Developing A Distance Learning Class:
Providing Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) For Distance Learning

• OSU Continuing Ed • Extension Locations • Social Work • Registered Sanitarian •

Offering Continuing Education Units for OSU Extension Programs

Many adult learners seek documentation for non-credit programming that may be viewed as professional development in the workplace. Though Extension traditionally has provided "certificates of completion" upon request of participants, employers often ask for documentation of the curriculum quality, instructor qualifications, and time spent in training. The process of awarding Continuing Education Units is based upon an evaluation of the program content and instructor's qualifications using specific criteria. There are two ways for OSU Extension programs to be reviewed and approved to provide Continuing Education Units.

CEU's Provided by External Organization

Currently, any county, district, or state program offered by OSU Extension may be submitted to an external organization offering continuing education units for review and approval. It is the responsibility of the agent(s) and/or district/state specialist(s) planning the program to obtain guidelines for submission and to prepare and submit materials for review. The Associate Director, Programs keeps current guidelines on file for selected organizations. Examples include: Social Work CEU's, Certified Crop Advisor, Ohio Nurses Association, American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, American School Food Service Association, and National Environmental Health Association.

Ohio State University Office of Continuing Education CEU's

The Office of Continuing Education offers OSU CEU's based upon the guidelines of International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). Programs requesting CEU approval must qualify for a minimum of 1 CEU (1 CEU equals 10 hours class time, excluding meals and breaks). Individual agent(s) and/or district/state specialist(s) may submit a program for review to offer CEU's to program participants throughout the state. To request OSU CEU's, the program coordinator(s) must submit the following materials to the Associate Director, Programs, OSU Extension. Plan to submit materials for review at least 6 weeks in advance of the program.

Curriculum Materials to submit for review:

• CEU application form from OSU Office of Continuing Education
• Program title, name and address of program contact person
• Date(s) of the program
• Sample promotional materials with statement: The Ohio State University Office of Continuing Education is a certified provider of CEU's.
• Overview of content of the program
• Description of goals/objectives of the program
• Description of target audience
• Program agenda with specific beginning and ending time frames for each program component
• Number of CEU's requested
• Any requirements for participants to satisfactorily complete the program
• Name(s) and qualifications of the presenter(s)
• Procedures to be used to monitor and verify attendance of participants
• Evaluation for participants to determine the achievement of program goals/objectives

Review Process:

Once materials are received, they will be reviewed both within OSU Extension and the Office of Continuing Education.

• Associate Director, Programs submits materials to appropriate Assistant Director for Program Area Curriculum Review.
• If approved by the Program Area Curriculum Review, the Assistant Director forwards the materials to the Associate Director, Programs who facilitates the Office of Continuing Education review. The Office of Continuing Education handles the final approval and determination of the number of CEU's.
• If not approved for CEU's through the Program Area Curriculum Review process within OSU Extension, the application materials will be returned to the individual(s) who submitted the request with an explanation of why CEU's approval was not granted.
• If approval is granted from the Office of Continuing Education, the individual(s) coordinating the program will need to plan for additional costs to offer CEU's.

  The minimum charge is $300 ($15/person for 20 people; $15/person for each person beyond 20). If a program will be repeated several times, the minimum charge can be paid from a combination of those sessions. The cost is payable to The Ohio State University Office of Continuing Education. Continuing Education provides the following services for the fee:

  • application process
  • review and certification of the qualifications of instructors
  • evaluation of course materials to determine the number of CEU's to certify
  • evaluate program from attendee's point of view and assess evaluations
  • store all materials and respond to inquiries from participants for 5 years
  • maintain "verification of attendance forms" for 5 years
  • purchase and prepare certificates

For more information contact:

Tony Basil
Director, Office of Continuing Education
The Ohio State University
(614) 292-8860
Basil.1@osu.edu
http://www.continuinged.ohio-state.edu/

Executive Committee Approval 12/6/02