Arrangement
Arranged into series: 12.1 Administration; 12.2 Bulletins/Schedules; 12.3 Center for Organizational Development; 12.4 Committees; 12.5 Graduate Programs; 12.6 Prevel School; 12.7 Programs; 12.8 Publications; 12.9 Summer; 12.10 Summer News; 12.11 Workshops, Seminars, Symposiums.
Administrative/Biographical History
The Office of Continuing Education was created to manage the growth in the graduate programs and summer school programs at Saint Michael’s in the 1960’s. Prior to that date, graduate programs and summer programs were handled by various departments. The summer school programs included several undergraduate programs as well as conferences, workshops and any special event that occurred on campus. The department’s work was to oversee essentially all activities on campus that were not geared to the undergraduate population. Beginning in the late 1970’s, the Office of Continuing Education began to explore offering continuing education classes throughout the community. Offerings included things such as Elderhostel, adult enrichment courses aimed at senior citizens, and summer offerings for children. An innovative program with the local branch of IBM linked adult learners with SMC educators in special courses. In the mid-1980’s the school set up a special program called the Center for Organizational Development that sent SMC educators out into the business community to consult and teach workshops. Other courses were added occasionally, and by the early 1990’s the office provided a large number of services both on and off campus. Just prior to the retirement of SMC Pres. Paul Reiss, the department underwent some changes. In addition to the responsibilities outlined above, the newly named Prevel School added the coordination of non-traditional undergraduate students to its duties, offering special services to any student who did not fit the traditional 18-22 year old model. The department was under the administration of SMC Psychology professor Susan Kuntz.
Soon after its founding the new administration decided to phase out the Prevel School. Adult enrichment programs and summer programs for youth were the first to end. Soon, the Prevel School managed only graduate programs and non-traditional students. In 2001, the functions of the department related to graduate programs reverted to the Dean and to relevant departments. All continuing education programs ended and non-traditional students no longer received special attention. The Prevel School ceased to exist. Coordination of special events such as workshops and symposiums went to a newly created office, the Special Events office.
