Continuing Education, Outreach, and Public Service Programs (A-32)
Original Implementation: March 9, 1978
Last Revision: October 30, 2007
Role and Scope of Continuing Education
Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU) has a stated mission that includes a significant responsibility for vital community and professional outreach programs to the populations and constituencies it serves. This task is met by offerings from throughout the university with outreach and special learning opportunities other than academic degree programs.
Continuing education is a university-wide mission, whose purpose it is to support the public service responsibilities of the university. Academic units or individuals who offer continuing education related activities must adhere to the principles of this policy.
Definition
Continuing education is an organized event sponsored by a unit or individual that provides non-academic credit activities for the participants such as enrichment experiences, workshops, short courses, certificate courses, training, life-long learning, leisure learning, camps or travel. A reasonable fee may be charged for these activities in an amount sufficient to permit the university to recover the cost.
Responsibility for Continuing Education at the University
Individual colleges and units headed by a vice president will have administrative and programming responsibility for all activities that conform to the definition of continuing education.
Should programs by outside groups be co-sponsored by any college or other unit of the university, then all fees must be received directly and accounted for by the regular university accounting procedures. Otherwise, the program may not bear the name of the university or any of its units.
General calls, inquiries, and questions coming to the campus about continuing education activities will be routed to the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs for referral to the appropriate college or unit of the university.
The university will maintain a schedule of announced continuing education programs on a web site. It will be the responsibility of each college or unit to assure that all scheduled continuing education programs are listed on the web site.
Awarding Continuing Education Units
When programs result in the awarding of Continuing Education Units (CEU's) it is the responsibility of the unit of the university sponsoring the continuing education program to meet the most current guidelines established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools relative to the awarding of CEU's.
It is the responsibility of the organization awarding the CEUs to establish a transcript and keep the CEU records on file for the appropriate period of time.
Fiscal Responsibilities
The colleges, other units and persons who offer activities that conform to the definition of continuing education must comply with all applicable university policies and procedures and state and federal regulations. Some of the policies that apply relate to the following areas: collecting and disbursing funds, authorizing refunds, authorizing payroll or stipend items, purchasing equipment or supplies, reserving rooms, purchasing food or beverage, printing, using media marketing, engaging transportation, security and accounting for all funds associated with the program including a surplus or deficit.
Facilities for Continuing Education
Facilities for accommodating continuing education events must be reserved in accordance with university policy B-1, Use of University Facilities and policy B- 2, Academic Space for Non-Academic Activities. Academic programs will always be given priority for the use of university facilities.
Cross Reference: Use of University Facilities, policy B-1, and Academic Space for Non-Academic Activities, policy B-2; Texas Education Code Section 54.545
Responsible for Implementation: President and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Contact for Revision: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Forms: None