Pauline Rankin has left her position as vice provost of Academic Affairs to become the new dean of the Division of Continuing Education.
Rankin was appointed by Provost Risa Palm, who placed the Evening School under the direction of the Division of Continuing Education also.
“She’s very, very successful and has a strong track record,” Palm said.
Rankin, who has been with the University for 20 years, said it was easy for her to accept her new position.
She said the Division of Continuing Education had many exciting opportunities.
The Division of Continuing Education is geared toward adults who want to continue their education.
These students are classified as “non-traditional.”
They can take classes in legal studies, computer training, LSU Professional Developmental Program and other courses designed to expand professional qualities.
Rankin said though the Division of Continuing Education is geared toward non-traditional students, most college students are non-traditional.
“The college market all over the United States is changing,” Rankin said. “Most college students are non-traditional.”
According to the Office of Budget and Planning Web site, in 2003, students 25-years and older accounted for 2,382 of the 26,162 undergraduate LSU students.
The division is helping working adults do their jobs better, she said. Credited and non-credited courses are helping people in the working world.
She said she is certain there are people who will use their skills to find better-paying jobs in other states.
Despite the flow of people to other states, Rankin said she feels the division still is making a huge contribution to the individual people who leave Louisiana.
Although the Division of Continuing Education has made many improvements, there will be many changes and new opportunities to the division, she said.
Rankin said there is a need to strengthen relationships with the deans of other colleges because there is a need for professional development.
Opportunities to work with Center of Excellence in Learning and Teaching to enhance the distance and development of electronic courses are being established, she said.
Rankin said the division is working to change the 25-plus program so that everyone is included.
Changes also will be made to the Evening School, which is aimed to serve people off-campus, she said.
Saturday classes also are being considered, Rankin said.
“Of course they will not be in the fall because of the football games,” she said.
Rankin said she also is looking to get a pay increase for the Evening School instructors.
In a Reveille article on July 8, Mary Lou Cutrera, an English instructor, said, “The University is getting a cheap deal. Instead of having to hire [new] faculty members, they are getting [current] faculty for $2,500.”
Rankin said regular instructors receive $2,888 per course.
“We want some consistency and compensations with pay,” she said.
Rankin said even though she hopes to pay Evening School teachers a fair market compensation, the final decision is not up to her.
“I can’t say we are going to change this,” she said.