Non-Credit Offerings Policy
Statement of Purpose
To establish administrative procedures for the development and administration of non-credit offerings.
Non-Credit Offerings Defined
Non-credit offerings are stand-alone courses or instructional programs that do not require extensive assessment or examinations and do not offer academic credit. The term “program,” in this policy, refers to a series of non-credit courses that may lead to a culminating non-credit certificate of participation. Non-credit courses are offerings (usually a 2-day course, workshop or conference, or online offering of approximately 20 contact hours) or a non-credit course which is also offered simultaneously as a for-credit course during the term.
Non-credit offerings come in two main types, described as follows:
Participation in non-credit offerings will not yield credit toward any for-credit degree or for-credit certificate program at Teachers College unless the offering specifically states that non-credit offerings may be converted upon formal admission to Teachers College and has been approved by the Academic Program Subcommittee – Faculty Executive Committee (FEC/APS). Participation in non-credit offerings does not guarantee admission to a degree or graduate-credit program.
Proposal Review Process and Approval
Non-Credit-Only Offerings
Proposal for a non-credit offering at Teachers College must be sponsored or initiated by a member of the faculty and receive approvals in the following order:
Note: Non-credit only courses may run two times before FEC/APS approval is required.
The Non-Credit Programs and Courses - Request for Approval form is available in the myTC Faculty channel. Sponsors of non-credit offerings are expected to provide the following information as part of the proposal:
Proposals for non-credit-only programs and courses must be submitted to the Office of Continuing Professional Studies no less than 90 days (during the autumn and spring terms) before the proposed program will begin for approval of the offering and including any continuing education units, CTLEs, and budget. Note that FEC/APS does not meet during the summer term so new proposals needing FEC/APS approval are due February 1 for the next academic year and October 1 for Summer Term.
Programs That Offer Both Credit and Non-Credit Options
Faculty who seek to sponsor continuing education programs with both credit and non-credit options should follow the standard proposal procedure for new for-credit academic programs. Sponsors should indicate in the proposal packet that the proposed program will allow for non-credit participation and include an in-depth description of the different academic expectations for non-credit and for-credit students. The proposal form is available in the TC Portal in the Faculty channel. These proposals require full review by FEC/APS and may require approval from the New York State Education Department.
Stand-Alone Non-Credit Courses
Non-credit courses should have the sponsorship of a member of the TC faculty. These course proposals will go through the same approval steps as non-credit programs: program-level review, department-level review, review by the Office of Continuing Professional Studies on behalf of the Provost and FEC/APS review. Sponsors of such courses can find the proposal form in the TC Portal in the Faculty channel. Non-credit only courses may be offered up to two times before obtaining FEC/APS approval. Once a non-credit course has been offered twice it may not be offered again until FEC/APS approval has been obtained.
Credit Courses with Non-Credit Participation
Faculty proposing new courses with both credit and non-credit options should use the standard For-Credit Course – Request for Approval form, available in the TC Portal in the Faculty channel. The proposals should clearly differentiate the academic expectations for non-credit and for-credit students. These course proposals will undergo the standard review process as set by the FEC/APS. Faculty who propose a non-credit option to an existing for-credit course should follow the procedure for stand-alone non-credit courses.
State Authorization for Non-Credit Offerings
Offerings that meet or include educational activities in a state other than New York may require authorization in that specific state. Before planning a course that meets or includes educational activities in a state other than New York, please check with the Executive Director for Academic Affairs Compliance to determine if additional state authorization is needed.
Course Instructors for Non-Credit Courses
Typically, the instructor of record for non-credit courses will be a current member of the faculty. Programs or departments that wish to hire outside instructors must follow the same protocol used for credit courses. In addition to completing standard hiring paperwork with Human Resources, outside instructors must present a current CV and must have written support from the faculty of the program that sponsors the non-credit offering. In addition, non-credit instructors must have at least a master’s degree. Please refer to the Professorial and Instructional Staff Appointment Handbook for further information. Under NYSED regulations, instructors for non-credit courses that will qualify for CTLE hours must be faculty from a teaching program offered by a higher education institution or who are specially qualified authorities in activities that are directed at developing and enhancing a teacher’s performance.
Non-Credit Course and Program Review and Approval
It is the expectation of the College that non-credit only offerings be reviewed and approved by Continuing Professional Studies (CPS) on behalf of the Office of the Provost. In recognition of the varying needs of individual faculty, programs, and departments, Continuing Professional Studies may either fully manage an offering or simply serve to approve an offering.
Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Certain non-credit offerings lead to the award of Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Teachers College has been accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). Teachers College follows IACET standards for CEUs. The CEU information below is stated directly on the IACET website, http://www.iacet.org/ceus/about-the-ceu.
CEU Definition
The CEU serves as a unit of measure of an individual's satisfactory completion of an approved non-credit course. One CEU equals ten contact hours of attendance and participation in organized continuing education and/or training experiences under responsible, qualified direction and instruction. Satisfactory completion for awarding of CEUs is based on attendance and a mastery of skills and knowledge defined by the course's learning objectives. Satisfactory completion of the course is defined by the program coordinator(s) and/or instructor(s). Also see section below on grading. To offer CEUs, the College requires that a separate application be completed and submitted to the Office of Continuing Professional Studies. See Appendix B for the application, also available online. Note that CEU approval will not be given on a retroactive basis once the program/course has started and that offerings may not be advertised for CEUs until approval has been granted by the College.
The Continuing Education Unit – How to Calculate CEUs
One (1) Continuing Education Unit (CEU) equals ten (10) contact hours of learner interaction with the content of the learning activity, which includes classroom, self-paced instruction, pre/post assignments, and/or homework in support of a learning outcome. A contact hour is one clock hour of interaction between a learner and instructor, or between a learner and materials, which have been prepared to cause learning. Contact implies a connection between a learner and a learning source. For purposes of the CEU, that connection is two-way; that is, the instructor or learning source must monitor the learner’s progress and/or provide some form of feedback to the learner. This definition applies for face-to-face interaction as well as distance learning programs. The CEU should not be awarded for learning activities in which individuals are engaged in unplanned, unsupervised, or non-sponsored learning.
Counting Hours toward CEU
When calculating the number of CEUs for a course, the number of contact minutes must be totaled and divided by 60 to arrive at the number of contact hours. Total contact hours must then be divided by 10 to obtain the number of CEUs. CEUs must be expressed in tenths of a CEU; that is; 17 contact hours equate to 1.7 CEU; a three contact hour program equates to .3 CEU. The Office of Continuing Professional Studies will serve as the final decision maker on the calculation of CEUs and the applicability of activities toward CEUs.
Activities to Include when Calculating the CEU
The following learning activities are examples of types of activities to include when calculating contact hours for CEUs:
‐ Class/Meetings: Classroom or meeting session time led by instructor and/or discussion leader.
‐ Self-Paced Learning Events: Learner activities in which a learner is engaged in a planned program of learning whereby the learner’s progress is monitored and the learner receives feedback. Examples include independent study, computer assisted instruction, interactive video, and planned projects.
‐ Assessment: Learner assessment and program evaluations.
‐ Outside Assignments: Field trips, projects and assignments, which are an integral part of a course or program, may count towards contact hours; however, a standard number of hours should be assigned.
‐ Laboratory Assignments: Laboratory assignments tend to be an integral part of a planned program and are generally more structured than field experiences. Since the conditions for learning are rather consistent and the amount of time for assignments fairly even for all learners, the sponsor may choose to count each hour of lab time as a contact hour. If there is considerable variation in lab conditions and time required for the completion of assignments by different learners, the sponsor should consider establishing a standard number of contact hours based on the average time utilized by a number of learners.
‐ Field Experiences: Field experiences provide learners opportunities to gain practical and realistic experiences, which cannot be acquired in a classroom setting. Such activities may or may not be highly structured, may vary in duration from one learner and location to another, and may not be readily calculated into contact hours. Sponsors often view field experiences in terms of tasks to be accomplished rather than the amount of time involved. Because of the unstructured nature of many field experiences, sponsors may choose to use some form of checklist to record the accomplishment of certain specified tasks. If the sponsor desires to count the field experience hours, the sponsor should first determine whether the field experience meets the ANSI/IACET Standard. If so, a standard number of contact hours could be determined by calculating the average time spent by several learners in different field experiences as discussed in the below section on Self-Paced Programs.
ACTIVITIES FOR WHICH THE CEU ARE NOT INTENDED
The following activities are not intended to receive the CEU. While these activities may be judged as worthwhile learning experiences, they should be measured and documented by some form of measurement other than the CEU.
‐ Academic Courses: Acceptance of IACET CEUs for college credit is at the discretion of the college or university.
‐ Association Membership and Leadership Activities: Holding membership or serving in some leadership capacity in an association or society do not qualify for the CEU.
‐ Committee Meetings: Participation in committee meetings and activities do not qualify for the CEU.
‐ Entertainment and Recreation: CEUs may not be awarded for attendance at cultural performances, entertainment, or recreational activities unless they are an integral part of a planned course, which meets the ANSI/IACET Standard.
‐ Individual Scholarship: CEUs may not be awarded for independent writings such as articles, books, research reports, or presentation of papers outside a planned, directly supervised continuing education experience that fulfills the CEU criteria.
‐ Mass Media Programs: Programs delivered through the mass media (e.g., television, radio, newspaper) do not qualify for CEUs, unless these presentations are an integral part of a planned course, which meets the ANSI/IACET Standard.
‐ Some Meetings, Conventions, Exhibitions: Meetings, conventions, and exhibitions, which attract large numbers of participants, involve different activities, and are conducted primarily for information sharing purposes generally, do not qualify for the CEU. Planned learning activities within such events, which meet the ANSI/IACET Standard are eligible for CEUs.
‐ Travel: Travel or participation in a travel study program, do not qualify for CEUs, unless the educational component of the travel study program meets the ANSI/IACET Standard.
‐ Unsupervised Study: Individual, self-directed study or other form of independent learning experience not planned, directed, and supervised by a sponsor do not qualify for CEUs.
‐ Work Experience: On-the-job training and other work experiences do not qualify for CEUs unless the work experience is structured as part of a planned and supervised continuing education experience that meets the Standard. CEUs are not to be awarded for life or previous work experiences.
Self-Paced Programs
In courses or programs where participants learn and progress at their own pace, the sponsor should establish a standard number of contact hours based on an average number of hours required of several representative learners to complete the program. A sponsor desiring to introduce a new self-paced course might select a representative sample of the intended audience - the larger the audience the better - to complete the course. Note the following illustration. Course A is an individually-paced home study program with a post-test. Interaction with the instructor is online, through mail or phone. To arrive at an average time for completion of the program, five individuals are selected to complete a pilot program. Each participant in the pilot program represents the typical learner who will attend the learning event. Each participant records the actual amount of time spent completing the program.
Student #1 16 hours
Student #2 10 hours
Student #3 8.5 hours
Student #4 12 hours
Student #5 14.5 hours (5)
Students 61 hours = 12.2 hours. The decimal “.2" is rounded off to 12 hours and becomes the standard for course A.
Therefore, 1.2 CEU is awarded to those who satisfactorily complete the course. Satisfactory completion might be based on the satisfactory completion of all assignments, including an 80% score on the post-test. It is important that the person(s) responsible in the organization for calculating CEUs for learning events monitors the learning events for any changes. Reassessment should also take place in the event of a major change to course content, method of delivery, change in equipment/software, or demographic audience. The calculation of CEUs should be consistent and accurate at all times to ensure learners are receiving the appropriate number of CEUs.
Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) for New York State
Teachers College is an approved sponsor with New York State Education Department (NYSED) to offer Continuing and Leader Education (CTLE) activities for teachers and education leaders for certificate renewal requirements in NYS. CTLE activities must be designated in one of the three areas developed by NYSED: Pedagogy, Content and English Language Learning.
As stated in NYSED regulations:
CTLE activities must be offered in appropriate subject areas which:
(1) have the knowledge, skill, and opportunity to collaborate to improve instruction and student achievement in a respectful and trusting environment;
(2) have the knowledge and skill to meet the diverse needs of all students;
(3) have the knowledge and skill to create safe, secure, supportive, and equitable learning environments for all students;
(4) have the knowledge, skills, and opportunity to engage and collaborate with parents, families, and other community members as active partners in children’s education;
For CLTE activities that are designed to meet the language acquisition requirements as stated in NYSED regulations, those activities must cover language acquisition aligned with the core content area of instruction taught, including a focus on best practices for co-teaching strategies, and integrating language and content instruction for English language learners. Suggested activities include:
Best Practices
Identification, Placement, Assessment
IEPs, Instruction, Students with Disabilities
Home, Family, Community, Culture and Social
Assessment
There must be a method of assessing the learning of participants. As stated in NYSED regulations, the assessment methods: (1) are appropriate to the CTLE activity objectives and educational methods; and (2) measure the extent to which the objectives were accomplished. These methods may include, but are not limited to, post-tests, questionnaires, and participants' evaluations. CTLE activity monitors may also be effective components of a method of assessing learning.
Please use the attached CTLE Application and Directions.
Budget Items
All planning for non-credit offerings - workshops, courses, conferences, programs, and other supplementary educational activities - must include a budget as part of the proposal process. The budget must include all anticipated expenses, including but not limited to instructional costs including salary or speaker fees and expenses, fringe, catering, additional public safety, course materials, equipment, and administrative overhead. The budget must also include anticipated revenue based on enrollment projections. The Office of Continuing Professional Studies will approve the final budget for all managed non-credit offerings. Non-credit offerings must have revenue that is at least two times the expenses to be offered again.
Program Fees
Non-credit-only offerings: Registration fees for courses and programs that are offered only on a non-credit basis will be determined by benchmarking with similar offerings at other higher education institutions and also based on anticipated expenses.
Offerings with both credit and non-credit options: Fees for non-credit registration in courses and programs that are offered for both credit and non-credit will be 60% of the prevailing for-credit tuition plus any special course fees, if applicable.
Costs for administrative expenses, including documentation of attendance and issuance of certificates, will be included in non-credit program and course fees and must be included in the budget.
Speaker Remuneration and Initiating Salary Payments
Speaker fees, honoraria, stipends, and salaries must be determined in advance of the program and approved by the Office of Continuing Professional Studies. Fees, honoraria, stipends, and salaries will be paid in accordance with Teachers College policies and procedures, including faculty compensation, Human Resources, Purchasing, Travel and Expense and, where applicable, policies about paying international individuals as stated in the Hiring and Paying Foreign Nationals policy which can be found in the TC Policy Library.
Purchases
All purchases and travel expenses from non-credit offering accounts must follow Teachers College policies and procedures. No individual has the authority to enter into a contract for the purchase of goods or services or to otherwise obligate the College unless authorized by Teachers College (please refer to the Procurement Policy which can be found in the TC Policy Library). All equipment purchased with College funds remains the property of Teachers College and must be kept and maintained in the non-credit instructor’s home department.
Registration
Registration and payment must be conducted through a College-approved platform.
Students may not switch from credit to non-credit or from non-credit to credit after a course has begun.
Payment and Cancellation Policy
Payment Policy: Full payment is required prior to the start date of an offering. Participants may also reserve a seat for an offering using a purchase order (PO). The official PO must be received 45 days before the first date of the offering. If the PO is not received by this date, a participant’s registration may be cancelled. Note that if a participant enrolls less than 45 days before an offering’s start date and wishes to pay with a PO, the spot is not confirmed until we receive the PO. If a participant wishes to confirm a spot, the participant may pay by credit card and Teachers College will refund the personal payment once a PO from that participant’s institution is received.
Cancellation Policy: Continuing Professional Studies at Teachers College, Columbia University will provide a full (100%) reduction of charges if a written request to withdraw is received at least 30 days prior to the first scheduled session. Given the demand for offerings and the work entailed in their preparation, if the cancellation is reported 14 - 30 days before the offering start date, 50% of the total cost will be charged and 50% will be refunded. If a cancellation is requested 1 - 14 days prior to the start of an offering, 75% of the total cost will be charged and 25% will be refunded. Registrants who wish to withdraw on or after the start date of an offering will not be eligible for a refund.
Registrants who fail to attend and do not cancel prior to the offering will be liable for full charges for the offering. Only under extreme circumstances will a refund of any amount be provided for cancellations on or after the first date of the offering or for more than the stated refund amount above.
NOTE: All refund requests must be made in writing to the Continuing Professional Studies at Teachers College, Columbia University. Refunds will be made in the payment method received. Please allow 4-6 weeks for check refunds to be processed and 3-5 days for credit card refunds.
Grading and Attendance
Students in most non-credit offerings will not receive grades. However, some non-credit courses or programs may be graded using traditional letter grades, as defined in the current academic catalog.
Instructors of non-credit offerings must take attendance for each meeting session and, if applicable, submit grading information in accordance with the Registrar’s Office procedures. For courses that offer CEUs, instructors may only issue CEUs to those participants who have met the learning objectives as demonstrated by successful completion of the assessment. For courses that qualify as CTLE activities for NYS, attendance is required for all sessions.
Proof of Completion of Non-Credit Offerings
Course instructors of non-credit only offerings may elect to issue a College approved Non-Credit Certificate of Participation at the completion of an offering. It is the responsibility of the offering instructor to only release certificates to students who completed and attended the non-credit offering. The template is provided to ensure that all issued Certificates of Participation are in compliance with University and College requirements.
Access to TC Services
For students of non-credit programs that last for two weeks or longer, Teachers College will make the following services available:
1. UNI
2. TC Library access (electronic access only, no access to check out materials)
3. TC E-mail
4. ID Card
Responsibilities of Non-Credit Students
Non-credit students are subject to Teachers College policies, including the Student Conduct Code (Student Conduct Code: Academic Integrity and General Misconduct), the policy on Protection from Harassment (Protection From Harassment), and the Columbia University Gender Misconduct Policy (http://www.columbia.edu/cu/studentconduct/documents/GBMPolicyandProceduresforStudents.pdf), as provided in those policies.
Disabilities Services
Non-credit students with disabilities are entitled to the same protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act and other relevant laws as for-credit students. For information about registering with the Office of Access and Services for Individuals with Disabilities, please visit the Office’s web site, www.tc.edu/OASID.
Appendix A
Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE)
Application and Directions
Teachers College, as an accredited New York State institution of higher education, is an approved sponsor with New York State Education Department (NYSED) to offer CTLE activities for teachers and education leaders for certificate renewal requirements in New York State. Approval of Teachers College as a sponsor is for a 5 year term. Activities that may count for CTLE credit must be formal courses of learning including, but not limited to, university and college credit and non-credit courses. CTLE activities must be designated in at least one of the three areas developed by NYSED: Pedagogy, Content and English Language Learning.
The regulation states “Acceptable CTLE must be conducted through activities designed to improve the teacher or leader’s pedagogical and/or leadership skills, targeted at improving student performance, and including, but not limited to, formal CTLE activities. Such activities shall promote the professionalization of teaching and educational leadership, as applicable, and be closely aligned to district goals for student performance.”
This application and directions are designed to ensure that Teachers College is meeting the CTLE Sponsor requirements as stated in CTLE Sponsor Approval under Subpart 80-6 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education and is for non-credit offerings only.
All non-credit offerings at Teachers College must be approved by the Office of Continuing Professional Studies to be called a CTLE offering. The Non-Credit Offerings policy in the College’s Policy Library explains the NYSED regulations regarding CTLE activities. Specifically, it 1) defines the overall required educational purpose of the activities, 2) lists suggested activities that are designed to meet the language acquisition requirements and 3) states the assessment requirements. Sponsors must maintain records for at least 8 years from the date of completion of a CTLE activity.
Application for CTLE Activity
Please provide a syllabus that includes, at a minimum, the following:
Directions
These directions provide the steps for receiving approval, keeping the required records and providing the required certificate. Only full-time faculty at Teachers College may apply to offer a CTLE activity and must certify that he/she will follow the procedures below.
The Professorial or Instructional staff member (the instructor) at Teachers College:
Note – on any promotional materials you should state: Any attendee who is taking this course for CTLE credit for NY State must enter their name exactly as it appears on the TEACH website in accordance with NYSED requirements.
Note – on any registration materials you should state: Any attendee who is taking this course for CTLE credit for NY State must supply the last 4 digits of the Social Security number and Date of Birth in accordance with NYSED requirements.
Provide a “Completion of Approved Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) Hour(s) Certificate.” A template is attached and you may access a copy of the NYSED certificate template from NYSED website: http://www.highered.nused.gov/tcert/pdf/ctle-certificate-completion-form.pdf. You may design your own but is must contain, as defined in the regulation, the following:
The University of the State of New York
THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Office of Teaching Initiatives
89 Washington Avenue Albany
New York 12234
Completion of Approved Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) Hour(s) Certificate
All CTLE must be completed with Approved Sponsors and be reported using this form in addition to any electronic reporting requirements.
Instructions for the Trainee:
Please complete Section I and retain your copies for eight years. It is not necessary to send a copy of this form to the Office of Teaching Initiatives unless it is requested in the event of an audit or for use in obtaining an Initial Reissuance. A separate form must be completed for each training.
Instructions for the Approved CTLE Sponsor:
Please complete Sections II and III. These sections must be completed by the Approved CTLE Sponsor authorized individual. Sponsors must verify that the trainee completed the activity, the title, date(s) and number of hours awarded. Records must be retained for a period of eight years. You may use an alternative form or format, however that alternative must capture the same information that is requested on this form.
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Section I: |
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First Name: |
Last Name: |
Middle Initial: |
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Date of Birth: / / |
Last 4 Digits of the Social Security Number: |
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Section II |
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Name of Venue: |
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Street Address: |
City: |
State: |
Zip Code: |
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CTLE Activity Title: (Indicate title/subject/grade level, etc.) |
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Select One or More Areas of Activity: Pedagogy Content English Language Learning |
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CTLE Date(s): from: / / to / /_ Number of hours awarded (mm) (dd) (yyyy) (mm) (dd) (yyyy) |
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Section III |
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I certify that the individual listed in Section I completed the CTLE cited above pursuant to Subpart 80-6 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education. |
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Approved Sponsor Name: |
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Print Name of Authorized Certifying Officer : |
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Signature of Authorized Certifying Officer: |
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Approved Provider Identification Number: Date: |
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Email: Phone #: |
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(Rev. 06/2016)
Teachers College is recognized by the NYS Education Department's Office of Teaching Initiatives as an approved=
sponsor of CTLE for Professional Classroom Teachers, School Leaders and Level III Teaching Assistants.
Appendix B
IACET CEUs Application