DE Program Guidelines*
DE Course Approval Process
Student Services
Students With Disabilities
Audit/Pass Fail Options
Library Services
Videocassette Rental
Extensions
Drop
Withdrawal
Exam Proctoring
Official Class Rolls
Graduating Seniors
Academic Progress Report
Educational Technology Resources
*For a complete list of policies and procedures established by the University for students, please visit the Student Guide to University Policies & Procedures
Student Services
Distance Education courses appear in the online Pack Tracks book with links that refer potential DE students to the course-specific InfoFACTS and also provide information regarding the tuition and fee structure for DE classes which is in addition to campus-based tuition and fees. DE students have the option to register online or to receive registration assistance from Credit Programs & Summer Sessions or the DE service center.
Each student is assigned a Unity account shortly after registration, which allows access to the University’s databases, library services, and e-mail. Since most distance learning courses have an Internet component, it is recommended that all students have access to a computer, an activated e-mail account, and an Internet service provider.
The Distance Education office will order textbooks you request in quantities based on estimates of student enrollment. Forms are available online from the NCSU Bookstores web site at: http://www.ncsu.edu/bookstore. Students may also purchase their books directly from bookstores in their local area or through Internet sources.
Upon registration students are given access to the DE student information packet containing program guidelines, student handbook, information on library services, a guide to accessing their Unity accounts, suggested computer configurations, and an NCSU Bookstores handout. Students are expected to update their contact information through their Pack Tracks link so mailing labels and email addresses are current. Assistance with student questions throughout the semester can be obtained from:
Distance Education (DELTA)
North Carolina State University
Campus Box 7292
Raleigh , NC 27695-7292
Venture IV, Centennial Campus, Suite 140
Phone: (919) 515-9030
Toll free phone: 866-467-8283
FAX: (919) 515-6668
Submit a question by e-mail
Academic Advising is available for both degree and non-degree students at NC State. Non-degree students enrolling in Distance Education courses should contact the Distance Education Office. Non-degree seeking students enrolled in campus-based courses should consult with an advisor at the McKimmon Center’s Office of Credit Programs & Summer Sessions (CP&SS). Degree seeking students should consult your NC State assigned academic advisor to ensure courses are applicable to their degree program.
Students with Disabilities
Taking appropriate steps to accommodate students with disabilities is an important faculty responsibility. The office of Disability Services for Students (DSS) will do everything possible to assist you in fulfilling that responsibility and in building a successful community of learning for every student. Our success, however, in meeting the needs of these students depends heavily on your assistance. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 mandate that the faculty provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities. NC State’s Academic Regulation for providing accommodations for students with disabilities can be found at : http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/pols_regs/REG205.00.28.php.
These accommodations are based on the premise that students with disabilities need an equal opportunity to acquire information and demonstrate what they have learned, not have an advantage over others in the class. This does not mean lowering class standards, but it may mean having students learn and express knowledge in a different mode. Faculty members should make an announcement at the beginning of the semester inviting students with disabilities to schedule an appointment to discuss academic accommodations.
The University will also provide students with disabilities access to University notices comparable to that provided to other students concerning all academic requirements. This means that print notices mailed out by faculty and academic departments or posted on classroom or departmental doors will need to be provided in an appropriate alternate format. All students currently registered with DSS will provide each faculty member with an accommodation letter. This letter verifies that appropriate documentation is on file and that the student has a substantiated disability requiring effective reasonable accommodations. Accommodations for which the student qualifies will also be included in the letter. Any student requesting accommodations without this letter should be directed to the DSS office in Suite 1900, Student Health Center.
The DSS staff is available to serve as a resource in assisting with providing accommodations. DSS services and procedures can be found on the DSS website at http://www.ncsu.edu or you may contact the office directly at 919-515-7653 (voice) or 919-515-8830 (TTY).
Audit/Pass-Fail Options
Students who register in distance education courses must abide by the same academic standards as on-campus students, including the policies that govern taking courses for audit or using the pass-fail option. Students are expected to contact you at the start of the semester to discuss your criteria for meeting the requirements for receiving audit or pass credit if they are exercising either of these options, and we recommend that you include your criteria for students to receive credit under these options in your InfoFACT materials.
Library Services
If going to the D.H. Hill Library is not convenient for students, many of the materials needed for courses may be available through libraries in the students’ home areas, on-line through a virtual library, (for example: http://www.netlibrary.com) or through inter-library loans. The D.H. Hill Library maintains a Distance Learning Department and web site especially for distance students at http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/distance/ or call for library assistance at (919) 513-3655, toll free 1-877-601-0590. In addition to e-reserves, faculty services include online guides to library and information resources, e-reserves, and bibliographic assistance. Additional information is listed on the web: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/distance/faculty.html.
DVD Rental
Students who enroll in DVD courses are required to rent course-specific media, available through NCSU Bookstores. These materials are provided on loan for the semester and are available only to students registered in the class. These materials are based on class lectures previously recorded in an NC State videoclassroom and are duplicated by DELTA’s Media Distribution Services.
Extensions
On occasion distance students request extensions. If your course is DVD-based with materials provided on loan to students, a course completion date must be set with written notification provided to the student. It is then the student's responsibility to provide NCSU Bookstores with this extension confirmation, allowing them to receive a refund of their security deposit based on the new deadline.
Drop
In the event that a student needs to drop a Distance Education course, they can either drop the course through Pack Tracks or submit written notification to the Distance Education office indicating their intent to drop before the drop deadline. Students currently enrolled in a degree program who wish to drop a class after the initial drop deadline should contact their department. All other students who wish to drop a class after the initial deadline should submit a written request to the Distance Education office, accompanied by supporting documentation from your instructor. A drop will be granted for documented extenuating circumstances only and requires the approval of the instructor and the department. Please note that refunds for drops will only be given for courses dropped on or before the last day to drop a course with a refund.
Withdrawal
Once classes begin, students currently enrolled in a degree program who wish to drop all course work for which they are registered must withdraw from the University and should contact their department. All other students should contact the Distance Education office to initiate a withdrawal. It is considered that after the last day of the official drop period a student has become a partner in an implied contract with the University to continue until the end of the semester. Therefore, withdrawals without academic penalty are granted only when exceptional circumstances exist.
Exam Proctoring
You have a number of options for administering exams and quizzes for your distance students:
- On-campus, along with your on-campus students. (This may be problematic for cable students due to inherent delays between taping and broadcast schedules and distance from campus.)
- Through the DE Proctoring Offices which administers exams to students during the day and evening at a pre-arranged time. Telephone: 919.513.1513. To request proctoring for each semester, please complete Online Proctoring Services Request Form prior to the start of the semester. If you need to change the dates of the exams, or give students permission for an exam extension, please notify the DE Proctoring Office by e-mail at deproctor@ncsu.edu.
- Through volunteer off-campus proctors nominated by the distance student and approved in advance by you. For your convenience, we have created an online Proctor Request Form. The Distance Education office will help arrange a secure proctoring environment for your DE students wherever they are located. For assistance contact John Pugh in the Distance Education Office, deproctor@ncsu.edu, telephone: 919.513.1513, toll free: 1.866.467.8283.
Official Class Rolls
Class rolls for distance education courses are available online along with your on-campus grade rolls and are usually listed as section 601 or higher. Courses offered during the 10 Week Summer Session can be found listed under Summer Session 1 and will have a section number of 651 or higher.
Since beginning and ending dates for distance credit courses may vary slightly from on-campus classes, grade reports are due 7-10 days later than the on-campus semester grade reports. All DE grade rolls are submitted online following the same procedure as for your campus-based courses.
Graduating Seniors
Since distance course grade rolls are due back after the close of the semester, graduating seniors are expected to contact you at least one month before commencement exercises so that you can submit their final grade via the Internet grade roll or directly to Registration and Records on the Grade Change Report form.
Academic Progress Report
Consistent with the 6 week course drop policy, instructors are strongly urged to provide substantive evaluative feedback to students before the end of the drop period. Instructors can provide this feedback to students as well as their academic advisors at any point during the semester by using the Academic Progress Reports function available online through the Registration & Records FACULTY ACCESS.
Educational Technology Resources
If you are thinking about developing an Internet course for distance delivery or wish to supplement your course with computer-based materials, you will find assistance from a variety of campus resources and services, as well as ongoing support facilitated through the Distance Education office.
Since the development of web-based materials or an entire web-based course represents a significant time commitment on your part as well as a willingness to learn technological applications, we recommend that you speak to an instructional designer or a colleague, preferably in your department, who has some experience with web-based technologies, to gain an understanding of what is involved. The DE office can facilitate such introductions and provides information on upcoming workshops, conferences, available grants for course development, and other resources to assist with your distance education course.
Some university organizations that are particularly involved in technologically-enhanced learning that can answer questions and provide logistical support include:
Instructional Services, which offers assistance to faculty in exploring, evaluating, and applying innovative multimedia applications and information resources to enhance student learning. Information on its services, including workshops and online instruction, is available at http://delta.ncsu.edu/index.php or e-mail at learntech@ncsu.edu.
Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning enhances student learning by promoting faculty growth and development in knowledge, techniques, and skills related to teaching and learning. For additional information visit their web site: http://www.ncsu.edu/fctl or e-mail: teach_learn@ncsu.edu.
Scholarly Communication Center supports the university’s research, teaching, and service mission by guiding the NC State’s libraries and faculty, students, and staff in matters relating to the dissemination and use of knowledge. The Center is staffed by a copyright and Internet law specialist and serves as a resource to the NC State community on scholarly communication issues including copyright and fair use and intellectual property. Their web site is: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/scc/ or phone 513-2046.