NIU’s College of Continuing Education soon will be replaced by an alternative external programming operation to effectively respond to the changing needs for off-campus credit and non-credit programs.

As of Aug. 1, the provost’s office will be responsible for the College of Continuing Education, said Kendall L. Baker, NIU provost and vice president for academic affairs.

The change in organizational structure will “enhance, strengthen and expand” external programming Baker said.

Lynn Waldeland, assistant provost for academic planning, said the College of Continuing Education will no longer be active. She said the activities which already were planned in continuing education will continue.

The new structure will be developed around four principal goals.

Baker said a careful system requiring review and assessment in northern Illinois is needed for both credit and non-credit courses and programs. It will “determine what’s needed in the external environment” in order to respond to it, he said.

“We’ll take a look at the what the College of Continuing Education does now, try to get a complete understanding what we’re doing now and build on that base,” he said.

Direct marketing and timely delivery are important in making sure people in the external environment know about the programs available, Baker said. He added NIU has the largest off-campus program in Illinois. NIU currently offers off-campus programs in 23 counties.

Assuring the quality of the programs and gaining acceptance by the faculty with support and enthusiasm are also factors contributing to the organizational restructuring for external academic programming.

Waldeland said increasing faculty involvement, interest and commitment in off-campus programs was included in the proposal for external programming at NIU.

She emphasized before any changes occur at all, “a committee will do an evaluation about what needs to be done, what needs are being met or not met and how rapidly the needs in the service region are changing,” she said.

The evaluation will be conducted by members of Baker’s staff, NIU’s Council of Deans and staff members from current continuing education.

Baker said there will be no loss of jobs, but there might be retraining or reassignments for existing education staffers.

“Any time there’s a change, there’s going to be some discomfort and anxiety how things will ultimately work out,” Baker said.