Thirty years ago Regis University began the non-traditional adult education programs that have evolved to become the College for Professional Studies (CPS).

The University will mark the milestone 5-7:30 p.m. Sept. 10 in the Adult Learning Center with a 30 th anniversary celebration honoring the pioneer classes of Regis University's career programs. Another celebration will take place at the Colorado Springs campus 4-6 p.m. Sept. 9.

Influential faculty from the early days of the program will be a part of the 30th anniversary celebration, as will alumni and current members of the Regis community. Also, Doug Sullivan (posthumously) and Larry Seid will be honored with professor emeritus status at the University's North Denver Lowell (main) campus event while Carol Shepherd and Joe Petta will receive professor emeritus status at the Colorado Springs event.

"With close to 30,000 graduates, adult programs at Regis have changed the lives of individual students and the life of the institution," said Denis Murray, assistant vice president for Professional Studies and Strategic Alliances. "It is an accomplishment worth celebrating."

"Special Programs," the original name for what is now CPS, began in Colorado Springs, geared to the military market. Called RECEP (Regis Career Education Programs) I, the program was the first at Regis to implement the adult, accelerated model that recognized the adult as a different kind of learner with a need for college-level courses delivered in a different way. RECEP I was a degree-completion program delivered in the classroom nights and weekends in an eight-week format.

Concurrently in 1978, Regis developed an MBA program with input from Regis alumni that was structured to focus on shifting industry needs. Then RECEP II began in Denver in 1979. RECEP II was another accelerated, degree-completion program that used working professionals as instructors, another departure from the traditional model.

RECEP III, an accelerated, degree-completion program in religious studies, and MAACCD, a summer-intensive master of arts in adult Christian community development were created in 1979 and broadened the offerings Regis provided for adult students.

In 1982, Special Programs became Career Programs. In 1988, Career Programs incorporated Loretto Heights College's University Without Walls (UWW) and the Competency-Based Teacher Education (CBTE) programs that were the seeds of the current School of Education and Counseling in CPS.

Regis University, with nearly 16,000 students, comprises Regis College, the College for Professional Studies and Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions. The University is recognized by U. S. News & World Report as a Top School in the West and is one of 28 Catholic Jesuit colleges and universities throughout the United States. For more information about Regis University visit www.regis.edu.