In this booklet describing purposes and guidelines for use of the Continuing Education Unit (CEU), the Council on the CEU sets forth the case for the Unit's use and flexibility. Defined as ten contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction, the CEU was designed as a uniform unit of measurement to facilitate the accumulation and exchange of standardized information about individual participation in noncredit continuing education. A great variety of institutions and organizations may award the CEU, provided they meet administrative criteria as set forth in the booklet--fairly rigorous calculation of contact hours, maintenance of permanent records, upholding or program quality and sponsor integrity, and adequate evaluation of program impact. Other guidelines are these: The student seeking CEU must complete the program, whether with formal, informal, or no actual performance evaluation; students recieve no CEU for such activities as High School Equivalency programs, meetings and conventions, academic credit programs, on-the-job training, and self-directed study. The booklet points out the potential for using CEU to accumulate data nationwide on continuing learning and education, and ends with three pages of questions and answers, a short history of the development of the CEU, and Council membership information. (CP)