University of Mary Washington Continuing and Professional Studies

🌿 Ready to create productive, resilient, and ecologically sustainable systems?

The University of Mary Washington Continuing & Professional Studies Department, in partnership with Shenandoah Permaculture Institute, is bringing the internationally recognized Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) program to the Fredericksburg region this fall.

Designed for gardeners, farmers, educators, sustainability professionals, landscape designers, homesteaders, and community leaders, this program blends theory and hands-on learning to help participants create thriving ecosystems in both rural and urban settings.

Participants will explore:
🌱 Permaculture design principles
🌱 Regenerative agriculture
🌱 Water conservation and management
🌱 Soil science and composting
🌱 Sustainable building techniques
🌱 Community and social permaculture
🌱 Holistic health and herbal medicine
📍 University of Mary Washington – Fredericksburg, VA

📅 Program Dates:
• September 18–20
• October 3–4
• October 24–25
• November 7–8
⏰ 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

This 72-hour certification program includes field trips, collaborative design projects, and applied permaculture training led by experienced instructors from Shenandoah Permaculture Institute.

💲 $200 off before July 1
🎖️ 10% veteran discount available

Learn more & register >> https://www.umw.edu/cps/permaculture-design-certificate/

🚀 Looking to break into tech or level up your IT career?

UMW’s CompTIA self-paced certification courses are built to help you gain real-world skills and prepare for industry-leading certification exams — all on your own time.

With expert-aligned course content, flexible online access, and exam vouchers included, you can focus on learning the skills employers value most.

CompTIA certifications can help position you for careers in:
🔹 Cybersecurity
🔹 Networking
🔹 IT support
🔹 Cloud computing
🔹 Systems administration

Take the next step toward a stronger resume and bigger opportunities:
👉 https://www.umw.edu/cps/career-advancement/comptia-self-paced-test-prep/

Introduction to AI
Rolling Enrollment
This is an introductory course focusing on generative AI. This asynchronous course will take approximately 8 hours to complete. The following topic areas will be addressed:
• Introduction to AI: Fundamentals and Context
• Basic AI Tools and Applications
• Advanced AI Tools and Applications
• Academic Integrity and AI
• Bias and Ethics in AI
• Critical Evaluation of AI Outputs
• Future Implications of AI
• Career Impact and Professional Development

Learn more & register >> https://umw-cps.catalog.instructure.com/browse/open-enrollment/courses/introduction-to-ai

Teaching for Second Language Speakers of English
July 6 - July 10, 2026 | 9:00 am - 11:30 am | M/W/F in-person, T/Th asynchronous

This course is designed for middle and high school teachers working with second language speakers of English with various levels of proficiency. Through readings and discussions, we will explore the processes involved in second language learning. The course explores how learners acquire linguistic competence in both naturalistic and classroom settings, and some of the specific challenges they face. The goal is to set a foundation that can help understand the challenges that a child second language speaker faces in an educational context.

Course is partially in person on UMW campus and remaining portion online.

Learn more & register >> https://umw-cps.catalog.instructure.com/browse/educator-pd/courses/teaching-for-second-language-speakers-of-english

📢 The tech industry is growing — are your skills keeping up?

Gain the certifications employers are looking for with UMW’s CompTIA self-paced training programs. Designed for busy professionals and aspiring IT specialists, these courses give you the flexibility to learn anytime, anywhere.

✔️ Self-paced online learning
✔️ Exam vouchers included
✔️ Career-focused IT training
✔️ Industry-recognized certifications

From cybersecurity to networking and IT support, CompTIA certifications can help you stand out in a competitive job market and move your career forward faster.

🌟 Explore your options:
👉 https://www.umw.edu/cps/career-advancement/comptia-self-paced-test-prep/

🌱 UMW + Shenandoah Permaculture Institute Bring Permaculture Design Certificate Training to Fredericksburg 🌱

The University of Mary Washington’s Continuing & Professional Studies Department has partnered with Shenandoah Permaculture Institute (SPI) to offer an immersive Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) program this fall in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

This ethically based, hands-on training empowers participants to design sustainable homes, farms, gardens, and communities using permaculture principles rooted in ecology, regenerative agriculture, and systems thinking.

Over 72 hours of instruction across four multi-day sessions, participants will engage in:
✔️ Field trips to working permaculture sites
✔️ Collaborative design projects
✔️ Hands-on workshops
✔️ Practical sustainability applications
📍 Location: University of Mary Washington – Fredericksburg, VA
📅 Dates:
• September 18–20
• October 3–4
• October 24–25
• November 7–8
⏰ Time: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Topics include regenerative agriculture, soil health, water conservation, renewable energy systems, sustainable building, herbal medicine, urban permaculture, and more.
💲 Cost: $1,375
💲 Early registration discount: $200 off before July 1
🎖️ Veterans receive 10% off
👫 Couples group rates available

Learn more & register >> https://www.umw.edu/cps/permaculture-design-certificate/

What a fantastic day at yesterday’s Business Acumen Series seminar, *Marketing in the Modern Era*!

Thank you to everyone who joined us to explore how organizations can market smarter—not harder—in today’s rapidly evolving landscape. Attendees gained valuable insights into the difference between marketing strategy and tactics, how to focus on metrics that truly matter, and the critical role that brand, culture, and messaging play in building trust and driving results.

A special thank you to our speaker, Linzy Browne, Founder & CEO of Brolin Creative, for sharing practical strategies on leveraging AI as a marketing multiplier while keeping the human-centered elements of marketing at the forefront.

The 2026 Business Acumen Series continues to bring together university expertise and real-world application to help leaders and organizations across the Fredericksburg region thrive in an AI-driven world.

Thank you to all who attended and contributed to the discussion. We look forward to seeing you at our next seminar!

🌎 Design the future you want to live in.

The University of Mary Washington and Shenandoah Permaculture Institute are partnering to offer a comprehensive Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) program designed to help participants transform landscapes, farms, neighborhoods, and communities into sustainable ecosystems.

This immersive program combines ecology, agriculture, architecture, environmental design, and community planning into one powerful learning experience.

Over four multi-day sessions, participants will gain practical knowledge in:
✔️ Food forests and organic gardening
✔️ Rotational grazing and integrated livestock systems
✔️ Water catchment, swales, and pond systems
✔️ Passive solar design and renewable energy
✔️ Composting and soil regeneration
✔️ Urban permaculture and community building
📍 Location: University of Mary Washington – Fredericksburg, VA

📅 Session Dates:
• September 18–20
• October 3–4
• October 24–25
• November 7–8
⏰ Daily Schedule: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Participants must attend all sessions and complete a final collaborative design project to earn certification.
💲 Tuition: $1,375
🌱 Early registration savings available before July 1
👫 Couples rates available

Register now >> https://www.umw.edu/cps/permaculture-design-certificate/