Update on the Professional Development Center

We are writing to give you an update on the University of Washington Tacoma Professional Development Center (PDC).

In July 2023, UW Tacoma leadership and Continuum College agreed to integrate the UW Tacoma PDC into Continuum College. With a similar mission and history of serving adult learners through professional and continuing education, we sought to expand the PDC’s offerings at UWT and in the South Puget Sound community through this partnership. Over the past year and a half, Continuum maintained a presence on the UWT campus with two staff who leveraged Continuum’s infrastructure to support PDC programming.

Over the last 18 months, Continuum College met with UWT leadership and student-serving offices to explore opportunities to extend Continuum services to other UWT units. Existing PDC services and partnerships were supported by Continuum, and PDC noncredit certificate programs were brought into Continuum’s Professional & Continuing Education program portfolio. New professional and custom programs were developed by PDC staff.

It was hoped that these activities would help the PDC thrive and overcome its financial challenges. However, despite best efforts, the PDC has been unable to achieve financial sustainability. During a time with many demands on fiscal resources, in consultation with UW Tacoma leadership, Continuum has decided to close the PDC at the end of this academic year. Both staff roles at the PDC are currently vacant.

Continuum College will manage existing PDC programs and will continue to develop new programming in discussion with UW Tacoma faculty and staff.  We are committed to continued exploration of opportunities between Continuum College and UWT and remain open to expanding our collaborations in the future.

We are grateful for the valiant efforts of Saralyn Smith and Meaghan Hurley over this period and honor the work of so many people over the years who built and supported the PDC.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Sandra Janusch, Associate Vice Provost, Continuum College: sjanusch@uw.edu; or to learn more about Continuum College programs and services: https://www.continuum.uw.edu/