Chapter 9

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Section 1. General Function

A. The University of Washington provides access to the extensive resources of the institution in a broad range of credit, noncredit, and certificate continuing education courses and programs. The administration of continuing education at the University is organized as follows:

  1. UW Extension
    2.
  2. Professional Continuing Education
    3.
  3. Independent Continuing Education
    4.

B. Mission Statement The mission of Continuing Education at the University of Washington is to extend knowledge and professional development, career advancement, and personal growth opportunities through teaching, research, and public service to the citizens of Washington State and the nation. The Continuing Education Programs provide public access to educational opportunities not available through conventional degree programs as well as resources for professionals pursuing new knowledge and relicensure, persons seeking career development or change, and individuals who are committed to life-long learning. Courses, workshops, and conferences provide professionals and the general public with opportunities to learn about the latest developments in their fields of practice and to study established bodies of knowledge. Continuing education is a significant part of the University's ongoing relationship with its graduates, working professionals, and the general public.

S-B 159, April, 1995: with Presidential approval.

Section 2. Continuing Education Programming Authority

I. General Policy for Continuing Education Programming

A. Continuing education programs are expected to be self- supporting.

B. UW Extension retains programming authority for all continuing education courses offered to the public for fees, with the exception of those offered by professional schools and colleges or designated independent continuing education programs.

C. New continuing education programs and any proposals to create new administrative units to coordinate continuing education programs will be reviewed by the Continuing Education Board of Deans and Directors to determine the independent status of the program and whether the proposed program duplicates an existing program or impinges on the programming authority of an existing continuing education unit. The Board may recommend to the Provost that a particular new program be granted independent status.

D. When disputes arise over programming authority, the units involved are encouraged to reach an agreement on responsibility for specific offerings. If the units do not reach agreement among themselves, the Board will review the conflict and make recommendations to the Provost, who exercises final authority in the matter.

E. Since it is important to maintain high academic standards for continuing education courses, all continuing education courses and programs should be reviewed and approved by the appropriate University of Washington academic unit or units. UW Extension, professional, and independent continuing education program administrators have the responsibility for seeking such approval or sponsorship.

F. UW Extension and the professional and independent continuing education administrative units should regularly communicate and share programming and marketing information.

G. The Continuing Education Board of Deans and Directors should remain conversant with the nature and scope of the continuing education programs offered at the University. To this end, it will review annual reports concerning continuing education administrative units.

II. Curriculum Authority

A. University of Washington Extension

  1. Continuing education programs and courses are developed and presented by UW Extension in close cooperation with the appropriate academic units of the University.
    2.
  2. UW Extension presents self-sustaining credit courses from the regular curriculum and serves as a catalyst for the development of new credit and noncredit courses for the adult student. Credit courses bear departmental prefixes and must be reviewed and sponsored by the appropriate UW academic unit.
    3.

B. Professional Continuing Education

  1. Courses or programs in professional fields are developed and administered by the deans, continuing education staff, and faculty in the appropriate professional schools and colleges or related professional units. The programming authority is designated by the dean or director of the school or college or by the appropriate academic officer.
    2.
  2. Programming authority for courses of a professional nature may be given to UW Extension by the dean or director of the appropriate professional school or college.
    3.

C. Independent Continuing Education Programs

Courses or programs identified as "Independent Continuing Education" are developed and administered by appropriate staff and faculty.

III. Administration

A. UW Extension is administered by the Vice Provost, University of Washington Extension and Summer Quarter, who reports to the Provost.

B. The UW Continuing Education Board of Deans and Directors is appointed by and reports directly to the Provost. The Board provides guidance on continuing education policy as suggested by the Provost.

C. All colleges and schools providing continuing education programs are represented on the Board.

D. Professional continuing education programs are administered by the dean or director of a school or college or his/her appointed representative, or by the appropriate academic officer.

E. Independent continuing education programs are administered by the director of a unit or his/her appointed representative.

Section 3. Credit Programs

A. University credit courses are offered by UW Extension through the Evening Credit Program.

  1. Evening Credit Program students are not matriculated in the University.
    2.
  2. Credits earned through the Evening Credit Program are applicable toward a degree when a student matriculates.
    3.
  3. Admission/registration in the Evening Credit Program is conducted by UW Extension.
    4.
  4. Student records are included in the central student database of the UW.
    5.
  5. Student grades are included on an official University of Washington transcript.
    6.
  6. Academic Student Services in UW Extension provides general advising for Evening Credit Program students.
    7.
  7. Quarterly listings of Evening Credit courses appear in the UW Extension Catalog.
    8.

B. The Executive Master of Business Administration, the Master of Public Health, and the Master of Electrical Engineering offered through Televised Instruction in Engineering are discrete degree programs offered by the respective schools. There are separate entrance and graduation requirements.

C. Students may gain access to courses at the University of Washington on a space-available basis under special provisions.

  1. Graduate Nonmatriculated Status
    a. Graduate School Memoranda (Numbers 36, 37 and 38) issued January 9, 1984 established policy and procedures for graduate nonmatriculated (GNM) students to enroll in University courses.
    b. Individuals submit application to the academic unit to which they seek admission as a graduate nonmatriculated registrant. Official transcripts of college work must be submitted directly to that academic unit (home department).
    c. The Graduate Program coordinator in the home department has the final authority for the approval or denial of admission. Registration occurs at UW Extension.
    d. Eligible students are classified as graduate nonmatriculated (GNM) and may apply a maximum of 18 graduate credits toward an advanced degree.
    e. Minimum Graduate School standards for scholarship apply to GNM students. Grades are entered on official University of Washington transcripts.
    f. Information and application materials are available at home departments, the Graduate School, and UW Extension.
  2. Nonmatriculated Student Status
    a. Individuals may also enroll in University courses as nonmatriculated (NM) students, on a space-available basis.
    b. Credits earned by nonmatriculated students cannot be applied toward a graduate degree.
    c. No more than 20 percent of the total enrollment of a course may be nonmatriculated.
    3.

D. UW Educational Outreach (UWEO), through its Distance Learning Program, also offers DL University credit courses to matriculated and nonmatriculated students.

  1. Distance learning courses are available to matriculated and nonmatriculated students.
  2. Students may apply a maximum of 90 credits of UW distance learning coursework towards the credit requirements for graduation.
  3. Official University of Washington transcripts will not differentiate between distance learning and classroom courses.
  4. Students may enroll in distance learning courses throughout the year and generally have up to three (3) months from the date of registration to complete the coursework.

E. ACCESS Program for the Older Adult

The University of Washington waives tuition for Washington residents 60 years of age and older who wish to attend classes as auditors. UW Extension registers the participants on behalf of the University.
  1. Registration is on a space-available basis.
    2.
  2. Students are limited to a maximum of two courses per quarter.
    3.
  3. As auditors, ACCESS students do not participate in laboratory work or examinations, nor do they receive grades.
    4.
  4. ACCESS students pay a registration fee.
    5.
  5. ACCESS students enroll for courses on the last day of registration.

S-B 167, November 26, 2001; S-B 173, April 6, 2007; with Presidential approval.

Section 4. Professional and Personal Development Programs

A. Professional noncredit continuing education consists primarily of courses for licensure, licensure maintenance, developing skills, and exploring new knowledge. Courses are offered by the professional schools through their own continuing education offices or through UW Extension.

B. Personal development courses are offered by independent continuing education programs and UW Extension. These courses provide opportunities for individual growth and understanding which contribute to a quality of life.

C. Certificate programs are coherent courses of study in a specific area which culminate in the award of a certificate upon satisfactory completion of the required coursework and/or examination. Certificate programs are offered by the professional continuing education units and UW Extension.

D. Academic conferences are coordinated by professional and independent continuing education programs as well as by UW Extension.

AI, May 1989

Section 5. Continuing Education Fee Policy

General Fee Policy

Fees for courses, programs or conferences offered by University of Washington continuing education units are established by the program administrators in the appropriate schools and colleges. As a matter of policy and practice, continuing education at the University of Washington is expected to be self-sustaining, and units are expected to recover all direct and indirect costs, including institutional overhead, through the collection of fees or other income from gifts, grants, or other funding agreements.

All students in continuing education programs must be enrolled or registered in a course, conference, workshop or program. Those faculty or staff who are assisting in the delivery of the course or program (i.e. "working" the conference rather than "attending" it) should not be enrolled or registered, unless an accompanying financial transaction has occurred.

As a general rule, the fees for continuing education courses, conferences, workshops or programs should be paid in full by all students whether they are state employees or the general public. When state employees enroll in a continuing education program, they must either pay the full, published fees or the appropriate institutional budget must be charged the full, published fee. (Persons acting as presenters, lecturers, speakers, or in other instructional capacities are not normally considered program participants for the purposes of this policy.

Exceptions to the Fee Policy

Fees may be waived when an individual makes a substantial contribution as an instructor, developer, event planner, or presenter for a course, conference or workshop. The appropriate academic officer in the school/college/program unit must approve the waiver and document the exception to the general policy fee.

Fees may be reduced or partially waived for a student when it is in the best interest of the program, rather than the student, or it enhances the academic integrity or provides significant visibility to the program. The appropriate academic officer in the school/college/program unit must approve a reduction or partial waiver and provide documentation for the exception to the general fee policy.

Executive Order No. 49 of the President, September 27, 1999.