Haning Hall

Thomas Shostak
Dean

Richard Moffitt
Assistant Dean

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The Division of Lifelong Learning offers a variety of innovative and alternative educational opportunities and experiences for both traditional and nontraditional students. With its mission of outreach and access, it extends the services of Ohio University to learners of all ages throughout the world. The Division is the home for Community and Professional Progrms, Independent and Distance Learning Programs, Ohio University Without Boundaries, the Ohio University Program in Hong Kong, and Summer Sessions.

Classes, independent learning courses, workshops, and seminars-both credit and noncredit, for both personal and professional development-are offered in response to interests and needs. Some programs may lead to a degree. If you are interested in seeking an Ohio University degree, you must be admitted through normal University procedures. Participants in designated noncredit courses may earn continuing education units (CEUs).

Options for learning online are offered through all the programs in the Division of Lifelong Learning. These include credit courses in both term-based and independent learning formats as well as self-paced noncredit courses.

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Division of Lifelong Learning

Community and Professional Programs serves over 10,000 individuals each year in programs as diverse as Community programs, University-run summer youth sports camps, regional, national, and international professional conferences sponsored by university faculty and departments and professional associations. Professional development opportunities are provided through online courses and certificates, a mobile computer training laboratory, and workshops and certificate programs. While programs offered by Community and Professional Programs do not award academic or college credit, many qualify for professional relicensure and recertification. A full listing of Community and Professional Programs educational opportunities and services is available at https://www.ohio.edu/noncredit.

Professional Development programs include career and certificate programs that are taught either by University and professional faculty or through more than 700 Web-based courses. Professional development staff assists organizations adn professions in determining learning needs and develop appropriate solutions to enhance workplace skill and technical development.

A mobile computer training laboratory provides area businesses with hands-on instruction in the most widely used software packages. Many organizations augment hands-on training, whether in computers or management, with Web-based courses available through Community Professional Programs. Professional certificate programs in management, web-design, legal assisting, and Sex Offender Treatment are also available. Many professional development offerings carry Continuing Education Units and some are approved for professional license renewal and recertification.

Conference Management provides complete conference services including program development and management; Internet, mail, fax and telephone registration; on-site coordination, budgeting and financial management and reporting; marketing, site selection and contract negotiation, and educational meeting planning. These services are available to all University faculty and staff, as well as community, professional, governmental, religious, social, and fraternal organizations. During the summer the University has the capacity to host conference groups up to 1,500 attendees. The Division of Lifelong Learning is the primary contact for organizations interested in the University as a conference site, or in conference management services.

Community Connections and Outreach provides learning opportunities for area and regional residents of all ages. Programs focus on personal and professional development, e-learning programs, youth sport camps lead by Ohio Bobcats coaches, and leisure activities. The Informal Community Learners Program (ICLP) allows area residents, with faculty permission, and on a space-available basis, to attend one unergraduate course per quarter credit-free for a nominal fee (maximum of 3 quarters; special fees are additional).

Independent and Distance Learning Programs offer both independent learning courses and assistance for nontraditional students earning selected Ohio University degrees.

The External Student Program is for adults who are interested in a degree but cannot study full time on campus. The program provides help in evaluating previous college course work and planning a degree program. Students can work on one of several associate's degrees or the Bachelor of Specialized Studies by taking Independent and Distance Learning courses by correspondence Course Credit by Examination, or various online options. Many students also take advantage of the Institutes for Adult Learners and portfolio-based assessment.

The Experiential Learning Program, or portfolio-based assessment, helps qualified adults document and receive credit for learning that has occurred through employment or volunteer activities. A maximum of one year of credit may be eanred toward a four-year degree. EDCE 203 Credit for Work Experience: Portfolio Development, which focuses on the development of the learning portfolio and is required for the submission of a portfolio, is offered on the Athens and regional campuses and by correspondence.

The Institutes for Adult Learners allow adult students to come to the Athens campus for one to three weeks of intensive study. This award-winning program gives students another opportunity to earn college credit with other adults who are pursuing degrees.

The College Program for the Incarcerated serves incarcerated adults who wish to earn a degree or college credit. Students receive guidance in evaluating previous college work and planning a degree. The Bachelor of Specialized Studies and four associate's degrees are available, or students can transfer credit to other institutions. Most credit is earned through Independent Learning courses by correspondence or Course Credit by Examination. Comprehensive fees make college-level study mor accessible to the incarcerated.

Independent and Distance Learning (IDL) courses by correspondence are structured independent learning options. University faculty members prepare a course guide, which may be presented in print, through audiocassette, videocassette, CD, computer disk, or at a site on the World Wide Web. The content is divided into lessons with submitted assignments at the end of each lesson, which allow students and faculty memebers to participate in a dialogue that may be conducted by postal mail, fax, or e-mail. Supervised examinations are generally required, although in some courses, a project or paper may be required instead. Students may arrange to tke examinations in their own location.

Independent Study Projects can sometimes be arranged in undergraduate courses not currently available as independent study courses. These arrangement are made on an individual basis and are contingent upon the approval of the department in which the course is offered and the availability of a qualified faculty member willing to direct the project. Students and faculty members agree upon the coditions that must be fulfilled for credit to be awarded. The work may include a variety of readings, papers, projects, and examinations. This option is most successfully used by experienced students.

Course Credit by Examination represents the least structured method of obtaining college credit through Independent and Distance Learning Programs. Students enroll in the course in which they wish to obtain credit by examination and receive a brief syllabus that describes the nature of the course, the textbooks and other materials to study, and the type of examination. Students prepare for the examination without intermediate assistance from a faculty member. Letter grades, including failures, are recorded. Credit is awarded for a passing grade.

Courses completed through any of the Independent and Distance Learning options earn Ohio University credit, which can be applied to an Ohio University degree program or transferred to another institution (subject to its restrictions, if any).

Ohio University Without Boundaries is a virtual learning community providing learning experiences on demand to those seeking an on-going, technology-mediated relationship with Ohio University. The focus of the community is to integrate life, work, and learning for all learners, on a continual basis, regardless of their physical location. All activities combine the convenience and range of information technology with the proven benefits of face-to-face interaction.

Offerings include graduate-level degree programs for targeted professionals, executive or professional eduaton programs for individuals or partner organizations, encapsulated interactive learning experiences, and enrichment updates featuring prominent faculty and alumni.

The learning experiences common to the community build on the learning architecture developed in the MBA Without Boundaries. Most graduate programs combine high intensity, face-to-face, executive workshop residencies with e-learning content acquisition and learning experiences (e-workshops) and multimedia format, including animation, video, and sound as well as text. Other information delivery and collaboration opportunities use multimedia technology where it is appropriate.

The Ohio University Program in Hong Kong offers students in Hong Kong the opportunity to complete an Ohio University degree in a cooperative arrangement with Hong Kong Baptist University. Students can attend classes on site in Hong Kong, study at any of the Ohio University campuses in Ohio, or complete courses through distance learning.

The Office of Summer Sessions offers undergrduate and graduate courses, workshops, and special programs on the Athens and regional campuses, and online. Students experience a relaxed campus atmosphere, smaller classes, a friendly and diverse student body, unique and specialized classes, and many extra-curricular events. Summer Sessions provide students with an extra quarter to begin a degree, earn a teaching certificate, learn a new language, update professional skills, or catch up on courses.

Winter Intersession provides students with an opportunity to complete required courses during the long holiday break in December. A variety of classes, including several Tier III, are offered primarily to juniors and seniors.

For further information about any of these programs, contact

Division of Lifelong Learning
Ohio University
Haning Hall 119
Athens OH 45701-2979
Telephone 740-593-2890/877-685-3276
Web: https://www.ohio.edu/lifelong/

    

Copyright © 2004 Ohio University. All Rights Reserved.

University Advancement and Computer Services revised this file (https://www.ohio.edu/catalog/02-03/colleges/dll.htm) on March 18, 2004.

Please E-mail comments or suggestions to "ucat@www.ohiou.edu."