Message from the dean, Extended Learning Division

Thank you for visiting the Saint Martin’s University Extended Learning Division. Saint Martin’s University is a Catholic Benedictine institution with a tradition of reaching out to both local and international communities. Founded 118 years ago, Saint Martin’s mission is “to empower students to pursue a lifetime of learning and accomplishment in all arenas of human endeavor.”

One of the 10 hallmarks of the Benedictine ethos is community. Shortly after World War II Father Richard Cebula O.S.B. took this hallmark to heart and reached beyond Saint Martin’s campus in Lacey, Washington to bring the best of Saint Martin’s education to the military bases at Fort Lewis and McChord Field, now called Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM).

Saint Martin’s has years of experience serving non-traditional students including active and non-active military students, veterans and their families. We are proud to be a provider of lifelong learning opportunities for local communities, the Pacific Northwest and, thanks to our ever-growing online presence, communities worldwide. Our classes are designed to meet the needs of busy adults offering a combination of traditional and hybrid classes in the evenings and weekends, and online.

We understand that the education-to-employment journey can be fraught with challenges and obstacles. The three main challenges for most learners are: (1) enrolling in postsecondary education, (2) building skills, and (3) finding a job. In order to succeed, most learners have to make great sacrifices. The staff and faculty at the Extended Learning Division understand these challenges and the sacrifices most non-traditional learners and their families have to make in order to succeed. We are here to assist learners each step of the way starting with the application and enrollment process through to graduation, ensuring learners are prepared to take on the next challenges.

I am honored and privileged to work at the Extended Division at Saint Martin’s University with a dedicated team of staff and faculty that are passionate about helping our non-traditional learners succeed.

Whether you are starting your college career, transitioning from the armed services, making a change in your profession, or a lifelong learner, I invite you to continue your life journey with Saint Martin’s, and extend to you a warm welcome from our entire community.

Radana Dvorak, Ph.D.