FAQs

Eligibility and Accreditation

What is distance education? And Is it for me?

Distance education is a solution for people whose lifestyles make attending class on campus difficult: working students, students with children or other family obligations, students who simply live too far from campus to commute. If you are self-directed, organized, and able to take full responsibility for your education, you may very well be successful taking classes at a distance. Still not sure? Take a distance education pop quiz. Want to explore distance delivered course offerings? Search the UEC Catalog.

Is the UEC Accredited?

Each UEC partner school is accredited. The UEC is not an accredited institution. (Because the partner schools are accredited, the UEC doesn't have to be). Rather the UEC is an admissions and registration "mechanism" sponsored by the Utah System of Higher Education to increase student's access to distance education opportunities at Utah's colleges.

Can I use credit from a distance learning course to fill college graduation requirements?

Yes. In fact, many of the classes found in the UEC catalog fulfill general education graduation requirements. Utah's public colleges and universities accept transfer credit from any other public Utah college. However, you are strongly advised to check with your home college advisors, particularly when taking major requirements, to ensure the class you take at another school will not only transfer, but will also count toward the requirements of your major.

Can I take classes through the UEC if I'm still a high school student?

Yes. The state of Utah allows high school student who are 16 years old to take college courses. In some cases this is called concurrent enrollment.

Taking Distance Education Classes

Can I get a degree through the UEC?

Yes. You can take technology delivered certificates as well as associate and bachelor degree programs through the UEC. See the catalog for a complete list.

What's a typical distance learning class like? OR can I take an online class if I don't have computer access?

There is no such thing as a typical distance learning class. The best way to answer this question is to talk about what distance or technology delivered classes have in common with campus classes: syllabi, textbooks, lectures, and coursework including exams. With distance delivered classes, lectures could be delivered as text and/or audio files on the internet, on a videotape, or a CD. Taking exams may involve finding an appropriate proctor, if you live far from the provider school. And you have to plan extra time to get textbooks delivered by mail or exams delivered to your proctor. Rule of Thumb: Contact your instructor immediately after registering. Introduce yourself. Ask for instructions on getting started.

Can I take an online class if I don't have computer access?

No.

How do I submit coursework and take exams in a technology delivered class?

Generally, you can mail, fax, or email assignments to your instructor. Some classes will have assignments and exams online. Other classes will require you to take a paper-and-pencil test administered by an approved proctor in your area. A good rule is to contact your instructor or the campus distance education service center for details when you register.

Whom do I contact if I'm having technical trouble accessing class or if I have a question about an exam?

Just like with classes taken in classrooms, the first person to contact is your instructor. Contact information for phone and email can be found in the UEC catalog class entry or in class materials like web sites and syllabi. A second contact is the distance education service center for the campus originating the class. Service center information is found on this web site under "Student Services."

How quickly can I complete a distance education course?

Many classes found in the UEC catalog follow a traditional semester calendar (August to December, January to May, and May to August),. Some are accelerated, and others are open enrollment. The classes following the semester calendar generally have specific time periods for taking exams and submitting assignments. Open enrollment classes allow you to register any day of the year and give you a completion deadline of up to nine months based on that start date. A good rule: check with the instructor before you register for the minimum completion period.

Are there any in-person or residency requirements for classes in the UEC catalog?

Some courses require you to “attend” class at a certain time or be in a certain location. Other formats allow you to determine when and where you want to “go to class.” Check the UEC catalog class "details" section for specifics, and, to be certain, contact the instructor.

When are classes offered?

Some classes follow a semester calendar and others are open entrance/open exit -- start any day of the year and take a specified amount of weeks to complete. Some courses require you to “attend” class at a certain time or be in a certain location. Other formats allow you to determine when and where you want to “go to class:” Check the course entry in the UEC catalog for details.

Financial Information

How much are classes?

UEC tuition is linear. This means that each credit you take costs a certain price. Five credits is five times that price (See the UEC Tuition Schedule for specifics). There are no front-load student fees. Also, there is no cap where, if you take additional credits, you do not pay additional tuition. Schools may charge additional technology fees per class. The UEC catalog bundles all course costs for each class as “tuition and fees” under course details. UEC Tuition and fees are subject to change without notice. NOTE: Because UEC tuition is different from tuition for on-campus classes, you may have to pay a fee if you want to take advantage of certain campus services such as computer labs or internet access and recreational facilities.

Can I get financial aid for UEC classes?

Yes. You apply for financial aid through your home college and ask to complete a consortium agreement. NOTE: Certain restrictions may apply when taking distance education classes. Ask your financial aid counselor for details. For details on how to apply for federal financial aid or students loans, visit Utah Mentor.

Transferring Credits

Can I take classes from more than one school at the same time?

Yes. Utah's public colleges and universities accept transfer credit from any other public Utah college. Taking classes from other Utah schools may give you greater choices in classes, particularly in technology-delivered courses like online and television courses. You are strongly advised to check with your college's advisors to ensure the class you take at another school will not only transfer, but will also count toward the requirements of your major.

How do credits transfer among UEC schools? (How do I get a transcript from one school to my home college?)

Utah's nine colleges and universities accept transfer credit for college-level courses from any other public Utah college as long as minimum grades were earned. However, accepting transfer credit does not automatically mean the credits you earned at your first school will count toward degree requirements at your second school. You are strongly advised to check with your college's advisors to ensure the class you take at another school will not only transfer, but will also count toward graduation or the requirements of your major. The Utah System of Higher Education's Course Transfer Guide can also provide information on this subject.

How do I get a transcript from one school to my home college?

The UEC requests credits be reported back to your home college each semester. If a grade is not reported in a timely fashion, contact the UEC. We will provide instructions on requesting a transcript from the college providing instruction. When you are ready to graduate you will need to contact the transcript office at each of the colleges from which you took classes and request an official transcript be sent to your home college.

If you are using financial aid, reporting credit in a timely fashion is very important. If credit is not reported, you may not receive aid the following semester.

See Registration Help for more information on requesting grades and transcripts.

College Basics

What is the difference between community colleges, state colleges, and universities?

Community colleges have two missions: prepare students for work and prepare students to transfer to a bachelor degree program at a state college or university. Community colleges provide developmental education for students who need to fine tune their basic skills, and certificate programs and associate degree programs in general education and applied technology. So do state colleges, and they also offer select bachelor degree programs. Students who graduate from a community college may transfer to a state college or university to complete a bachelor’s degree. Universities provide bachelor and graduate programs in a variety of professional, technical, and academic fields.

What is General Education?

Almost all degrees and certificates have a general education component. General Education classes provide opportunities for students to explore new areas while improving communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. You will take between 30 and 39 general education credits. You must follow the general education requirements of your home college. Contact the UEC or your advising office for details.

Degree Types Defined

In higher education, certificates and degrees are awarded upon completion of a course of study. Certificate programs usually consist of a group of specialized courses that, when completed, certify that you have mastered specific skills or knowledge. Usually, certificate programs prepare students for entry-level employment. A degree program includes a required set of general education courses and a sequence of academic or technology-related courses. Successful completion of these programs leads to an associate, bachelor, master, or doctoral degree in a specific area of study. Degree programs require a longer time commitment to complete than do certificate programs but often provide greater lifelong employment opportunities.

Where can I find information about choosing a career?

Use the Majors Guide. Select any program of study from the "Search by Subject" listings, then select a specific program. Links at the bottom of the "Details" page take you to real time data on related occupations. Explore.

To whom do I speak about choosing a major?

Faculty and departmental advisors can provide you with a wealth of information on different majors. You can also speak with an academic advisor about your options.

UofU
USU
WSU
SUU
Snow
Dixie
CEU
UVSC
SLCC
UCAT (contact each ATC directly)