North Columbus News

The Ohio State University has introduced a new Professional and Continuing Education (PCE) portal aimed at helping working professionals gain skills needed for career advancement.

According to Jason Lemon, vice provost and dean of online learning in the Office of Academic Affairs (OAA), the new platform brings together various resources from across the university into one centralized location. “Previously, when departments or colleges wanted to make something available to the public, they had to create stand-alone webpages,” Lemon said. “They had to find ways to have people connect into the registration system. It was not a straightforward or an easily accessible thing.”

Lemon explained that before this portal’s launch, many individuals were able to enroll in noncredit courses each year, but often struggled to view all available offerings. “Before the new portal’s launch, it was not uncommon for us to see 50,000 people getting into noncredit, public-based courses in a year. But those people were finding specific things, as opposed to being able to view the broader offerings,” he said.

“This system allows the public as well as our own campus to really see the breadth and the depth of noncredit and publicly available courses,” Lemon added.

Jessica Philips, senior director of OAA’s Professional and Continuing Education unit, noted that both members of the public and those affiliated with Ohio State can now access learning opportunities more flexibly through an improved registration process. “We’ve launched the new Professional and Continuing Education portal in a way that is centralized, easy to find and designed to support our land-grant mission,” she said. “Ohio State can educate and reach people across the state.”

Ben Kitchen, OAA online marketing manager, highlighted how these programs are aligned with workforce development goals set by Governor Mike DeWine. “They’re all career-focused, career-aligned certificates that are conceived with industry in mind,” now available through the new PCE portal, he said. “We’re very much focused on the state of Ohio with these courses and how we can empower Ohioans and Ohio business owners to ensure their organization is primed for success and to meet the workforce needs of tomorrow.”

Lemon also pointed out that this initiative supports President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr.’s Education for Citizenship 2035 strategic plan. “We’re trying to open the door to what Ohio State has to offer. We’re trying to show people that we are accessible and we’re responding to the needs of our communities and that we’re helping the people of Ohio to participate in the best that Ohio State has to offer,” he said.

“We have a lot of great things to offer through the university, and we want to make sure people have a chance to explore and experience a teaching and learning opportunity with us.”