Division of Continuing Education & Nontraditional Degree Programs

Dean: Patrice Boyles

Location: JDC 201

Phone: (773) 995-4466

Overview

Continuing Education & Nontraditional Degree Programs offers credit and non-credit programs. It maintains a long and distinguished track record for meeting the growing demands for high-quality, innovative, and flexible educational opportunities through its delivery units: Nontraditional Degree Programs Options (Community Education/Life-Long Learning) and Professional Development certification.

Mission

The mission of the Division of Continuing Education and Nontraditional Programs is to support the University’s overall goal of providing innovative teaching, research and lifelong learning opportunities to nontraditional learners to help them complete their undergraduate degree and succeed in the workforce.

Nontraditional Degree Programs

In this era of rapid knowledge and technological gains, individuals seeking to improve their education circumstances often enter Chicago State University with relevant lifelong learning and work experiences and expectations of educational flexibility. The Nontraditional Degree Programs embrace many of these experiences by offering students an alternative to the traditional four-year degree program. CSU offers two Nontraditional Degree Programs: Adult Integrated Learning (AIL) Program and Individualized Curriculum Program (ICP).

Adult Integrated Learning (AIL) Program

Program Offerings: Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science Degrees

A growing number of adults return to school later in life, often after succeeding in other careers. It is also becoming increasingly common for people of different ages and backgrounds to start their higher education careers at their own pace. The Adult Integrated Learning Program (AIL) is designed to provide nontraditional students an opportunity to earn an undergraduate degree in a manner compatible with their education needs and lifestyle. Non-traditional students are usually 25 and older. Many of them who attend college at this age are lifelong learners, attend school part-time and have work experience that can be integrated into their program as they earn a bachelor’s degree.

The Adult Integrated Learning Program recognizes that adults may have attended a variety of education institutions and accepts transfer of passing coursework taken at other regionally accredited colleges and universities. Students may also apply for academic credit through the preparation of a prior learning portfolio (PLA), which documents specific college-level knowledge gained through non-academic pursuits that can be related to CSU courses. Additionally, nontraditional degree students are encouraged to use the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), the Excelsior Examinations, and other testing programs to gain college credits.

The Adult Integrated Learning Program is not an appropriate program for licensure in a professional field such as teaching or health services. Persons desiring such credentials should apply for admission to the appropriate department or college within the University.

Students with baccalaureate degrees from regionally accredited colleges or universities may not be admitted to the Adult Integrated Learning Degree Program.

Application Procedures

Attendance at a prospective students’ meeting is required for all new students in order to receive program guidelines and university admission requirements.
Complete an Undergraduate Application to Chicago State University. This application is required for all new incoming students. Students NOT previously admitted to Chicago State University must also submit official transcripts from all other colleges and universities attended. Those with fewer than 24 semester hours of college credit must also submit a high school transcript or its equivalent.
Students who previously attended Chicago State University, including Board of Governors (BOG) majors, must complete a Readmission Application.
Students currently enrolled in Chicago State University must submit a Major/Minor Change Form signed by the student and the previous departmental advisor.
Complete an AIL Degree Plan. This plan is placed in the student’s academic file.
Once a student’s file is completed, a decision will be made on the application by the Dean of the program.

Students will be notified of the admission decision to the Adult Integrated Learning (AIL) Program through a letter issued either from the office of Admissions (for new and returning students to the university), or the Office of Continuing Education and Non-Traditional Degree Programs.

All applicants must be twenty-five years or older and be out of high school more than seven years. Students can also request an assessment of prior learning and be considered for additional college credits based on the knowledge they have acquired outside a traditional classroom, such as life and work experiences.

Applicants who have attended other colleges or universities must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher, be in good standing at the last college or university attended, and have successfully completed 24 semester hours of coursework at a regionally accredited institution.

Transfer Credit

All academic credit earned before admission to the Adult Integrated Learning Program, regardless of when the credit was earned, may be transferred into the program provided that:

The college or university was regionally accredited at the time the credit was earned.
A grade of A, B, C, or P, was earned. (Transfer credit applied to meet the University General Education Requirements will be accepted with a “D” grade.)
The credit could be applied at that institution to an associate or bachelor’s degree program
The course was not a repeated class.
The course was not remedial or developmental.

Prior Learning Portfolio Credit

A maximum of 30 credit hours for portfolio assessment may be accepted toward credit for graduation. Students seeking an assessment of prior learning experience for credit must submit a detailed portfolio to the Dean of Nontraditional Degree Programs. Detailed instructions for the preparation of the portfolio are presented at a portfolio development workshop which all students planning to submit such materials are required to attend. The Dean shall request the assistance of faculty members in assessing a student’s prior learning for translation into academic credit. After a thorough review of the portfolio, which may include where appropriate, interviews and written reports, the faculty member or other evaluators shall recommend to the Dean the hours and level of credit to be given for prior learning. The Dean, in consultation with an advisory or review committee, shall examine the credit recommendation by a faculty evaluator and may recommend the amount of credit be accepted or reduced. The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, in consultation with the Dean of Continuing Education, must give final approval to the recommendation for credit for prior learning experiences.

Credit by Examination

Students may earn credit by examination through the following programs: College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Advanced Placement Program (AP), Proficiency Examination Program (PEP), College Level General Education Development Test, and college level credits earned through the United States Armed Forces Institute. The standards for these examinations at the university where the student applies for admission will be utilized to determine passing scores and credits awarded.

Fees

Students in the Adult Integrated Learning Program are required to pay all regular and special fees as established by the university. Students who request an assessment of prior learning experiences must pay a special fee. This fee is charged each time a student requests any subsequent assessment of work not included in the initial appraisal. Contact Continuing Education for more information regarding fee(s) for prior learning assessment.

Individualized Curriculum Program

Program Offerings: Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science Degrees

The Individualized Curriculum Program (ICP) was developed for mature, well-motivated students 19 years or older who wish to depart from traditional patterns of formal education by planning their own academic programs. Students develop, with the assistance of an academic advisor and the dean, curricula that are consistent with their individual lives and career goals. The essential principle underlying the program is the placing of considerably more responsibility for course selections and course sequences upon the student.

Within the Individualized Curriculum Program, a concentration of study refers to a focused in- depth study of an approved discipline or disciplines, of a theme or problem pursued from an interdisciplinary perspective, or of academic subjects that will prepare the student for a particular profession or vocation.

Students may pursue a single discipline available in a departmental major only if they wish to work in greater depth than the departmental major would normally allow. Students may not develop an abbreviated disciplinary major unless their interests are interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary.

The Individualized Curriculum Program is not an appropriate program for licensure in a professional field such as teaching or health services. Persons desiring such credentials should apply for admission to the appropriate department or college within the University.

Application Procedures

A student may apply for admission to the Individualized Curriculum Program (ICP) with a minimum of 24 credit hours from an accredited university or college. Grades of A, B, C, D, and P are accepted in transfer. Transfer credit applied to meet the University General Education Requirements will be accepted with a “D” grade. It is recommended that the student notify the Dean of Nontraditional Degree Programs at the time of application. Students who wish to change their majors to the Individualized Curriculum Program (ICP) must have a minimum CSU cumulative grade point average of 2.0. Applicants to the program must fulfill the following requirements:

Make an appointment for a counseling session.
Complete the statement of objectives and curriculum plan.
Gain approval for the course of study from the academic advisor.
Obtain final program approval by the dean of the program.

Professional Development and Lifelong Learning

Services

Continuing Education is committed to meeting the diverse learning needs and interests of motivated and goal-oriented individuals. Programs are designed to meet the noncredit needs for the professional education of adults in locations throughout the city and state. Continuing Professional Education workshops/seminars meet Continuing Unit (CEU/CPDU) requirements to maintain occupational licensures, or they may be taken for personal or professional enrichment. Program opportunities (e.g. Workforce Training Programs (WIOA), customized noncredit and credit courses, CEU’s, and professional development certificates for employees of local business, industry, government, labor, social service agencies and community organizations) can be conducted on site.

Options: Community Education

Through the Options Program, Continuing Education offers short-term classes, workshops and seminars covering a wide array of interests for all ages. Included are classes in academics, computer programming, arts /crafts, business /vocations, dance/ fitness, music, personal development, recreation and special courses for the young at heart (seniors). This service unit offers everyone the opportunity to join an active, creative community of lifelong learners.

Classes are noncredit and reasonably priced.

For Options program schedules, call 773/995-4466 or visit the website www.csu.edu/continuingeducation/Professional Development and Lifelong Learning

Services Offered in Continuing Education

Chicago State University is committed to meeting the diverse learning needs and interests of motivated and goal-oriented individuals. The following units of the division offer a wide array of services to the CSU learning community.

Continuing Professional Education

Services are designed to meet the credit and noncredit needs for continuing professional education of adults in locations throughout the city and state. Courses may meet certification or approval requirements. Continuing Professional Education workshops/seminars meet Continuing Unit (CEU/CPDU) requirements to maintain occupational licensures, or they may be taken for personal or professional enrichment. Requests for program schedules should be made by calling Continuing Education at 773/995-4466 or the schedule can be accessed on the website at www.csu.edu/continuingeducation

Professional Development Services

Continuing education opportunities (e.g., customized noncredit and credit courses, CEU’s, and professional development certificates for employers and employees of business, industry, government, labor, social service agencies and community organizations) can be conducted on site upon request.

Contact Continuing Education at 773/995-4466 or by visiting the CSU website at www.csu.edu/continuingeducation.

Grievance Policy

When grievances arise, the student must contact the department in which the course was taken and notify the Dean of Continuing Education in writing of the concern. Written grievances should include: the individual’s name, address, phone number, student ID, title of the course and description of the grievance. The Dean will work in consultation with the academic unit and Academic Affairs to seek a resolution. The unit will follow the grievance university policy procedure.

Programs

Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science Degrees