Student FAQ LEARNING WITH CHAMPLAIN COLLEGE ONLINE

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1 LEARNING WITH CHAMPLAIN COLLEGE ONLINE Student FAQ What is trued? Champlain College s trued is an innovative approach to providing high-quality online education in mission-critical subject areas at a fraction of the cost of traditional college tuition. TruED is a subscription payment model that creates a pathway to debt-free bachelor s degrees, master s degrees, and certificates. Why has the federal government become part of the trued alliance? The GAO has identified 32 high-risk areas in government operations where federal employees are needed to acquire mission-critical learning to close both current and future skills and operations gaps. The Federal Government is committed to educating its workforce in these crucial, specialized areas. Champlain s online certificate and degree offerings closely align with these skills areas. Why did Champlain College create the trued subscription model? Ever since its founding in 1878, Champlain College has been a leader in educating its students on what comes next in their professional careers. Champlain began pioneering online adult education more than 20 years ago. TruED is Champlain s innovative approach to making adult online learning affordable and accessible to alliance employees. Are all federal civilian employees eligible to subscribe to trued? Yes they are, although they must meet the admissions requirements, apply and be accepted into the degree or certificate program of interest before they can enroll. Spouses and qualified adult dependents (adults covered under the Federal employee s health insurance) of civilian federal government employees are also eligible. Is Champlain College accredited? Yes. Champlain College is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC). For more information, visit our accreditation page on champlain.edu/truedfed. How is the academic year structured? The academic year has three semesters (fall, spring and summer) and within those semesters are shorter terms. Bachelor s degree and undergraduate certificate courses are taught in 7-week terms, with two terms in the fall, spring and summer. Master s degree and graduate certificate courses are taught in 8-week terms, also with two terms in the fall, spring, and summer. How long will it take for me to finish my program? A bachelor s degree requires 120 credits. Certificates require between 12 and 21 credits. Credit requirements for master s degrees vary. So, there are three major factors that determine how long it will take for you to finish your degree or certificate: the amount of college credits you transfer in, the number of courses you take at one time, and whether you take one or more semesters off. Is there a time period in which I must complete a bachelor s or master s degree program? There is no time limit to complete an undergraduate degree at Champlain. Most graduate degrees and certificates, however, must be completed within six consecutive years. What is the difference between a bachelor s degree program and a certificate program? Our bachelor s degree programs are 120 academic credits and contain high-level professional and general education courses. Our certificate programs are credit hours in focused skill areas and allow you to add a credential to your resume. Certificates are also a perfect short-term goal for students interested in pursuing a degree. Is a lot of writing involved in online courses? Yes, there is a lot of writing, because reading and writing are the means by which you will communicate with your instructor and classmates. Some classes, by the nature of the subjects, will require more reading and writing than others. For additional information, contact Christa Hagan, truedfed@champlain.edu champlain.edu/truedfed 1 OCT I Student_FAQ.pdf

2 How do I access my online classes? You access your online classes through Canvas, Champlain s online learning management system. You can log on to Canvas through the portal, and then access your courses whenever it is convenient for you, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Your lectures and assignments will be posted on Canvas in the Modules area, and remain there for the entire semester. In Canvas, both the Discussion Forum and allow easy communication between instructor and classmates. You will submit all of your classwork, including assignments, reports and projects, to your instructor within your course as electronic documents (e.g., spreadsheets, Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, etc.). All tests and quizzes are administered online and in a variety of formats, depending not only on the course but also on the instructor. You do not need to go to a different location to be proctored for tests and quizzes. You will receive all course-specific information about homework and tests on your first day of class, in the course syllabus. How many students are in a typical online class? Course enrollment is typically between students. This class size will ensure that you enjoy a manageable level of interaction between you, your instructor and your classmates. Can I take time off from my degree and remain enrolled? Yes, you may take up to two consecutive semesters off without affecting your status as a current student. If you take more than two consecutive semesters off, you will be required to reapply to your program. Please note: the summer session is considered a separately from fall and spring, so if you choose to take the summer off, your status will not be affected. What are the benefits to online learning rather than a traditional classroom method? Our online classrooms are engaged, interactive environments full of the diverse opinions and life experiences of people at different stages of their lives, in different professions, who live all around the world. Being able to attend class when it s convenient for you, and avoiding the stress of trying to fit on-campus classes into an already full schedule, is a real asset for working professionals. 2 Does online learning take less time than attending class in person? Online learning is not easier or less time-consuming than attending class in person. You should plan to dedicate several hours per week to attending class online as well as for completing course assignments. The actual number of hours will depend on the specific course, but a good rule of thumb is to set aside at least four hours a week of in-class time and another hours for homework time, hours for graduate-level courses. How do I know whether online learning is right for me? If you are a self-motivated student who communicates effectively through reading and writing, then you will be well-suited for online learning. It is also essential that you have some basic computer skills, including knowledge of word processing. If you have any questions about whether you are well-suited for online learning, please call us at or truedfed@champlain.edu. Will my transcript or degree indicate that I studied online? Your transcript and degree will indicate that you received your education at Champlain College, but they will not indicate that your courses or your degree were completed online. Credits earned in an online course are no different from credits earned in a classroom course. Are there class log-in/attendance requirements? For the most part, there is no requirement for what time of day, or even what day, you need to log in. Each instructor will have his or her own requirements for how much and how often you need to log in, which you ll receive in the course syllabus on the first day of class. You will be expected to adhere to the due dates that the instructor sets. If you fail to do so, you may be withdrawn from the course without refund. Who can I contact with additional questions? Call our admissions team at or them at truedfed@champlain.edu. We re happy to answer any questions you may have.

3 UNDERSTANDING SUBSCRIPTION LEVELS TRANSFER CREDITS What are the different subscription levels available to me as a trued student? TruED offers you several subscription levels to choose from, depending on the level of degree or certificate you are pursuing and how many courses you wish to take per semester. Our bachelor s degree and undergraduate certificate students may choose from three levels Basic, Plus or Prime and our master s degree and graduate certificate students subscribe to the Prime or Executive levels. See the tuition/subscription level page on champlain.edu/truedfed for details. Can I find out whether course credits I ve already earned at another college will transfer before I apply? At Champlain College, we are passionate about helping our students complete their degrees, and we will work diligently to be certain that you are provided with your maximum transfer credits possible. To get a full picture of your prior education, professional experience, and any certifications or trainings that we might convert to transfer credits, we require that you first complete an application. There is no cost to apply, and our application is designed to ensure that every potential transfer credit opportunity is taken into account. I want to take one undergraduate class in Spring 1 session and two classes in Spring 2. What subscription option is best for me? Each subscription level allows you to take a certain number of courses. If you subscribe at a Basic level, you can take one undergraduate course a term and a maximum of two courses a semester. So, if you want to take two courses in a term, and you are a Basic subscriber, you will need to amend your subscription level for the full semester to the Plus level, which allows you to take three courses during a semester. You can change your subscription level at the beginning of each 15-week semester (January, May and August). I am subscribed to trued at the Plus level and I have completed one course in Spring Session 1. I want to take only one course in Spring Session 2 rather than the two I am eligible for at the Plus level. Can I decrease my subscription level? Subscription levels can only be increased or decreased at the start of each semester. If you decide not to take the amount of classes that your current subscription level allows, that will not change your billing. I am a Basic subscriber, which allows a maximum of two undergraduate courses in a 15-week semester. If one course I m enrolled in ends and another course I m enrolled in begins in the same month, will my Basic subscription still cover that? Yes. Your class enrollment benefits are measured by total courses, total credits and semesters, so the actual course dates are inconsequential. 3 How does Champlain determine if a course is eligible for transfer credits? Decisions regarding transfer credits are based on criteria provided by Champlain faculty in the related academic area and comparing that criteria to the description of the course received from the previous college. Our Transfer Credit Policy provides greater details. Do my grades transfer as well as my credits earned at another institution? Credit hours for your transferred courses are given full value, but your grades are not transferred to your permanent record at Champlain College, and do not become a part of your cumulative quality point average (CQPA) at Champlain. How many credits can I transfer to Champlain s bachelor s degree programs? The maximum number of credits that you can transfer into the institution toward a bachelor s degree is 90. Will my credits for IT courses transfer? That depends. Due to the quickly changing nature of IT, technical courses you took many years ago may have to be repeated because of substantial changes in the field or emerging technologies. What is the Champlain College Transfer Credit policy? A course taken at another institution may substitute for a required Champlain College course if the two courses are substantially similar, even though the course titles may differ. A student who transfers from another college may receive up to 45 of the required credit hours for an associate degree or up to 90 credits toward a bachelor s degree, provided that the credit is transferred from an accredited institution, similar or elective courses are offered at Champlain College and the student has received a grade of C or better in that course.

4 What other sources of academic credits does Champlain accept? At Champlain, we get to know you and we work hard to ensure you get the credit you deserve for on-the-job training, industry certifications, prior academic courses, military experience and more. Other sources of academic credits include: CLEP (and other nationally recognized exams): An option to garner alternative credits is to take collegelevel examinations through the College Board. These course credits, called CLEP tests, are accepted nationally and internationally and are recommended by the American Council on Education. CLEP is probably the best testbased option to earn college credit, other than our own credit by exam ( test out ) option. National CCRS (National College Credit Recommendation Service): Through National CCRS, you may be able to earn college credit for non-collegiate professional development and/or training. PAYING FOR YOUR TRUED SUBSCRIPTION How do I receive the tuition discount? When you call our toll-free number,, simply identify yourself as a federal employee, spouse or adult dependent of a federal employee. If you complete a form on the web portal, champlain.edu/truedfed, you will automatically be identified as a federal employee, spouse or adult dependent. I am receiving financial aid. How do I pay for classes? You are required to enroll in our monthly subscription plan through Touch-Net, our automated billing system, and your balance must remain in good standing. Your full financial aid amount will be credited to your Touch-Net account, and any credit balance will be refunded directly to you. How do I apply for federal student loans to help pay for my trued subscription? You must complete and submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) ( If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact our financial aid office at As a trued subscriber, am I eligible for scholarships or other financial aid from Champlain College? The trued alliance provides a substantial tuition discount, so Champlain doesn t provide any additional institutional grants or scholarships to further reduce your cost of enrollment. You may still be eligible for federal student aid, including loans. 4 Where can I find information about the Federal Student Loan Repayment Program? The Federal Student Loan Repayment Program permits agencies to repay Federally insured student loans as a recruitment or retention incentive for candidates or current employees of the agency. Each agency has its own student loan repayment programs to attract or retain highly qualified employees. For general information, review OPM s Pay and Leave information. You will have to speak to the appropriate contact within your agency for information on how your agency implements the plan. I am a federal military employee, not a federal civilian employee. Am I eligible for trued? Our current agreement with OPM only covers federal civilian employees at this time. Can I use my military benefits to help pay for the trued subscription? Unfortunately, you cannot use military tuition assistance (TA), or any Veteran s benefits (e.g., the post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill) in conjunction with trued. Service members and veterans who are federal civilian employees can elect to enroll in our degree programs under our retail pricing model rather than trued and receive TA or Veteran s benefits to help defray the cost of their education. I have subscribed to trued. When do my monthly payments start? Payments begin a month in advance of your class start date. For example, if you are starting classes in January, your first monthly payment is due December 15. If you register after December 15, your first payment will be due January 1, and your February payment would be due January 15. If I drop a class, will my subscription be automatically terminated? No. Your status as a trued subscriber is not directly tied to your enrollment in a course. As a result, if you withdraw from any course, you are still liable for consistent automatic monthly payments until you officially cancel your subscription from the plan in writing through the process outlined in the trued Financial Terms & Conditions found on champlain.edu/truedfed.

5 I am considering taking the summer off from classes. Would this affect my billing? Because trued is a subscription model, your class enrollment status does not change your billing. You must change your subscription service in writing, giving 30 days notice, to change your billing. Subscription level changes can only be made at the start of a semester (August, January and May). If you are a Plus or a Prime subscriber and want to take the summer off from classes, you could reduce your plan to the Basic Subscription for the summer semester to reduce your billing. I would like to cancel my trued subscription for now, but plan to return at a later date. How can I do so? You may cancel your enrollment in trued at any time with 30 days written notice to your advisor as described thoroughly in the trued Financial Terms & Conditions. When you are ready to return, please contact us at cps@ champlain.edu. If you are unregistered for more than three semesters, please be aware that some degree requirements may change and you may need to take additional or different courses than your original degree plan required. How do I make my trued payments? Your trued tuition payments are due monthly in advance and are paid by you through debit card, credit card or electronic bank transfer. When you enroll, you will set up your payment system through Touch-Net, our automated billing system. If you pay by credit card, a 2.75% convenience fee will be added to your total. Please see the trued Financial Terms & Conditions for more information. If I am no longer an employee of the Federal Government, may I continue my subscription as a trued student? Once you leave the federal civilian workforce, you can continue your subscription to trued as long as you remain enrolled or graduate. After that, your subscription to trued can continue only if your new employer has a trued alliance with Champlain College. Otherwise, you can enroll in your degree or certificate program under the standard tuition, fees and refund policies of Champlain College s Division of Continuing Professional Studies. ENROLLMENT DETAILS What are the benefits of subscribing as a trued student rather than enrolling with a standard tuition plan? Because the Federal Government is part of the trued alliance, you can access Champlain s nationally acclaimed programs for 70 percent less than our standard tuition and earn your certificate or degree through affordable monthly payments. I am already enrolled as a student at Champlain and have just learned about the trued alliance with the Federal Government. When can I subscribe to trued? Is the trued benefit retroactive? The trued subscription model is not offered retroactively. Consult with your academic advisor regarding transferring into the trued alliance with OPM. You can subscribe and enroll as a trued student at any one of the three major start periods: May, August, or January. I need to cancel my subscription to trued. How can I do that? You can cancel your subscription to trued at any time by providing 30 days written notice (either mail or ) to your academic advisor. (If you are not sure who your advisor is, contact cps@champlain.edu and we will assist you.) Once we have received written notice of your cancellation, you will be billed through the last day of the following month, and then your enrollment will be cancelled. For example, if you submit written notice of cancellation on June 10, you will be responsible for payment through July 31. 5