Posted by Barbara Goodman on 9/19/2008
The Boyer Center and the Office of Academic Affairs are seeing a continual increase in the number of students applying to take courses by Independent Study (IS) — formerly known as correspondence courses — through UA Global Campus/School of Continuing Education and Outreach. We received almost 100 applications for IS from undergraduate College of Education and Health Professions students in the month of August. Many more students are taking courses through IS when they find that courses on campus are full.
Advising students to take courses by IS requires a great deal of information about the student. If the student is going to take the class and pay for it with their financial aid, there are additional restrictions and rules. I never try to be the student’s financial aid counselor, but I do advise students to talk to their financial aid counselor and become familiar with IS policy and the rules regarding submission of their first lesson and other deadlines that apply if paying for the IS class with financial aid.
In addition, I always tell students that taking a class by IS can be a problem for students who lack motivation. Independent Study courses do not have the traditional due dates for lessons and tests as on-campus classes, so many students find it difficult to complete them. Students who are paying for the class with financial aid must complete the course in the normal semester dates. IS courses that have not been completed are a barrier to graduation for seniors; we often deny graduation based on a student failing to complete an IS course by the last day of finals, which is a requirement for all classes that apply to the student who is finishing their degree requirements and graduating that semester.
The college requires that the student’s advisor approve and sign the application to take a class through IS. The IS form provides only one signature block for approval. Please do NOT sign in the space titled APPROVING OFFICIAL’S SIGNATURE (SEE NOTE ABOVE) because, as the note indicates, IS requires a dean’s approval in this space. Advisors should sign right above the block containing course ID, name, etc. The form can be found on the BCSS Web site in the Forms section at: http://boyer.uark.edu/1806.htm
It is the college policy at this time to include IS courses as part of a student’s semester course load for all UA policies and procedures that govern or limit the number of hours a student may take (such as overloads and limitations on hours based on the student’s academic standing). This issue was discussed at a recent committee meeting of advising and registration personnel and was referred to the Executive Council of the Faculty Senate for review since there is a need for clarification. Independent Study courses paid for with financial aid are currently considered for overload purposes, and the Academic Standing policy clearly addresses the fact that IS courses are included in the nine-hour limitation for students on Academic Suspension Limited Enrollment; however, in other areas the issue is not specifically addressed.
Here’s an Advising Checklist of things to consider when advising a student on taking classes through UA IS: http://boyer.uark.edu/1805.htm
Questions? Please contact the Boyer Center for Student Services at 575-4203 if you need any additional information or clarification. Thank you!
We want to hear from you. Please e-mail comments and feedback to Barbara Goodman at bgoodma@uark.edu.