Extended Education
at Western
Washington University
Role and Prospects
The Task Force
The Provost issued a challenge to study the role and direction of
extended education at Western a task force was assembled to do so:
Andy Bach
Huxley College of the Environment
Craig Dunn
College of Business and Economics
Marie Eaton
Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies
Jeanne Gaffney
Admissions
Dan Guyette
College of Fine and Performing Arts
Kathy Knutzen
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Bruce Larson
Woodring College of Education
Leza Madsen
Wilson Library
Sherry Mallory
Student Affairs and Academic Support Services
Steven Vanderstaay
Provost’s Office
Terrell Williams
Extended Education and Summer Programs
Tjalling Ypma
College of Sciences and Technology
A Synthesis of Various Definitions
of Extended Education
 Extended education: programs and courses, generally for credit or
certification, delivered to students involved in courses or degree
programs that involve off-campus, after hours, summer, independent
learning, and other non-traditional arenas and formats.
 Distance Learning: programs and courses involving students
physically separated from instructors and typically involving some
form of electronic delivery, typically online in either full computerbased or hybrid format.
 Continuing education: a program of lifelong learning designed
primarily for students who participate part-time, usually taken after a
degree is obtained, to enhance personal or professional goals, often
involving part-time or short-term educational activities or training,
sometimes associated with completion certificates, but not typically
resulting in university credit or degrees.
Who are Extended Education
students?
Among others, these include:
 Working professionals unable to fit in regular daytime courses for degree
completion, certification, or an advanced degree
 Adult learners seeking enrichment or a degree
 Retirees and youth
 Unemployed or underemployed seeking new skills
 Students unable to get to campus – because of remote location, disabled,
military, prisoners, financial or family difficulty, etc.
 Persons around the world seeking education away from campus
 Traditional students unable to get a filled regular campus class
 Students who have left school needing just a few courses to graduate or some
preparation for graduate study
A Few of the Needs of
Extended Education Students
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Flexible schedules
Retraining and certification
Extended library hours and services
Degree completion
Advising for returning adult students
Unique classroom alternatives (including distance
learning and accelerated programs)
Tutoring and study skills assistance
Organizations and support groups for adult students
Some Benefits of Extended
Education
 Course offering options and flexibility for colleges and
departments
 Faculty opportunities for service and income
 Enhanced course access and degree completion for
students
 Community outreach and awareness from a broader
audience across the state
 Attraction of potential students (particularly out-ofstate) through independent learning (correspondence)
and on-line courses
 Revenue generation for the university
Various Extended Education
Activities at Western
 Academy for Lifelong Learning
 Conference Services
 Teacher Education Outreach Programs
 Off Campus Degree Programs
 Professional Studies Courses and Certificate Programs
 Self-sustaining Course Offerings and Post-Baccalaureate Programs
 Distance and Independent Learning
 Summer Session
 Academic Youth Programs
 International Travel-Study Offerings
Western’s Involvement in
Extended Education
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Last year there were more than 13,000 participants in
extended education offerings.
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During that time, nearly 50,000 student credit hours
were generated in extended education activities.
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This year it is estimated that Extended Education and
Summer Programs (EESP) programs will produce
some $9,000,000 in gross revenue, including summer
session, while returning roughly $3,000,000 to various
areas of the university.
The Charge to the Task Force
 Develop a role description for extended education with
consideration to the balance among academic program quality,
service, and revenue generation
 Advance vision and mission statements for extended education
 Recommend an appropriate structure for the organization and
delivery of extended education
 Define the relevant constituencies for extended education
 Establish long range goals for extended education
 Recommend goals for the development of extended degree
programs and distance learning initiatives
 Prepare and deliver a white paper detailing recommendations for
the administration, structure, and growth of extended education at
Western
Recommendations of the
Extended Education Task Force
The overriding recommendation of the task
force is that extended education efforts should
grow significantly across the campus.
We believe that a consolidated and strengthened
extended education effort and an expanded
role for Extended Education and Summer
Programs (EESP) can better serve the
university and our students.
Recommendations of the
Extended Education Task Force
1. Western’s Mission Statement and Extended Education
We strongly feel that the mission of the university should emphasize
Western’s commitment to extended education, and we propose the
following University mission statement for extended education:
Through extended education, Western Washington University enhances
educational opportunities and meets diverse learning needs by extending
access to the academic and instructional resources of the University into
the community, throughout the state, and around the globe. Extended
education offers quality courses and programs that are readily accessible
to current students and to the wider community, supports learners of all
ages and backgrounds in achieving their educational goals, and fosters
lifelong learning.
Recommendations of the
Extended Education Task Force
1. Western’s Mission Statement and Extended Education
We strongly feel that the mission of the university should emphasize
Western’s commitment to extended education, and we and propose
the following University vision statement for extended education:
Western Washington University will provide quality extended
educational opportunities to Western students and others
throughout the state and elsewhere. WWU will extend its
educational opportunities to selected groups not adequately served
through traditional offerings. An increased public presence will
provide additional resources to both the community and the
University.
Recommendations of the
Extended Education Task Force
2. Constituencies
Extended education at Western should target students who are
unable to avail themselves of traditional on-campus course work,
including those who cannot get into filled sections or have not
been able to complete graduation requirements on campus.
We should work with academic departments to expand Western’s
outreach to traditional and non-traditional students.
In addition, the non-credit programs help build strong ties with
various non-student groups in the community.
Recommendations of the
Extended Education Task Force
3. Program Expansion & Role
Extended education should play a much stronger role in the future. We
recommend the following:
 Provide a wide range of educational opportunities made available via
multiple venues, flexible scheduling and a variety of instructional media;
make education available “wherever and whenever” students require it
 Encourage innovative extended education instructional strategies and
applications
 Convert courses approved for traditional on-campus delivery to a
distance learning format
 Offer a wide array of credit and non-credit programs that reflect the
expertise of Western’s faculty and meet the educational needs of
students
Recommendations of the
Extended Education Task Force
3. Program Expansion & Role
Extended education should play a much stronger role in the future. We
recommend the following:
 Develop and support short-term international travel-study programs and
other enrichment activities that serve traditional and non-traditional
students.
 Provide non-credit events that participants find useful, meaningful, and
rewarding.
 Leverage the Western brand by serving non-traditional students wherever
they may be with the quality education for which Western is known.
 Extended education is largely self-sustaining and should be generating a
consistent and substantial revenue stream for the university.
Recommendations of the
Extended Education Task Force
4. Academic Standards
All extended education offerings and programs must comply with the
high academic standards associated with traditional on-campus
programs.
EESP is responsible for the administration, support, and promotion of
extended education; however, departments and colleges have full
responsibility and authority regarding course and program approval,
content, and quality, including assessment.
Standards and policies at the department and college level would ensure
instructional quality in all extended education offerings.
Recommendations of the
Extended Education Task Force
5. Administration of Extended Education
Further centralize the administration of extended education
activities at Western.
A Vice Provost should head the division of Extended Education
and Summer Programs.
EESP should continue to offer a centralized service to the campus
providing programming, promotion, support services, and
resources to support faculty and instructional staff.
Recommendations of the
Extended Education Task Force
6. Funding
Currently, funding for extended education is largely self-sustaining.
The task force recommends that the university make modest
investments in growth areas and develop an improved model for
revenue sharing with colleges and departments.
We recommend exploring and implementing opportunities for
revenue growth in current extended education programs.
As state funding diminishes, courses and programs may shrink or
disappear; students will have a harder time accessing needed classes,
and class sizes could grow substantially.
Recommendations of the
Extended Education Task Force
7. Formulation of Academic Affairs Policy
To assure consistent implementation of the recommendations
accepted by the faculty from this task force report, Academic
Affairs should formulate a policy statement addressing extended
education, including the following:
Definition, purpose, and scope
Organization and responsibilities for the administration
Establish procedures and approval processes for the
development of courses and programs