I. Overview of the Collection
Title: Records of the School of Adult and Continuing Education
Date: 1970-
Creator: Barry University. School of Adult and Continuing Education
Location: 06/01-11
Extent: 11 boxes (3.5 linear ft.)
Language: English
II. Historical note
The Barry University School of Adult and Continuing Education had its beginnings with negotiations between Barry College and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1970 when Sister Dorothy Browne was president of Barry and Jack Hunt was president of Embry-Riddle. A contract organizing the Miami Education Consortium (MEC) was signed in June, 1971. Al McCullough became the director of the consortium. In July, 1974, MEC entered into an agreement with Homestead Air Force Base and began offering classes there. In that year also college credit for professional work experience was extended to working adults, and the basic portfolio format was introduced.
In July, 1974, the Department of Continuing Education was formed in response to nation-wide demand for such programs "to expand the educational mission of the institution to the adult population through non-traditional and extension offerings." Increased enrollment and gradual expansion of courses led to the formation of the School of Adult and Continuing Education in 1982 with Sister Linda Bevilacqua, who had been Director of the BEC (Barry Early Credit) program, as Dean of the School. A small legal program for working adults had begun in 1977, initially administered by the Dean. In 1985, Dr. Martha Gurwit was hired to direct the program, followed by Robin Spellman in 1986, and Marni Pilafian Lee in 1988. In 1999, Eric Olsen became the director.
In 1983, Craig Probst became Director of Academic Services for ACE and Dr. Patricia LaBahn was appointed as Director of BEC. In this year MEC was officially dissolved (December 31).
III. The Collection
The collection includes general information on the School of Adult and Continuing Education, academic and administrative files, and publications
IV. Container list:
Series I: School of ACE
Box Title
1 Philosophy of the School of ACE
History of ACE, 1970-1191
Events, 2004
Faculty News, 2002-
Portfolio preparation material, 1988
Miscellaneous, 2006-
Series II: Academic Files
1 Academic Programs, 1990-
Emergency Medical Tech, 2008
Fifty Plus program, 2009-
Legal Assistant Institute
Non-Credit Programs, 1995
Older Adult Opportunity Center, 2004-
2-3 Class Schedules, 1983-2002
4 Miami Consortium Education
Series III: Administrative Files
5 Adjunct Faculty Manual, 1991-199
5 Annual Reports, 1971-1981
5-10 Annual reports, 1988-1997
11 ACE Newsletter, 1984-2005
Cheers, Newsletter of the Fifty Plus program, 2010-
The Frank J. Rooney School of Adult and Continuing Education [Bulletin], 1987-1999
V. Administrative Information
Acquisition Information: Transfer, n.d.
Access Restrictions: This collection is open for research
Processed by: Sr. Arnold Benedetto, 2009. Revised by Ximena Valdivia, 2012
Preferred Citation: Records of the School of Adult and Continuing Education, Barry University Archives and Special Collections, Miami Shores, Florida
