INSIDE DOUGLAS COLLEGE / MARCH 21, 1989 Lillian Zimmerman: New Community Programs Chair The continuing education department at Douglas College is steadily growing, and provid- ing a wide range of learning opportunities for an increasing number of adults. With the program’s success comes the need to re-evaluate direction and priorities. To help focus on and meet the program’s changing needs, a new position of chair in the con- tinuing education department was recently created. Lillian Zimmerman, a college faculty member in community programs and services since 1971, has been appointed to this position for a six-month term. Zimmerman, who began her duties March 1, was elected unanimously into the position by the department’s faculty. This new position will allow the dean of community programs and services, Jim Doerr, to take on additional responsibilities at the Thomas Haney Educational Centre in Maple Ridge and to look at the development of college facilities in the Coquitlam/Port Coquit- lam/Port Moody area. Zimmerman brings to her new position years of college programming experience and a strong commitment to the philosophy of community educa- tion. As a community programmer, Zimmerman has offered a wide range of interest areas, including women’s studies, social ser- vices, liberal arts, fine arts, entertainment, music and crea- tive writing. Zimmerman says she "has en- deavoured and will continue to endeavour to expand oppor- tunities for part-time studies for adults in our college region." "At Douglas College, we have one of the few remaining balanced community education programs, including programs in personal, vocational and profes- sional development. * There’s no question of the great depth of challenges. Zim- merman says, "our energies go into putting on about 600 cour- ses per semester, with about 1,000 instructors." She also points out that enrollment of part-time students grew to 13,000 last year. Part-time studies for adults is popular, and expected to be increasingly so. Zimmerman quotes a UBC professor who referred to con- tinuing education as "the hidden giant" in the education system. Part of the problem faced by the department is that it’s run- ning out of space -- as is the continued on page 5