In 1964, based on the advice of the Advisory Council of the University of Liberia, the Continuing Education, or Extra Mural Division, was established. The philosophy guiding the establishment recognized that a functional adult education program is a productive channel for developing the nation’s human resources. Therefore, the resources and the facilities of the University of Liberia would be extended to an out-of-school adult population so that opportunities could be created for working people and people of varying academic levels to participate in workshops, seminars, conferences, and short-term courses, etc such that willing adults with desire can enhance their professional growth.

Between 1967 and 1974, the then division conducted on-campus part-time evening credit and non-credit courses for adult education. It continued until 1975, when the division’s primary function was increased to the coordination of the Institution’s vacation school and the remedial programs. Realizing the significant role the division had played, the Faculty Senate on March 4, 1982, approved the policies and procedures of the division, activated, and expanded its credit and non-credit programs. Two days later, the Faculty Senate met in an emergency meeting and authorized the division to offer “The General Requirement Courses towards the Bachelor and Associate degrees in Library Science.”

In 2005, under the gavel of the then President of the University of Liberia and Chairman of the Faculty Senate, Prof. Dr. Al-Hassan Conteh,  the division was renamed “College of General Studies” with additional mandates. The additional mandate is that students enrolling in the college would remain there until they complete their undergraduate requirements without transferring to another college to graduate.

Philosophy of the College

That a functional adult education program is a productive channel for the development of the nation’s human resources. The resources and facilities of the UL would be extended to an out-of-school adult population so that opportunities could be created for working people and people of varying academic levels to participate in workshops, seminars, conferences, and short courses, etc, such that willing adults who have the desire can enhance their professional growth.