Contract Credit
SSU Extended Education Offers University Credit for Professionals
Types of Credit | Fees and Refunds | Frequently Asked Questions
The professional development programs and conferences offered by your organization which meet specific university guidelines may qualify for university credit through the Contract Credit Program. The Contract Credit proposal form, available in Extended Education, outlines the components required for a complete proposal packet. When your proposal has been received, we forward it to the appropriate SSU academic department for review and approval. Upon successful completion of the review process, a registration and evaluation packet is mailed directly to you so that you may register participants at your site.
Types of Credit
Courses for contract credit receive one of the following types of credit:
Academic Credit
Academic units (semester, upper-division) require 15 hours of class time and 30 hours of outside work per unit. In the case of an activity or laboratory class, such as art or science, the requirement is 30 instructional hours and 15 out-of-class hours. These hours are exclusive of registration, orientations, breaks or meals. Most contract classes are graded on a credit/no credit basis. Class credit appears on a transcript on file in the SSU Admissions and Records Office. Up to 24 units of Extension credit may be applied toward a baccalaureate degree, and up to 9 units may be applied toward a master's degree.
Continuing Education Units
The Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is a measurement of professional growth and development often applied in situations where the instructional time does not meet the 15-hour requirement for academic credit, or when hours of continuing education are required to fulfill professional relicensure requirements.
One CEU is awarded for each 10 hours of class time. A decimal fractional part of a CEU may be awarded when appropriate. For example, a workshop that meets for 11 hours is eligible to receive 1.1 CEU; a six-hour class receives 0.6 CEU.
Participants wishing to earn CEU credit must attend the full number of instructional hours; out-of-class work is not generally required. CEU credit is recorded on a transcript at the University, although it does not count as academic credit and does not count toward a degree. The contract fee for CEU 's varies, depending on the number of class hours.
Fee Information
Contract Credit per Academic unit $55
CEU fee varies
Check return for any cause $20
Refund Policy
Refund policies are in General Information. Please familiarize yourself with the policies pertinent to the classes for which you or your course participants register.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon before workshops and/or conferences begin should I propose my contract course?
One month prior to publicity.
What is required to propose a workshop or conference through Extended Education?
- A completed course proposal form
- Class outline and objectives
- Reading list, bibliography, class schedule and location
- Instructor resume or vita; brief biography
- Specific requirements for academic credit classes: a short statement of what students are required to do, outside class time, for credit. This can include, but is not limited to, writing a paper, taking tests, keeping a journal, or developing lesson plans. Must be related to objectives.
What is required of the "instructor of record "?
The instructor of record is the person who takes responsibility for administering a Contract Credit course. This person is usually the main instructor, but may be a representative of the agency or organization sponsoring the course. Responsibilities include: overseeing the course proposal process and serving as the communication link with Extended Education; registering students on-site and forwarding registration forms with checks to Extended Education; reviewing and grading assignments for academic credit; administering course evaluations to course participants and returning to Extended Education; completing and mailing grade rosters by the posted deadline.
How long before a contract course is approved?
You should allow twenty days for academic department review and approval after you have submitted your complete proposal.
What about publicity/promotion?
Publicity/promotion is handled solely by the sponsoring agency. We recommend your checking with us for appropriate wording for your publicity.
How do I register participants?
A registration packet is mailed to the instructor or designee when the course is approved. Extended Education registration forms must be completed and returned with payment to the instructor at the first meeting. The instructor mails the packet to the Extended Education Registrar immediately after collecting registration forms and payment.
How do I administer grades?
Grade rosters are mailed to the instructor or designee before, or at the end of class. Instructor records a credit/no credit or letter grades for academic units.
What is the difference between academic credit and continuing education units/hours?
The Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is a measurement of professional growth and development and does not count toward a degree. CEUs are most often used for professional relicensure requirements for nurses, counselors, psychologists and attorneys, among others. .1 CEU is granted for each hour of class time. Academic credit classes require 15 hours per unit, and specific requirements must be met.
Academic credit may be counted toward a degree and is the preferred type of credit for professional development coursework for teachers.
My conference is over, but I have been approached by several participants who would now like to receive university credit. Are late registrations accepted?
No, late registrations are not accepted. All participants wanting university credit must register before the end of the conference/course.