After nine years and lots of ups and downs, Fort Lewis College’s Continuing Education program will come to an end June 30.
“It’s seen a decline in enrollment for several years and took a hit in 2008 from the economic downturn that it never recovered from,” said FLC spokesman Mitch Davis. “It just wasn’t financially sustainable anymore.”
The changing world of technology also impacted the program significantly, he said.
“There’s been a worldwide explosion in online education, so people didn’t need to come on campus anymore,” he said. “We’re very appreciative of everything Gigi (Baty, the director) has done. It’s been as successful as it has been and has lasted as long as it has because of Gigi.”
In December, the Continuing Education program announced it would cease offering personal-enrichment courses and would focus on its professional development and nonprofit management programs. Narrowing the focus didn’t solve the underlying problem, Baty said.
“Continuing Ed is cash-funded and always has been,” she said. “But we’re a small community at a small college with a specific mission without the resources to make it work. And I just talked to a colleague at (Metropolitan State University of Denver), and they’re struggling, too, even with the whole metro area to draw from.”
The nonprofit management and professional development programs are seeking new homes, she said.
