1. Are distance education classes accredited?
Yes. JSU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
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2. Do I have to be admitted to JSU to take distance education classes?
Yes. You must be admitted to JSU before registering for classes offered through
Distance Education. You may apply for admission online at http://www.jsu.edu
.
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3. Will I earn credit toward a degree with all distance education classes?
Yes. By taking classes offered through Distance Education when classified as a traditional student, you will earn college credit toward a degree program. Students classified in other manners may take courses that do not apply toward a degree. You should consult with your advisor for questions on the applicability of courses toward a degree.
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4. What degree programs are offered online?
Please go to
http://myjsuonline.com for a complete list of full degree programs.
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5. How do I obtain my books and course materials?
The JSU Campus Bookstore is located on the second floor of the Theron Montgomery Building.
Students may purchase books and supplies at the Campus Bookstore including new and used books, school and office supplies, clothing and gifts,
and study guides. Textbooks can also be ordered by telephone and received by mail. To
order by phone, call the bookstore directly at (256) 782-5283 or call our toll-free number
at 1-800-231-5291 and ask for bookstore. To order textbooks on the web, go to http://jsu.bkstore.com/ . Textbook buyback days are scheduled for the week of finals at the end of Fall, Spring and Summer II semesters. Extended operating hours are offered for the convenience of evening students.
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6. How do I know what is expected of me in a particular class?
As in traditional classes, your instructor will provide you with a syllabus outlining the assignments for the class. Your instructor will also provide you with any additional information you will need to successfully complete the class. Be sure to keep in contact with your instructor to ensure that you keep on top of any
assignments.
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7. Do I contact my instructor, or does my instructor contact me?
Please review the following pages: Blackboard
Access, Blackboard
Course Availability, Notes
for Online Courses.
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8. Does the Office of Distance Education duplicate CD-ROMs for classroom distribution?
Instructors: The Office of Distance Education currently maintains a CD Duplication system that allows
for CD copying by instructors for use in courses taught through online and other methods.
Instructors must contact the Office of Distance Education to schedule CD Duplication.
Please provide the number of CD’s desired, as well as preferences for CD label printing
and the provision of sleeves for each CD. All materials to be duplicated must be presented
for duplication in a digital format, such as on a Zip or CD. Please note that payment to the
Office of Distance Education for CD Duplication is made through Internal Budget
Transfers ONLY. See more information on the available resources
at
http://www.jsu.edu/facstaff/resources/DE_resources.html#hardware
.
Students: Some instructors may provide CD’s along with textbooks or as supplements for
your Distance Education courses. These CD’s may be purchases through the
JSU Bookstore.
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9. Can the Office of Distance Education scan materials for me (faculty members ONLY)?
A scanner with a feeder component is available to all JSU faculty members.
Assistance may be provided to orient the instructor to the scanner process, though
materials are not scanned for instructors. See more information on the available resources
at
http://www.jsu.edu/facstaff/resources/DE_resources.html#hardware .
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10. Will the Office of Distance Education ensure that instructors have copyright clearance for
all of their course materials?
Instructors are individually responsible for ensuring that all materials used in Distance Education courses comply with any applicable copyright restrictions. Please refer to the Faculty Handbook. Any material that is questionable for use in a Distance Education course should likely NOT be used. Clearance from the appropriate publisher or source must always be obtained. Material offered to students by instructors then becomes the responsibility of the student to maintain appropriate copyright restrictions.
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11. As a student, am I bound by copyright law?
Yes. If you must use copyrighted material to complete your coursework, you are responsible for making sure you use that material in acceptable ways under the Copyright Law of the United States. More information regarding copyright may be found at this link:
http://www.jsu.edu/depart/library/graphic/copyiss.htm
.
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12. At what times can I contact my instructor or the Library using the 800 numbers?
You may contact campus personnel between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30
p.m. Central Standard Time.
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13. Do Distance Education students have an on-campus post office box?
Distance Education students may be assigned an on-campus post office box upon enrollment in JSU courses. Due to increasing enrollment and limited number of boxes, if one wants an on-campus box it is important to go to or call the mail office and request one instead of waiting for one to be assigned. To have this mail delivered to your home, please
contact the Mail Center at 256-782-5290. You may also want to review the mail center’s
website: http://www.jsu.edu/depart/mailcenter/
.
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14. Do Distance Education students receive a student ID card?
Distance Education students do not receive a picture ID card unless they can come to campus
to obtain one. The Registrar’s office can provide a letter of enrollment verifying that you are
a student at Jacksonville State University. In most cases, this can be
substituted for a student ID card.
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15. Are the courses listed on the website the only courses available?
The course listing on the website is the most up-to-date listing of courses being offered. To
request that another course be offered, we suggest that you contact the department
through which the course is normally offered.
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16. Will I be expected to come to campus while taking a class though Distance Education?
Some professors do ask their students to come to campus to take tests
and/or participate in study sessions/discussions. If you are
unable to come to campus, you will need to work out an acceptable
alternative with your instructor. If you are unable to come to
campus to take a test, you will need to secure a proctor. Guidelines for
finding an acceptable proctor can be found on our
Proctoring page.
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17. How long does it take to study for a Distance Education course, and what is involved?
Prior to taking a Distance Education course, many students assume this format is easier.
However, depending upon various factors, the initial time demand can be greater than traditional classroom delivery methods. You will need to organize your materials (textbooks, notebooks, floppy disks) and find a comfortable and quiet place to study.
Assignments and projects are compatible with distance learning teaching methodology, so you will probably be submitting your work through mail, email, or though the Assignment Management System on Blackboard. If your instructor will be using Blackboard, we suggest you go through the
Blackboard
Demo Course prior to beginning your course so you may become familiar with Blackboard if you are taking online classes. The class time, then, largely depends on your current course document status, your motivation level and your familiarity with computers.
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18. What technical skills and equipment do I need to take classes through Distance Education?
For online classes, only minimal to moderate level skills are needed; necessary ones are as follows:
- Basic knowledge of computer software and tools.
- Capable of using a word processor, email, an Internet browser, search engines, copy and
paste tools, and switching between window and applications.
- Ability to download and install software and plug-ins if necessary.
Equipment required is minimal. Specifications for using Blackboard can be found
on our System Requirements
page. For Video-Based classes, you will need a VCR and a TV to view videocassettes. Some Video-Based
classes may use Blackboard and CD-ROM. Videoconferencing courses do not require
any special skills that differ from traditional or on-campus courses, though some courses
may be augmented with Blackboard.
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19. How much do Distance Education classes cost?
For information regarding tuition, please contact the Registrar's office
at (256) 782-5400, or the University
Bursar at (256) 782-5458 for current cost information. The JSU
Bookstore may be able to provide you with textbook costs. You
may also find information at http://www.jsu.edu/depart/undergraduate/catalog/tuition.html.
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20. Is an orientation session available for Distance Education students?
Individual instructors make the determination of whether an on-campus orientation will be held for their online classes.
Brief orientations to the procedures in the Videoconferencing courses are presented for each class.
Materials to orient students to the online Blackboard system are available in the form of
Helpful Student Links. Additionally, the Blackboard Demo Course allows students to browse through a Blackboard course prior to
registering for and beginning classes. Click
here to log on to the Blackboard Demo Course.
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21. Is financial aid available for Distance Education students?
You may apply for Financial Aid for distance classes as you would for traditional classes.
Please keep in mind that you may not receive financial aid from two universities at the same time.
Go to http://www.jsu.edu/depart/finaid/finaid.html
for more information.
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22. Do I need an advisor to take classes through Distance Education?
Yes, you must have an advisor’s approval before you can register. For advisement on courses or programs, contact the course instructor, the department or college of your major, the department or college through which the course if offered, or the advisor assigned to you upon admission.
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23. How do I gain admission to JSU?
a. Complete an application for undergraduate
or graduate
admission.
b. Once you are accepted to JSU, you must obtain authorization from an
advisor
to register for classes.
c. Browse a list of JSU Distance Learning
courses.
d. Register for the course.
e. Review the Academic Calendar (Distance Learning courses follow the same calendar as
regular on-campus classes).
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24. What is the procedure for drop/add/withdrawal?
See the information provided to you on the
Drop/Add/Withdraw page.
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25. I have a disability. Can I be accommodated in Distance Education classes?
Students must register with DSS to be given accommodations. DSS and the student are responsible for making arrangements with the instructor(s) of any Distance Education course prior to the beginning of the term that the course(s) will be taught. Obtain more information on DSS
at http://www.jsu.edu/depart/dss/index.html
.
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26. I am taking an Online Course through Blackboard. When do my classes
begin and end?
All Distance Education courses, including Online Courses, follow the traditional
Academic Calendar. Students may not be able to access
courses until the first day of class according to the
Academic Calendar (these dates are also indicated in our list of Online
Courses). Once your account is activated and the course is
made available by the instructor, you should be able
to access your course. If you are able to login to Blackboard, but
do not see your course listed, please contact your instructor first to
see if they have made the course available for student viewing. Go
to the following pages for more information: Blackboard
Access, Blackboard
Course Availability, Notes
for Online Courses, Blackboard User Names &
Passwords.
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27. Do Distance Education students have access to the Library?
Yes. Distance Education students have access to all of the Library's services and resources.
If you have more questions, please contact the Library at (256)
782-8034. You may also want to review the Library's website at http://www.jsu.edu/depart/library/
.
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28. Where do I go for more information?
Review the Distance Education website for a comprehensive list of information on topics for all Distance Education students and faculty. The new
Faculty Teaching Resources website will be beneficial to all
Distance Education instructors. Also, be sure to check out the Blackboard Resources page
for tutorials, handouts, and more.
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29. Is JSU an
accredited university?
Yes. Please see the
JSU
Accreditation page for more information. [Top]
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