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Descriptive Summary

Administrative history

Administrative Information

Controlled Access Headings

Collection Inventory

Series 1: NUCEA/Independent Study Division

Series 2: Publications

Series 3: Organizations

Series 5: Independent Learning Contributions

Series 6: General

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Collection Overview

Administrative history

In August 1980, the National University Continuing Education Association (NUCEA) arose out of the National University Extension Association (NUEA), its predecessor organization. The Correspondence Study Division was developed by members of NUEA to offer college credit and self-improvement through home study. Early attempts in the late 1890's to create extension education within established universities were met with opposition from those in the academy holding elitist views. In 1906, university extension became a reality at Wisconsin by reaching out to farmers, teachers, businessmen and workers. Organized by Wiliam H. Lighty and Louis Reber, the Wisconsin Extension Division became the model for other universities to follow. It soon became evident that a national association was needed to bring together the growing number of people who were attracted to and working in the extension movement. By the start of World War I, more than a dozen colleges and universities offered some form of correspondence study. The Pennsylvania State College determined the need for agricultural and domestic sciences and offered some thirty courses. After WWI, the Army experimented with correspondence study.

The first conference of NUEA was held in Madison, Wisconsin in 1915, its goal to give expression to the ideal of a 'people's university. 'Extension' was the first large scale alternative education program in the U.S. for part-time learners. Its methods included correspondence study, lectures, institutes, workshops, traveling libraries, reading/study groups and the employment of an ever-expanding array of electronic media.

In 1938, the International Council on Correspondence Education (ICCE) was established. By 1965, nearly 2 million adults participated in correspondence education in the United States. In 1982, seventy-one universities provided correspondence instruction to about 250,000 students. In addition to those who study by correspondence in colleges and universities, there were another 600,000 students in private correspondence schools and 600,000 in the military.

In 1941, the United States Armed Forces Institute (USAFI) developed a correspondence program based on the premise 'that citizens in military uniform are interested in continuing their civilian education.' USAFI did not provide military training but nonmilitary education to military personnel.

As an organization, NUCEA provides a means for the helpful exchange of ideas and experiences, and promotes the idea that education is a lifelong process for everyone. NUCEA holds an annual professional meeting, conducts research studies, publishes a directory of the correspondence course offerings of its members and issues a news magazine, The Spectator.

The archives for the Division of Independent Study includes the following: correspondence course offerings, course study guides, scholarly papers and published research reports, programming, correspondence relating to the various activities of administrative committees and their members, directories of both NUCEA members and Committee members, bibliographies, and proceedings of conferences and meetings. Professional journals, research, course offerings, publications and speeches relating to correspondence study on the international level (ICCE, ICDE) and through USAFI are included as well.

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Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

University records are restricted for 20 years after the date of creation. Personnel files are restricted for 72 years or until the death of the individual. Access to student files are restricted for the life of the individual, in accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended.

Copyright Notice

Copyright is retained by the creators of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], National University Continuing Education Association, Independent Study Division, PSUA 1071, Special Collections Library, Pennsylvania State University.

Processing Information

Processed by Special Collections staff.

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Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

• National University Continuing Education Association - Independent Study Division

Genre(s)

• Moving Image

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Collection Inventory

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