Policies and Information for OCPE Students

These policies vary from course to course. Please consult the policies included with your registration confirmation for your specific program.

Canceling Your Registration

In most cases, registrants usually may withdraw in writing (via an email to registration@njaes.rutgers.edu) from a class up to three (3) full business days before a course begins to receive a full refund, less the cancellation fee, materials fee and any other fees as noted on the course webpage. In some cases, registrants may be required to withdraw more than three days before the course begins; please check the individual course webpage and your confirmation for details. Registrants may also request a credit towards a future course in lieu of a refund.

If the Office of Continuing Professional Education is not notified in writing at least three or more business days (or by the date specified on the relevant course webpage) prior to the start of class, registrants will not receive a refund.

Submit your written cancellation request at least 3 or more business days prior to the course start date (or by the date specified for your course) to us at registration@njaes.rutgers.edu.

Substitutions

For most courses, you may send another person to attend in your place. However, for courses with prerequisites, substitute attendees may not be permitted. Please check the course webpage for details and exceptions.

Canceled Courses

In the event that we cancel a course, we will try to reschedule and automatically place registered students in the new offering (registrants will be notified of the new date). If a student is unable to attend on the new date, a refund will be issued if we are notified in writing at least three full business days prior to the rescheduled class. If we are unable to reschedule, a refund will be issued or a credit towards a future course will be offered.

Credit Card Payments: A refund will be issued back to the same credit card within 5 business days.

Check, Cash, or Money Order Payments: A refund will be issued by check to the individual or company who made the original payment. Refunds by check take 6-8 weeks to process.

A $35 fee will be charged for any returned check.

Face Coverings: Face coverings are not required at the university but are welcomed.

Vaccination Requirements: As of April 1, 2024, Rutgers no longer requires students, faculty, staff, and university affiliates to be immunized against the COVID-19 virus.

Preventing Spread of Respiratory Viruses When You’re Sick: Taking steps to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses when you are sick is a core prevention strategy to lower risk from respiratory viruses. Follow the CDC’s guidelines on preventing the spread of respiratory viruses when you are ill.

Testing: Reporting of positive COVID-19 test results to the university is not required.

IMPORTANT: A UNIQUE EMAIL ADDRESS IS REQUIRED FOR EACH REGISTRANT TO REGISTER AND ACCESS OUR COURSES

If this is your first time registering with us, please provide your own unique email address when registering; do not provide an email address that you share with co-workers.

If you have previously taken classes with us and have used an email address that you share with your co-workers or supervisor, your account must be updated with a unique email address. To do this, please send an email to us at registration@njaes.rutgers.edu stating that your email address needs to be changed and include:

• Your full name
• The shared email address that needs to be changed
• Your unique email address
• A phone number where you can be reached if we have any questions

First, and foremost, if you do not feel comfortable enough to drive, please don’t! Your safety is important to us. However, if you do plan to attend class, there are two ways you can check to see if we’re holding classes on a bad-weather day.

One, check our website. We update the Operating Status page during weather events that may impact scheduled courses.

Two, call our main office number at 848-932-9271 and press 4. The outgoing message will be updated by 6:00am on days when we are experiencing inclement winter weather with information on cancellations.

Mail, Fax, and Email List Privacy

We respect your privacy. We will never sell, rent, or exchange your contact information with a third party.

Messages are sent on a periodic basis to inform you of upcoming courses, special offers, or to share useful information, tips, news, or content based on your areas of interest. Messages you receive from us will always include unsubscribe information so that you can quickly and easily remove your name from our list at any time.

How to Unsubscribe

To unsubscribe right away, contact us:

• Email: ocpe@njaes.rutgers.edu
• Phone: 848-932-9271, option 3
• Fax: 732-932-1187

Please be sure to include your full name, phone number, fax number, and email address so that we can accurately remove you from our active contact list. If you would like to be removed from one list but not another (e.g. you want to continue receiving emails but not faxes), please include that information in your unsubscribe request.

Thank you for your interest in our programs!

Website and Advertising Privacy

We respect your privacy. We do not collect personally identifiable information about visitors to our website. We use third party vendors (e.g. Google Analytics) to track visits, activity, and trends on our website. Google uses cookies to serve our ads on other websites based on an individual’s past actions or visits to our website. Click here to see how Google uses data. You may opt out of receiving this type of “behavioral advertising” by following these instructions for opting out of Google tracking or using Network Advertising Initiative’s (NAI) Opt Out Tool for all advertisers.

If you require special assistance, please notify our office when you register for a course and/or no less than one week in advance of the course start date. Every effort will be made to accommodate reasonable requests to meet your needs. For more information, please visit the Rutgers Office of Disability Services.

Registered participants under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

The Office of Continuing Professional Education, a unit of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, is an equal opportunity program provider and employer.

OCPE’s online courses are typically held via Zoom or in Canvas*, the university’s learning management system. Some classes are synchronous (held on a specific date, at a specific time) and instructor-led. Other classes are asynchronous (available to start at any time) and self-paced (you work through the material at your own pace). Other courses may offer a combination of teaching methods and synchronous and asynchronous material. In general:

• Self-paced classes that you can begin and complete at any time are typically offered in Canvas* and you will be given access immediately after you complete your registration.
• Live instructor-led classes will require you to be online and participating at an appointed date/time. The live portions of these courses are typically held in Zoom. Some of these classes may also use Canvas* to provide you with supplemental course materials, quizzes, surveys, assignments, or other resources. You will receive additional instructions and zoom links via email shortly before these courses start.

Please check the information provided on the course page and in your email confirmation for specific details about the course you will be attending.

Please note that a unique email address is required to participate in and receive credit for attending our online courses. See our “Unique Email Address Requirement” policy above for more information.

*A note about Canvas: If it is your first time registering for a Canvas course at Rutgers, you will receive an email from “Rutgers University Canvas” prompting you to click a link to finish setting up your Canvas account. Once your course is open and available, you will receive additional emails from Canvas inviting you to participate. If you do not see these Canvas messages in your email inbox, please check your junk/spam folder or search your email account for “instructure” (the company that hosts the Canvas system).

Some GPS systems do not recognize Rutgers campus addresses, or they may take you to the correct building but not to the assigned parking lot. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you use the directions we provide. If you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to contact us at ocpe@njaes.rutgers.edu.

Please note that parking permits are required for some courses. Registrants will receive instructions for registering their vehicles online with the Rutgers Department of Transportation Services if needed.

Directions to Rutgers Buildings

• Bioresource Engineering Laboratory (formerly Extension Conference Center) – New Brunswick, NJ
• Cook Student Center – New Brunswick, NJ
• Douglass Student Center / Trayes Hall – New Brunswick, NJ
• Holly House – New Brunswick, NJ
• New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health (IFNH) – New Brunswick, NJ
• Ralph Geiger Turfgrass Education Center – New Brunswick, NJ
• Rutgers EcoComplex – Bordentown, NJ
• Rutgers Fruit and Ornamental Research Extension Center – Cream Ridge, NJ

Directions to Non-Rutgers Buildings

• Somerset County Environmental Education Center – Lord Stirling Park – Basking Ridge, NJ

How to Get Here

Many of our courses are held on the Rutgers Cook Campus in New Brunswick, New Jersey, about 1 hour from both New York City and Philadelphia. However, some courses are held at other locations. Please be sure to confirm where your class is being held before making any travel arrangements!

You can fly to Newark Liberty International Airport and rent a car for a 25-minute drive or take a 30-minute train ride directly from the airport to New Brunswick. Depending on the location of your class, you MAY be able to use public transportation to reach it. Please call us to find out at 848-932-9271.

Helpful Links for Travel

• Getting to and from Newark Airport
• NJ Transit Train and Bus Schedules

If you have any questions about where your course is located or how to get there, please contact the Program Coordinator for the course.

Fun Places to Visit While You’re Here

• New Brunswick
  • While you are here in New Brunswick, take advantage of the many local cultural, entertainment, and fine dining options available.
  • Visit the New Brunswick City Center website for more information.
  • The Rutgers Department of Community Affairs publishes a monthly newsletter featuring upcoming events that are held both on campus and in local communities. You can check out past issues here. Click the “join our mailing list” at the bottom of any newsletter to subscribe so you are ” in the know” for your upcoming visit!

• Princeton
  • Approximately a 30 minute drive from New Brunswick (South on Rt 1), Princeton offers a wide array of boutiques, restaurants, historical sites, and events.
  • Go to the Visit Princeton-Mercer website for tourism and visitor information.

• Atlantic City
  • Approximately a 2 hour drive from New Brunswick, Atlantic City offers casino gaming, spas, top entertainment and nightlife, fine dining, amazing shopping, golf, and the world-famous Boardwalk.
  • Visit the DO AC website for tourism and visitor information.

• Other NJ Destinations
  • Whether you enjoy the serenity of hiking in the mountains or along the Delaware River, crave the sun and fun of the beach, love to shop ’til you drop, enjoy history or the arts, prefer the thrill of live sports, or need family-friendly options, NJ has something to suit everyone’s interests.
  • Go to the Visit NJ website to learn more, and request or download a free NJ travel guide.

• New York City
  • If you wish to visit the “Big Apple” during your stay, the easiest way to get there is by train. Take the Northeast Corridor line from the New Brunswick train station to the last stop: New York’s Penn Station. Approximate trip time: 50-55 minutes. Visit NJ Transit’s website for schedules and rates. Have fun but please note that the last train leaving NYC departs at 1:20am. If you miss it, you will have to wait for the next train, which leaves after 5:00am.
  • For information on visiting NYC, take a look at the official guide to NY State Tourism or one of these unofficial but equally helpful websites:
    • Want a guided tour? Check out the options on the Guides Association of NYC website.
    • NYCgo.com – “The Official Guide” to New York City events and activities
    • Time Out New York – Calendar of events, activities, and things to do including restaurants, bars, and nightlife
    • New York City Museums

• Philadelphia
  • The easiest way to reach Philadelphia is by car, taking Rt 95/NJ Turnpike South into downtown Philadelphia (a/k/a “Center City”), for a total drive time of about 1 hour. Alternatively, you may take the NJ Transit train to Trenton then switch to the SEPTA line to reach 30th Street Station in Philadelphia (total ride time ~ 1.5 hours).
  • Go to the Visit Philadelphia website for tourism and visitor information.

Many of our courses are held on the Rutgers Cook Campus in New Brunswick, New Jersey. However, some courses are held at other locations. Please be sure to confirm where your class is being held before making any hotel arrangements!

If your course is being held in New Brunswick, the Rutgers University Inn and Conference Center is one option to consider. It is located on Cook Campus and within walking distance to many on-campus course locations.

There are many other hotels in the New Brunswick area. You can use any travel site or search engine to locate options and find one that meets your needs and budget. Some may offer special rates for students who are taking courses at Rutgers. To find out if you are eligible, tell the hotel reservation department that you are attending a Rutgers class.

If you have any questions about where your course is located or how to get there from your hotel, please contact the Program Coordinator for the course.

Course materials and handouts are included in your registration fee.

However, textbooks, design supplies, and other class supplies are included ONLY where specified.

Meals are provided at some courses, typically* as follows:

• Full day courses – Lunch provided
• Morning half day courses – no meal provided
• Afternoon half day courses – no meal provided
• Evening courses – no meal provided
• Online courses – no meal provided

*Please note that there are some exceptions to the standard meal policy stated above. Specific details about the meals being offered at a particular course will be provided in your registration confirmation and on the course webpage in the “Meals” section (found just below Continuing Education Credits). You can also contact the Program Coordinator for the course for meal information.

NOTE: If you have any dietary restrictions or food allergies, please alert us at least one (1) week in advance of the course start date so that we can make reasonable accommodations. We cannot guarantee accommodations for special requests made after that time.

One (1) Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is defined as ten (10) contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education experience.

Some courses offer recertification credits approved by other organizations (e.g. Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, NJDEP Certified Pesticide Applicator, and NJ Public Health CEs, to name a few).

Credit information is posted on the course webpage, and you can find courses approved for a specific credit type using our Credit Search page. If you have any questions about the number/type of credits offered for a particular course, please contact the Program Coordinator.

Several training programs offered by our office are approved for educational benefits through the GI Bill® VA Training Program administered in New Jersey by the Department of Veterans affairs.

Please visit our VA Benefits page for more information.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Pursuing and achieving your continuing education goals may be more affordable than you think. From loans to discounts to employer reimbursement programs, learn more about Financial Aid options for attending OCPE courses.

We are happy to provide a “transcript letter” listing the courses you have taken with our office.

A $15 fee will assessed.

Please visit our transcript page for more information and to submit your request.

Certain OCPE courses issue digital badges—a credential that the earner can share with colleagues or prospective employers or schools via social media or email. The badge displays detailed information about the rigorous training that was completed. To learn more, visit our digital badge page.

If you have lost the certificate we provided to you for one of our classes, you may request a replacement certificate.

A $15 fee will assessed.

Please send requests for replacement certificates directly to the program coordinator or administrative assistant who handled the course you attended. If you do not know who that person is, you may send your request to our Registration Department via email: registration@njaes.rutgers.edu.

After your attendance and successful completion of the course has been confirmed, you will be provided a link to our registration system where you will log in, “register” for the certificate replacement, and complete your $15 payment online.

After we receive your payment, your replacement certificate will be generated and emailed to you in PDF format within 5 business days.

Looking for a 1098-T form?

The courses offered by the Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education are non-credit programs. As a result, we do not provide 1098-T forms. However, continuing education students may be eligible for the Lifetime Learning tax credit.

Lifetime Learning Tax Credit

The Lifetime Learning tax credit is applicable to any level of post-secondary education. It enables a taxpayer to claim a tax credit of up to $2,000 per family for the cost of qualified tuition and related expenses paid by the taxpayer during the tax year on behalf of the taxpayer, the taxpayer’s spouse, or the taxpayer’s dependents. You may qualify for educational tax credit for tuition and fees paid for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education courses.

A family can claim on its tax return a credit up to $2,000 ($4,000 if a student lives in a Midwestern disaster area) of educational expenses. Eligible education expenses are offset by scholarships, grants, and employer provided tax free educational assistance. The tax credit is subject to income and other limitations. Taxpayers may file IRS form 8863 Educational Credits with their tax returns to claim tax credits.

For detailed information consult IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Higher Education, which describes the tax credits along with other tax savings opportunities related to the higher cost of education. It may be obtained at any IRS office, at http://www.irs.gov/publications/p970/ch03.html, or by calling 1-800-829-1040.

Need a Receipt?

If you need a copy of your payment receipt for a Rutgers OCPE course, please review our instructions on how to print a copy directly from your account. For further assistance, contact our Registration Department at registration@njaes.rutgers.edu or 848-932-9271, option 2.