Students in The University of Alabama College of Continuing Studies do not fit the mold of the typical UA student.
“Our average student is over 30 years old, they’re working and they have children. They can’t come here and walk around or live on campus, so they do it through us,” Bill Elrod, director of business development and college relations, said.
“Often people start school and for whatever reason are unable to finish. It could be that they are out of money, or a countless number of reasons. Next thing they know, they are just out of time. They get to a certain point in their life or career where they need to advance, and the only way they can advance or change jobs is to have a degree of some sort, or a certificate. Those are the people that come to us,” Elrod said.
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Dean Rebecca Pow said the college provides a variety of programs that reach a wide audience.
“Whether it is providing flexible pathways to earn college credit, providing professional development training or creating safer, healthier workplaces, the College of Continuing Studies is all about providing learning opportunities for individuals from grammar school to retirement age,” Pow said. “The programs that CCS offers are designed around the busy schedules of non-traditional students and working adults.”
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Although the College of Continuing Studies’ degree program may be the most well-known, the college also offers a variety of other programs, including professional development and environmental and occupational health and safety. Nina Smith, program manager of the student services division, said the college offers programs for both adult students who want to pursue degrees and those who don’t.
Elrod said some former students return to the University to get assistance and certifications for their real-world jobs.
“People can come back to us for help with safety issues that they have at their companies,” Elrod said. “If they need a certification in regard to environmental-type issues – such as the removal of lead-based paint or problems with mold – we have an area of the college that takes care of that.”
Smith said the main focus is delivering degree programs to adult students.
“With regard to the degree program side, courses are delivered online. Some degree programs may be referred to as blended, requiring both on-campus attendance and online. Some require video streaming as well. Our Distance programs provide flexible plans for busy adults,” Smith said. “We have also secured the Osher Reentry Scholarship for students who started their college career and then stopped. It is available to adult students 25 to 50 years old who are on our campus.”
(See also “Online courses become increasingly popular“)
The College of Continuing Studies also uses the Bryant Conference Center to provide space for meetings and weddings.
“We also do conferences there,” Elrod said. “Conferences on obesity, autism, for HR people, for the Federal Tax Clinic, ADD conferences. We do conference services as well as professional development and degree programs.”
