New URI college sets up separate class offerings in Providence, S. Kingstown campuses

A GIFT FROM ALAN SHAWN FEINSTEIN is resulting in the renaming of the University of Rhode Island's College of Continuing Education, which will be split among URI's Providence and South Kingstown campuses. / COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
A GIFT FROM ALAN SHAWN FEINSTEIN is resulting in the renaming of the University of Rhode Island's College of Continuing Education, which will be split among URI's Providence and South Kingstown campuses. / COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

PROVIDENCE – Split across two campuses, one in Providence and one in South Kingstown, the University of Rhode Island’s newly renamed Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Education and Professional Studies will be launched at a March 22 event, according to an announcement made by the school on Monday.

In further information released by URI on Tuesday, the university explained the school of education component of the Feinstein College will be based on the South Kingstown campus, while the school of professional and continuing studies will be housed on the Providence campus.

Lori Ciccomascolo, dean of the college, said in prepared remarks: “As one college with two campuses, the focus is on the synergistic efforts across the Providence and Kingston campuses aimed at preparing educators, adult learners and professionals to be leaders in their careers and communities through active lifelong learning.”

The two-campus approach is designed to better meet the needs of students arriving directly from high school as well as industry professionals searching for a way to enhance their skills through graduate and certificate programs. Courses will be available through classroom settings on both campuses and online.

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The March 22 event will feature corresponding speeches at both the Providence and South Kingstown campuses:

  • 8-9:30 a.m., Providence Campus (PAFF auditorium on 80 Washington St.): Focus will be on how URI prepares adult students for careers in industry and promotes opportunities for workforce development.
  • 4:30-6 p.m., South Kingstown Campus (Edwards Auditorium): Speakers will address how educators are prepared for the challenges of providing equal education to all students in a diverse community.

Also included the college’s administration will be the office of strategic initiatives, which manages education programs and industry-related partnerships that generate professional and workforce development opportunities for students and others.

The college, which is home to 523 undergraduate students and 176 graduate students according to its website, offers 30 majors across its two campuses.

Once known as the College of Continuing Education, the school has been renamed as the result of ongoing efforts to realign URI’s curriculum with the needs of the community in recognition of a 1990s gift from Alan Shawn Feinstein.

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