Brown continuing-ed. offices open downtown

PROVIDENCE – Brown University’s new continuing-education offices are now open on Dyer Street, in the downtown neighborhood lawmakers and educators have dubbed the Knowledge District as they work to align skilled workers with in-need employers.
Brown purchased the building in March 2011. A $5 million renovation was completed before continuing-education services began moving there in February.
There are $3 million in renovations still planned. Some 60 construction jobs have been created during the project, according to the university.
“[The location] allows us to create greater access to learning opportunities for our community, while continuing to focus on bringing students from across the country and around the world to Brown for academic opportunities,” said Karen Sibley, dean of continuing education.
The university’s continuing-education services offer on-campus, online and international programs that serve nearly 5,000 pre-college, undergraduate, adult and professional students.
Beginning this spring, it will regularly offer free public programs featuring experts from Brown and the community.
The university said the new space will allow the department to grow its executive-level academic programs and increase noncredit courses and offerings for private, public and nonprofit-sector employees that will focus on technology, health services, entrepreneurship and communication. &#8226