Florida State University’s Institute for Trauma & Resilience Studies Center, housed in the College of Social Work, has received a national award for excellence for its online Pathways to Professional Advancement program. The institute was awarded the 2026 UPCEA Outstanding Non-Credit Program Award by the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA).
Each year, UPCEA honors exemplary work across multiple categories in online education. The Outstanding Non-Credit Program Award specifically recognizes programs that demonstrate a significant contribution to the field of continuing education.
“Continuing professional education is an important way to meet the needs of adults in the workforce,” said Karen Oehme, director of the institute. “We are especially grateful to have our efforts recognized by an organization that represents so many major institutions both in Florida and nationally.”
The Institute for Trauma and Resilience Studies developed its Pathways to Professional Advancement Program to address the growing need for trauma-informed, resilience-based and research-backed professional development. The program is made available through FSU Learn, the university’s platform for professional development, education and lifelong learning.
“FSU helps bridge the gap between the latest research and the development of workforce professionals on our online platform FSU Learn,” said Jim Clark, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “This is another example of how FSU offers world-class education that extends beyond the traditional scope of a university.”
The institute’s professional certification programs are self-paced, fully online, asynchronous and designed to equip professionals across multiple disciplines with the knowledge and skills necessary to support individuals, institutions and agencies in higher education, social services, the court system and K-12 education systems.
More than 8,000 learners across all 50 states in the U.S. have enrolled in the courses since 2018. To meet learners’ needs, this program has also contributed to the Institute for Trauma & Resilience Studies’ peer-reviewed scholarly research on e-learning.
The institute will be honored and accept the award at the 2026 UPCEA Annual Conference, in New Orleans in April 2026.
For more information about the FSU Institute for Trauma & Resilience Studies, visit itrs.csw.fsu.edu.