The Continuing Education program at Fort Lewis College is shifting its focus from the noncredit personal-enrichment classes it’s known for to professional development.

“This is a positive change,” Gigi Baty, director of the program, said Thursday. “It’s positive for the community, for the college and for Continuing Education.”

Enrichment classes were well-received, Baty said. But cancellations caused by low enrollment, and competition from community groups took their toll.

“CE has canceled, on average, 48 percent of personal-enrichment classes given on campus for the last three years,” Baty said.

The return of the very profitable study-abroad program to the auspices of FLC impacted CE funding, Baty said.

“Enrichment classes accounted for 60 percent of our time and 10 percent of our profit,” Baty said.

The stage was set for concentrating on professional development, Baty said.

Two examples are drawing high praise, she said. They are the programs leading to certificates in professional nonprofit management and professional development for managers and employees.

The latter concentrates on “soft” people-skills training vis-a-vis “hard” technological fields. Participants don’t have to pursue a certificate but can register for classes independently.

Enrichment classes will remain available, however, Baty said. Visit www.ed2go.com/fortlewis online for information and enrollment details on six-week online classes.

A number of community groups are offering on-the-ground enrichment lectures and workshops. Among particularly good programs, Baty said, are the Life-Long Learning lecture series presented by the FLC Professional Associates, FLC’s Center of Southwest Studies, the Durango Chamber of Commerce, the Durango Education Center, the Durango Arts Center and the Small Business Development Center.

Visit www.fortlewis.edu/continuinged for more information on professional-development courses.

daler@durangoherald.com