University of Northern Colorado
Independent Study Student Guide
Revised Fall 2008
This guide is updated annually. Please keep your copy for future reference. Policies in force at the time you enroll will be honored insofar as possible during the time allotted for you to complete your course work. Procedures and fees, however, may change from year to year, and then-current procedures and fees will apply to your transactions.
Welcome to Independent Study!
Independent Study (also known as correspondence or home study) is a form of asynchronous distance education. Whether available as hard copy or a multimedia package, or fully accessible on the World Wide Web, all courses require a syllabus/study guide, textbook(s) or readings, and may include tapes, CDs, DVDs, e-mail exchanges, and phone conferences, as deemed appropriate by your instructor. The syllabus/study guide for each course outlines steps for completing course requirements.
We are privileged to have students enrolled from around the world. We are confident that your will find your course a challenging and rewarding experience to the extent that you make your best efforts, ask questions, and carefully observe procedures and policies governing Independent Study.
Contacting the Independent Study Staff, Registration and Costs
Registration is a simple procedure that you initiate when you complete and submit the registration form found in our publications and on our website. Although registration online is not available at this time, you can register for an Independent Study course anytime by mail or fax, or by phone or in person during our regular office hours, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (MT).
There are several ways to reach us:
Office of Extended Studies/Independent Study Program
Campus Box 21, Michener Library, Room L50
University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO 80639
Greeley area: (970) 351-2944
Toll-free: (800) 232-1749
Fax: (970) 351-2519
E-mail: indeps.desk@unco.edu
Registration does not constitute admission to the university, nor do you need to be admitted in order to enroll in Independent Study at UNC. UNC College courses are designated by numbers, such as SOC 302. The numbers indicate the rank of the course. Course numbers beginning with 1 or 2 are of lower-division rank; 3 and 4, upper-division rank; and graduate level courses begin with: 5, 6 or 7.
If you are already a student at the University of Northern Colorado and enrollment in the course causes you to reach or exceed a load of 18 semester hours, you must obtain signed permission from your school advisor and school director before you register.
Your registration must be accompanied by payment in the form of check, money order, or credit card authorization (VISA, MasterCard, Discover). For the 2008-2009 academic year (beginning fall 2008), Independent Study tuition is $160 (undergraduate) or $250 (graduate) per semester hour credit. Course materials costs (textbooks, CDs, etc.) are assessed by and paid separately to the UNC Barnes & Noble College Bookstore at the time you place an order. (See Textbook and Study Guide Purchase, below.)
Special Needs Accommodations
If you believe you may need accommodations in this course, please contact UNC Disability Support Services, voice/TTY (970) 351-2289 or fax (970) 351-4166, or visit www.unco.edu/dss as soon as possible to ensure that accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.
Contacting Your Instructor
Although you will complete your course without attending class, your instructor is available by mail, phone, and in most cases by e-mail. Information on reaching him or her is in the course syllabus/study guide. Since most of our instructors teach Independent Study students in addition to their regular, on-campus assignments, you may experience some delays in receiving graded papers, exams, and replies to your questions. This may be especially obvious during on-campus final examination periods and during the breaks between semesters.
Drops, Withdrawals and Refunds
If, shortly after registering, you decide to drop your Independent Study course, we can process a 90% tuition credit for you IF you notify the Office of Extended Studies (not the Registrar and Records Office or the UNC Registration Center!) within 36 days of the date of your registration in that course and if you have not already submitted any course work for grading. Your written request may be mailed, e-mailed or faxed, you may make your request in person, or you may call our receptionist, who will complete a Drop/Withdrawal Request Form on your behalf. See “Contacting the Independent Study Staff” on the previous page. The credit will be applied to your UNC account if you currently have a balance due. If you have no balance due, then you will be issued a refund.
If you request withdrawal from the course after the end of the 36-day drop period, or if you have already submitted course work for grading, an account credit or refund will not be processed.
A dropped course does not appear on your UNC transcript. If you withdraw, however, a mark of W will be entered on your student record (transcript) at UNC. The W carries no academic penalty, as it does not affect your grade point average.
Residence Requirements for UNC Degree-Seeking Students
UNC requires that all UNC bachelor’s degree-seeking students complete a minimum of nine (9) upper-division UNC hours in the major, six (6) upper-division UNC hours in the minor, and thirty (30) total semester credit hours from UNC. For a student who exceeds the 30 hour residence requirement, 20 of the last 30 semester credit hours of his/her program must be earned in UNC courses.
Postage
You will pay postage on all lessons, exams, and other correspondence you mail to the university, and UNC will pay postage on lessons, exams, etc., that are returned to you.
Textbook and Study Guide Purchase
Textbooks and study guides (and some other required materials) for Independent Study courses are available from the UNC Barnes & Noble College Bookstore. If the course is web-based, the syllabus/study guide will typically be accessible from the course homepage on the Blackboard online learning system, and we will direct you there after you register. Your syllabus/study guide explains course requirements and procedures for submitting your written work and projects and for taking examinations.
If you live in the Greeley area, you can go to the UNC Barnes & Noble College Bookstore at 2045 10th Avenue to purchase your textbook(s) and other materials. If you live outside Greeley or simply want the convenience of delivery to your door, you can purchase books and materials by calling the bookstore at (970) 351-2135 or (800) 551-1134, or by faxing your order to (970) 351-1488. When placing your order, to avoid confusion as to which textbook(s) and syllabus/guide(s) should be purchased, be sure to identify the course as an Independent Study through the Office of Extended Studies, state the course prefix and number, AND specify whether or not the course is to be taken online.
At the bookstore, you may make your purchase using cash, check, VISA, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. If you place your order by phone, fax or mail, you may use a check or any of the credit cards listed above.
A refundable deposit is required for any tape sets that are lent by the bookstore and is payable at the time you purchase textbooks and other materials. For some courses, the tapes or other media items will be available from the UNC Michener Library’s reserve section.
We advise you to order your textbook and course materials immediately after you register. Because textbooks and other items sometimes go out of print unexpectedly, we cannot guarantee the availability of these materials at a later time.
Activating your UNC student account
Using a web browser, go to the UNC site at http://ursa.unco.edu/. If you have not been an “active” student or are a new UNC student, follow directions at the bottom left hand side of this page; or click on ‘new student’ on the top left side of this page. If you have a pop-up blocker installed on your computer you will need to follow the instructions on the screen to remove the pop-up blocker in order to access Ursa. (Be sure you have your Bear number ready. You will need it to activate your your Bearmail information and password.)
In the Secure Access Login area of http://ursa.unco.edu/ you will need to enter your User Name (the first eight characters of your Bearmail) and Password (the same password that is used to access Bearmail) and then click the Login button.
Accessing your UNC online course
Access your online/Blackboard course by using a browser and typing in the following URL: http://bb.unco.edu or http://unco.blackboard.com (you will not be able to access your course until the first day of class)
USERNAME:
-first 8 characters of the UNC generated email/Bearmail address
PASSWORD:
-is the same as you use to access URSA and your bear email account
-the email address added to the Blackboard system will be the student's university-generated email address (you may forward your UNC email address to a personal email address in User Preferences)
Please consider logging onto the UNC Blackboard Help site for more assistance with your online course at: http://www.unco.edu/unconline/edu and click on Student Help. There are tutorials that will help you learn and understand more about online instruction.
Customer Support (SupportU 24.7.365)
Technical Support Center staff and services are now available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. Online technical support is a new service accessible at all times through the SupportU portal: http://www.unco.edu/it/supportu.htm. You can also continue to dial (970) 351-(HELP) or 1-800-545-2331 to contact any one of our skilled support representatives.
Independent Study Timeline
Unless otherwise noted in the course description, you may begin an Independent Study course at any time and study at a pace that fits your schedule. This flexibility allows you to acquire additional education while continuing your employment and meeting personal commitments. Unless your syllabus/study guide states otherwise, you are automatically allowed one year (12 months) from the date of enrollment to complete your course(s). Limited time extensions are available (see below).
When you enroll in an Independent Study course you are entered on the university’s student records system. Until you complete the course and a grade is assigned, your course grade will appear as NR (no report) on your record. Upon completion of the course, the NR will be removed and replaced with the appropriate final mark. If you withdraw from a course or are withdrawn for non-completion, a "W" will be recorded.
Student Evaluation
Upon completing your Independent Study course(s), please take time to evaluate your experience for us. Your frank response will help us continue to improve our services. The Student Satisfaction form is located at the back of your study guide (or within your online course) and can be returned in the postage-paid envelope provided there for review by the Independent Study staff. Please do not fasten the evaluation to any of your lessons, projects or examinations. It is intended to be an anonymous communication.
Hints for Success in Independent Study
Taking a college-level course via Independent Study differs from taking the on-campus version of that course because you will not be bound to the traditional classroom experience. You will need to draw on self-discipline and focus on your educational goals.
We suggest you review the syllabus/study guide carefully and identify the course requirements. Try to determine how much time will be required to complete each section of the course. Use your best judgment, taking into consideration your own schedule and strengths, as you may read and work either faster or slower than the average student.
A study calendar form appears at the end of this guide. You can use it to set some goals for completing each section of the course, if you like, or create one using your own task management software. Begin by dividing the number of units, assignments and exams among the weeks or months during which you intend to finish the course, and you will have a way to mark your own progress. You determine how quickly you complete the course, but do allow at least 3-4 weeks per assignment for grading and mailing. Be sure to write your assignments and their tentative completion or due dates (as decided by you) on your study calendar.
Add time to your calendar to allow for changes in your plans. Depending upon when you register, your course may be completed within a semester just as if it were an on-campus course, although in most cases you have up to a year to complete it if that better suits your personal circumstances. That is one of the advantages of Independent Study!
Most successful students have a special place where they study. They also have a set period of time designated each day for study. They know that this is the time and place to accomplish a certain task. Do whatever works best for you; however, an hour a day on average is an attainable goal for most students.
As you progress through the course, occasionally go back and review what you have learned. This helps you to develop a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of the content and structure of the course. Occasionally look forward to future sections of the course to see where you are headed, for the same reason.
Library Services
If your assignments require library services to which you do not have access locally, contact the UNC Michener Library at (970) 351-2562 for assistance or take the link to http://library.unco.edu/services/distance.htm. Special access is provided for individuals living more than 50 miles from UNC. Your syllabus/study guide may have more specific information concerning use of the library, items on reserve, reference resources, etc.
Students who live within the 50-mile radius are expected to visit the UNC Michener Library in person. To borrow materials from the Michener Library in person, bring positive identification and your confirmation/receipt from registration for your independent study course. Students residing greater than 50 miles from campus may request that materials be delivered to them. All requests must include complete citations. Articles will be delivered via U.S. mail or fax based on student preference. Books will be mailed first class. Delivery time by U.S. postal service is approximately 1 week. It is the responsibility of the student to return books by the date due. UNC does not pay return postage on books. For information on document delivery, call (970) 351-2580.
Use your local area libraries as your primary resource. When there is a choice, an academic library is more likely to have the indexes and other resources you will need for college-level research. Because many libraries provide remote access, you can search various library databases from your home or business, at your own convenience if you have access via the Internet. You can also search library databases from the UNC Libraries website and get online access to many journal articles. Start at http://library.unco.edu/services/distance.htm
If the materials you need are not available through your local area libraries or if you need additional assistance, contact the UNC Michener Library. When placing requests, please remember to include the complete citation information. You can check the UNC Libraries online catalog at http://source.unco.edu to find out if the materials you need are available at Michener Library. If they aren’t, library personnel will order them from another library for your use.
Requests for the following materials may be made through the following methods:
Online: www.unco.edu/library/forms/distancerequest.htm
By email: library.ocp@unco.edu
By fax: (970) 351-2540
By mail: Interlibrary Loan, Michener Library, UNC Campus, Box 48, Greeley, CO 80639
Deadlines
If you have a deadline related to an event such as admission, graduation, license renewal, hiring, etc., be sure to complete your last assignment and/or exam at least six weeks before your deadline to allow your instructor adequate time to complete the evaluation of your lessons, exams and projects. Write a note or send e-mail to your instructor early in your studies to let him/her know of your situation, and do not plan to submit all your lessons and exams at once. Independent Study instruction is nearly always done as an overload assignment and our instructors typically need two or three weeks to grade and return each lesson or exam.
We work with you to help you accomplish your goals and meet your deadlines, but your coordination of this effort and timely submission of course work is critical! Please allow 7-10 days for mail traveling by first class within the U.S.A. to reach us or return to you.
Examinations and Securing a Proctor
Independent Study examinations are completed in a variety of ways, depending upon the choice of the instructor who wrote the course study guide you are using. While most courses require a supervised exam, some include self-administered, open-book examinations, and some may not have any traditional tests. Your study guide will tell you about any testing requirements and procedures that apply for your course(s).
Instructions may indicate that your test is to be “proctored”; it is your responsibility to identify an individual who will proctor your examinations. Make sure this person agrees to do so. Select your exam proctor from one of the following categories, preferably #1:
- Assigned staff in an office of independent study, continuing education or extension division at a post-secondary institution (a college, university, or community college).
- Assigned staff in a testing center or counseling services center at a college, university or community college.
- A school district administrator.
- A school building principal, assistant principal or counselor.
- A member of the clergy.
The person you identify must currently hold the position described in the categories above, and must not be your relative. The test should be administered in a professional setting and not in a private home. Please provide a work address and telephone number for your proctor.
For those taking “paper tests”, if you do not reside in Greeley and your course work has been completed and submitted for grading, the Request for Exam form has been properly filled out and received by our office, we will forward the test to the person you have selected. A note will be mailed to you at the same time. Please make arrangements to take the examination as soon as possible within a month of submitting this request.
Students who wish to take their exams in Greeley on the UNC Campus are directed to contact the UNC Testing Services coordinator at (970) 351-2790 to schedule exam appointments. The Testing Services Center provides a quiet, well-lit testing area in which distractions can be kept to a minimum.
Transfer to Another Course
You may transfer your enrollment from one UNC Independent Study course to another UNC Independent Study course during the 36 days immediately following your registration, provided you have not yet submitted any lessons or exams for grading. This does not cover transfer to another type of extended studies course, e.g., a professional development or extended degree program class.
At the time you request the transfer, you must pay a $25 administrative fee and any additional tuition warranted by a difference in credit hours, if applicable. You may pay by check, money order or credit card (VISA, MasterCard, Discover). If you transfer to a course with fewer credit hours, you will be eligible for a UNC account credit or refund, less the $25 administrative fee. Only one transfer per enrollment is allowed, and it is applicable only for you. In all cases, the course expiration date (one year from the date of your enrollment in the course from which you transferred) remains the same.
Reinstatement (Time Extension)
Unless otherwise stated in the course description or course syllabus/study guide, you have a full year (12 months) to complete your Independent Study course(s). If you have not completed the course within that year, you will have two options as the year’s end approaches:
- You may purchase a six-month extension for a fee of $15 per semester hour (for example, $45 for a three-hour course).
- You may ask to be withdrawn and receive a mark of W on your student record.
In most cases, a second six-month extension may be purchased just prior to the end of the first six-month extension. The request must be made in a timely manner.
Transcripts
An official transcript showing your final grade for the completed course will be available within two weeks after the final grade is submitted to the Office of Extended Studies by your instructor. As of August 1, 2008, your cost is $7 per copy, and there are several ways for you to place your request using the UNC transcript request form found at www.unco.edu/regrec/Academic-Records/transcript.html or your own written request as described below.
- Online: Log in to URSA (University Resource for Systems Access) at http://ursa.unco.edu and follow instructions. Pay by Visa, MasterCard or Discover as directed.
- In person: Go to the UNC Registrar’s Office (Carter Hall 3002), Monday through Friday during regular business hours (8 a.m. - 5 p.m.). Complete and sign the UNC transcript request form. Pay by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, cash, check or money order.
- By mail: Send a completed UNC transcript request form or your written request and $5 payment (personal check, money order, or authorization to charge one of the cards mentioned) to the UNC Registrar’s Office, Campus Box 50, Greeley, CO 80639. Include your name, student number (aka “Bear Number”), date of birth, phone number, the address(es) to which your transcript should be sent, the number of copies to be sent to each address, and your signature. If you are paying by credit card, include the type of card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover), the name of the cardholder as it appears on the card, the account number, and expiration date.
- By fax: Send a completed UNC transcript request form or your written request and authorization for payment by credit card (as described above) to (970) 351-1870.
You can obtain an unofficial academic record at any time by logging into URSA at http://ursa.unco.edu, following directions and printing your own copy.
Academic Conduct
The Independent Study program subscribes and adheres to campus policies related to academic conduct as written in the current UNC Student Handbook, accessible on the web at www.unco.edu/dos/handbook/links.htm. The UNC community, of which you are a part, is expected to adhere to the UNC Honor Code, which states:
All members of the University of Northern Colorado community are entrusted with the responsibility to uphold and promote five fundamental values: Honesty, Trust, Respect, Fairness, and Responsibility. These core elements foster an atmosphere, inside and outside of the classroom, which serves as a foundation and guides the UNC community’s academic, professional, and personal growth. Endorsement of these core elements by students, faculty, staff, administration, and trustees strengthens the integrity and value of our academic climate. (April 2002: www.unco.edu/dos/honor_code.htm)
Academic Approval of Credit Courses
Credit courses and instructors have been approved by the appropriate academic units, curriculum committees, and colleges of the University of Northern Colorado. Independent Study course credits receive the same academic recognition as those earned in on-campus classes and are granted when you meet the same academic standards and expectations as your on-campus counterparts.
Occasionally non-credit courses are approved by the professional staff of the Office of Extended Studies. Courses that carry CEUs (Continuing Education Units) are approved following the guidelines of the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).
The Colorado Consortium for Independent Study
UNC has been a member of the Colorado Consortium for Independent Study since the early 1970s. The Consortium currently comprises eleven public postsecondary institutions that offer a variety of credit and noncredit or certificate courses and programs via Independent Study. To view the complete, current offerings of all members of the consortium visit the website at www.ColoradoIndependentStudy.org. Additional copies of the Colorado Consortium for Independent Study’s catalog can be requested by sending a message to esinfo@unco.edu or calling 800-232-1749, 303-637-4320, or 970-351-2944.
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