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Home > BizTimes Daily > Archives > April 10, 2007
UWM lands grant for continuing education
Published April 10, 2007 - BizTimes Daily
The School of Continuing Education at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee has received a significant grant from the Bernard Osher Foundation to establish an Osher Institute for Lifelong Learning in Milwaukee.
The grant will build on the current partnership between the UWM School of Continuing Education and the Guild for Lifelong Learning, a university-supported, volunteer-run group with a long history of high quality educational activities. Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes are found on the campuses of 112 colleges and universities from Maine to Hawaii.
The School of Continuing Education will receive $100,000 per year for two to four years, followed by a $1 million endowment. The School of Continuing Education can apply for additional funds from the Osher Foundation re-entry initiative in six to eight months.
The initiative is targeted at 25- to 50-year-old returning students and would support School of Continuing Education initiatives, including the Career Transition Center.
Cathie Sanders, who initiated and led the grant application process, will continue to take a leadership role. Mary Mulroy, who is now retired, provided leadership in the grant writing and helped conceptualize the proposal. Kim Beck, unit leader of the Arts, Humanities, and Science unit, also provided support for the proposal.
"In addition to securing more desirable space for guild social, administrative and education activities, the Osher grant will allow us to expand access to the guild geographically, build a more ethnically diverse membership; offer programming tailored to 'younger' older adults; and increase learning and service activities," Sanders said.
Also planned is a marketing campaign and an easy-to-use Web site designed to attract new membership, support internal communication, and facilitate research and evaluation.
