UPCEA Updates

The latest association offerings and updates. UPCEA is your association!

In Memoriam: Alexander N. Charters

Alexander N. Charters (1916-2018) died in August 2018. Dr. Charters was an internationally-recognized American expert in the field of adult and continuing education.

Dr. Charters was born in Verdant Valley, Alberta, Canada in 1916. He earned a B.A. in history and English from the University of British Colombia in 1938, and a Ph.D. in adult education from the University of Chicago in 1948. Dr. Charters’ aunt and uncle were both active in the adult education field, and reading material they provided while he was serving in the Canadian Navy sparked Dr. Charters’ interest in the field. In 1948, Dr. Charters was appointed Assistant to the Dean of University College at Syracuse University, beginning his career in the field of adult education. He subsequently served Syracuse University in numerous roles, including Dean of University College (1952-1964) and Vice President for Continuing Education (1964-1973).

Dr. Charters was very involved with UPCEA (then NUEA), and served as the association’s president for the 1965-66 term. Dr. Charters’ work and influence are still felt in the association to this day, as described by UPCEA CEO Bob Hansen at UPCEA’s 100th Annual Conference in 2015:

The next major inflection point for the association was precisely 50 years after the first conference in Madison.

Remarkably, the man who was at the center of that story is in the room with us today, Alex Charters, dean emeritus at Syracuse University and former president of the association.

At the 50th golden anniversary conference at Purdue in 1965, President Charters announced “discussions involving the establishment of a Washington office.”

A formal report on the matter argued that a professional staff headquartered in Washington could serve as a vital link between universities, the federal government, and other major associations.

In March 1966, President Charters announced the appointment of the association’s first Executive Director, and a motion was passed to establish a Washington Office.

We opened an office on Massachusetts Avenue later that year, and subsequently moved to the new National Center for Higher Education, better known by its iconic address, One Dupont Circle—or simply “One Dupont”—a name that has become synonymous with higher education policy in the U.S.

The modern era of the association had begun.

Other UPCEA Updates + Blogs

The Commons: Ending Knowledge Discrimination

August 17, 2018

As the continuing and online education community knows all too well, in American higher education, where you learn something is…

Read More

In Memoriam: Alexander N. Charters

August 16, 2018

Alexander N. Charters (1916-2018) died in August 2018. Dr. Charters was an internationally-recognized American expert in the field of adult…

Read More
23109270222_913907ae48_k

Get Involved with UPCEA

Professional development isn't just about attending sessions. Get involved with UPCEA to meet members from other institutions, share the great work your institution is doing, and hone your own skills. From submitting a session proposal for a conference or an article for a publication to serving as a volunteer on a conference planning committee, there are as many ways to engage with us!

22705011037_217e9a2505_k

Awards of Excellence

Since 1953, UPCEA has recognized its members' outstanding contributions to the Association and the field, as well as their achievements in innovative programming, marketing and promotion, community development and services, research and publications, and many other areas.