Publishing Guidance-Educational Classifications for Professional Education (Non-Credit) Experiences

Description

This article provides guidance in educational classification for Professional Education (Non-Credit) experiences. 

Event/Reception/Meeting/Etc.  

Main Characteristics

  • Meeting or reception 

  • Predominantly one-way communication from speaker to participants 

  • Large focus on networking and socializing 

  • Learning objectives are not created and assessed 

    Could

    • Be free or fee-based
    • Be offered in conjunction with an accrediting body for Continuing Education (CE)
    • Include students or non-students 
    • Be educational / professionally focused in content 
    • Be short or long in duration

    Cannot

    • Issue a grade 
    • Issue a VU certificate 
    • Be eligible for future credit waivers in a degree 

    Registration

    • Stova  
    • EventBrite 
    • Slate 

    Documentation

    Documentation of CE’s “distributed” and associated accrediting body. Could be in the form of a certificate of attendance or participation (not conferred or awarded) with university name and address - no VU seal, (if needed by accrediting body). Otherwise, nothing should be provided.

     

Seminar/Symposium/Webinar/Conference/Etc.

Main Characteristics

  • Conference or symposium  

  • Largely one-way communication led by speaker, which may have interactive components such as a Q&A session 

  • More structured in format; planned agenda 

  • Has learning objectives, but are not comprehensive or formally assessed by instructor  

    Could

    • Free or fee based 
    • Offered in conjunction with an accrediting body for CE 
    • Include students or non-students 
    • Be educational / professionally focused in content 
    • Be short or long in duration

    Cannot

    • Issue a grade 
    • Issue a VU certificate 
    • Be eligible for future credit waivers in a degree 

    Registration

    • Stova  
    • EventBrite 
    • Slate 

    Documentation

    Documentation of CE’s “distributed” and associated accrediting body. Could be in the form of a certificate of attendance or participation (not conferred or awarded) with university name and address - no VU seal, (if needed by accrediting body). Otherwise, nothing should be provided. 

     

 

Professional Education Course

Main Characteristics

  • Learning event with a syllabus and comprehensive learning objectives 

  • Course is published in the academic catalogue 

  • Participants’ skills/ knowledge are individually evaluated and graded by the instructor (*This is KEY*) 

  • Requires registrar approval and issuing of CRN 

  • NOTE: A program is a series of courses or modules. 

    Could

    • Free or fee based 
    • Offered in conjunction with an accrediting body for CE 
    • Be short or long in duration 
    • Have numerical or pass/ fail grades 
    • Offered to public or a custom program to an organization 
    • Be eligible for future credit waivers in a degree 

    Cannot

    • Include non-students 
    • Have a faculty of record who is not a VU faculty member 

    Registration

    • Slate Storefront (requires assistance of CPS) 

    Documentation

    • VU certificate and/or electronic badge  
    • Recorded in Banner and on transcript.

     

 

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