February 29, 2022 – Rutgers University’s Division of Continuing Studies (DoCS) is the recipient of the UPCEA Leadership in Diversity and Inclusive Excellence Award for its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) 2021 Strategic Plan for Rutgers University. The award recognizes a program that “represents best practices and demonstrates positive impact in promoting cultural shifts in the organization that promotes diversity and inclusive excellence.”
Award-Winning Plan from DoCS
“DEI has been a longstanding core value of the Rutgers Division of Continuing Studies,” says Richard Novak, VP, Continuing Studies and Distance Learning, DoCS. “DoCS promotes equity in all things and strives to create a culture of inclusivity where all feel welcomed and respected. The Division vigorously pursues organizational inclusive excellence.”
In 2021, DoCS completed a comprehensive long-term Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategic Plan for its professional continuing and online unit as well as for the larger continuing and online educational community. Launched after a five-year effort, the plan seeks to transform the landscape of diversity, equity and inclusion at Rutgers and to attract underrepresented groups to the field of professional, continuing, and online education.
“This plan was not simply focused internally on what happens in the Rutgers community. It also established a clear vision and strategy to attract underrepresented communities to the fields of professional, continuing, and online education.” says Prabhas Moghe, Rutgers Executive VP for Academic Affairs, “We are proud of DoCS teamwork, unity, and passion as Rutgers builds a "beloved community."
The Division of Continuing Studies (DoCS) is the central continuing education unit at Rutgers University, coordinating hundreds of credit and non-credit programs and enrolling thousands of participants. DoCS coordinates the work of faculty, staff and alumni of Rutgers who share its commitment to lifelong learning. DoCS was founded in 1996 to coordinate and promote continuing education, distance education, and public outreach across all Rutgers campuses. Today, it coordinates hundreds of programs, enrolling thousands of participants that serve audiences from pre-school readers to retirees.
UPCEA Recognizes Member Institutions
UPCEA, the leader in online and professional continuing education, has announced the recipients of the 2022 Association Awards. The UPCEA Association Awards program includes recognition of both individual and institutional achievement across the UPCEA membership.
Since 1953, UPCEA has recognized its members’ outstanding contributions to the field, as well as their achievements in innovative programming, marketing and promotion, community development and services, research and publications, and many other areas. Award recipients were honored at the 2022 UPCEA Annual Conference, April 11-14 in Orlando.
For more information: Beth Salamon, bsalamon@docs.rutgers.edu.
The Division of Continuing Studies (DoCS) is the central continuing education unit at Rutgers University, coordinating hundreds of credit and non-credit programs and enrolling thousands of participants. DoCS enriches lives and communities by providing lifelong access to progressive, learner-driven education. In coordinating the work of faculty, staff and alumni of Rutgers who share its passion for lifelong learning, DoCS is guided by a vision to lead Rutgers to a position of state, national and international prominence in lifelong learning. Grounded by its New Jersey roots, DoCS seeks to meet learners wherever they work and live, both in the classroom and online. https://lifelonglearning.rutgers.edu/