University of Florida. General Extension Division

The General Extension Division (GED) was created in 1919 to extend the work of the institutions under the direction of the Florida Board of Control to residents of Florida not enrolled in those institutions. Agricultural extension and home economics, which fell under the mandate of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, were excluded from the program of the GED. As the state university with the broadest academic program, the University of Florida was selected as the division's headquarters.

GED's initial focus was on adult education in the areas of consumer, business, and civic awareness. Later, the focus shifted to continuing professional education. GED was abolished in 1962. Its first and only dean was Bert C. Riley. In 1965, the legislature enabled each university in the State University System to conduct its own continuing education program with specific responsibilties assigned to each unit.

From the description of Records, 1919-1972. (University of Florida). WorldCat record id: 39000585

The General Extension Division (GED) at the University of Florida was created by the state legislature in 1919. The General Extension Division was established as the extramural college to represent all of the state institutions of higher learning except in agriculture, home economics, and engineering.

The head of extension was initially designated a director, but was later elevated to dean with the responsibility of making recommendations concerning policies, organization, staff, finance, and the development of the program. Originally, the Dean of General Extension reported solely to the President of the University of Florida, but later was accountable to all of the state's university presidents. GED's first and only dean was Bert C. Riley.

In 1944, General Extension included the following departments: Extension Teaching, the Public Service Training Center, located at the State College for Women, Department of Women's Activities, Department of Investigations and Research, Department of Information and Service, Department of Visual Instruction, and Department of Citizenship Training.

GED's initial focus was towards non-credit, adult education, directed primarily at those without the benefit of a higher education and intended to promote consumer, business, and civic awareness. Gradually, the focus shifted to off-campus professional education.

In 1962, GED was abolished and the state legislature created the Florida Institute for Continuing University Studies (FICUS). FICUS had duties and responsibilities comparable to GED, but was independent of any university. FICUS was divided into several centers located in major urban areas of the state.

In 1965, the legislature abolished FICUS and each university was allowed to administer its own non-credit program and given specific responsibilities for off-campus credit programs. The University of Florida was also assigned responsibility for Home Study Courses and each university was placed in charge of an off-campus continuing education center. The Division of Continuing Education (DOCE) was created at the University of Florida to administer the University's program.

In 1972, the state's continuing education program was reorganized once again. Six of the state's nine state universities were given responsibilities for off-campus credit programs in specific counties. Florida State University, the University of Florida, and Florida A and M University were not assigned regional responsibilities, but were to provide credit courses on a state-wide basis in academic areas which could not be provided by the other universities.

From the guide to the Records of the University of Florida General Extension Division, 1919-1972, (Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida)