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Engineering Outreach Program

Barry Willis, Associate Dean for Outreach, College of Engineering (875 Perimeter Dr MS 1014, Moscow ID 83844-1014; phone (208) 885-6373; http://eo.uidaho.edu; outreach@uidaho.edu).

The Engineering Outreach (EO) program began in 1975 to meet the educational needs of Idaho's just-developing high-tech industry. EO's first courses were delivered on videotape to regional corporations and educational centers. 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 in high definition and encoded in a high-resolution MP4 format and viewed by students through a secure Web portal. Engineering Outreach online study options include master’s degrees, academic certificates, and nondegree coursework for transfer credit, background study, and professional education.

Engineering Outreach delivers a variety of undergraduate courses, but it is not possible to earn an undergraduate degree completely at a distance through the program.

Master’s Degree Programs. Engineering Outreach delivers courses for the master's degrees listed below. All required coursework 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.

  • 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.)
  • Mathematics (M.A.T.)
  • Mechanical Engineering (M.Engr.)
  • Statistical Science (M.S.)
  • 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
  • Power System Protection and Relaying
  • Process & Performance Excellence
  • Secure and Dependable Computing Systems
  • Statistics

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.

Registration. Instructions for registering on VandalWeb are provided on the EO website; EO students follow the same registration and refund schedule as on-campus students. The EO enrollment services specialist will assist with the registration process.

Fees. EO-delivered courses carry a per-credit production fee, which helps cover the cost of production and delivery. Nonresidents pay the same amount as Idaho residents for EO-delivered courses. The cost of textbooks, computer software and proctoring services (if charged) are not included in EO fees. Payment in full is expected 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 GI education benefits or tuition assistance to help pay their Engineering Outreach course fees. The university’s veterans adviser at the Office of the Dean of Students 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. Nondegree students are not eligible.

Online Course Delivery. In-class sessions are recorded in high definition and encoded in a high-resolution MP4 format for online delivery through the EO Portal. Sessions may be viewed or downloaded and saved approximately two hours after production. Students also access handouts and graded materials in the portal. All course materials, including lectures, are provided for students' personal reference and may not be sold or redistributed; 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 EO Portal.

Instructor Contact. Instructors are available to grade coursework and answer questions throughout the semester. Instructors can be reached by email or phone; contact information is provided on the EO website.

Exams. Students select 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 and be accepted by EO before exams are released to them. Proctoring services are available at the University of Idaho centers in Boise, Coeur d'Alene and Idaho Falls. 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 impartial and cannot be students’ personal friends, family members, work subordinates or other U-Idaho students.

VandalMail. All EO students are assigned a VandalMail account when they are admitted to the university, and all email 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.

Email Confidentiality. VandalMail addresses are considered "directory information," meaning this information can be disclosed to anyone and is not protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), unless the student specifically requests it be kept confidential by submitting the Confidentiality Request form to the registrar's office. FERPA allows one exception to this policy. If requested by the instructor, the student's name and email address will be disclosed to other students in that course as part of a class roster, regardless of confidentiality status. By enrolling in a course, the student forfeits the right to a confidential email address in this circumstance, only.

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.

Grades and Transcripts. Engineering Outreach course grades 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 Office of the Registrar 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.