Generally, academic departments and other units have developed approval processes for noncredit activities. All units that offer noncredit activities maintains records pertaining to the offering, including data on date, time, and location, number of hours conducted, facilitator/instructor, and student participants. Records are kept within each unit. Portland State follows all of the national guidelines for Continuing Education Units, as well as more rigorous guidelines for licensing agencies and professional accreditation bodies in compliance with Policy A-9 – Non-credit, Extension, and Continuing Education Studies. Full-time faculty are involved in the development, delivery, and evaluation of many of the programs, facilitated particularly through the Executive Leadership Institute in the Hatfield School of Government and the Professional Development Center in Extended Studies.

Noncredit Community Service Programs and Courses, Including Continuing Education Units

The involvement of noncredit students in Portland State programs has increased awareness of the high academic quality of Portland State programs and the University’s ability to serve the community in various ways. Noncredit courses also funnel students into credit programs. Noncredit activities have served as a revenue source for the University.