The spring semester brings a time of transition for Emory Continuing Education (ECE), as the program relocates its administrative offices and begins offering classes in a new location.

For more than 60 years, ECE has served as Emory’s noncredit division, educating not only Emory faculty, students and staff, but also individuals from throughout the metro Atlanta community and beyond.

In late December, the ECE staff began the process of moving out of its former home in Building B on the Briarcliff Property — a location which had provided administrative and classroom space for the program since 2000, according to Beverly Cormican, associate vice provost for continuing education and ECE executive director.

ECE classes resume this month in new quarters on the ground floor of 12 Executive Park Drive NE, at the North Druid Hills Road exit off I-85.

An Open House is scheduled Thursday, March 20 at 6 p.m. Faculty, staff and students may RSVP at ece.emory.edu/OpenHouse.

For ECE, the transition brings a convenient location with better visibility, easy access, improved parking and modern, renovated classroom space better suited to the needs of students and staff, says Cormican.

Though some classes will still be offered at the ECE’s Alpharetta location, the new site provides both much-needed office space and updated classrooms. "This gives us the opportunity to move most of our classes here," according to Cormican.

 "This is huge for us, we’re very excited about the new space," Cormican says. "Before, our classes were in various locations all around campus. This puts most of our programs under one roof and unites our staff in one place, which increases efficiency."

"The primary benefit is flexibility," she adds. "The move allows us to provide a larger, more comfortable learning environment. We have two updated computer labs here, so we can offer an enhanced schedule of courses on site."

Beyond a traditional classroom setting, ECE students can also take classes offered both fully online or in a hybrid "blended" setting, which features both in-class lectures and online learning.

In addition to courses in professional development and personal enrichment, corporate education, computer training, and senior education, ECE students can now choose from more than 20 certificate programs, ranging from business communications, grant writing and event planning to becoming a health coach or paralegal.

"It’s all about the student experience," she adds. "Overall, our new space represents an improved learning environment for our audience."

For more information, or to register for classes, visit www.ece.emory.edu. Emory employees receive a 10 percent discount.