ODU's Shaeffer to Serve on National Task Force For Continuing Education
July 21, 2016
James Shaeffer
James Shaeffer, founding dean of Old Dominion University's College of Continuing Education and Professional Development, was recently named to the national Task Force on Hallmarks of Excellence in Professional and Continuing Education.
Shaeffer, who came to Old Dominion University to create the College of Continuing Education and Professional Development in 2014, will help develop a framework to guide professional continuing education nationwide.
"I am thankful for the opportunity to be part of this process," Shaeffer said. "Higher education is evolving, and it's important that professional and continuing education programs evolve and adapt to meet the needs of a dynamic, changing workforce."
Shaeffer was asked to serve on the task force by Alice Warren, president of UPCEA, the association for professional, continuing, and online education, and Jay Halfond, chair of the task force.
The task force identified seven facets of leadership and organizational development that can help grow online, professional and continuing education in the United States: internal advocacy, entrepreneurial initiative, faculty support, student support, digital technology, external advocacy and professionalism.
These hallmarks have gained currency as the leading quality framework for their growth and development.
Shaeffer has served as president of UPCEA, on the U.S. Army's Educational Advisory Council, the national Leadership Institute: Women with Purpose and as a member of the Virginia Council on Continuing Professional Studies. He is the author of numerous book chapters and articles on teaching strategies and educational technologies. In 2012, he delivered the keynote address, "Why Engagement Is Critical to the Future Success of the 21st Century Colleges and Universities" at the European Union's University Association of Lifelong Learning at Cambridge, England.
Shaeffer holds a doctoral degree in teaching-learning processes from Northwestern University, a master's in elementary education from Kansas State University, and a bachelor's in elementary education from Iowa State University.
The College of Continuing Education and Professional Development, which is headquartered at the Virginia Beach campus, offers lifelong learners an opportunity to achieve their professional and personal goals through a variety of University credit and professional certification programs. For more information, visit the College of Continuing Education and Professional Development website.