PACE to promote continuing education courses, programs

Oakland University’s Office of Strategic Programs recently launched a new unit for professional and continuing education (PACE) programs. While such programs have been offered at OU for some time, PACE represents a coordinated effort to centrally house continuing education (CE) courses and programs. The university hopes this new approach will help raise the profile of PACE and strengthen Oakland’s ties to the surrounding community.

"We want people to know there's a continuing education program at OU," said Adrienne Bass, director of strategic programs. "The university has a huge pool of faculty who are experts in their field and we want to leverage their knowledge to help bridge the gap between the research, corporate and non-profit worlds."

A diverse range of professional development courses are offered through the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business Administration, School of Education, School of Engineering and School of Nursing. Offerings are constantly evolving to fit the educational and training needs of the community across all economic sectors. Popular offerings include programs in paralegal studies, financial planning, career development, animal assisted therapy and nursing. Secondary education teachers can obtain professional development credits and attend Advanced Placement program conferences.

A number of partnerships have been forged with the goal of bringing OU faculty experts together with industry professionals, students and the general public.

An initiative with St. Joseph Mercy Oakland was launched in an effort to improve local health care services, health education and quality of life in Oakland County. As part of this ground-breaking joint venture, research experts from the university and the hospital will provide training to scores of St. Joseph Mercy Oakland doctors, nurses, residents and medical students.

The Macomb-OU INCubator and Pawley Lean Institute have partnered to offer the Lean Diversification Program, which is supported by a $450,000 grant from the Economic Development Administration. Led by industry experts, the program will provide companies with the techniques necessary to make strategic decisions about diversification and, most importantly, develop employees to be key contributors and analytical thinkers in growth strategies.

Additionally, PACE has teamed with the Older Persons Commission of Rochester to bring a series of public lectures on topics of interest to the community. OU faculty members provide insightful and informative talks on a diverse range of topics, including science, politics, economics and the environment.

“The PACE program is looking to create more high-quality, customized programs that businesses and non-profit organizations can use to develop employee skills, expand operational resources and enhance overall effectiveness,” Bass explained. “We would love to partner with alumni and other professionals who are interested in teaching and using their knowledge to benefit the community.”

Through the website, individuals can view the course catalogue, register for classes and find information on PACE programs and policies. Classes are offered at various times and locations, both in person and online.

To learn more about PACE, view the website at oakland.edu/pace.