Faculty: Frequently Asked Questions

Workshops are characterized by cutting-edge topics, innovative formats, and unconventional scheduling. They can be credit or noncredit.

Workshops can be offered any time of the year. They need not fit into the "regular" University schedule and can be run on weekends, evenings and over breaks.

In addition to classrooms and Student Center meeting rooms on the Kent Campus, workshops can be held online, on-site at businesses, schools, hospitals, libraries or other settings. Credit workshops may be offered at Regional Campuses.

Yes. Participants who successfully complete credit-bearing workshops will be granted university credits.

No. Credit workshop participants are graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.

Credit workshops, like credit courses, must meet University and Ohio Board of Regents standards for contact hours and out-of-class time, and must adhere to the cost per credit hour set by the University Board of Trustees. Participants in credit workshops must be evaluated according to criteria clearly detailed in the workshop proposal. Noncredit workshops offer more flexibility. There are no set time constraints and the program fee is not tied to the University fee structure. To offer either a credit or noncredit program, instructors begin by developing a workshop proposal that must be approved by the appropriate academic unit. We help with this paperwork and develop a budget.

The key is to examine your intended audience and content. Would credits be of value to them? Does the subject matter warrant the number of contact hours and outside assignments required for a credit workshop? What can you reasonably charge for the program and still attract a good number of registrants?

We help market your program with print pieces, Web pages and/or listings, via list serves and e-mails, media ads, press releases, via KSU's schedules of classes and other vehicles.

First, unless the workshop is taught on load, you'll receive additional compensation. Your academic unit will also receive income from successful workshops. And you'll have the benefit of teaching participants with diverse backgrounds who are interested in the innovative topics and formats of our programs.

Kent States travel policies and more information can be found at the Business Administrator Services website.

Unless the program is specifically designed for children (e.g. Kent for Kids, Saturday Art), anyone under 16 years old is not permitted to register. Young adults age 16 or 17 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who is also a registered workshop participant (does not apply to those legally emancipated from their parents). Upon registration, the 16 or 17 year old must demonstrate proof of age with a birth certificate or legal ID or present legal proof of emancipation. Instructor permission is required for admission the Office of Continuing and Distance Education will request his/her permission upon registration and will notify the registrant if the instructor declines permission to attend.