Eager to develop innovative state-of-the-art educational opportunities to meet the surging demand for postbaccalaureate programs from the country's professional work force, 60 provosts, vice presidents and graduate deans from 30 universities will convene in Baltimore for a two-day, invitational workshop to be conducted by Johns Hopkins in cooperation with the Council of Graduate Schools and the University Continuing Education Association.

Funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the workshop from February 4 through 6 is titled "Creating Postbaccalaureate Programs to Meet Work Force Needs." Presentations will be made by experts from Hopkins, Harvard, University of Maryland, New York University, Purdue, University of California at San Diego, Pennsylvania State University, University of Chicago, Colorado State University, North Carolina State University and Indiana University.

The Baltimore workshop, to be held near the Homewood campus in the Doubletree Inn at the Colonnade, is the first of three such conferences. Hopkins also will conduct the others, in San Diego, March 11 to 13, and in Chicago, April 22 to 24.

The demand for continuing education for professionals is expected to skyrocket in the next few years. Continuing education for adults has experienced phenomenal growth in the past 20 years. Now part-time, adult students--those over 25 years of age--account for nearly half of all college enrollments in the U.S. It is estimated that by 2000 some 15 million adults will be enrolled in colleges and universities, and adults are expected to continue to be the major force in enrollment increases. Sixty-five percent of these students are women. Most are seeking to advance their careers in either business or education.

"Many critical issues are facing institutions of higher education as we endeavor to address the expanding postgraduate needs of this country's growing professional workforce," said President William R. Brody, who will deliver the keynote address to the Baltimore gathering.

"We have to determine how universities can best support work force development by creating, implementing and assuring quality in postbaccalaureate programs; by developing effective formats and practices to serve adult students in this emerging 'knowledge economy' and by deciding what role new technologies--especially distance learning--will play vis-a-vis the traditional ways universities teach," Brody said.

Those in attendance at the workshop will include provosts; vice presidents for academic affairs; graduate deans; deans of business, engineering, education and other professions; deans of arts and sciences; and senior academics involved in planning and implementing postbaccalaureate programs.

"This workshop is specifically designed to address key issues that have emerged nationally among academic leaders who wish to initiate or enhance postbaccalaureate programs," said Stanley C. Gabor, dean of the School of Continuing Studies. "The three workshops also will link 90 participating colleges and universities for future exchanges and interaction."

Following Brody's keynote address on Thursday, Feb. 4, the workshop convenes on Friday, Feb. 5, to hear panel presentations on creating and implementing postgraduate programs to meet work force needs and on assuring quality in such areas as faculty development and academic support services. On Saturday, Feb. 6, the university officials will focus on forging effective partnerships with the private sector, government agencies, corporate universities and professional associations.