Getting Started Guide for Online Campus Students

Getting Started Guide for Online Campus Students

Table of Contents About Connected Camps... 2 Is an Online Course Right for Me?... 3 Steps to Complete My Degree... 5 Getting Started/Accessing courses... 6 Student Checklist... 8 Faculty/Staff Directory... 11 Frequently Asked Questions... 12

About Connected Campus: The Mission of Culver-Stockton College Connected Campus program is to provide adult students of promise a relevant and rigorous degree completion program through fully online instruction. The Culver-Stockton College (C-SC) Connected Campus program is a non-residential online undergraduate program targeted for adult students who wish to further their knowledge and complete a Bachelor s degree. Connected Campus gives students the flexibility necessary to complete their education while continuing their careers. Degree Programs offered: Bachelor of Science in Business with a specialization in Organizational Management Bachelor of Science in Business with a specialization in Accounting and Finance Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Culver-Stockton College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and the State Department of Education of Missouri. The address for The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association is: 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-5000, Chicago, IL 60604-1413. Their Web site address is: www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org and the telephone number is (312) 263-0456. Online Consortium of Independent Colleges and Universities (OCICU): C-SC Connected Campus is a member of the Online Consortium of Independent Colleges and Universities (OCICU), which provides C-SC access to hundreds of online courses. As a member school C-SC can enroll Connected Campus students in any class offered through the consortium. Any class taken through a consortium provider school is considered a Culver-Stockton College course and is not a transfer course. All consortium members are regionally accredited, independent, not-for-profit, and liberal arts institutions like Culver-Stockton College Connected Campus. OCICU is managed by New Ventures of Regis University in Denver, Colorado. Registration is through C-SC and students will be advised by their Connected Campus advisor. After a student is registered at C-SC, classes offered through the consortium can be viewed by students at http://ocicu.org. NOTE: Once a student registers in an OCICU course, email information will come to the student s inbox directly from the OCICU provider school. 2

Is an Online Course Right for Me? Online courses can be great alternatives for those students with busy lifestyles, eliminating the need to physically attend class each week while still providing an environment for interaction with the instructor and other students. If this is your first experience with an online course, you may be wondering if this is the best learning environment for you. Your response to the following questions may help clarify whether or not online courses are right for you. My knowledge and comfort level in the use of a computer and the Internet is: A. Expert. I use both a computer and the Internet on a regular basis. B. Comfortable. I can perform basic tasks on both a computer and Internet. C. Nervous. I typically do not use a computer The availability of a computer with Internet access for my use is: A. Readily accessible. I own a computer equipped with Internet access. B. Accessible on a limited basis. I have access through my local school, library, or a friend. C. Not accessible. I would need to pursue options to access a computer and the Internet. When given directions, I typically: A. Ask questions immediately if I don t understand directions. B. Try to figure out the directions on my own and ask questions if needed. C. Need someone to explain the directions to me. I would describe myself as: A. Someone who completes assignments and tasks on time or ahead of time. B. Someone who is usually on time but can get distracted if other tasks emerge. C. Someone who is typically late or needs to be reminded of due dates. NOTE: If you responded C to any of the questions, C-SC Connected Campus program may not be the best degree completion option due to the following: 3

Since courses are delivered 100% online, it is necessary to have a basic understanding and level of comfort with the computer and Internet. 1. Generally, you will be required to access your online courses several times throughout the week; therefore, it is important that you have access to a computer with Internet on a regular basis. 2. In an online course, where facial expression can t be seen, it is difficult for your instructors to determine if you are confused, have a question or don t understand something. It is necessary that you feel comfortable to speak up and let someone know that you need help! 3. Since there are no regular meeting dates in an online course, it can be very easy to fall behind. It is very important to have self discipline and to stay motivated. If you need additional information, please contact the Director of Connected Campus, Carrie Strobel at 573-388-6468 or by email, cstrobel@culver.edu. Steps to Complete my Degree through Connected Campus Please complete the following steps to register for your Connected Campus courses: 1. Fill out our FREE online application at www.culver.edu/connectedcampus 2. Send official transcripts to the following address: Culver-Stockton College Connected Campus One College Hill Canton, MO 63435 3. Once both your application and official transcripts are received a degree check will be completed by our Registrar. 4. The Director of Connected Campus will contact you once a degree check is completed to provide the following information: Notification of your acceptance into the Connected Campus program Remaining degree requirements to complete a Bachelor of Science degree 5. Once accepted into the Connected Campus program you can register for courses through your assigned academic advisor. 6. Once courses are assigned, your academic advisor will provide course access information. 4

Note: It is the student s responsibility to file for Financial Aid if assistance is needed. Getting Started: Once you are registered through an academic advisor you will have access to MyCulver and the Angel Management Learning System. MyCulver MyCulver is the Culver-Stockton College intranet, which will provide you with the following information: Student Account Balance Online billing all bills must be paid online unless other arrangements are made with the Financial Aid office. Academic Records Final Grades Unofficial Transcripts Course History GPA Projection Advisor information Financial Aid Campus Happenings Access to the Angel Management Learning System Instructions to logon to MyCulver From the Culver-Stockton main website, (www.culver.edu), click on the MyCulver link located at the top right hand side of the page. Enter the username and password in the spaces provided. Username and password are provided by the Director of Connected Campus once a student is officially registered for courses. Angel Management Leaning System: You will use Angel to access each of your courses. Instructions to logon to Angel Management Learning System: From the Culver-Stockton main website (www.culver.edu), click on the MyCulver link at the top right hand side of the page. Then click on Angel under the quick links. 5

Enter the username and password in the spaces provided to use the Angel Learning System. The courses you are registered in will appear on the left side of the page. Angel Management Learning System Tutorials: It is suggested that all students view these videos before beginning their online courses 1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ophikxkkzby (Overview of Angel) 2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nowqnlogguc (Lessons and Report Tab) Ordering Your Textbook: 1. Log onto MyCulver 2. Under Quick Links Located towards the bottom left side of the page click Order Textbooks 3. Select terms using drop down box select the term CONNECTED CAMPUS 4. Check appropriate courses and continue with the provide directions Note: If a student is taking classes through the Online Consortium, the student will order books through www.ocicu.org. Information will be provided to the student once he/she enrolls in a consortium course 6

Connected Campus Student Checklist Online Undergraduate Degree Completion Program It is strongly recommended that you use this checklist to ensure that you are prepared for your online courses before the term begins. I have ordered the required books and materials for my courses. Materials should be received prior to the term start date. If you are taking a consortium class, the required materials will be found through the www.ocicu.org link. I understand how to access my course through the Angel Management Learning System. A demo of the Angel management Learning System can be found online, Connected Campus encourages you to view this demo before beginning courses at: www.culver.edu/connectedcampus If you are taking a course through the consortium, you may be required to complete an orientation course, that information will be emailed to you through OCICU on how to access and complete your OCICU course I know the start and end dates of my course. Term start and end dates for each term can be found at http://culver.edu/connectedcampus/schedule/. (see Appendix 1) If a student is taking a course through the consortium, his/her start date may differ. That information will be provided by the student s academic advisor. I have made arrangements for computer and internet access. Most online courses require work to be completed throughout the week. I plan on spending 15-20 hours a week on my course. Online courses are intense and move very quickly as they cover the same amount of material as a typical 15-week semester course. I have read the Connected Campus withdrawal/drop policy. If a student withdraws or drops a Connected Campus course after the drop date, there may be no adjustment to the tuition charge. Further information can be accessed online; http://culver.edu/connectedcampus/finaid/ or in the Connected Campus Handbook. Dropping courses may affect your financial aid. Before dropping a course it is the responsibility of the student to check with financial aid. 7

During the first week of each term: Online Undergraduate Degree Completion Program Access your course as soon as possible notify your academic advisor if you are unable to access your course as soon as possible. Find your instructor contact information and save it on your computer. Access the course syllabi and save it on your computer. Course syllabi will provide you with important due dates and exam dates. If you have any questions or trouble accessing anything, contact your academic advisor as soon as possible. Online Course Best Practices 1. Plan ahead. Online courses are fast moving and very demanding. You should plan to devote 15-20 hours per week to each course. Although you are not required to access your course on specific days, you should plan on accessing a course several times during the week. Most instructors expect assignments and discussion postings to be completed throughout the week. Waiting until the weekend may affect your grade. If at any time during the term you know that you will be unable to access your course, you must contact your instructor as soon as possible. 2. Order your required books and materials ahead of time. You should receive your required materials prior to the start of your course. This will allow you to begin working once you have online access. Waiting to order may cause you to fall behind. Not all instructors allow students to submit late assignments, which can affect your grade. 3. Ask for help. Because your instructor and fellow students cannot see your expression when you are confused or have a question, it is imperative that you speak up and ask. If you are experiencing technical difficulties, please contact the Director of Connected Campus. 8

Connected Campus Directory Judy Abbott, JD Senior Lecturer in Criminal Justice and Law Phone: (573) 288-6397 jabbott@culver.edu David J. Carrothers, MCJ Senior Lecturer in Criminal Justice and Law Office: JOH 115 B Phone: (573) 288-6383 dcarrothers@culver.edu Dell Ann Janney, MD, CPA Associate Dean of Experiential Education Professor of Accounting 573-288-6388 djanney@culver.edu Jeanne Elizabeth Johnson, MBA Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems 573-288-6366 jjohnson@culver.edu James M. Cosgrove, JD Professor of Business Academic Advisor 573-288-6345 jcsogrove@culver.edu Dr. Susan Deege, PhD Senior Lecturer in Business 573-288-6352 sdeege@culver.edu Financial Aid Assistance 573-288-6307 Kim Gaither, PhD Chair of the Business Program & Assistant Professor of Finance 573-288-6340 kgaither@culver.edu Chris Huebotter Registrar 573-288-6524 chuebotter@culver.edu Heather Keller - Giltner Director of Career Services 573-288-6536 hkeller@culver.edu Eric Larson, MBA Assistant Professor of Economics 573-288-6432 elarson@culver.edu Robert Sadler, PhD Professor of physical sciences 573-288-6436 rsadler@culver.edu Julie Straus, MBA, CPA Instructor of Accounting 573-288-6314 jstraus@culver.edu Carrie Strobel Director of Online Programs 573-288-6468 cstrobel@culver.edu 9

Frequently Asked Questions 1. How do I apply for admissions? Fill out our free online application at www.culver.edu/connectedcampus 2. What are the requirements for acceptance into the program? Official transcripts from all previous institutions submitted. A grade point average of a 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. 50 credit hours of undergraduate course work completed. 3. What is the cost of tuition? Tuition is $385.00 per credit hour. 4. Do I need to log on to my online course at a specific time or day? No. The advantage of taking online courses is that student has the ability to access their courses when and where they choose. It is, however, important to remember that most instructors require participation throughout the week, so don t leave your course for the weekend only. 5. Are there course assignment that I can begin working on before the term starts? Some professors may post the students syllabi or grant them access to their online course before the term begins. If the professor does not offer early access to the course or assignments, students will need to wait until the term start to begin their course work. 6. Who do I contact if I need help? Contact Carrie Strobel, Director of Connected Campus at 573-288-6468 or through email at cstrobel@culver.edu. 7. Who do I contact if I need to drop or withdraw from a course? Contact Carrie Strobel, Director of Connected Campus at 573-288-6468 or through email at cstrobel@culver.edu. Dropping courses may affect a student s financial aid, it is the responsibility of the student to contact the Financial Aid office. 10