Academic Outreach and Continuing Education (AOCE)

Member, University Continuing Education Association, Mountain Plains Adult Education Association, International Council on Correspondence Education, National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges, North American Association of Summer Sessions, American Association for Adult and Continuing Education, Association for Continuing Higher Education, and European Higher Education Society.

Associate Vice President, Clifford J. Drew, Ph.D.

Associate Dean, Richard B. Simpson, Ph.D.

Assistant Dean, Marcia M. McClurg, Ph.D.

Office: 1195 Annex Building, 581-7838

Mailing Address: 1901 E. South Campus Dr., Rm. 1195, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9359

Web Address: www.aoce.utah.edu

Students not likely to come to the campus on a full-time, daytime basis should consider Academic Outreach and Continuing Education (AOCE) as their agent for convenient credit and noncredit courses held on campus in the evenings and at four off-campus sites: Bountiful, Murray, Park City, and Sandy.

AOCE is the University's major agency charged with serving the professional who desires updating, the individual preparing to enter or re-enter the educational setting, those seeking paraprofessional training, or persons interested in professional and personal growth and development. AOCE also develops courses and programs to accommodate off-campus populations, such as in-service programs for businesses, partnerships with other institutions, and ”satellite" programs. A complete listing of current offerings is contained in the AOCE catalog, mailed free of charge to anyone who phones 581-BOOK (581-2665) and asks to be included on the AOCE mailing list.

The following specialized services are offered through various departments of AOCE:

Office of Lifelong Development. Located in 1195 Annex Building, the office is the administrative hub for all not-for-credit enrichment offerings through Academic Outreach and Continuing Education, including Lifelong Learning classes, Preparatory Courses, Adults Abroad, House Bill 60, and Youth Education. The two-part mission of the office is to meet the educational needs of the student who is learning for the sheer joy of it and to assist those in career and educational transition through programs and services such as career counseling. To schedule an appointment for career counseling or for additional information on other programs, please call 581-3228.

Distance Learning. Academic Outreach and Continuing Education offers distance education courses to a wide variety of learners seeking to continue, supplement, or complete a college education. Distance education courses solve a number of scheduling problems students encounter, including complicated work schedules and family commitments. Be advised, however, that to complete a class at a distance requires self-motivation.

While these classes reflect their campus counterparts, there are differences in the ways and means of taking them:

Independent Study. Structured around a course manual, textbook, and exams, independent study courses are reading- and writing-intensive. Many courses supplement textbooks and lecture notes with audio cassettes, videos, and computer study guides. Feedback from instructors—University faculty and graduate students—comes in the form of written responses to assignments and exams. Grades are based on assignment and exam performance.

Online Options. Many distance education courses are available online. Students can download lecture notes, submit assignments electronically, and contact faculty and classmates by e-mail and news group.

Telecourses. Students may earn college credit for courses offered on KULC/Channel 9 (the channel may vary depending on the cable carrier). Telecourses are structured around televised lectures, a course manual, textbook(s), live on-campus review sessions, and exams. Telecourses are reading-intensive. Grades are based on assignment and exam performance.

For additional information, or to request a brochure detailing course offerings, contact Distance Education on campus, 2180 Annex, 581-8801 or 800-467-8839. A complete description of distance education courses may be found at ulearn.utah.edu. Brochures are available at the Bookstore, Union front desk, University College (450 SSB), High School Services, Disabled Student Services, and all Academic Outreach and Continuing Education extension sites.

Professional Programs. This collaborative unit provides consultation, educational training, and development services tailored to the specific needs of Utah's organizations. The purpose of the unit is also to promote outreach efforts of the colleges within the University into the private, public, and nonprofit communities. This may include collaborative programs for credit and noncredit including undergraduate and graduate degree programs offered on-site or at alternative, more convenient locations to better serve students and clients.

Noncredit programs include human resource management training, management and supervisory training, public safety leadership training, computer training, customer service training, and certificate programs in business management and computer proficiency and expertise.

English Language Institute. ELI provides an academic, content-based curriculum for non-matriculated international students. Faculty, visiting scholars, and professionals can also participate in this rich language environment.

Noncredit and credit equivalency courses are held on an eight-week term basis, five times per academic year. Classes are offered at six levels of proficiency from high-beginning to advanced. Attention is given to listening, speaking, reading, writing, pronunciation, and grammar basics. American history, American literature, speech, American culture, and intercultural communications make up an integral part of the program, providing an authentic content-based environment for language and cultural acquisition.

The summer program, in addition to intensive English, includes two-week professional workshops in international business, medical English and English as a foreign language pedagogy, as well as short language and culture excursion courses in American literature, Utah history, and Shakespeare.

ELI is authorized to issue certificates of eligibility (I-20), which allow a student to enter the United States with a student visa. These students are tested upon arrival and are placed into levels appropriate to their proficiency in English. While enrolled in ELI, students have the opportunity, with permission, to take credit courses in a supportive, sheltered atmosphere. Upon attainment of a TOEFL score of 500 or better, these students may apply for admission to the University of Utah.

ELI also designs, upon request, unique programs to meet the specific English language needs of industry, business, academic institutions, and other special groups.

Marketing/Communications. This department is a full-service marketing agency that does the market analysis and needs assessment to assist AOCE programs and other University agencies with program development, site selection, distance-learning methods, and pricing strategies for programs. Marketing provides account executive, copywriter and production services to produce a course catalog and other media material to promote AOCE programs in conjunction with AOCE Graphic Design.

Graphic Design. Staffed with professional graphic designers, the studio assists AOCE Marketing with the conceptualization, application, and production of posters, brochures, logos, exhibits, mailers, illustrations, print advertising, artwork, newsletters, flyers, etc.