Engineering Outreach Program

Barry Willis, Associate Dean for Outreach, College of Engineering (PO Box 441014, Moscow ID 83844-1014; phone (208) 885-6373; eo.uidaho.edu; outreach@uidaho.edu).

The Engineering Outreach (EO) program began in 1973 with support from a Kellogg Foundation grant; EO's first courses were delivered on videotape to regional corporations and libraries. Today, EO delivers courses online for various academic departments in addition to engineering, to hundreds of students worldwide each semester. In-class sessions are recorded and encoded in a high resolution MPEG-4 format and viewed by students through a secure Web portal. Engineering Outreach online study options include master's degrees, academic certificates, and nondegree course work for transfer credit, background study, and professional education.

Master's Degree Programs. Engineering Outreach delivers courses for the master's degrees listed below. All required course work may be completed at a distance, and most students visit the campus near the end of their program to take a comprehensive exam or defend a thesis.

Biological and Agricultural Engineering – emphasis in water management (M.S., M.Engr.)
Civil Engineering (M.Engr.)
Computer Engineering (M.S., M.Engr.)
Computer Science (M.S.)
Electrical Engineering (M.S., M.Engr.)
Engineering Management (M.Engr.)
Geological Engineering (M.S.)
Mechanical Engineering (M.Engr.)
Statistical Science (M.S.)
Teaching Mathematics (M.A.T.)
Technology Management (M.S.)

Academic Certificates. Academic certificates provide opportunities for professional advancement, and build a strong foundation for future graduate study. EO course delivery is available for the following certificates:

Analog Integrated Circuit Design
Applied Geotechnics
Electric Machines and Drives
Power System Protection and Relaying
Process & Performance Excellence
Secure and Dependable Computing Systems
Semiconductor Theory and Devices
Statistics
Structural Engineering
Water Resources Engineering

Focus Areas. Selected academic departments offer courses through Engineering Outreach, which may be applied toward degrees at the University or used for transfer credit. Engineering Outreach delivers courses in the following focus areas:

Business
Nuclear Engineering
Psychology – emphasis in human factors
Water Resources

Online Course Delivery. In-class sessions are recorded and encoded in a high-resolution MPEG-4 format for online delivery through a secure Web portal and may be viewed or downloaded and saved within three hours of production. Students also access handouts and graded materials at the portal. All course materials, including lectures, are provided for students' personal reference and may not be sold or re-distributed; and reproduction is prohibited under copyright law.

Internet Requirement. Internet access is required for all EO students. High speed broadband access and a computer with at least a 2 GHz processor and 2 GB of RAM are required to access course sessions and other materials at the Engineering Outreach portal.

Academic Support Services. The Student Services Coordinators at Engineering Outreach assist with registration, fee payments, course material/exam delivery, policies and procedures; and work closely with other University departments to facilitate related services to EO students.

Instructor Contact. Instructors are available to grade student work and answer questions throughout the semester. Instructors can be reached by e-mail, fax or by toll-free telephone; and contact information is provided on the EO website.

Exams. Students recommend an exam proctor who will manage the exam files electronically and supervise the testing process throughout the semester. Prospective proctors are required to complete a certification form before EO will release the exams to them. Proctoring services are available at the University of Idaho Centers in Boise and Idaho Falls, and at the North Idaho College in Coeur d'Alene. Some other acceptable proctors include: faculty/staff at educational institutions, students' work supervisors or training coordinators, U.S. military education officers, and public librarians. Proctors must be non-partial and cannot be students' personal friends, family members, work subordinates or other EO students.

VandalMail. All EO students are assigned a VandalMail account when they are admitted to the University, and all e-mail correspondence from EO is sent to that address. In addition to important messages about registration and online session availability, EO also notifies students when exams are sent and received, and when graded work is posted on the EO portal.

E-mail Confidentiality. VandalMail addresses are considered "directory information," and are not kept confidential unless students submit the Request to Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information form (available on the registrar's website). If students submit this form, they must also notify EO directly or their e-mail address will be provided to their classmates on the tenth day of the semester.

Library Services. University library services are available to EO students, and online tutorials are provided on the library's website. Students can access library materials from anywhere in the world by requesting a library barcode number, and librarians specializing in distance education are available to assist EO students.

Admission. Engineering Outreach students must be admitted to the University of Idaho as undergraduate, nondegree or graduate students before registering for courses. EO students follow the same admission procedures as on-campus students, and submit their applications directly to the University admissions office.

Registration. Instructions for registering are provided on the EO website; and the EO deadline is the same as the on-campus deadline. Instructor permission is required for nondegree students to take 500-level courses, and for all on-campus students. The EO Student Services Coordinators will assist students with the registration process.

Fees. Engineering Outreach students pay a per-credit fee, and nonresidents pay the same fees as residents. Fees include registration and online course access but do not include textbooks or software. Payment must be received by the first day of the semester to avoid late fees. Course fees are subject to change at any time by the Board of Regents of the University of Idaho, and the most current fees are posted on the EO website.

Textbooks. Textbooks are not included with the course materials supplied by Engineering Outreach. Textbook information is provided in the course syllabus and on the University of Idaho VandalStore website.

Military Benefits. University of Idaho programs are approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and students may use VA education benefits, including tuition assistance to help pay their Engineering Outreach course fees. The University's veterans' adviser at the Dean of Student's office will assist with the VA education application process, and EO will accept payment vouchers.

Financial Aid. Engineering Outreach students are eligible for the same financial aid benefits as on-campus students. Graduate and undergraduate students may qualify for aid if they are enrolled at least half-time, but nondegree students are not eligible for financial aid. Students planning to use financial aid to pay EO course fees must have a completed file in the University's financial aid office before they can register.

Grades and Transcripts. Engineering Outreach course grades are due at the same time as on-campus grades, and are accessible through the University's VandalWeb information system after being posted by the instructor. Students with extenuating circumstances that prevent them from finishing a course on time may request a grade of "incomplete" from the instructor. Students can download unofficial transcripts from VandalWeb or request official transcripts from the registrar's office for a small fee. Official transcripts do not indicate that courses were delivered online, and diplomas granted to Engineering Outreach students are identical to those earned on campus.