Week 7!  The end of Spring 1 is quickly approaching! - Don't forget to enroll for Spring II now!

This week's email outlines four academic policies and options for Online students.  Our Enrollment Counselor's field A LOT of questions on the following topics:

STUDENT COURSE OVERLOAD

·        Full-time enrollment is Six (6) credit hours per term in the College for Distance Learning.  If you have completed at least 6 credit hours at Park University with a grade point average of 3.25 or above, your Enrollment Counselor may approve three (3) additional hours for a total of nine (9) credit hours per term.

·        Anything above nine (9) hours per term is considered an exception to academic policy and must be petitioned in writing through your Enrollment Counselor for approval by the Enrollment Management Coordinator.  Only extenuating circumstances will be considered.

PREREQUISITE WAIVERS

• Per Park University policy, all students must complete prerequisites necessary for courses requiring a prerequisite(s) prior to enrolling in that course.  In situations where a student is unable to complete a prerequisite, due to duty assignments or other extenuating situations, the prerequisite may be waived.  Such a waiver must be approved by the course instructor and your Enrollment Counselor; approval is based upon the reasonable probability of a student's successful completion of the course.  Your Enrollment Counselor can provide you the waiver form.
• Under no exception will the WCT prerequisite be waived.
• Please be aware that although you are required to meet the degree requirements under the catalog for the year in which you matriculated, if prerequisite changes are made to required courses, you will be responsible for the new course prerequisites.  This is to ensure that you have background and experience for success in all of your required courses.

INDEPENDENT STUDY

        Policy:

• An Independent Study may be offered to those evaluated, degree-seeking park University students who need three (3) to six (6) hours to complete residency.
• The maximum number of credit hours allowed through Independent Study is six (6) hours.
• The maximum time allowed for completion per three hour course is six (6) months.
• Independent Study courses must be paid for in full, regardless of funding, at the time of approved registration.
• Some courses are not available through Independent Study (e.g. seminars, courses requiring special equipment, etc.).

   Procedure:

• The student requests in writing a specified course through their Enrollment Counselor.
• If the student qualifies, the request is sent to the Office of the Registrar for approval.
• The request is approved or denied. 
•  If approved, the Independent Study Coordinator is notified and an Independent Study Agreement is sent to the student for completion and remittance of charges.
• If denied, the student will be notified by the Registrar with an explanation of disapproval.
• Upon receipt of the Independent Study Agreement and payment of tuition, the Independent Study Coordinator selects a qualified instructor who contacts the student and provides the student with coursework materials.
• Textbooks determined by the instructor will be ordered by the student through MBS at 1-800-325-3252 or http://www.mbsdirect.net/.
• The student submits homework to the instructor for grading via determined manner as agreed upon at beginning of term.
• The final grade will be assessed by the instructor of record at the end of the six month period or at completion of all course requirements, which ever occurs sooner.

 NON -ACADEMIC CREDIT OPTIONS

VLE - Validated Learning Equivalency credits may be awarded based upon: 

     A.  Work experience

     B.  Military or work training

     C.  Taking classes at a non-accredited college/university

• Students must apply for VLE credit within one year of initial enrollment
• Cost: $30.00 application fee. $30/per credit hour for each credit hour awarded
• Maximum number hour of hours awarded: 24
• Contact your enrollment counselor for more information and an application

Credit by Examination
Course credit may be awarded for satisfactory completion of the CLEP, DANTES and Excelsior College Exam.    A maximum of 30 credit hours from the subject examinations may be accepted.  Exams may be taken for credit in the core, general education, upper division and electives requirements for a Bachelor's degree.  A minimum score is required and an official copy of the scores must be submitted to the Registrar's office.  The exams results will be applied as transfer hours (TR) on the degree audit and do not affect the GPA.    Subject exams cannot be used to fulfill residency requirements.  

·        CLEP - click here for more info. CLEP credits show on transcripts as transfer courses and are not calculated in your GPA.

·        Dantes - click here for more info. Dantes credits show on transcripts as transfer courses and are not calculated in your GPA.

·        The Excelsior College Exam is only administered at military installations and may only be available to active duty military students and their spouses/dependents.