University of Alberta Faculty of Extension
Encyclopedia
The University of Alberta Faculty of Extension, founded in 1912, is located in the historic Enterprise Square building in downtown Edmonton
, Alberta
, Canada
. The University of Alberta Faculty of Extension is a faculty of the University of Alberta
and places heavy focus on research and community engagement, including continuing education
and professional development
.
When the Department of Extension was first founded, Alberta had a mostly-rural population of 375,000 people that was widely spread throughout the province. To meet the needs of the community, the Department of Extension began to offer conferences on rural leadership. It also delivered over 100 lectures each year, and staff members would travel thousands of miles by train, car, and horse to present these lectures.
Two other early and popular initiatives were the Extension Library and the Magic Latern service.
The Extension Library began in 1913, and boxes of books were available to any settlement in Alberta, providing literature to communities that otherwise would be without. Scripts for drama productions and "package libraries" focusing on one area for debate teams were also available in the Extension Library. The Extension Library operated from 1913 until 1987.
The Magic Latern service began as slideshow programs on a wide variety of subjects. In 1917, the Magic Latern service became the first educational film library in Canada, after securing a $4,000 grant from the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
. Over the next several decades, the Magic Latern service offered both slideshow and film presentations.
.
The Department of Extension was also the catalyst for the founding of the Banff School of Fine Arts, known today as The Banff Centre, with the first classes being held in 1934.
In 1940, "refresher" courses were offered to municipal administrators, and the success of these courses resulted in the formation of similar courses through the 1940s. During the 1940s there was also a large growth in classes and lectures offered in Edmonton
and Calgary
. The first Inter-University Drama Festival and the Western Board of Music were also both founded during this time.
. In 1950, the first "mud school" was established in a partnership between the University of Alberta Department of Extension, the University of Alberta's Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, and several associations within the oili industry (this program would eventually become the Petroleum Industry Training Service).
The success of the "mud schools" led to an increase in the development of non-credit courses, classes, seminars, and conferences. These diverse course selections were offered in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, and Lethbridge
. The diverse course selection led to a growing interest for a credentialed program, and in 1957, the Certificate in Social Welfare became the first of many Certificate programs offered by the Department of Extension.
As the oil boom continued in the 1970s, the Department of Extension offered courses in Fort McMurray, Inuvik, Yellowknife, Hinton, and Edmonton.
In 1973, English as a second language began to be offered through the Department of Extension.
On November 1, 1975, the Department of Extension was granted full faculty status by the University of Alberta, becoming the Faculty of Extension.
In 1999, the Master of Arts in Communications and Technology was established, becoming the first master's program offered by the Faculty of Extension.
In 2006, the City-Regions Studies Centre was established.
After being located on the University of Alberta’s main campus since its founding, in 2007, the Faculty of Extension moved into the renovated and historic Enterprise Square. Also in 2007, the Faculty of Extension hosted the 54th annual Canadian Association of University Continuing Education (CAUCE) Conference.
The Faculty of Extension launched the Custom Workforce Development Program in October 2010. This program is designed to be a partnership between the university and selected corporations and organizations. In this program, the university will provide specialized and customized training, tailored to each individual organization.
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The University of Alberta Faculty of Extension is a faculty of the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
and places heavy focus on research and community engagement, including continuing education
Continuing education
Continuing education is an all-encompassing term within a broad spectrum of post-secondary learning activities and programs. The term is used mainly in the United States and Canada...
and professional development
Professional development
Professional development refers to skills and knowledge attained for both personal development and career advancement. Professional development encompasses all types of facilitated learning opportunities, ranging from college degrees to formal coursework, conferences and informal learning...
.
The First Decade (1912 - 1922)
The University of Alberta established the Department of Extension in 1912 giving it the mandate of "carrying the University to the people." With this mindset, A.E. Ottewell was appointed the first Director for the Department of Extension.When the Department of Extension was first founded, Alberta had a mostly-rural population of 375,000 people that was widely spread throughout the province. To meet the needs of the community, the Department of Extension began to offer conferences on rural leadership. It also delivered over 100 lectures each year, and staff members would travel thousands of miles by train, car, and horse to present these lectures.
Two other early and popular initiatives were the Extension Library and the Magic Latern service.
The Extension Library began in 1913, and boxes of books were available to any settlement in Alberta, providing literature to communities that otherwise would be without. Scripts for drama productions and "package libraries" focusing on one area for debate teams were also available in the Extension Library. The Extension Library operated from 1913 until 1987.
The Magic Latern service began as slideshow programs on a wide variety of subjects. In 1917, the Magic Latern service became the first educational film library in Canada, after securing a $4,000 grant from the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Goodyear manufactures tires for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, SUVs, race cars, airplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-mover machinery....
. Over the next several decades, the Magic Latern service offered both slideshow and film presentations.
The 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s
Between 1920 and 1950, the Department of Extension continued to focus on serving the agricultural, educational, and cultural needs of rural Alberta. One way of reaching great distances effectively was radio. In 1925, a series of lectures began to air on CJCA. Three years later, in 1928, the Faculty of Extension founded CKUACKUA
CKUA is a Canadian radio station. Originally located at the University of Alberta in Edmonton , it now broadcasts from studios in downtown Edmonton and south Calgary. CKUA was created in 1927 through a provincial grant which allowed the University of Alberta's Extension Department to purchase the...
.
The Department of Extension was also the catalyst for the founding of the Banff School of Fine Arts, known today as The Banff Centre, with the first classes being held in 1934.
In 1940, "refresher" courses were offered to municipal administrators, and the success of these courses resulted in the formation of similar courses through the 1940s. During the 1940s there was also a large growth in classes and lectures offered in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
and Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
. The first Inter-University Drama Festival and the Western Board of Music were also both founded during this time.
The 1950s, 1960, and 1970s
The 1950s introduced a period of intense industrialization in Alberta, due largely to the discovery of the oil field Leduc, AlbertaLeduc, Alberta
- Demographics :The population of the City of Leduc according to its 2011 municipal census is 24,139, a 3.6% increase over its 2010 municipal census population of 23,293....
. In 1950, the first "mud school" was established in a partnership between the University of Alberta Department of Extension, the University of Alberta's Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, and several associations within the oili industry (this program would eventually become the Petroleum Industry Training Service).
The success of the "mud schools" led to an increase in the development of non-credit courses, classes, seminars, and conferences. These diverse course selections were offered in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, and Lethbridge
Lethbridge
Lethbridge is a city in the province of Alberta, Canada, and the largest city in southern Alberta. It is Alberta's fourth-largest city by population after Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer, and the third-largest by area after Calgary and Edmonton. The nearby Canadian Rockies contribute to the city's...
. The diverse course selection led to a growing interest for a credentialed program, and in 1957, the Certificate in Social Welfare became the first of many Certificate programs offered by the Department of Extension.
As the oil boom continued in the 1970s, the Department of Extension offered courses in Fort McMurray, Inuvik, Yellowknife, Hinton, and Edmonton.
In 1973, English as a second language began to be offered through the Department of Extension.
On November 1, 1975, the Department of Extension was granted full faculty status by the University of Alberta, becoming the Faculty of Extension.
The 1980s and 1990s
The 1980s continued to see large increases in enrollment. By 1980/81, there were over 35,423 students enrolled in the Faculty of Extension's certificate programs, citation program, home study courses, and other courses available in fine arts and liberal studies. Throughout the next two decades, the number and diversity of courses offered continued to grow.In 1999, the Master of Arts in Communications and Technology was established, becoming the first master's program offered by the Faculty of Extension.
The 2000s to present
The 2000s continued to be a period of growth for the Faculty of Extension. In 2003, the first Information Access and Privacy Conference was held, and has since been an annual event.In 2006, the City-Regions Studies Centre was established.
After being located on the University of Alberta’s main campus since its founding, in 2007, the Faculty of Extension moved into the renovated and historic Enterprise Square. Also in 2007, the Faculty of Extension hosted the 54th annual Canadian Association of University Continuing Education (CAUCE) Conference.
The Faculty of Extension launched the Custom Workforce Development Program in October 2010. This program is designed to be a partnership between the university and selected corporations and organizations. In this program, the university will provide specialized and customized training, tailored to each individual organization.
Academic Studies
The University of Alberta Faculty of Extension offers general interest courses, topic seminars, industry designations, Certificate programs, Citation programs, as well as one Graduate Degree program. Additionally, customized corporate training and English Language programs are also offered through the Faculty of Extension.Certificate Programs
- Adult & Continuing Education
- Applied Land Use Planning
- Construction Administration
- Environmental Resource Management
- Fine Arts
- Human Resource Management
- Information Access and Protection of Privacy
- Information Technology Management
- Management Development
- Medical Acupuncture
- National Advanced Certificate in Local Authority Administration – Parts I & II (NACLAA)
- Occupational Health & Safety
- Residential Interiors
- Spanish Language