Non-Credit and Continuing Education Unit (CEU) Courses

The Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is defined as participation in a learning experience, which includes:

• a formally organized instructional activity
• responsible sponsorship
• capable direction
• qualified instruction
• one CEU is awarded for every ten contact hours of participation. (1.0 CEU = 10 contact hours exclusive of breaks; 0.4 CEU = 4 contact hours)
• verification of participation (actual contact hours)
• course content which is responsive to learner needs
• evaluation of instructor and course by each participant rather than evaluation of the participant
• a transcript record maintained in perpetuity

The CEU is different from traditional academic credit but provides a standard measure of non-credit learning and is used for record keeping. It is not equated with academic degree credit nor can it be converted to academic credit at a later date. The CEU is designed as a measurement for life-long learning activities. Increasingly, CEUs are being accepted as evidence of educational attainment by employers, certification and licensing agencies as well as professional organizations. A record of participation is maintained for all who earn CEUs at Winona State University.

CEU courses may employ various educational formats and media.

These formats include but are not limited to:

• workshops
• seminars
• symposiums
• conferences
• traditional face-to-face classes
• short courses
• teleconferences
• independent study
• in-house training 

Any person with knowledge of the educational needs of a group or individuals may originate a CEU activity. Often, consultation between the client group and the Program Coordinator of the Outreach and Continuing Education Department will initiate the creation of a CEU. In other cases, faculty members who are aware of educational needs in the community may recommend a CEU activity to the Outreach and Continuing Education Department. 

CEU activities may be taught by any person qualified to meet the needs of a specific client group. For that reason, recommendations by the client group are encouraged. Some CEU activities will be taught by WSU faculty, some by community resource persons and others by visiting experts.

All CEU activities are self-supporting. Client groups can minimize the cost by helping to provide resource personnel to teach or assist in teaching, by making needed supplies available, by providing instructional materials or by offering meeting space.

Verification of participation documentation will be provided on request by the Outreach and Continuing Education Department. Transcripts may be obtained upon request by contacting the Registrars Office, Maxwell Hall, Warrior Hub, 507.457.5030. Participants must state that a transcript of CEU activities is desired. The Registrars transcript fee policy applies to both credit courses and CEU activities.

Tina Krause
Program Coordinator
Outreach and Continuing Education Department
tkrause@winona.edu
106 Somsen Hall
Winona State University
P.O. Box 5838
Winona, MN 55987-5838
Tel: 507.457.5080
Fax: 507.457.5571