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History of the UT K-16 Education Center

The UT K-16 Education Center (previously known as the Distance Education Center) is a department under the Division of Continuing Education at the University of Texas at Austin. 

In 1909, The University of Texas Board of Regents formed the Extension Division for the express purpose of "increasing the usefulness of the University to the people of Texas." Today, the Extension Division, now known as the Divison of Continuing Education, provides a sweeping breadth of programs and courses for people whose needs are beyond the scope of customary campus offerings. Students of all ages and from all walks of life rely on Continuing Education for open-enrollment credit and noncredit classes, for professional development, for specialized training, for personal enrichment, and for a variety of distance education options.

Continuing Education is one part of The University of Texas at Austin that serves all people, whether enrolled in high school, college or simply a student of life.

Continuing Education is a self-funded component of the University comprising six departments:

UT K-16 Education Center
Offers K-16 services and credit options
Phone: 888-232-4723
Web: www.utk16.org

Joe C. Thompson Conference Center
Continuing Education conference and meeting facility on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin
Phone: 512-471-3121
Web: www.utexas.edu/cee/tcc/

Petroleum Extension Service
Education and training for the petroleum industry
Phone: 800-687-4132
Web: www.utexas.edu/cee/petex/

Professional Development Center
Noncredit certificate programs, executive seminars, and workshops
Phone: 800-687-7345
Web: www.utexas.edu/cee/pdc/

University Charter School
Educational instruction to students in residential facilities
Phone: 512-471-5652
Web: www.utexas.edu/cee/charter/

University Extension
Evening college-credit courses on the UT campus without UT admission
Phone: 512-471-2900
Web: www.utexas.edu/cee/uex/

UT K-16 Education Center Education Timeline

(Previously known as the Distance Education Center)

A summary of program development at the UT K-16 Education Center following the year 1909 to the present.
1909-College correspondence courses introduced
1942-GED testing initiated
1951-High school correspondence courses introduced
1970-Testing Center expanded
1983-Credit by exam for high school students developed
1987-Migrant student program launched
1988-Scoring center opened
1997-Courses on a disk introduced
1998-UT High School opened; University Charter School opened
2001-ASKME Online Mathematics and Science Initaitive launched
2004-2006-Migrant program wins UCEA national recognition
2006-UT K-16 Education Center (previously known as the Distance Education Center) created with a focus on K-12; College courses move to UEX
2006-Language Learners at the UT Center for Hispanic Achievement (LUCHA) launched