Framework
To advance Ohio State’s Mission and Academic Plan through non-credit courses and programs. The university’s Mission and Academic Plan calls for inclusive opportunities to engage a wider array of learners via innovative, student-centered experiences. Ohio State Professional and Continuing Education will work with academic units to partner and create post-traditional, student-centered programs in ways to expand access to high quality educational opportunities that will fit into their busy, adult, working professional lives.
Vision – To create a learner-centered, business partner enabled, and career connected non-credit experience in collaboration with Ohio State colleges/departments, business partners, and the state government.
Mission – By delivering meaningful, engaging, evidence-based non-credit education, Ohio State will build upon existing efforts to become a stronger workforce development and lifelong learning partner for our communities, state, and beyond. We will meet individual and community needs as learners seek to achieve personal and professional goals and as opportunities evolve.
Context, Roles, and Background
Our intent is to collect data and evidence about costs on a budget model that matches the existing Earning Operations policy (see pg. 4; VIII. Fees). Understanding the criticality of budgeting for FY26, we’ve established $7.31 per enrollment for courses/programs leveraging non-credit Canvas enrollments, or $5 when non-credit Canvas access is not required. FY26 rates were established by assumed average handle time per enrollment and average compensation for support desk staff and known technology costs. During FY26, PCE will collect actual PCE Help Desk use data to inform any potential changes for FY27 or beyond.
Based on contracts with the systems’ vendors, we plan to continuously monitor when it would make sense to flip from a per-enrollment to a per-person pricing model. Historically, the average (with the data we have access to) is 1.5 enrollments per person.
Terms of Use
FY26 Breakdown: $7.31 per enrollment
- $4 per enrollment for support provided by PCE [PCE help desk support, account creation, and credential provisioning support]
- $1 per enrollment pass through for Destiny One [including learner identity creation]
- $2.31 pass through per enrollment for non-credit Canvas to Instructure via OTDI (FY26 rate)
Additional fees to include in pricing or to be paid:
- % credit card fee (average is 3%)
- % for university overhead for Earnings Unit (FY25 rate currently 5.04%; FY26 4.69%)
Where more extensive services are requested by the college/unit to build and manage a new program, a revenue model may be discussed.
The non-credit Canvas contract was negotiated by OTDI, and we’re providing a passthrough to them for the per-enrollment cost of the contract. Below is the future cost table in that contract. The enrollment band is at the aggregate of those in non-credit Canvas. There is an approximate 3% cost increase each year. Current Canvas LMS non-credit Internet 2 pricing (Per Enrollment)
| Dates | 7/1/25- 6/30/26 | 7/1/26- 6/30/27 | 7/1/27- 6/30-28 | 7/1/28- 6/30/29 | 7/1/29- 6/30/30 | 7/1/30- 6/30/31 | 7/1/31- 6/30/32 | 7/1/32- 6/30/33 | 7/1/33- 6/30/34 | |
| Enroll Low | Enroll High | |||||||||
| 24,000 | 99,999 | $2.31 | $2.38 | $2.45 | $2.52 | $2.60 | $2.68 | $2.76 | $2.84 | $2.93 |
| 100,000 | and up | $2.19 | $2.26 | $2.33 | $2.40 | $2.47 | $2.54 | $2.62 | $2.70 | $2.78 |
Core Services as part of per-enrollment fee:
- First Tier Enrollment Support: Provide support for participant enrollment, refunds/credits, and course section transfers; provision credentials and existing CEUs (as applicable); support ongoing access to credentials and transcripts; support bulk purchase enrollments; Social Login.
Additional services provided at no cost and subject to change:
- Non-credit SMS management: Build and maintain course and certificate registration pages and sections, assign course numbering, monitor registration, build applications (as applicable); discounts; build Corporate Engagement Portals (as applicable). Units should allow five business days to create a registration page after request.
- Baseline viability review: This includes a basic understanding of market competition and fiscal projections for offerings. As stakeholders propose offerings and seek support about knowing their break-even or revenue strategy, PCE will enact in the research and provide considerations for how the offering fits in the stakeholder’s portfolio (if applicable) during ongoing conversations and engagements.
- Metrics monitoring and reporting: Continually observe program health, provide dashboards to view program data on-demand, conduct reviews and meetings with unit to discuss course/certificate health, performance toward revenue/cost recovery goals, and plan next steps.
- Transition coordination: Monitor and communicate status of transition progress.
PCE support, Destiny One, and non-credit Canvas fees are not opt-out services. Market research support to be provided as requested. Comprehensive Program Development and Management services are available as opt-in services via a co-developed and agreed upon profit share model with selected services built into the pro forma of revenue and cost estimates for future offerings. Each opt-in service opportunity needs to be analyzed and will match the level of PCE service requested. Generally, any course profit share is up to 30% of profit.
- Market research and viability: Deeper research to determine feasibility for competitive offerings within the market landscape.
- Financial pro formas: Build enrollment, revenue metrics and goals in support of a sustainable portfolio.
- Project management: Ensure projects move swiftly forward on designated timeline with dedicated staff to coordinate, track, escalate, and report progress.
- Design thinking brainstorming sessions: Development process for building competitive offering.
- Instructional design and non-credit Canvas course build: Provide instructional design and learning experience design services to optimize content into an online learning experience.
- Brand marketing: Build awareness and engagement with offerings through brand marketing of Ohio State’s non-credit front door—continuinged.osu.edu. PCE may consult on target marketing opportunities.
- Targeted recruitment and marketing to reach specific audiences can be supported through unit investment.
- Subject matter expert (SME) and instructor recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and assignment: While this support is possible at a program level, this may become applicable at a portfolio level or unit level.
Per enrollment fees and calculations will be collected throughout the year via the Destiny One system. Revenue (minus fees) would be processed four times (4x) a year and distributed in October, January, May, and July (before FY close).
Enrollment fee charges will begin as follows:
- For offerings currently being processed in Canvas Catalog and will be transitioned to Destiny One, the $7.31 per enrollment fee will begin July 1, 2025.
- For new offerings with no currently active enrollments processed by Canvas Catalog, enrollments will be processed via Destiny One and the $7.31 per enrollment fee will begin upon enrollment.
- With any fee implementation taking place for July 1 of each fiscal year, partners would be notified by January 31 of any price increase for the next fiscal year.
- It is anticipated fees generally would increase aligned with the increased merit pay pool unless use data warrant any substantive change.
- With any fee implementation taking place for July 1 of each fiscal year, partners would be notified by January 31 of any price increase for the next fiscal year.
- Any rate change timelines will depend on when FP&A/Controllership announces them. PCE's goal is to announce upcoming changes at least 6 months before the start of the fiscal year/implementation of new fees. The intent is any increase will become predictable and consistent. Like with other Earnings Operations, rates typically increase 3% each year.
Communication
- Units should expect regular and ongoing communication with updates to the services and Destiny One tool.
- OTDI will communicate updates to Canvas through their normal learning technology communication channels.
- PCE will communicate updates to instructors and administrators leveraging the Destiny One registration and learner record platform when tools and services are disrupted and when services are updated. Additionally, interested stakeholders can sign up to be included as communication recipients by writing to continuinged@osu.edu.
- Notification timeline should OSO PCE sunset Destiny One or services provided above.
Escalation process:
- Initial intake: continuinged@osu.edu
- College Partnerships Manager: Scott Sheeler
- Professional and Continuing Education Director: Jessica Phillips
- AVP: Brandi Bittner
- Dean / VP: Jason Lemon
- Provost
Policies
PCE and colleges/units offering continuing education are governed by Ohio State policies: https://policies.osu.edu/responsible-office, including, but not limited to: