Frequently Asked Questions

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Have a question?

You'll find the answers to our most commonly asked questions below.

Continuing Education (CE) is defined as formal non-credit courses of independent study designed for adult, part-time students. Open enrollment classes are typically ongoing, available on-demand, and provide skills training, certificates, and industry certification. CE classes can are divided into two basic categories:

  • Leisure Learning classes provide opportunities to explore new ideas, skills, and viewpoints. Courses in dance, photography, and other personal interests allow you to keep a sharp mind, make new friends, and become part of a growing community of lifelong learners.
  •  Professional Development courses are an indispensable tool for new job training, advancing existing skills, and updating Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

Continuing Education and Outreach (CEO) at JSU provides both online and in the classroom, all materials provided, and no high school diploma or admission application required.

Everyone from youth to senior citizens! Our courses cover a wide range of ages, interests, and professional requirements. Unless otherwise stated in the course description, classes are open to all individuals eighteen years or older.

We offer a diverse selection of classroom-based and online courses for both personal interest and professional/career development. With over 700 online offerings, we have a continuing education class for most everyone!

Our instructors come from all walks of life - JSU professors, CEOs, business professionals, culinary experts, crafters, and more! All are experts in their fields.

You will find instructions on how to register on the HOME PAGE ➜

The recommended deadline for registration is one week before the class starts. However, you can register for most courses up to the day they begin as long as they haven't been filled or canceled. Course fees are due at registration.

Most of our classes meet at JSU's McClellan Center. Specific conferences, workshops, and other classes meet at various locations in and around the Anniston/Oxford area. Class locations and directions can be found on the course description and again on your confirmation, once registered.

There are no academic (college) credits for completing a continuing education course. CEUs (Continuing Education Units of Credit) are issued based on class length, with Certificates of Completion issued upon successful completion.

CEU stands for Continuing Education Unit. A CEU is equal to 10 hours of participation in an accredited program designed for professionals with certificates or licenses to practice various professions.

Doctors, nurses, lawyers, CPAs, and other such professionals must earn a specified number of credits each year to keep their certification, or licenses to practice, current.

You will find CEUs and hours for each course listed in the catalog.

Payment for course fees is required in full at the time of registration. We accept Discover, MasterCard, and Visa. If your employer or another third party will pay your registration fee, please complete the Authorization for Payment form and submit it along with your registration. For questions or to receive this form by mail, contact us at 256-782-5918 or email.

Most non-credit, continuing education classes do not qualify for financial aid. However, financial assistance is available for our Advanced Career Training programs offered through Ed2go. Workforce development programs, such as the CWTP Water Program, qualify for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding. Contact your county's Career Center to see if you are eligible.

If you register online, you will be able to see whether space available in a class. Once you complete the necessary payment information, you are registered. You will receive an email confirmation within 24 hours. If you register by mail or fax, you will receive written confirmation once your registration is processed.

If you cannot attend the class for any reason, you may cancel your registration by calling our office at 256-782-5918. Unless otherwise specified, cancellations must be made at least three working days before the class start date for a full refund. Refunds will not be issued after a class has started. Failure to attend, under any circumstances, does not constitute withdrawal or cancellation.

Minimum enrollment levels are established for each course. If we have to cancel a class due to lack of enrollment, we will notify you as soon as possible before the class start date. You will have the option of receiving a full refund or transferring to another course, space permitting. We reserve the right to make changes in instructor, time, date, and location to serve our registrants better.

At Jacksonville State University, we are committed to making all of our classes as accessible as possible. If you have questions or would like to request accommodations under the Americans With Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, please contact us at 256-782-5918.

Closings of state offices/agencies include JSU and its Office of Continuing Education and Outreach. Announcements regarding closings and other emergencies are broadcast on WLJS-91.9FM, 91.9FM. You can also check the JSU website for closings or cancellations. We will make every effort to reschedule such classes.

Should a severe weather alert be issued during a class, instructors or other responsible parties will direct students to a predetermined safe location. Safe areas include stairwells, restrooms, or other ground-level areas without windows. Each classroom has an emergency evacuation map indicating the nearest secured location.

Your Privacy is important to us.
To protect it, we take every available measure to insure you against the loss, misuse, and alteration of data used by our system. For details, view our Privacy Statement. 

Mailings and Subscriptions
Our email marketing is permission-based. If you have received a mailing:

  1. You have shared your address expressly for the purpose of receiving information ("opt-in").
  2. You have registered, purchased, or otherwise maintained an existing relationship with us.
  3. You have been referred by a third party.

We will always respect your time and attention by controlling the frequency of our mailings.

Sharing and Usage
We will never share, sell, or or otherwise convey your personal information to anyone without your express consent unless ordered by a court of law. Your contact information is used for the express purposes of comunicating with you  We will never share, sell, or otherwise convey your personal information to anyone without your express consent unless ordered by a court of law. Your contact information is used for the express purposes of communicating with you regarding ongoing business and sending announcements and other pertinent information based on your request.

Yes. Lifelong learning is truly a gift that never stops giving! You can purchase a gift certificate for a particular course or specify a dollar amount applicable to a class of the recipient's choosing. For information on buying a gift certificate for a family member or friend, contact us at 256-782-5918 or by email today!

If so, let us know, and we'll do our best to accommodate you next semester. If you have a leisure learning or professional development course you think others might be interested in, email us your suggestion

Have expertise you'd like to share, why not teach for us? We are always looking for new course ideas and instructors to teach them. If you have a talent you would like to share; we'd like to hear from you. Contact Andy Green at (256) 782-5956.
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? We're here to help!
(800) 634-7199 | (256) 782-5918 | ConEdHelp@jsu.edu