LSU Online & Continuing Education, according to Verma, is the Louisiana State Science and Engineering Fair, which is targeted towards middle and high school students who have won their regional competitions. Winners move on to the International Science and Engineering Fair, where “they do not have to have a penny in their pocket,” Verma said, making the program accessible to all who qualify.
Courtesy of LSU Continuing Education.
The LSU Board of Supervisors approves the University Extension program, providing educational access to rural communities. Enrollments grew from 746 to 5,683 with additional courses added and instructors conducting classes on-site.
What’s up next for the program? This fall, the Continuing Education program’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (or OLLI) hopes to open a chapter in New Orleans, joining the active branches in St. Francisville, Baton Rouge, and Camellia City. OLLI caters to students from their fifties to well into their nineties, who have access to volunteer-run classes, from yoga to art history, and membership costs are kept low thanks to support from the Bernard Osher Foundation.
Courtesy of LSU Continuing Education.
-Smith (Pleasant) Hall
University Extension moved to Ruffin G. Pleasant Hall, signifying the university’s commitment to growing continuing education programs.
And as A.I. plays an increasing role in the workplace, Verma and her team are looking to add on additional courses in A.I. training. But don’t worry, as Verma said, “we’ll always have programs in Excel.”
Learn more about the LSU Online & Continuing Education Program at ce.lsu.edu.
