Mission Statement
The Center for Continuing and Professional Studies is committed to serve the lifelong educational needs of traditional and non-traditional students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, professional, and personal growth aspirations. The Center coordinates a broad variety of educational activities and community services for learners from the culturally diverse population of Baltimore City, the State of Maryland, nationally, and internationally.
In keeping with the mission of the Center for Continuing and Professional Studies and the mission of Morgan State University, the Center has as its primary focus the delivery of services to non-traditional students. This system of services includes programs that culminate with the acquisition of a baccalaureate degree as well as those programs that are designed to meet personal and career development needs of students. Matriculating students must follow the usual application procedures for admission to the University; successfully complete the general education requirements of the University, and all other requirements for their chosen major. Generally, the programs housed within the Center meet the specific needs of individuals at any point in their educational development. This affords the opportunity for students to explore learning experiences in a variety of formats, such as Weekend University, Minimester, Summer School, Independent Study, and Non-credit Courses, Workshops, Institutes and Conferences.
Weekend University
The Weekend University is a unique approach to earning a college degree. This program is designed to meet the needs of students who work, have family responsibilities, or, for other reasons, cannot attend classes during the weekdays. Classes are offered Friday evenings and Saturdays. The Weekend courses are open to all students, whether full-time or part-time. Tuition waiver students who plan to pursue weekend classes may register on a space available basis. break in January.
Winter Minimester
The Minimester provides students the opportunity to pursue classes during the three-week winter during the Minimester. The credits received during the Minimester are equivalent to credits earned during the regular semesters. The Minimester is also open to non-Morgan students. Students may register for no more than two (2) courses during the Minimester. The credits received during the Minimester are equivalent to credits earned during the regular semesters.
Summer School
The Summer Sessions offer courses in selected fields of study. The credits received during the summer sessions are applied toward the appropriate degree, provided all other requirements are met. The maximum number of credits that may be pursued at Morgan per Summer Session is eight (8). Currently, Morgan offers two Summer Sessions with classes during day and evenings hours to accommodate a variety of schedules. Authorization for schedules in excess of eight credits must be secured from the Dean of the school or college in which a student is enrolled. Non-Morgan students must contact the Office of Admission and Recruitment prior to registration for the Summer Sessions. They must present a letter of approval from their home institution for the classes they plan to take and an official transcript which must be submitted with the application. Non-Morgan students may pursue eight (8) credits per Summer Session and have their credits transferred to their home institutions.
Independent Study
Students who petition independent study courses must be juniors with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 and are allowed to take no more than two (2) courses independently during a semester. If a failing grade is received in any course, that course may not be repeated as independent study. All students pursuing independent study classes must receive approval from the chairperson and the dean of the requested course. The Independent Study Program process begins in the Center for Continuing and Professional Studies.
Academic Recovery Program
The Academic Recovery Program (ARP) is an innovative approach to assist academically suspended students once they have exhausted the appeal process with the Academic Review Committee under the Dean of their major. The purpose of the program is to reinstate students to the university. Students enrolled in ARP are allowed to take a maximum of seven (7) credits through the Center for Continuing and Professional Studies as non-matriculating students. These seven credits must be in courses previously pursued in which a grade of “D” or “F” was earned. In addition, ARP students should attend counseling and skill development workshops. These workshops are in conjunction with the Counseling Center and include study skills such as time management, test taking, note taking, motivation and concentration, career development, and decision-making. The courses successfully completed will count toward requirements for graduation as outlined in the catalog. Due to the non-matriculating status, ARP students are not eligible for any form of federal financial aid, which includes student loans. However, ARP students may contact the Center for information about other resources for financial support. Students who successfully restore the cumulative grade point average to 2.0 will be reinstated to the university to matriculating status under the original major chosen prior to academic suspension.
Improved Opportunities for Parents (IOP) Program
The IOP Program assists Morgan students, especially parents, in obtaining the bachelor’s degree. The goals of the program are to increase the number of students who have access to a postsecondary education program and to offer a support system that provides non-traditional students with services and resources. Students are mentored throughout the academic year and attend special workshops and evening sessions to meet their individual needs. Workshops include orientation, personal development, and academic enrichment sessions. This program also provides career opportunities and facilitates self-sufficiency for the students and their families. To be eligible for the IOP Program, students must meet specific criteria such as being male, a foster care recipient, or unemployed due to downsizing, reorganization, company closure or illness.
Distance Education
Distance Education is the ability to teach or communicate with large or small groups of students dispersed across a wide geographical area through the use of single or multiple telecommunications services. This emphasis on practical coursework affords students expanded learning experiences beyond the traditional classroom setting. A quality educational program provides a unique, caring, and supportive environment. The online program options are designed to meet the global demands in a technological society.
Summer Programs
Morgan State University hosts a variety of summer programs, to include participants from University departments, Baltimore City, and surrounding communities. The University partners with area schools and community based organizations to provide academic enrichment programs and recreational activities for adults and children. Program applications are submitted and processed through the Center for Continuing and Professional Studies.
Non-Credit Programs
The Center offers the Non-credit Program as a unique approach to educational and career opportunities for personal enrichment, career enhancement, and professional development. The courses are a creative alternative that provide activities to meet the lifelong educational demands of a diverse population.
Osher Scholarship
The Bernard Osher Foundation, based in San Francisco, California, was founded in 1977 by Mr. Bernard Osher, a well respected businessman and community leader. The mission of the Foundation is to “improve the quality of life through the support for higher education and the arts.”
The Osher Reentry Scholarship Program provides scholarship support for non-traditional students, ages 25-50, who are returning to a four-year institution after a significant interruption in their education of five years or more to complete their bachelor’s degree.
Alpha Sigma Lambda Continuing Education National Honor Society-Gamma Pi Chapter
Alpha Sigma Lambda is a national honor society, which partners with colleges and universities to celebrate the scholarship and leadership of adult students in higher education. It focuses on recognizing the special achievements of those adults who accomplish academic excellence while facing competing interests of home and work. This honor society is dedicated to the advancement of scholarship and acknowledges high scholastic achievement in an adult student’s career. By doing so, this society encourages many non-traditional students to continue toward and to earn the baccalaureate degree. It is not only the oldest, but also the largest chapter based honor society for full- and part-time students.
Earl S. Richardson Library
[http://library.morgan.edu/earls.richardsonlibrary]
The new Earl S. Richardson Library is located on the South Campus, in a highly prominent site, fronting Hillen Road. The facility was completed in 2007, at a cost of $56,327,000. It is a five-story structure of approximately 222,517 square feet. The award-winning Library, International Interior Design Association (IIDA) New England Interior Design Awards 2009— Best Education Design- Morgan State University, replaced the Soper Library. The state-of-the-art building includes a multistory lobby, lounges, private group study rooms, meeting rooms, a technology-enhanced instruction room, computer laboratory, individual computer access at each workstation throughout the building, access to electronic databases for research, reading and study space. The design anticipates planned space for future growth, projected at 5,000 volumes per year, for the next 20 years.
The new Library has several notable features:
Multi-media rooms and audio-visual capabilities in meeting and instruction rooms
Showcases for unique African-American manuscripts and memorabilia
Display cases for items from the collection of the James E. Lewis Museum of Art
Special Collections Room (located on the third floor) for rare and specialty books, manuscripts, photographs and art
The Benjamin A. Quarles Room for meetings (first floor, north side)
The Clarence W. Blount Room for meetings (first floor, north side)
Office space for visiting and emeriti faculty
Interior seating with distinctive skylights
Exterior vertical glass panels that minimize sun glare into the East Reading Rooms on the first, second, and third floors
The conference room and terrace, located on the fourth floor
Four-story, glass enclosed stairs which face Morgan Commons
Environmentally-friendly green roof
The Library’s collection includes more than 400,000 volume-equivalents, consisting of instructional, research, cultural and recreational materials that support the University’s academic, research, and public service programs. Included among the Library’s holdings are books, periodicals, government documents (designated as a U.S. Depository Library in 1940), and electronic resources. Non-print materials such as recordings, slides, audiovisual resources, and art reproductions are also available. The microform collection has journals, newspapers, books, and a variety of other documents. To use the varied formats of materials, audiovisual equipment, micro-form readers/printers, computers, printers, scanners, and photocopiers are available. The Beulah M. Davis Special Collections Room houses books, documents and manuscripts that constitute one of the larger university collections of African- American materials in the country, thus provide unique opportunities for study and advanced research. The computer laboratory provides access to the campus computer network, many software packages, and the Internet. In addition, computers are located throughout the Library. An array of other materials and services are also provided for Library users. The Library’s facilities are supplemented by those of other libraries in the vicinity, and around the state of Maryland. A direct borrowing agreement makes the library resources of the University System of Maryland and Affiliated Institutions (USMAI) available for use by library- registered Morgan State University students, faculty, and staff. The Morgan State University Library also participates in the Baltimore Academic Libraries Consortium (BALC) which makes students, faculty, and staff eligible for reciprocal borrowing privileges at BALC libraries. For information about the use of these resources, and other services, ask at the Information Desk. Current library hours are posted at the entrance to the building, on the Library’s website, and printed copies are available upon request.
Library Policies and Regulations
- Service is the main function of the Library. Policies and regulations have been made to ensure equitable access for all.
- Except for some specialized materials that may be restricted for use, all resources of the Library are available to any library use. A current activated Bear Necessity Card is referred by MSU students, faculty and staff in order to take appropriate materials from the Library to use materials that have been placed or reserved for access by faculty members. Guests are referred to present an acceptable form of identification in order to use certain Library resources.
- A current Library-registered University identification card entitles students, faculty and staff to borrowing privileges at Morgan State University and at the libraries of the USMAI and BALC. The safekeeping and proper use of the ID card is the responsibility of the owner. Patrons are responsible for all materials borrowed on their cards. The last day of the loan period is shown on a sticker attached to the back cover of each book borrowed. In addition, students may access their Library accounts online to see, for example, when their books are due and to renew books online.
- Loan periods should be strictly observed. Fines incurred are to be paid promptly at the cashier’s window of the Bursar’s Office. A fine of 25 cents per day is charged for each overdue book. The maximum fine is $10.00 per book. Failure to receive overdue notices does not exempt the borrower from paying fines incurred.
- Bills for lost books, including the default replacement cost and a processing fee, are sent to the Bursar’s Office for collection. If an item is returned, fines will be deleted and a maximum late return fee will be assessed. Failure to pay Library charges will result in the curtailment or loss of Library privileges.
- Library charges are posted to student accounts and are considered a part of students’ obligations to the University. Therefore, any unpaid library charges would prevent clearance for graduation and/or release of transcripts.
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