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July 12, 2007

Continuing Education

Division gets new name as it rapidly grows

Programs like yoga and art classes will still be offered, but under a different name.

Story by: J. Blankenship

The Shorthorn staff

The Shorthorn: Megumi Rooze

Teresea Madden-Thompson was promoted from director to assistant vice president when the Division of Continuing Education changed to the Division for Enterprise Development.

Last week, Public Affairs announced the Division of Continuing Education has been restructured and renamed the Division for Enterprise Development.

Since 2005, it increased in size by more than 500 percent, making it the largest training service in Texas for some of the state’s largest employers.

Assistant vice president Teresea Madden-Thompson said transportation, environmental, safety, health care and leadership programs will eventually be stand-alone organizations under the new division.

She said changes focus on consolidating various specialty education and service centers into a new package. Promoted this month from director to assistant vice president, she continues to steer the rapid expansion.

Education Dean Jeanne Gerlach welcomes the changes Madden-Thompson brought to the university.

“She has changed the face of what Continuing Education was all about here,” Gerlach said.

Internal clients receive support from the division as it works with many of the university deans who deliver conferences and seminars. Partnerships continue to develop mutually beneficial alliances as the foundation for enterprise programs and lifelong learning centers.

Gerlach’s division routinely uses some of those services. Her division hosted a large conference last fall with what she called “invaluable help” from Continuing Education, who handled conference registrations, advertising and off-campus accommodations.

“They are limited by the size of their staff, but they accomplish so much,” Gerlach said.

The division recently opened offices in Houston and Austin to support new customers, such as the Texas Department of Transportation. It includes environmental and safety programs, both long-standing critical infrastructure priorities for the state, Madden-Thompson said.

“We’re still offering enrichment programs for art, dance, foreign language and yoga,” special programs coordinator Kira Cox said. “These programs are still called Continuing Education. We’re just under the larger umbrella of Enterprise Development.”

The division responded to its expanded focus with organizational shifts with an upgraded executive position and two promotions. Lisa London became director of organization development and programs. Don Ziegler became director of finance and administration.

Rapid growth also means more jobs for students, Madden-Thompson said. The division routinely hires students who want work-study positions or to apply newly learned skills as seasonal teachers for youth programs. With all the changes taking place, that’s one thing that remains the same.