FAQ | Brescia University Online

1. Who should I call if I need assistance or need to talk with someone?

Contact one of our Recruitment Coordinators. You can reach Tammy Keller at 270-663-0754 or Shanda LaRue at 270-663-4190 or email either at stars@brescia.edu

2. How do I register for a course?

New students to Brescia will need to complete an application online. We will need your official high school (or GED) and all official college transcripts sent to our Office of Admissions, 717 Frederica Street, Owensboro, KY 42301.

Upon acceptance, contact you advisor based on your program of study:

• To register for the Bachelor of Arts in Theology with Emphasis – contact the Ministry Formation office at mfp@brescia.edu or 270-686-4262.

• To register for the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, please contact Vicki Tinsley at vicki.tinsley@brescia.edu or 270-686-4321.

• To register for a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), contact the Social Work Program office at socialwork@brescia.edu or 270-686-4220.

• To register for the Masters of Science in Management, contact Dr. Sandra Obilade at sandra.obilade@brescia.edu or 270-686-4209.

• To register for the Certificate in Accounting, contact Dr. Duane Smith at stars@brescia.edu or 270-686-4311.

• Non-degree students wishing to register for a class should contact Tammy Keller at stars@brescia.edu or 270-663-0754.

3. What is the cost of my online course?

The 2009-2010 tuition rate for a STARS online student, whether degree or non-degree seeking is $325.00 per credit hour. Students in the MSM program will pay $400 per credit hour.Additional fees for the 2009-2010 academic year are:

• The online fee for Bachelor of Arts in Theology with Emphasis in Pastoral Studies – Degree Completion is $75 per course.

• The online fee for Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), , Master’s of Science in Management, Online Accounting Certificate, and all other online courses are $125 per course.

4. Where do I get information about scholarships and financial aid?

For more information about financial aid click here or contact our Financial Aid office by phone at 270-686-4253 or by email: financialaid@brescia.edu.

5. Who do I contact about questions relating to payments or invoices?

Contact our Cashier’s Office by phone 270-686-4238 or by email: cashier@brescia.edu.

6. When are payments due?

Any amount due from the student, for which Brescia has not received verification of a third party payment source, must be paid prior to the start of the second class period.

7. What are the minimum hardware/software requirements for success in an online course?

Minimum hardware and software requirements for successfully accessing a web-based course are as follows:

Personal computer (PC): Pentium II, 64 MB RAM
Operating System – Windows 2000 or higher
Memory - 256 MB
CPU - 500 MHz or higher
Free Disk Space - 10 MB or more
Browser - Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher, Netscape Navigator 7.1 or higher, Mozilla 1.4 or higher
Browser Settings – JavaScript enabled, Popup blockers disabled, Cookies enabled
Productivity Software - MS Office or viewers
Internet Connection - 56K modem (DSL recommended)
Other – Sound card and speakers (microphone and webcam recommended)
Virus Protection (strongly recommended)

Macintosh computer (MAC): Apple Power Macintosh computer, 64MB RAM
Operating System – Mac OS 8.0
Memory – 256 MB
CPU – Power Mac G3 or higher
Free Disk Space – 10 MB or more
Browser - Netscape Navigator 7.1 or higher, Mozilla 1.4 or higher.
Browser Settings – JavaScript enabled, Popup blockers disabled, Cookies enabled
Productivity Software – MS Office or viewers
Internet Connection – 56K modem (DSL recommended)
Other – Sound card and speakers (microphone and webcam recommended)
Virus Protection (strongly recommended)

8. Where do I get information about my books for the course?

Your course outline will contain the text and material information required for your course. You may purchase your books through the Brescia University Bookstore by contacting them by email at bookstore@brescia.edu or by phone 270-686-4255. The Brescia Bookstore accepts major credit cards, checks, and money orders.

9. How do I get an email account and password for the online course(s)?

All online students must use a Brescia email address for their classes and this will automatically be set up for the student soon after they have registered for their class(es). The student will be notified by mail or email when the account is established. They will receive a login, password, and instructions on accessing their Brescia email account. Approximately 2 weeks before the start day of classes up to the actual day of class, students will be emailed information about accessing their online class. They will receive a different and separate username, password, and information on accessing their online course.

10. What is the time frame that I am required to log into my course(s)?

The Brescia log-in policy is as follows. Students are expected to log in and be present for the first class. Students who do not log in for the first class and who have NOT previously notified the professor of their absence will be automatically dropped from the course. No students may register after the first official week of class. In other words, there are penalties for not logging into a course during the first official week.

11. How do I drop an online course? Can I get a refund?

To drop a course:

There is only one way for you to drop: You must officially notify the Registrar in writing via email. To receive a full refund, the class must be dropped prior to the first class meeting and the student cannot log onto the site. The student must email the Brescia University Registrar at registrar@brescia.edu and the email must be receieved BEFORE midnight EST/EDT on Sunday prior to the first day of class.

To get a refund:

Refer to Withdrawal/Refund Policy in the University Catalog or the Admissions and Finance section of the online catalog. The same principles apply to online classes as to Weekend College classes.

To receive a full refund, the class must be dropped prior to the first class meeting and the student cannot log onto the site. You must email the Brescia University Registrar at registrar@Brescia.edu and the email must be received BEFORE midnight EST/EDT on the Sunday prior to the first day of class.

12. Will I have face-to-face meetings with my professor?

Contacts will occur through the chat room and discussion board within the course.

13. How many sessions will I have in my course?

It depends on the course in which you are enrolled.

14. What if I miss three weeks before I complete a lesson?

You may be penalized if you do not submit assignments when the professor has indicated they are due.

15. How will I take tests? Are they open book or on campus?

Quizzes and tests are timed. They are automatically submitted when the allotted time has expired. The tests will be administered online and instructors will determine the format.

16. How many tests will accompany my course?

The number of quizzes and tests varies considerably from course to course. Thus the number and type of student assessments depend on the course in which you are enrolled.

17. Will I have meetings involving all the students in my class?

Contacts will occur through the chat room and discussion board within the course.

18. If I submit my assignment on Monday, when will I get a response from my professor?

24 to 48 hours.

19. Will I need to be self-directed in order to succeed in online learning?

Yes.

20. How do I get help if I cannot access my online course?

Contact the Learning House 24/7 Help Center by dialing 1-866-259-4329. Technical assistance is also available through live chat, email support, and password assistance by clicking on the help center icon found at http://bu.learninghouse.com

21. Tips for Being a Successful Online Learner

Adapted from the Illinois Online Network: http://illinois.online.uillinois.edu/resources/tutorials/pedagogy/StudentProfile.asp.

• Be self-motivated and self-disciplined.
With the freedom and flexibility of the online environment comes responsibility. The online process takes a real commitment and discipline to keep up with the flow of the process.

• Log on to your course every single day.
Or a minimum of 3-5 days a week. Once you get into the online system, you will be eager to see who has commented on your postings and read the feedback of your instructor and peers. You will also be curious to see who has posted something new that you can comment on. If you let too many days go by without logging on to your course discussion group, you will get behind and find it very difficult to catch up.

• Be polite and respectful.
Just because you are anonymous, doesn’t mean you should let yourself go. Remember, you are dealing with real people on the other end. Being polite and respectful is not only common sense, it is absolutely obligatory for a productive and supportive online environment. In a positive online environment, you will feel valued by your instructor, valued by your classmates, and your own work will have greater value as well.

• Be willing and able to commit to 4 to 6 hours of home study per week for a ten week course and double that for a 5 week course.

• Be able to communicate through writing.
In the virtual classroom, nearly all communication is written, so it is critical that learners feel comfortable in expressing themselves in writing. Be sure to use the spell check before posting responses.

• Be willing to “speak up” if problems arise.
Many of the non-verbal communication mechanisms that instructors use in determining whether learners are having problems (confusion, frustration, boredom, absence, etc.) are not possible in the online paradigm. If a learner is experiencing difficulty on any level (either with the technology or with the course content), s/he must communicate this immediately. Otherwise the instructor will never know what is wrong.

• Be able to meet the minimum requirements for the program.
The requirements for online are no less than that of any other quality educational program. The successful learner will view online as a convenient way to receive their education, not an easier way.

• Accept critical thinking and decision making as part of the learning process.
The learning process requires the learner to make decisions based on facts as well as experience. Assimilating information and executing the right decisions requires critical thought.

• Have access to a computer and connections to the WEB
For most people the communication medium is a computer, phone line, and modem; the learner must have access to the necessary hardware and software as described above.

• Be able to think ideas through before responding.
Meaningful and quality input into the virtual classroom is an essential part of the learning process. Time is given in the process to allow for the careful consideration of responses. The testing and challenging of ideas is encouraged; you will not always be right, just be prepared to accept a challenge.

• Be open-minded about sharing life, work, and educational experiences as part of the learning process.
Introverts as well as extroverts find that online learning requires them to utilize their experiences. This forum for communication eliminates the visual barriers that hinder some individuals in expressing themselves. In addition, the learner is given time to reflect on the information before responding.