4250 - Continuing Education and Correspondence Study

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Last updated: July 1, 2025

A. Purpose. This policy provides guidance on continuing education and correspondence study programming offered by the University of Idaho. Consistent with its land-grant mission, the University of Idaho, in addition to the academic credit courses offered in the University’s undergraduate, graduate and professional programs, offers continuing education and correspondence education to members of the public who may not be admitted to the institution or may not be eligible for federal financial aid.

B. Scope. The provisions of this policy apply to all continuing education and correspondence education programs, curricula, and courses administered by the University of Idaho.

C. Definitions

C-1. Continuing education programs. Education offered by financially independent and self-sustaining organizational entities approved by and operating within the University of Idaho who provide curricula, certificate programs, micro-credentials, badges, extension courses, online courses or other self-supporting courses that are not for academic credit and for which fees may be charged.

C-2. Continuing Education Unit (CEU): Non-academic credit granted by Continuing Education Programs for courses or curricula approved by the University of Idaho. CEUs may not contribute to academic certificates or degrees.

C-3. Continuing Professional Education Unit (CPEU): Non-academic credit granted by Continuing Education Programs for courses or curricula approved by the University of Idaho or professional accrediting agencies. CPEUs may contribute to professional certification or professional licensure processes but not to academic certificates or degrees.

C-4. Correspondence education. A course of study where students and instructors communicate asynchronously, and students work at their own pace to complete required coursework. College-level correspondence education at the University of Idaho is administered by Independent Study in Idaho. Independent Study in Idaho is an Idaho State Board of Education Program and is a cooperative of regionally accredited Idaho institutions led by the University of Idaho.

D. Policy

D-1. Continuing education courses 

  1. The provost has institutional oversight of all continuing-education programs and activities.
  2. Admission to the University of Idaho is not required for participation in continuing education programs.
  3. Continuing education courses include guided study on a particular area of knowledge, which may or may not be part of a larger curriculum, which is not for academic credit, and for which the institution does not collect academic tuition.
  4. Continuing education programs may offer CEUs, CPEUs or professional development credits; these non-academic credits may be reported on a continuing education record separate from a student’s academic record.  
  5. Continuing education courses are designed to help participants achieve defined objectives relevant to the CPU/CPEU's scope, focus, and level.
  6. Continuing education instruction may be offered in a variety of settings and modalities (on campus, off campus, online, and so on) consistent with best educational practices.  
  7. Each continuing education program establishes its own written program operating procedures which set the calendars, the forms and formats, the processes and procedures, and the reporting structure for the program.

D-2. Correspondence programs

  1. Correspondence education at the University of Idaho is administered by Independent Study in Idaho.
  2. Admission to the University of Idaho is not required for participation in correspondence courses.
  3. No correspondence study course may be sponsored by the University of Idaho unless it is approved for listing in the catalog, thus signifying both institutional and board approval.
  4. Correspondence study may be offered in print or online formats.

Version History

Amended July 2025. Completely rewritten.

Amended January 2006. Significantly amended section B-4, defining Continuing Education Units and corresponding matrix.

Adopted 1979.