Center formed to oversee continuing education activities at UNT

From a UNT News Service press release

The University of North Texas is taking a major step toward expanding its continuing education and outreach activities with the formation of UNT's Center for Achievement and Lifelong Learning, or CALL.

CALL will serve as the hub for all continuing education and outreach activities conducted through the University of North Texas, says Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Wendy K. Wilkins.

Ken Robertson, UNT assistant vice president for lifelong learning, will lead CALL and will report directly to Wilkins.

This new center combines the resources of the Center for Continuing Education and Conference Management, or CCECM, with aspects of the Professional Development Institute, or PDI. Robertson, who also serves as the president of PDI, says it will remain an independent entity under the umbrella of CALL.

By bringing the two organizations together, CALL "will provide an opportunity for UNT to share its rich educational resources through conferences, seminars, on-line programs, summer camps and other types of community outreach," Wilkins says.

Robertson says, "For years, UNT has not been a large player in the continuing education marketplace. With the formation of CALL, UNT will become one of the major providers of lifelong learning in the area. It will be a terrific opportunity to expose and expand the resources of the university on not just a local level, but also on a national and international basis."

Since 1973, PDI has provided education, information and training. By attending PDI programs, more than 500,000 professionals, managers and salespeople have gained tools and ideas that increase individual and company performance. PDI works with a diverse network of leading experts from around the world to provide solution- and results-oriented programs.

CCECM offers event management for a variety of on-campus and off-campus events, continuing education classes in a variety of fields and standardized test preparation classes.

"We will work with all of UNT's academic colleges and schools to design and implement education programs for credit, non-credit, certification, professional development and personal enrichment," Robertson added. "We're excited about working with faculty. By combining the resources and talents of both PDI and CCECM, we can deliver a greater variety of skills and services to extension classes, nontraditional students and lifelong learners."

UNT News Service press release
Rafael McDonnell can be reached at RMcDonnell@unt.edu

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• CALL center promotes continuing education
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