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What is UO Continuing and Professional Education?
UO Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) is the University of Oregon's non-admitted-student arm for learning: it connects the university with regional communities through professional development, lifelong learning, and conference and academic support services. Programs are self-support and fee-based rather than state-funded, and CPE reports serving more than 5,000 participants annually in partnership with UO schools and colleges, selected vendors, and national credentialing associations.
Legacy Programs - UO Continuing and Professional Education
What it offers
- Professional development — career-focused programs and partnerships, including topics such as AI Essentials, AI for HR Professionals, AI for Marketing, and Project Management.
- Lifelong learning — non-career learning through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and Osher Online Seminars.
- Academic support — behind-the-scenes services for credit and noncredit programs, such as registration processing and management, accounting, customer service, and data management.
- Conference services — administrative support for conferences and noncredit workshops run by academic departments and individual faculty.
Who it's for
The clearest fit is someone who wants UO-linked learning without applying for admission: a working professional adding a credential, a retiree or curious adult joining Osher offerings, or an employer, association, or faculty member who needs registration, accounting, or event logistics handled. If you want a full degree and campus student status, this is a different route.
A practical next step
Start from your goal, not the program list. If you need a job-related skill, look at the professional development offerings and check the format, schedule, and any credential attached. If you want learning for its own sake, compare the Osher institute with the online seminars. If you are organizing an event or a program, contact Conference Services or Academic Support early, since registration and accounting setup takes lead time.
How can I enroll in a professional development program without being admitted to the University of Oregon?
You can enroll directly through UO Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) rather than applying for admission to the University of Oregon. CPE is built for exactly this situation: its programs are open to individuals who are not admitted UO students, and they are self-support and fee-based rather than funded by state dollars. Enrollment happens through CPE, not through the university's admissions process.
UO Continuing and Professional Education
Who this route suits
- Working professionals who want a specific skill or credential without committing to a degree.
- People exploring a field before deciding whether to apply to a graduate or undergraduate program.
- Employers or associations arranging training for staff through a partner.
- Community members who want structured learning for its own sake.
How the pieces fit together
| Path | Best for | Entry route |
|---|---|---|
| Professional development | Career skills and qualifications | Enroll through CPE |
| Lifelong learning (including Osher programs) | Learning for personal interest | Enroll through CPE |
| Conference and noncredit workshops | Short, focused events, often faculty-led | Register via Conference Services |
| Credit program support | Departments, employers and associations needing registration or administration handled | Arranged in partnership with CPE |
The page lists professional development areas such as AI Essentials, AI for HR Professionals, AI for Marketing and Project Management, with a fuller catalog under its professional development section. Lifelong learning is a separate track, including the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and Osher Online Seminars — worth choosing if your goal is enrichment rather than a career credential.
A practical next step
Decide first whether you want a credential to show an employer or knowledge for its own sake; that single question points you to professional development or to lifelong learning. Then open the relevant program page, check the format and any prerequisites, and register. If you are enrolling on behalf of a team or an organization, ask about the partnership and administrative support options instead of registering person by person — CPE handles registration processing, accounting, customer service and data management for partner programs, which is usually simpler at scale.
What types of academic support does CPE provide for credit and noncredit programs?
CPE provides behind-the-scenes administrative support for credit and noncredit programs run with local employers, associations, vendors, and UO academic units. The page names registration processing and management, accounting, customer service, and data management as examples, and notes these services “can include but are not limited to” those tasks.
What that means in practice
Credit program support covers the administrative side of for-credit offerings: handling registrations, managing accounts and payments, responding to participant questions, and keeping records organized. This lets an academic department or partner focus on teaching rather than administration.
Noncredit program support applies the same back-office functions to workshops, seminars, and other non-degree offerings, which often have different registration and record-keeping needs than credit courses.
Conference and event support is a related service: CPE handles administrative support for conferences and noncredit workshops, including events from academic departments and individual faculty members, and can provide Eugene event facilities.
A useful next step is to decide which category your program falls into—credit, noncredit, or a conference—then contact CPE with a short description of the tasks you want handled. If your main need is registration and payment processing, say so directly; if you also need accounting, customer service, or data management, list those separately so they can confirm what they can take on.
What lifelong learning opportunities are available through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute?
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Oregon is the main lifelong-learning pathway on this site, aimed at adults who want to keep learning without enrolling as admitted UO students. The page lists it under Lifelong Learning alongside Osher Online Seminars, which suggests a mix of in-person or local programming and online seminar options.
Who it suits
- Adults later in life or beyond traditional degree study who want non-credit enrichment rather than a credential.
- People who prefer structured courses and seminars without the pressure of admissions or grades.
- Learners who want to stay connected to a university community in a low-commitment way.
How to choose
If you want local, community-based learning, start with OLLI. If scheduling or distance makes attendance difficult, look at Osher Online Seminars first. If your goal is career advancement rather than enrichment, the Professional Development section is the better fit.
Next step
Visit the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute page on UO Continuing and Professional Education to see current course formats, meeting times and registration steps. As a practical check, confirm whether a given offering is in person or online and whether any membership or fee applies before you commit.
How can I get administrative support for a conference or noncredit workshop at the University of Oregon?
For conference or noncredit workshop administration at the University of Oregon, start with Conference Services, part of Continuing and Professional Education (CPE). It provides administrative support for conferences and noncredit workshops, including events run by academic departments and individual faculty members. See the support options at UO Continuing and Professional Education.
What kind of support it covers
CPE describes its academic support as help for credit and noncredit programs in partnership with local employers, associations, vendors, and UO academic units. Listed services include registration processing and management, accounting, customer service, and data management. Conference Services handles the administrative side of events, so you can focus on the program itself.
Who this fits
- UO faculty or departments planning a conference or noncredit workshop
- Employers, associations, or vendors partnering with UO on a program
- Anyone who needs registration, accounting, or customer-service logistics handled rather than doing them in-house
A practical next step
Contact CPE with your event date, expected attendance, and the specific tasks you want handled — registration, accounting, customer service, or data management. Ask which Conference Services support option matches your event. One trade-off: CPE programs are self-support and fee-based and do not use state dollars, so plan for cost recovery rather than assuming university budget coverage.
Are CPE programs self-support and fee-based, and do they use state dollars?
Yes. The page states that Continuing and Professional Education programs are self-support and fee-based, and that they do not use state dollars. That means the programs are expected to cover their costs through the fees participants pay, rather than relying on state funding.
What this means in practice
- Fees fund the programs. Budgeting, staffing and services are tied to enrollment and fee revenue, so costs are generally passed to participants or sponsoring employers and associations.
- No state subsidy. The page explicitly says state dollars are not used, so you should not assume a reduced in-state rate or taxpayer-funded discount for these offerings.
- Support services are part of the model. CPE also provides registration processing and management, accounting, customer service and data management for credit and noncredit programs run with employers, associations, vendors and UO academic units.
A useful next step
If you are comparing options, ask two questions before enrolling or partnering: what the total fee covers, and whether your employer, association or department can sponsor the cost. A working professional might find an employer-funded professional development course affordable, while a community learner paying out of pocket should check the full fee schedule first.
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