Continuing Education Practitioners Convene at UWW

Written by Kari Borne

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater hosted the annual Universities of Wisconsin Continuing Education Conference on September 30. Practitioners from campuses across the state met for a day of networking and professional and personal development.

The conference has been held for more than 15 years and this was the first time UWW had the opportunity to host. Chancellor King welcomed the group of about 70 continuing education (CE) leaders and practitioners, followed by a keynote address exploring pathways from non-credit to credit. A variety of breakout sessions were offered on topics ranging from workforce development growth to self-care and growth through change. Several UWW staff presented including Morgan Anderson (School of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education), Lucas Peterson (Camps & Conferences), Jen Kaina (Recreation Sports and Fitness), and Chris Lindeke (University Marketing and Communications). A pre-conference networking reception was held the evening before the event at the Fern Young Terrace.

“CE units across the campuses are all organized uniquely, but we do have a lot in common as well,” said Morgan Anderson, assistant dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education. “We serve lifelong learners at various points in their lives, whether it’s kids participating in camps, upskilling those who want a career change or seniors engaging in travel and enrichment programs. It was great for CE practitioners to learn from each other and celebrate the work we do. There is a strong sense of community in our field.”

Participants enjoyed the variety of sessions and learning from each other. They praised UWW and Warhawk Dining for excellent hospitality. “The campus is beautiful, and the catering was fantastic,” one participant remarked. Others echoed the sentiment and are looking forward to next year’s conference.

The 2026 CE conference is tentatively scheduled to be held at UW-Oshkosh in the fall.