Lifelong education, which encompasses continuing education, provides educational offerings both for upgrading knowledge and skills needed to progress in occupations, and for personal enrichment options important to more meaningful and happier lives, which is a separate function from the offering of traditional college degrees.

Through its Georgia LEADS (Lifelong Education and Economic Development Services) program, the University System Office shall provide leadership and coordination to result in a widely dispersed and easily available program of lifelong education offerings, including both noncredit and credit offerings, which both respond to the needs of citizens, government, businesses, and organizations and leverage the resources of USG institutions to maximize efficiency and effectiveness. Emphasis should be placed on institutional collaboration for professional and personal development programs using streamlined methods for sharing continuing education units and revenue when cooperating to offer programs.

The Chancellor shall issue and periodically review guidelines implementing this policy. These guidelines shall be based on:

1. State-level needs assessment;
2. Communication with businesses, agencies, and organizations;
3. Efficient marketing;
4. Ease of access and admission;
5. Collaboration both within the System and with other educational partners;
6. Geographic responsibilities of institutions;
7. New and emerging technologies;
8. Financial incentives; and,
9. Innovative educational models that address the needs of the state and its people.

Non-credit lifelong education courses shall not be included in the workload of faculty members, but a reasonable degree of participation that does not interfere with their regular duties shall be considered as a contribution to the institution in the faculty evaluation process (BoR Minutes, October 2002).