The Divisions of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education and Summer Sessions have combined to form the new Division of Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS). The change went into effect October 15, after five years of program growth and increased interaction within the two divisions.
"When I came on as director of online learning for the college ... my position became a conduit between continuing education and graduate studies," said Rob Gearhart, now associate dean of GPS. "We began to realize that the office could function as one spectrum."
The restructuring of the two divisions was further inspired by the retirement of E. Kimball Milling from his 24-year position as director of continuing education and summer sessions. A newly opened position allowed the dean, working with the GPS staff and the Office of Human Resources, to reorganize the office's administrative structure in order to eliminate redundancies and address areas of need.
All nine staff members from the two former divisions have stayed on, but each now has a redefined job description for a specific area of expertise.
According to its mission statement, the newly enlarged division will seek to provide opportunities for learners of all levels to further their academic knowledge, professional development, and personal growth. GPS offerings will include graduate programs, winter and summer sessions, professional workshops, and pre-college study programs.
"The name Graduate and Professional Studies may not say it all, but it leaves room for the right amount of interpretation," Gearhart said. "We're thinking of playing on the name's metaphor -- GPS, or global positioning system. Our division becomes a way to navigate your way toward the next step in your professional development."
Dean of the division, Gregory Woodward, believes that "the new structure draws upon the strength and expertise of each of the three combined components (graduate studies; online learning, certificate and professional programs; and continuing education and summer sessions) to create a more efficient and focused unit that can more effectively help to realize the division and the college missions ... The boundaries between our three areas of focus have become more blurred, and the opportunity to benefit from integrating our efforts and programs in new ways is truly exciting. All of the division staff has been great in helping to redesign our structure, and in reinventing our identity and goals. Our contributions to the College and to the larger community will only continue to expand."
The division will hold an open house in their Towers Concourse office later this year to celebrate their new name and reorganization.
