Online Student Handbook

Transcription

1 Online Student Handbook Courses and Programs st St. Troy, NY New Scotland Ave. Albany, NY 12208

2 Table of Contents Table of Contents... 2 Part 1: Introduction to Online Learning.. 3 Part 2: Communication Options... 5 Part 3: Technology Recommendations Part 4: Academic Responsibilities Part 5: Add/Drop and Withdrawal From a Course 11 Part 6: Resources and Contact Information Part 7: Student Life Part 8: Academic Privacy Part 9: Billing Policies

3 Introduction to Online Learning Thank you for choosing the School for Professional and Continuing Education here at The Sage Colleges (TSC). This is an exciting time to be an SPCE student! We are committed to expanding educational opportunities for working adults, through our online division; "Sage Online". As you prepare to take an online course here are some helpful common characteristics of successful online students: Make sure to plan time throughout the week to focus on school work Excellent written communication skills Motivated to engage in classwork: read, write, and participate in class activities/assignments Has a reliable Internet connection Great communication skills both written and responsive in nature Basic technical skills Solves problems and troubleshoots technology setbacks with a flexible attitude Reviews responses and ideas before submit Believes a quality education can be achieved outside of the traditional environment Online Terminology LMS: Learning Management System; software platform used to deliver online courses. Sage Online uses the platform called Moodle. Moodle: The Software platform used to deliver online courses. Big Blue Button: an open source web conferencing system developed primarily for distance education. Turnitin.com: A tool used to detect potential plagiarism using pattern recognition algorithms. Mahara: A tool used to build an electronic portfolio. Term: The academic year is divided into three terms: Spring, Summer and Fall. Mini-Term: Semesters are divided into two mini terms: Term I and Term II. Online courses are offered in 7-week sessions. 3

4 Netiquette: a term to describe etiquette, polite methods of conversation, in an online environment. View Sage s netiquette policy by clicking the following link: Plagiarism: presenting the work of another as one s own without proper citation, or altering or inventing any information or citation in any academic exercise. Academic Calendar The Official Academic Calendar is set each spring for the upcoming two academic years. Sage s academic years begin in the summer and run through the fall and spring semesters. The academic calendars for the next several years are available for your review on the Sage website and can be accessed directly by clicking the following link: Campus Events Calendar The Campus events calendar is a fluid document that chronicles the upcoming events across The Sage Colleges. The events calendar is updated frequently and includes events for students, faculty, staff, and the general public. The events calendar can be accessed directly by clicking the following link: 4

5 Communications Options Student Account and MySage is the official means of communication for all members of The Sage Colleges. These accounts are created automatically when students enroll. If you are experiencing a problem accessing your account please contact our Helpdesk or review the information provided on our password page. To connect to MySage go to: If you require any assistance or have any questions, please contact our Helpdesk at (518) , at helpdesk@sage.edu or check online in our Knowledge Base. Your account (MySage, Sageadvisor, Moodle, etc.) will be maintained only while you remain enrolled in a Sage Online or The Sage Colleges program. In the case of withdrawal from SageOnline, accounts are deleted as of the date of departure. Students who are no longer active in their program (failure to register for a course within one calendar year), but fail to withdraw from their program will be consider inactive and their accounts will be deactivated. All college graduates maintain their MySage accounts. However, if your account is not accessed for 365 days it will become dormant and possibly deleted. Under certain circumstances a deleted account may be reactivated upon request to the Helpdesk. Any questions about reactivating a dormant account should be directed to the Helpdesk at or helpdesk@sage.edu. Social Media The Sage Colleges maintains several official social media sites for the purposes of communicating news and events to the campus community and interested parties. We encourage our students to follow us on the following sites

6 Technology Recommendations Computer and Internet Access Moodle Operating System: Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Mac OS X 10.6 or higher Browser: Internet Explorer 8, Firefox 14, Google Chrome 20, Safari 5 Mozilla Firefox works best with Moodle. Other browsers may be used but may not support all functionalities in Moodle, such as online quizzes and the HTML editor. You may need to add an exception for your Moodle website to your browser s pop-up blocker. It is also recommended to disable any pop-up blockers in thirdparty toolbars that may be installed in your browser. Internet Connection: Dial-up (load times may be lengthy), DSL or cable Internet Connection: Dial-up (load times may be lengthy), DSL or cable For the best user experience a high- speed (DSL, cable or faster) Internet connection is recommended. Additional Requirements: Updated Versions of Adobe Reader and Adobe Flash Player BigBlueButton (Live Virtual Classroom) Operating System: Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Mac OS X 10.6 or higher System Resources: 2GHz Pentium 4 or faster, 1GB of RAM Browser: Internet Explorer 8, Firefox 14, Google Chrome 20, Safari 5 Additional Requirements: Adobe Flash Player 10.3+, Java Runtime Environment (presenters) and headset with microphone 6

7 Academic Responsibilities Academic Honesty Academic honesty is a core value at The Sage Colleges and is a necessary element to the learning process. It is also fundamental to the atmosphere of inquiry and intellectual curiosity that TSC seeks to foster. It is an assumption that learning is taken seriously by students and that the academic work that students produce is a direct result of the commitment of the student toward learning as well as the personal knowledge gained. As part of the Student Code of Conduct that all students are responsible to uphold, the following is the section related to academic integrity. Please view for more information: Academic Dishonesty/Misconduct Academic dishonesty and misconduct violate the essential mission of an academic institution. Academic dishonesty and misconduct in any of its forms will not be tolerated at The Sage Colleges. Examples of academic dishonesty/misconduct include: Using material not authorized by the instructor to complete an exam Knowingly doing another person s academic work Presenting the written ideas, representations, or words of another without citing the appropriate sources Failing to cooperate in the investigation of any student being accused of academic dishonesty/misconduct. Academic Dishonesty/Misconduct Definitions Cheating: Using or attempting to use unauthorized material in any academic exercise. Cheating includes, but is not limited to: use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations; consulting or copying from any source beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments; the acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a member of TSC community; disclosing, distributing,making accessible, or improperly accessing confidential information acquired in the conduct of course work, on- or off-campus employment, internships, 7

8 field placements, or serving as a research assistant; failing to obtain Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval before beginning any research, including surveys or questionnaires, with human subjects, or failing to comply with IRB requirements; unauthorized use of computer equipment or software. Plagiarism: presenting the work of another as one s own without proper citation, or altering or inventing any information or citation in any academic exercise. Multiple Submissions: submitting substantial portions of the same academic work for credit more than once without authorization. Complicity in academic dishonesty/misconduct: intentionally helping or attempting to help another commit an act of academic dishonesty/misconduct; unauthorized collaboration on any academic work. Abuse of Materials: damaging, destroying, stealing, or in any way obstructing access to library or other academic resource material or academic record. Alteration: changing or attempting to change a grade or signature given by an instructor. Process for Responding to Academic Dishonesty/Misconduct: A faculty member may take any of the following disciplinary actions when a student engages in an act of academic misconduct: A written reprimand; A zero or F on the assignment(s) involved; An F in the class involved; Revocation or a change of grade. Any sanction, other than those listed here, may be issued by the institution only, not by an individual faculty member. A faculty member imposing discipline on a student for academic dishonesty/misconduct should take the following steps: I. Determine whether it is more likely than not that the student is responsible for academic dishonesty and/or misconduct. II. Faculty members are encouraged to consult with the accused student in an effort to informally address the alleged academic dishonesty/misconduct. III. Notify the accused student of the charge of academic dishonesty/misconduct. The student should be notified in writing with a copy to the Academic Dean and the Dean of Students. The written notification should include a brief description of the alleged misconduct that 8

9 forms the basis of the charge, the sanction to be imposed (limited to the four penalties listed above), and a description of the appeal options available to the student. If the violation warrants consideration of a more severe remedy, the faculty member should contact the Vice President for Student Life to file formal charges and request the initiation of the student conduct hearing process. In cases where more than two students are involved in the same alleged violation, the faculty member must forward the case directly to the Vice President for Student Life. The Vice President for Student Life will review the matter and determine if it is of an extraordinary nature. After review, the Vice President for Student Life will either refer the case back to the faculty member for immediate action, or refer it to a Student Conduct Board. In either case, the assignment of final grades is determined by the faculty member. As with all other grades, the academic appeal process is available to a student who wishes to question the grade assigned. If the matter is referred to a Student Conduct Board, the faculty member and the College will serve as co-complainants and the matter will move forward as described in the Student Code of Conduct. In the case of repeat academic dishonesty/misconduct, the Academic Dean of the College may contact the Vice President for Student Life to request that charges be filed against the student. The Dean of the College may serve as co-complainant in any resulting Student Conduct Board Hearing. Appeals If a student wishes to appeal a grade assigned by a faculty member, based on a finding that the student engaged in academic dishonesty/misconduct, the student may utilize the academic appeals process. The process is as follows: The student should submit a formal written appeal, with rationale, within 2 business days of receiving the decision from the faculty member to the department chair/program coordinator in the subject area. The department chair/program coordinator has 10 days to make a decision on this appeal. If the student is not in agreement with the decision from the department chair/program coordinator, they may appeal, within 2 business days, to the Dean of the College in which the course resides. The Dean has 10 days to make a decision on this appeal. If the student is not in agreement with the decision from the Dean, a final appeal may be made, within 2 business days, to the Provost of The Sage Colleges. If a student wishes to appeal a sanction imposed through the Student Conduct Board Hearing process, the student may utilize the appeals process set forth in 9

10 the Student Conduct Code in Section V, D. The full Student Code of Conduct can be accessed at 10

11 Add/Drop and Withdraw from a Course Students may not enter a course after the add/drop period has ended. Add/Drop period for the Sage Online Programs ends on the 3 rd day of the 7-week session. Add/Drop period for ABA program follows the traditional semester time frames: o All changes in course selections for Sage Online students must be submitted via to their Success Coach. Courses which the student drops prior to the end of the first day of classes will not be recorded on their academic record (transcript). To withdraw from a course, students must have the approval of their Success Coach. Students who withdraw from a course after the add/drop period has ended will receive a grade of W on their academic record for that course. Students may not withdrawal from a course after the withdrawal date specified on the Sage Online academic calendar for classes within the 7-week session. All withdrawals from courses must be initiated by the student through their Success Coach. Students who withdraw from a course must be aware that the withdrawal may affect their current and/or future financial aid. A student who notifies the college of his or her withdrawal or leave of absence in writing (SAGE account) and in accordance with the college's withdrawal policy may be eligible for an adjustment to tuition, in accordance with the following schedules. Non-attendance/ Non-participation does not constitute a withdrawal from a class or the college. 11

12 Financial Liability Adjustments If you drop your course after the course starts, and before the drop deadline, you will receive the following tuition refund. There are no financial liability adjustments after the third day of the mini-term. The first day of classes - 100% The second day of classes - 80% The third day of classes - 50% After the start of the third day of classes - 0% No financial adjustments will be made after the third day of classes. Financial Liability for ABA students: Students who drop or withdrawal from a course after the start of the third day of classes in a mini-term will receive a grade of W on their transcript and will be financially liable for the course(s). Any student receiving Federal (Title IV) financial aid may be required to return a portion of their aid to the granting agency if they separate from The Sage Colleges prior to the end of a semester. Any adjustment for tuition, may be less than the amount of aid that must be returned and may create a liability to the college that must be paid by the student. The date of official academic withdrawal as recorded by the Registrar's Office is the basis of all adjustments for tuition. It is important that the student adhere to the following processes to ensure that the correct adjustment is applied to their account. To Withdraw From A Course To withdraw from a class, the student must complete the necessary forms and submit them to their Success Coach (To access the forms online, click here). To Withdraw From The College Or Request A Leave Of Absence Students wishing to withdraw or take a leave of absence from Sage Online will need to complete the necessary forms and submit them to their Success Coach. All Sage Online students wishing to withdraw from their program and Sage Online must officially drop their classes and initiate the withdrawal through their Success Coach who will contact The Sage Online Office. Students required to withdraw from the college for disciplinary reasons are not entitled to any adjustment to tuition. ( 12

13 Non-Attendance/Non-Participation Students are expected to actively participate in all courses. If students do not participate and do not initiate a drop/withdrawal/or leave of absence they will be held financially liable for the courses they are registered for and will receive a Grade of F on their transcript. Grades Students enrolled in online courses may check their grades at any time during the session by viewing their grade reports in the Learning Management System, Moodle. Grades will be updated as assignments and activities are completed throughout the course. The grade report in Moodle is considered unofficial. For official grades at the end of each session you can review your grades on SAGE Advisor. Calculation of term and cumulative grade point averages is completed after all grades are submitted and are posted at the end of every session. 13

14 Resources and Contact Information Technical Questions The Sage Online 24/7 Helpdesk provides media services and technical support for Sage Online Students. Contact the 24/7 Helpdesk for questions and issues relating to the Learning Management System, Moodle. Below is a snapshot of where you can access the Helpdesk directly from the Moodle home page or directly from your courses: Other communication options for the Helpdesk are: support@learninghouse.com Telephone: 1 (800) Live Chat: st/_sessionid=/_prompttype=chat/_proactive=0/_filterdepartmentid=2/_random Number=i3pextp4mgqabtr1nf8ivtsv7j8hotur/_fullName=/_ =/ Miscellaneous Questions For questions regarding online registration, orientation, class schedules, and other concerns regarding your online course or program, contact Success Coach - Kelsey Cross. 14

15 Orientation Questions For questions regarding the online orientation please contact: Kelsey Cross. Kelsey Cross Success Coach 1 (800) x

16 Student Life Career Planning Albany: Library third floor , The Office of Career Planning offers the tools and insight to shape meaningful internship and employment experiences and serves as a critical resource, assisting students in engaging their passions and achieving their personal mission. Academic Support Albany: Library third floor, , scaacademicsupport@sage.edu The mission of the Academic Support Center is to work as a cohesive unit in partnership with the college community to assist students in becoming active, responsible, and successful learners. Wellness Center Albany: Lower Level Kahl Campus Center, , albanywellnesscenter@sage.edu. The Wellness Center s website is a great resource for students and can be accessed through the following: Students with Disabilities Albany/Troy: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm Library third floor, , ; disabilities_services@sage.edu The Sage Colleges is committed to promoting self-advocacy for students with disabilities and facilitates a positive and adaptive learning environment for students. Students seeking accommodations are required to present a current evaluation for their disability conducted by a licensed professional. Sage does provide support services and reasonable accommodations when requested by a student who qualifies for them. It is extremely important upon admissions into the college that you contact the Director of Disabilities Services. 16

17 Alumni There are more than 34,000 proud alumni of Sage. Sage alums can be found across the U.S. and internationally making a difference in their communities and their career fields. They serve in positions of influence at macro and micro levels. They are in Congress, heads of state and national agencies, ambassadors, CEOs and presidents, owners and inventors, teachers and health care professionals, authors and artists. Contact or at sage_alum@sage.edu. 17

18 Academic Privacy Accessing Your Academic Record You can access your academic record online any time via SageAdvisor. If you need more guidance in looking up your grades, accessing your transcripts, or using SageAdvisor, log in to MySage and click on the SageAdvisor tab at the top: FAQs are in the left margin. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Annually, The Sage Colleges informs students of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, as amended. This Act, with which the institution intends to comply fully, was designated to protect the privacy of educational records. As of January 3, 2012, the U.S. Department of Education's FERPA regulations expand the circumstances under which your education records and personally identifiable information (PII) contained in such records- including your Social Security Number, grades, or other private information- may be accessed without your consent. First, the U.S. Comptroller General, the U.S. Attorney General, the U.S. Secretary of Education, or state and local education authorities ("Federal and State Authorities") may allow access to your records and PII without your consent to any third party designated by a Federal or State Authority to evaluate a federal- or state-supported education program. The evaluation may relate to any program that is "principally engaged in the provision of education," such as early childhood education and job training, as well as any program that is administered by an education agency or institution. Second, Federal and State Authorities may allow access to your education records and PII without your consent to researchers performing certain types of studies, in certain cases even when we object to or do not request such research. Federal and State Authorities must obtain certain use-restriction and data security promises from the entities that they authorize to receive your PII, but the authorities need not maintain direct control over such entities. In addition, in connection with Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems, State Authorities may collect, compile, permanently retain, and share without your consent PII from your education records, and they may track your participation in education and other programs by linking such PII to other personal information about you that they obtain from other Federal or State data sources, including workforce development, unemployment insurance, child welfare, juvenile justice, military service, and migrant student records systems. 18

19 FERPA Statement and Authorization form [.pdf] - The statement explains students' rights with respect to their educational records. The Authorization Form gives Sage consent to disclose academic information to the authorized individual. FERPA Presentation [.pdf] - explains student and parents' rights with respect to educational records 19

20 Billing Policies College Payment Policy The deposits, tuition, and fees listed on the college's cost and aid website are in effect for the academic year. They are subject to change without prior notice by The Sage Colleges' Board of Trustees. All policy statements and other information in the following sections reflect information current at the time of this publication. All student balances must be paid in full by the First day of each 7 week session unless the student has been awarded financial aid sufficient to cover the outstanding balance or is enrolled in the College's payment plan. Students will be permitted to attend classes and utilize College facilities only after they have settled their financial obligations to the College. Any subsequent modification to an expected amount of financial aid or student loan remains the full responsibility of the student and must be paid in full by the student. In addition to following application and verification procedures for financial aid, the student's eligibility must be confirmed and the student must accept offered awards electronically through Sage Advisor Online before those amounts can be applied as payment against tuition and fees. Please note that loan programs require an extended period of processing before the loan amount is credited to the student's account. Failure to fully pay the student's liability or make alternative arrangements with Student Accounts may result in the removal of registration from any or all classes. In addition, an unpaid financial obligation to the College will result in the withholding of the student's grades, transcript of credits, diploma, and official reports and make the student ineligible for future financial aid awards, pre-registration, and participation in deferred billing due to sponsorship agreement. Tuition Waivers/Vouchers Students utilizing a departmental waiver need to sign the back of the waiver form and submit it to The Sage Online Office prior to the start of the semester they want to use the waiver in. Waiver adjustments will be made to the student account after the add/drop period. Students utilizing tuition waivers/ vouchers other billing arrangements are still required 20

21 to pay enrollment and/or registration deposits in accordance to college policy. Students that have any other type of waiver or voucher from a third party that needs to be completed by a college official and/or need to have billing information disclosed, please The Sage Online Office for completion student_services@sage.edu. Please allow hours for completion. Students that utilize tuition waivers or vouchers are responsible to make sure their account is paid in full by the last day of class in the semester they are using the waiver/voucher. Health Alliance Sage Online programs are not eligible to participate in the Health Alliance program. Corporate Reimbursement Sage Online Students may participate in The Sage Colleges Corporate Reimbursement program as long as they comply with the following procedures: Students who receive full or partial reimbursement from employers will need to complete the Sponsorship Agreement form, obtain employer information, and return it to The Sage Online Office prior to the start of the semester they are enrolling. Students utilizing sponsorship agreements are still required to pay enrollment and/or registration deposits in accordance to college policy. Sponsorship Agreement forms must be filled out each semester the student enrolls. Once the Sponsorship Agreement is on file, the student account is coded so that no late fees are placed on the student's account. Students will receive monthly notifications that their statement of account is available to be viewed through Sage Advisor. The sponsorship agreement allows the student to defer payment of their outstanding charges, all outstanding balances must be paid prior to the start of the next semester. Students are responsible to make sure their account is paid with in the allowed deferment period. If the balance is not paid in full, a Student Services hold will be placed on the student account preventing future registrations and future sponsorship agreements will not be honored. Questions regarding employer reimbursement can be directed to your Success Coach. 21

22 Payment Options Payments can be made online through SageAdvisor using the following payment options: Electronic Check There is no fee assessed when you pay using an electronic check. You or anyone paying on your behalf can authorize The Sage Colleges to deduct the funds directly from a checking account for a specific amount. To authorize your payment The Sage Colleges will need the following information: Your account routing number Your account number (checking or savings) Credit Card The Sage Colleges accepts payments via VISA, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. There is no fee assessed when using your credit card. You authorize The Sage Colleges to charge your credit card with the amount you designate. For your security, The Sage Colleges will no longer accept credit card information via phone, fax, or mail. Online transactions are secured through Cash Net, which has been included on VISA's list of CISP (Cardholder Information Security Program) compliant service providers. Payment Plan The Sage Colleges offers a low cost payment plan through Tuition Management Services (TMS). Sage Online students must be enrolled in courses for consecutive mini-terms in order to participate in the Payment Plan. For example a student must be registered for both 2014/F1 and 2014/F2 in order to qualify for the payment plan. The payment options provided by TMS allow for students and families to spread the cost of attendance over time concurrent with the period of enrollment. The cost to enroll in the payment plan is $ The payment plan is not credit based. If you need assistance in calculating the amount of your plan please contact The Sage Online Office. Please note that TMS does not offer any payment plans during summer sessions. Textbooks SAGE Bookstore: Monday - Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday Call for special hours: (518) The Albany Campus Bookstore is located on the adjacent Albany College of Pharmacy campus, in their modern Student Center. 22

23 The bookstore carries textbooks and merchandise for three neighboring colleges: Sage College of Albany & Sage Graduate School; Albany College of Pharmacy; and Albany Law School. Books can be ordered online ( Purchasing books and materials are the responsibility of the student. Advances of financial aid in the form of book vouchers are available for Sage Online students that qualify. Please note: for students taking qualifying courses all in the first term of a semester, you will receive your full refund in the first term and will need to plan accordingly for book purchases in the second term. Refunds The Sage Colleges now uses HigherOne to process all student refunds. All students are mailed a Sage Access Card (issued by HigherOne). No checks are cut by The Sage Colleges; instead, all student refunds are processed through HigherOne. Students may select a refund preference using the Sage Access Card and accompanying instructions at Look for a green envelope from HigherOne containing your Sage Access Card. The Sage Access Card will come in a bright green envelope. Click here to view an example. Keep this card and the instructions, even if you do not plan on receiving a refund. There are a host of reasons for receiving a refund, not all of which can always be anticipated. The Sage Access Card will be mailed to the most recent home address Sage has on file, so be sure to keep your address current! Notify Student Services of any change in home address in writing. Note that the card cannot be sent to a University Heights (on campus) address. Visit to select a refund preference. Once you log in using the card and the accompanying instructions, you will be able to select a refund preference. Available choices are: 1. Have your refund directly deposited to an existing checking/savings account. 2. Have a paper check mailed to your address. 3. Open a bank account with HigherOne and use the Sage Access Card as a credit/debit card immediately. You should select a refund preference as soon as you receive your card. If no preference is selected, your refund will be inaccessible for up to three weeks. After 21 days, a paper check will be sent to the most recent address HigherOne has on file. If this is incorrect, your refund could be inaccessible for even longer, as you will have to wait for the check to be reissued. Contact Student Services with any questions or

24 Active Military/Veterans In recognition and appreciation of the service provided by countless men and women in uniform and their families who have served and continue to serve our country, The Sage Colleges is dedicated to providing a comprehensive array of services, advocacy, and support to veterans, military, and their loved ones. Sage Online offers a 10% discount on tuition for those students who are actively serving in the military, Veterans, and spouses of Veterans. As a designated member of the Yellow Ribbon Program, Sage Online is proud to be able to make college more affordable for returning servicemen and women by offering educational benefits to veterans. Please visit the Student Services Financial Aid page or contact Sage representative: Megan Henry, , henrym2@sage.edu. 24