The Division's programs are developed primarily for post-baccalaureate adults. The Division offers both credit and noncredit courses in a variety of formats. The Division's programming fosters long-term educational relationships between the University and the public.
The Division of Continuing Education works in cooperation with the appropriate departments or schools to design and deliver off-Grounds degree programs. Admission, content, and degree requirements are determined by the degree granting school. University faculty collaborate with the Division in the development, realization, and management of the programs. Library or laboratory facilities and other instructional resources are identified locally and supplemented as necessary by the Division.
Within the limits prescribed by the residential faculty of the University and stated in the policies of each school and the Division of Continuing Education, qualified persons may apply courses taken at Regional Centers for credit toward degrees. The Division of Continuing Education does not award degrees but assists other schools of the University in the design and delivery of off-Grounds graduate degree programs and degree credit courses.
Many students transfer courses taken through the Division to programs at other colleges and universities. Other students use credit courses for renewal of teaching certificates and other professional certificates. In such cases the students should consult their superintendents and the State Board of Education or other certifying bodies for certification requirements.
The Division's noncredit programming links University faculty with faculty and renowned scholars from other institutions; international, political, cultural, and corporate leaders; and noted authors and artists. The Division's noncredit programs are developed through collaborative relationships among the Division's program development staff, University faculty members, and representatives of selected external constituencies. The Division's program development staff is dedicated to maintaining the internal and external contacts necessary to ensure that the best opportunities for the University to extend its research and teaching resources in service to the Commonwealth and the nation are identified.
Organizations and individuals are encouraged to call and discuss their educational needs with the Division's senior programming staff. New programs can be developed in response to the long-term educational needs of organizations. For further information, call (804) 982-5252.
Certificate programs provide opportunities for sequential study toward well-defined objectives, and extend University teaching and research to the serious adult student. Most certificate programs involve 10-30 credits of instruction.
A certificate program can be offered when and where requested. Advisory services are available to organizations and individuals. Admission is based on an application, interview, and evaluation of the applicant's work experience, general educational goals, and potential for performing satisfactorily in the relevant courses.
Each student must be interviewed by the program director before being admitted to a certificate program. This procedure ensures that there is a good match between the academic agenda of the program and the student's interests.
Applicants may be required to provide transcripts of previous academic work. Students must maintain an average grade of "C" or better to continue in a credit certificate program, or maintain satisfactory progress in noncredit or CEU programs to be eligible to receive a certificate. Admission to credit certificate programs does not entail admission to any University for degree programs. Persons interested in further information about certificate programs should contact the Division at (804) 982-5229.
Each Center is led by a Center Director. The Center Directors organize, administer, and evaluate continuing education programs throughout their region. They are assisted in this work by one or more staff members who may be specialists in education, business and industry, government, or other disciplines.
The Center Director and staff represent the University and the Division within the geographic area where the center is located. Each Center is linked by computer to the official course and registration data maintained by the University Registrar. Faculty, students, and alumni are encouraged to visit the University's Regional Centers and to view them as local offices and classrooms of the University of Virginia.
Central Programming Offices
104 Midmont Lane
P.O. Box 3697
Charlottesville, VA 22903
(804) 982-5252
Charlottesville Regional Programs
104 Midmont Lane
P.O. Box 3697
Charlottesville, VA 22903
(804) 982-5313
Hampton Roads Center
418 Pembroke Four
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
(804) 552-1890
Lynchburg Center
1 Quinlan Street
Lynchburg, VA 24503
(804) 947-6699
Northern Virginia Center
2990 Telestar Court
Falls Church, VA 22042
(703) 876-6900
Quantico (FBI Academy)
Quantico, VA 22135
(703) 640-1224
Richmond Center
7740 Shrader Road, Suite E
Richmond, VA 23228
(804) 662-7464
Roanoke Center
117 W. Church Avenue, S.W.
P.O. Box 1050
Roanoke, VA 24005
(703) 857-7922
Southwest Virginia Center
P.O. Drawer 1987
Abingdon, VA 24212
(703) 628-6327
Conferences and Institutes staff members work to ensure that program management and participant services are offered with consistently high quality. Programs that open the University and its distinctive resources to key constituencies require these excellent support services. Among the services offered in support of collaboratively developed programs are: preprogram arrangements, marketing, financial management, and on-site management.
On-Grounds, programs are held in a variety of locations. Two of the principal on-Grounds program facilities are described below. For further information on programs, services, and facilities, call (804) 982-5252.
Zehmer Hall The administrative and central programming offices of the Division of Continuing Education are housed in Zehmer Hall. It also functions as a center for conferences, institutes, seminars, workshops, and similar continuing education programs that the Division conducts year round. Professional education and continuing liberal arts education programs are among the new initiatives of the Division. Weekend and week-long institutes on-Grounds and at the regional centers offer a variety of topics.
For further information contact the Division of Continuing Education, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 3697, 104 Midmont Lane, Charlottesville, VA 22903, or phone (804) 982-5252.
Birdwood Pavilion In 1974, the University of Virginia purchased the 560-acre Birdwood estate, which is located two miles west of the Grounds. The centerpiece of the estate is an antebellum, red-brick mansion, now called the Birdwood Pavilion. The Division of Continuing Education has renovated and refurbished the mansion and, in July of 1980, began to use it for continuing education activities. For further information about the facilities at the Birdwood Pavilion call (804) 982-5252.
Registration Registration should be completed prior to the first meeting of the class. This includes completing the registration/receipt form and biographical data form and paying all tuition and fees. Registration is not complete and transcripts are withheld until all tuition and fees are paid. In special circumstances and with permission of the Center Director, late registration may be allowed upon payment of a late registration fee.
The University of Virginia Division of Continuing Education reserves the right to modify, withdraw, or make substitutions for any of the courses announced, or to change instructors.
Grades Undergraduate passing grades are A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-; a grade of F awards no credit. Certain courses may be taken on a CR/NC (credit/noncredit) basis; credits may be earned with a CR, but no grade points are awarded. The minimum grade accepted for degree purposes varies among the schools of the University of Virginia; specific information may be obtained from the Center or from the individual school at the University. Many Division programs require a grade of C or above for ongoing study and successful program completion.
In graduate degree programs, passing grades can range from A+ to D-; an F denotes failure. At the graduate level, each school determines its own grading system as outlined in Chapter 4 of the Graduate Record. In Architecture, the maximum passing grade for graduate degree credit is A, minimum is B-; in Education the maximum is A+, the minimum is B-; in Engineering the maximum is A+, the minimum is C; and in Nursing, the maximum is A, the minimum is B-. Certain seminar workshop and research courses may be graded on an S/U (satisfactory/unsatisfactory) basis.
Other notations or nongrade symbols are used in reporting semester grades. IN (incomplete) indicates that the grade for the course is being withheld until all course requirements are complete.
NC (noncredit) indicates that a student receives no credit for a course where a student has elected the CR/NC (credit/no credit) grading option. Grade notations for noncredit courses are S/U (satisfactory/unsatisfactory). Students who audit courses receive the notation of AU (audit). The symbols WP (withdraw passing) and WF (withdraw failing) are used for students who have officially withdrawn prior to the conclusion of a course.
Grade Changes Any grade or grade notation may be changed by the instructor after it has been submitted to the University Registrar, provided that no more than one semester has lapsed since the official ending date of the course. (No change of grade is allowed after the lapse of one semester without the specific approval of the Dean of the Division of Continuing Education.)
Grade Reports Grade reports for the Division of Continuing Education are sent to the home (permanent) address of the student by the University Registrar.
Grade Appeals Students registering for courses through the Division of Continuing Education are afforded the same rights for resolving grievances as students registering on Grounds. Continuing Education students needing more information or assistance with a grievance should contact the Center Director through which course registration was obtained.
Special Examination It is expected that all students take the final examination in a course at the same time. In certain cases, a student may be given permission by the Center Director to take an early exam or to defer taking the exam until a later date. A scheduled exam should be sent to the Center Director as soon as possible in order to allow for arrangements to be made. Normally, a two-week notice is required. Final action by the Center Director is contingent upon the willingness of the instructor to prepare another exam and grade it. If approved, the specially scheduled exam should be given no more than two weeks before and no more than one semester after the regular examination date.
Teacher Recertification Teachers and administrators who wish to take courses and/or professional development offerings for recertification purposes may register without submitting transcripts. It is the responsibility of persons seeking recertification to determine the acceptability of courses or professional development programs by consulting their school division superintendent or the State Department of Education.
Students at Other Institutions Students enrolled at an accredited institution other than the University of Virginia must present a letter from the dean or appropriate official testifying that the student is enrolled, is in good standing, and has permission to take the course for transfer credit.
Suspended Students Persons who have been suspended from the University of Virginia or any other college or university are ineligible for enrollment through the Division of Continuing Education as long as the suspension remains in force.
The Citizen Scholar Program Qualified post-baccalaureate adult students may register for on-Grounds regularly scheduled daytime instruction at the University of Virginia. Those who have completed the bachelor's degree and who are not currently registered in any degree programs at the University of Virginia, may apply for admission to the Citizen Scholar Program. The program is a part-time credit non-degree study option. A detailed description of the status, its options and limits, is included in the program brochure. Admission to this program does not constitute admission to any of the University of Virginia's degree-granting programs.
Prospective Citizen Scholars are encouraged to apply by July 15 for fall enrollment or by November 15 for spring. A brochure and application for the Citizen Scholar Program may be obtained by calling (804) 982-5313 or by visiting the Charlottesville Regional Programs Office, 104 Midmont Lane, Charlottesville, VA 22903. The Special Student Program Qualified citizens of Charlottesville and vicinity may register in regularly scheduled daytime instruction at the University of Virginia. Undergraduate students at the University of Virginia with special learning agendas may be referred to this status by their department chair or dean. Students with such special permission may apply for the Special Student Status. Once accepted, permission from the instructor of each course taken is also required. Adults who have completed two or more years of college may also apply for the Special Student Program. There are limits to the amount of course work that can be taken in this status. This is a part-time credit non-degree status. Admission to this status does not constitute admission to any of the University of Virginia's degree-granting programs.
Prospective Special Students are encouraged to apply by July 15 for fall enrollment or by November 15 for spring. An application for Special Student Status may be obtained by calling (804) 982-5313 or by visiting the Charlottesville Regional Programs Office, 104 Midmont Lane, Charlottesville, VA 22903.
Application to Degree Programs Students seeking to apply credit earned through the Division of Continuing Education toward a degree at the University of Virginia must consult the degree granting schools. Students enrolled in other schools or colleges of the University may not take Continuing Education courses without prior permission of their deans.
Application to Other Educational Programs Courses which carry a credit designation may be used by school divisions, businesses, industry, state agencies, the federal government, institutions of higher education, and others to measure currency in knowledge and skills required by the various professions. Specific examples of its use are to establish levels of proficiency in business and industry, to recertify teachers, or to measure an individual's professional development for the determination of promotion and/or salary increase.
The Continuing Education Unit Many noncredit activities are organized as Continuing Education Unit (CEU) programs. One CEU is defined as ten contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction. Successful participation in programs which have qualified for CEU award is permanently recorded by the University Registrar. An individual may request a copy of his or her record from the Office of the University Registrar, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 9009, Charlottesville, VA 22906-9009.
Transfer of Credit Students seeking to transfer credit from the Division of Continuing Education to another educational institution should, prior to registering, consult that institution as to the acceptability of the courses and credit.
Auditors Students who wish to enroll in credit courses without working for degree credit may do so, with permission of the Center Director, by registering as auditors and by paying the same tuition and fees as credit students. Credit or audit status must be indicated at the time of registration. Admission requirements are the same for auditors as for credit students.
Transcripts Credit for University of Virginia courses taught at the Division Centers is recorded by the Registrar of the University. Transcripts are $3 each, and are available from the Office of the University Registrar, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 9009, Charlottesville, VA 22906-9009.
| Non-degree programs, Undergraduate and Graduate, including Certification program (per credit) | |
| Virginian | $141* |
| Non-Virginian | 201* |
| *Educators (K-12) registering for off-Grounds non-degree graduate courses: $129 for Virginian and $183 for non-Virginian. | |
| Graduate, Off-Grounds degree programs in Engineering (per credit) | |
| Virginian | 215 |
| Non-Virginian | 392 |
| Graduate Off-Grounds degree program (non-engineering) | |
| Virginian | 184 |
| Non-Virginian | 250 |
| Citizen Scholar and Special Student (students admitted through the Division of Continuing Education taking on-Grounds courses) | |
| Virginian | 211 |
| Non-Virginian | 726 |
| Late registration fee | $15 |
| Admission fee in Certificate and Special Programs | 25 |
| Change Course Fee | 12 |
| Facilities Fee, Northern Virginia Center (per credit) | 5 |
| Transcript Fee | 3 |
| Late exam fee | 10 |
| Bad check fee | 20 |
| Other miscellaneous fees as established to recover laboratory or materials expenses. | |
All requests for refunds must be made in writing to the Center Director (or the associate director for academic support at Northern Virginia). The date of the postmark, fax, or in person request determines the amount of the refund. If registration is by credit card, include the card number since any refund must be credited to that account. Notifying an instructor or a sponsoring agency does not constitute an official request to withdraw from a class.
Refunds are calculated according to the following considerations: