College of Continuing Education

James P. Pappas Administration Building

1700 Asp Avenue
Norman, OK 73072-6400
Phone: (405) 325-4414
FAX: (405) 325-7196
Outreach / OCCE Information
www.outreach.ou.edu

Administrative Officers

  • Belinda P. Biscoe, Ph.D., Interim Senior Associate Vice President for University Outreach/College of Continuing Education

General Information

The University of Oklahoma Outreach/College of Continuing Education is a lifelong learning organization dedicated to helping individuals, businesses, groups, and communities transform themselves through knowledge. Nationally recognized for its pioneering efforts in continuing education, University Outreach extends the educational resources of the University of Oklahoma on campus, online, and at locations around the world.

Oklahoma Center for Continuing Education

Both University Outreach (College of Continuing Education) and the College of Professional and Continuing Studies are housed in the Oklahoma Center for Continuing Education (OCCE) complex. Originally designed as a comprehensive adult learning community for educational activities, OCCE is one of several W.K. Kellogg Foundation-funded centers in the world. OCCE provides a unique setting for individuals who have chosen this facility for their meetings, conferences, workshops, and seminars. The Thurman White Forum Building offers facilities for 1,000 participants through a combination of 15 meeting rooms, a computer lab, and the large auditorium-sized Forum Room that seats 600. Equipped with state of the art technology, the Forum can adapt to meet almost any group’s conference requirements. On-site technical support is also available for the computer lab.

The OCCE complex includes the James P. Pappas Administration Building, the Pete Kyle McCarter Hall, and the Boomer Outreach Building, all of which house administrative staff for both OU Outreach/College of Continuing Education and the College of Professional and Continuing Studies. In addition, ten duplex cottage units (Sooner Suites) provide an intimate atmosphere with each side featuring a kitchenette, living area, two double bedrooms, and a bath.

For more information on the Oklahoma Center for Continuing Education, call 405-325-7378.

 

Business, Community, and Education Services

American Indian Institute

The American Indian Institute (Aii) provides culturally sensitive conferences, training, strategic planning services, and expert technical assistance to American Indian, Alaska Native, and Canadian First Nation tribes and bands. For more information, call 405-325-4127 or visit aii.ou.edu.

Center for Early Childhood Professional Development

The Center for Early Childhood Professional Development (CECPD) provides training and technical assistance for early care and education professionals, enabling them to provide improved educational foundations and quality of life for all Oklahoma children. CECPD professional development opportunities also include Coaching Innovations, professional development designed to train instructional coaches, and the Early Learning Quick Assessments (ELQA), literacy and numeracy formative assessments. To learn more about the CECPD and its collaborative partners, call 405-799-6383, email cecpd@ou.edu, or visit cecpd.org

Center for Public Management

The Center for Public Management (CPM) began in 1994 as a satellite-training network for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. CPM has since expanded its core services to become a comprehensive solution provider for public partners. CPM works with public agencies, nonprofits, and private industries to deliver cost-effective, customer-oriented solutions tailored to each client. CPM is capable of calling upon the vast resources of the entire University’s faculty and staff to help continue to provide creative, effective solutions.To learn more, call 405-325-0519, email info@oucpm.org or visit oucpm.org.

Center for the Study of Small/Rural Schools

The University of Oklahoma’s Center for the Study of Small/Rural Schools (CSSRS) is endorsed by the National Rural Education Association. Its clients include school boards, teachers, administrators, businesses, community groups, rural organizations, state and federal agencies, as well as international agencies and governments. The center aids small and rural schools through workshops, surveys, needs assessments, and technical assistance.

Conference Pros

Conference Pros began in 1996, providing conference logistics support services for federal and state programs. In 1997, they expanded services to include conference, meeting, and event planning services. Conference Pros aids local, regional, national, and international agencies and organizations in developing and conducting conferences that meet the specific needs of their direct clientele. Conference Pros benefits from the strengths of faculty at OU’s College of Continuing Education, as well as a wide range of other resources and consultants in recommending appropriate expertise and presentation skills in various fields of study. The staff of Conference Pros has extensive experience and demonstrated success in designing content, providing logistical support, and conducting large national and international conferences of high impact, visibility, and national or international acclaim. For more information, call Laurie Smith at 405-325-0751, Richard Feinberg at 405-325-7807, or visit conferencepros.org

Center for Institutional Data Exchange and Analysis

The Center coordinates the Consortium for Student Retention Data Exchange (CSRDE), which includes higher education institutions that share data, knowledge, and innovation. CSRDE publishes four annual reports that provide timely, comprehensive, and comparative benchmarking data on college student retention, plus the electronic book, Building Bridges for Student Success: A Sourcebook for Colleges and Universities. CSRDE hosts the National Symposium on Student Retention and monthly webinars. For more information, call (405) 325-2158, email csrde@ou.edu, or visit csrde.ou.edu.

Corporate Online Education Programs

Outreach partners with Ed2Go to offer career-focused, online courses designed to provide the skills necessary to acquire professional caliber positions in many in-demand occupations. For more information, call 405-850-5594, email wboni@ou.edu, or visit Career Training Programs.

Educational Technical Assistance Services (EDUTAS)

EDUTAS at the University of Oklahoma Outreach engages and leads partners and stakeholders in learning conversations and collaborative work to improve education systems, policies, and practices. Our educational technical assistance and professional learning services focus on:

  • Guiding complex systems change processes and initiatives;
  • Improving instructional practice using evidence-based strategies;
  • Developing leaders’ capacity for building collective teacher efficacy to improve learner outcomes; and
  • Driving equity through inclusive, excellent educational opportunities.

For more information visit edutas.org  or call 405-325-3542.

Educational Training, Evaluation, Assessment and Measurement

Educational Testing, Evaluation, Assessment, and Measurement (E-TEAM) designs research tools and evaluations to help organizations understand and use data to solve real-world problems. E-TEAM works on projects for the public and private sectors that have a lasting effect on the community. The program helps community leaders determine what is best for the community through evaluation, assessment, and research. For more information, call 405-325-7186, e-mail us at eteam@ou.edu or visit us at eteam.ou.edu.

Fullstack

Powered by award-winning Fullstack Academy, the OU Outreach Bootcamps on cybersecurity and web development provide condensed, immersive programs taught by industry experts in convenient 100% live, online, or hybrid formats. The Bootcamp grads leave ready for lucrative high-tech careers in Oklahoma and beyond. For more information contact Dr. Nina Barbee, director of Outreach Continuing Education, at 405-361-5720 or at nbarbee@ou.edu.

KGOU/KROU Radio

KGOU Radio is a full-service public radio station presented as a community service through the University of Oklahoma Outreach. KGOU provides an essential program service to the citizens of Oklahoma. KGOU is an NPR-member station that delivers news, information, community event calendars, discussion, and unique entertainment programming over the air and online. Its mission is to help people become deeply informed about issues that affect their lives, be better prepared to make decisions, and be more engaged in our community. KGOU teaches a practicum class and employs part-time student journalists from OU. For more information, call 405-325-3388, email manager@kgou.org, or visit www.kgou.org.

Medieval Fair

The Medieval Fair, held annually each spring since 1977, began as a forum for the English Department and later moved to University Outreach reflecting its impact on our community. It was recently recognized in 2011 by Renaissance Magazine as the second largest festival in the country of its type for the number of participants attending. It has grown into a program that is supported by the strong community of medieval enthusiasts in the Norman and Oklahoma City Metropolitan areas. During the academic year, a free lecture series is provided by university faculty from across the state of Oklahoma. The Medieval Fair transports patrons away from the worries and cares of today, back in time to the first market fair of spring 1360 in the town of Avalon where they can learn about and become a part of life in the Middle Ages. For more information, call (405) 325-8610, ameckart@ou.edu, or visit the Medieval Fair website.

National Center for Disability Education and Training

The National Center for Disability Education and Training improves independent living, employment, and career opportunities for people with disabilities. Through its model programs, NCDET proves that youth and adults with disabilities can be successfully employed. The center develops and delivers customized training programs for professionals in related disability fields. NCDET implements Project SEARCH and Pre-Employment Transition Services with high school students with disabilities across the state of Oklahoma. For more information, call 405-325-0158, email abaghda1@ou.edu or visit https://ncdet.ou.edu/en/.

National Resource Center for Youth Services

The National Resource Center for Youth Services (NRCYS) works to enhance the quality of life for the nation’s youth and families by improving the effectiveness of human services through training, technical assistance, practical resources, and other targeted services. NRCYS supports public and private non-profit organizations in Oklahoma and across the country to build their capacity to support children, youth and families to thrive. For more information, call (918) 660-3700 or visit www.nrcys.ou.edu.

Public Service Institute

Managing change is critical for schools, faith-based organizations, public service organizations, and social organizations. A leader’s response to change is often the greatest factor affecting the success or failure of his or her organization. The Public Service Institute teaches leaders how to allow their organizations to remain dynamic and supportive of clients despite a constantly changing environment. Most of the center's initiatives focus on building the capacity of multi-stakeholder partnerships to support transformational outcomes in developing countries. Through its focus on information access and capacity building, the Institute also promotes connectivity to improve living conditions in impoverished communities around the world. For more information, call 405-325-1712 or visit Public Service Institute

Reading Program Development

Reading Program Development is a course designed and taught by instructors from the Institute of Reading Development provides speed-reading for academic, professional, and recreational reading for K12 and adult students. For more information, call 800-964-8888 or visit the Summer Reading Program at https://outreach.ou.edu/educational-services/education/reading-program/.

Southwest Center for Human Relations Studies

Established in 1961, the Southwest Center for Human Relations Studies (SWCHRS) s a program within the Public and Community Division in OU Outreach with the primary mission of extending the resources of the University to communities in the Southwest faced with civic conflict and controversy. The core mission of the Southwest Center for Human Relations Studies is to provide opportunities for learning, facilitated training, research and knowledge dissemination on issues of intercultural and intergroup relations as they pertain to communication, conflict management, collaboration, leadership, organizational culture, decision making, and inclusive practices. The center annually hosts the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE) in Higher Education, the largest conference of its kind in the United States. For more information, call 405-325-3694 or visit the SWCHRS website.

Southwest Prevention Center

The Southwest Prevention Center (SWPC) is committed to preventing alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse, and high-risk behavior. This multi-state program provides prevention information, training, and technical assistance and develops prevention resources. SWPC works to support healthy, drug-free environments through the community, school, and organizational capacity building. For more information, call 405-325-1454, swpc@ou.edu, or visit the Southwest Prevention Center website.

Team Quest (Executive Training)

Team Quest equips teams and leaders with skills and tools to become more effective. Their unique approach addresses the needs of adult learners through training experiences that incorporate action learning exercises, self-assessments, focused discussions and engaging classroom instruction. For more information, call 405-325-0464, email ETTQ.