Center for
Regional Programs

Admission/Enrollment
Independent Study Courses

ENROLLMENT AND RENEWAL
The enrollment in a course is for a period of six months.   Experience has shown that most courses can be completed within that time. Minimum time for completing a course is 5 weeks.  When needed, the enrollment period may be extended for three months upon written request accompanied by a fee of $50.00 any time before the expiration date of the first enrollment.  A COURSE CAN BE RENEWED ONLY ONE TIME.  The extension of a course is not recommended unless some lessons have been submitted.

Arkansas State University faculty members grade most course lessons.  Delays in returning lessons will occur during the summer terms and vacation periods.  The student should take this into consideration before attempting to meet a deadline.

The Independent Study Office operates throughout the entire year.  Therefore, one may enroll and begin work on a course at any time.

One may enroll in two independent study courses at the same time; however, it is important to apply only for the work one can successfully complete in addition to other obligations.

ADMISSION FOR AN INDEPENDENT STUDY COURSE  
Enrollment in an independent study course is conditional until the enrollment has been accepted by the Registrar’s Office.  It is the responsibility of the student to make sure he is eligible for admission and enrollment at Arkansas State University.  A student enrolling for independent study courses must meet ALL admission requirements of Arkansas State University.

 INDEPENDENT STUDY WHILE ENROLLED IN CAMPUS COURSES  
A student desiring to enroll in independent study while enrolled as a full-time student at this university must secure the signatures of his/her adviser and dean on the Application for Independent Study Work.  Taking an independent study course must not create an overload of hours in any given semester.

An independent study course need not be completed within the semester unless the student will be enrolled in 16 or more credit hours the next semester.  Students shall not exceed 14 hours during the summer term, which includes any combination of five or ten-week courses.  This includes correspondence courses.

INDEPENDENT STUDY WHILE ENROLLED IN ANOTHER UNIVERSITY  
A student desiring to take independent study work while enrolled and working toward a degree from another college or university must secure the approval of the Registrar at the college or university in which she/he is enrolled (this Certification of Transient Student Status form is found in the back of the Independent Study Bulletin).  A student desiring to enroll in an independent study course under these circumstances will not be required to submit a transcript of college courses completed.

ACADEMIC SUSPENSION  
Any student who is on academic suspension from Arkansas State University or from any other college or university may not enroll in an independent study course.  For further information concerning academic suspension consult the current issue of the Arkansas State University Undergraduate Bulletin.

FEES

Tuition per Credit Hour $66.00
Textbook Rental $25.00
Postage Fee per Credit Hour $6.00
Within the Continental United States
Course Extension $50.00
Course Exchange (NOTE Requirement) $50.00
Penalty for Checks Returned for Insufficient Funds, etc. $10.00
Course Materials $7.00

 

FACULTY/STAFF AND DEPENDENT DISCOUNTS DO NOT APPLY TO CORRESPONDENCE COURSES.

Refund will not be given if TEXTBOOK is not returned at time of withdrawal.

REFUNDS  
No refund will be made unless claimed at the time of withdrawal.  The periods of student enrollment and refund are as follows: two weeks or less - 100% of tuition, after two weeks, no refund will be given.  No refund is given for postage fees, material fees, and book rental.

EXCHANGES  
A course may be exchanged for another upon payment of $50.00 provided the student has not been enrolled in it for more than thirty (30) days. Change of course request must be accompanied by new application with appropriate signatures.  No more than one exchange may be made on one enrollment.  When a course is exchanged for another, the student must also pay book rental ($25.00) on the new course if additional books are required and $3.50 per lesson for all lessons submitted on the canceled course.  The expiration day of the original course will apply to the new one.

A student may not transfer his/her enrollment in a course to another student.

GRADE AND QUALITY POINTS
The instructor's evaluation of the quality of work is expressed as follows: A, four quality points; B, three quality points; C, two quality points; D, one quality point; F no quality point.

COURSE NUMBERS  
Each course is designated by a number composed of four digits.  Each course number carries the following information: The first digit indicates the course level (0-no degree credit, 1-freshman, 2-sophomore, 3-junior, 4-senior) and the fourth digit indicates the number of semester hours of credit.  The listing of course numbers in descriptions of courses for each college includes the current four-digit number (and the old five-digit number in parentheses).

HOW TO ENROLL

  1. Select the course desired and in keeping with your objective.

  2. Complete a separate application form for each course desires.  No material will be mailed without an application.  Fill in all the blanks, making certain to give all the information.  Application forms may be obtained by writing to the Center for Regional Programs, Independent Study, P.O. Box 2260, State University, Arkansas 72472.

  3. If you are working toward a degree at Arkansas State University, you must secure the approval of your adviser and dean before enrolling in a course.

  4. Mail or present in person the completed application forms, together with a check or money order or credit card (Visa, Master Card or Discover) covering fees.  Make check payable to Arkansas State University.  If you want to rent a textbook, be sure to include rental fee in your remittance.

  5. If you want to buy a textbook, wait until you receive the lesson outlines, and the book title will be included.  You may then order from the ASU Bookstore, State University, AR 72467, or from the publisher.

  6. You will receive lesson materials from the independent study office soon after the application form and fees are received.

PREPARATION OF ASSIGNMENTS

  1. All independent study students will furnish their own materials needed for submitting lessons.

  2. Use standard size paper (8 1/2 x 11). Write on only one side of the paper.  Write with ink or use a typewriter.  Leave a margin on the left side of the paper.

  3. For your protection, write your name and address, the name and number of the course, and the number of the lesson at the top of the first page of each lesson.  This information should also appear on your exam request unless exam is taken at Arkansas State University.  For example:

    John Doe Reg. No. 18,000
    123 Webster Street Psychology 2013
    Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401 Lesson 1
  1. Prepare each lesson in sequence.  Follow directions given by the instructor.  Course directions will specify maximum number of lessons that may be submitted weekly.
  2. Read each assignment carefully before attempting to answer any question.
  3. Be specific.  Think through the answer to any question before writing the final answer.  Remember that your answer must convey your thoughts to the instructor without the benefit of your oral explanation.
  4. The recitation paper must contain only the lesson; all business and other communication must be written on a separate sheet and mailed separately.  
  5. Students are encouraged to schedule adequate time for the independent study course to allow for the return of lessons prior to the submission of additional lessons for grading.  
  6. When you are discouraged, do not stop work.  Give it another try.  Always feel free to ask questions.  Your instructors and the Independent Study Office want to help you complete the course.  
  7. Be sure to return all rented books and other material.  No credit will be granted until this has been done.  
  8. When papers have been graded they will be returned to you postpaid.  
  9. Address all mail to: Center for Regional Programs, Independent Study, P.O. Box 2260, Arkansas State University, State University, Arkansas 72467.  
  10. Students who have a certificate deadline to meet should make sure all independent study work and examinations are in the Independent Study Office 30 days before credit is needed.  

WITHDRAWAL FROM A COURSE  
A student withdrawing from a course before the final examination will have "dropped" recorded on the permanent record.

If a student does not complete a course and does not notify the Independent Study Office to officially withdraw form it before the expiration date, a grade of "F" will be recorded on the permanent record.

FINAL EXAMINATIONS

GENERAL POLICIES  
IN ALL INDEPENDENT STUDY COURSES THE FINAL EXAMINATION IS THE PRINCIPAL FACTOR IN DETERMINING THE FINAL GRADE.  THE FINAL EXAMINATION WILL DETERMINE FIFTY PERCENT OR MORE of the course grade.  If an "F" is earned on the final examination, no credit will be given for the course.  NO EXAMINATION WILL BE GIVEN A SECOND TIME.

Unless otherwise specified by the instructor, final grades in Independent Study courses will be based wholly on supervised examinations.  In courses that have only a final examination, students who fail the final examination will receive an "F".

No books or papers may be consulted during an examination unless specified in the examination.  Any person cheating on an examination will forfeit credit for the course.  In general, two hours without an interruption should be arranged for an examination.

The final examination may be taken after all the lessons in the course have been received by the Independent Study Office and must precede the expiration date of the enrollment.

The final examination may be arranged in any of the following ways:  

  1.  After you have completed all of the lessons for your independent study course, you may take your final examination at the Center for Regional Programs, Arkansas State University. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 5:00, Phone 972-3052, except during ASU's holidays: Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. We recommend a minimum of two hours for each examination. Some examinations may require as long as four hours. Call for an appointment. Under no circumstances can lessons be withheld and submitted all at one time.
  2. Arkansas State University has an agreement with other colleges and universities to administer independent study course examinations. If you prefer to take your examination at one of these places, you should request your examination be sent to them. They will administer it any time during regular office hours.
  3. Those students living more than 100 miles from Arkansas State University who do not live within a reasonable distance of a college or one of our examination centers, will have a special examiner appointed by the Dean of Regional Programs and Continuing Education.

It is your responsibility to request your final examination AFTER you have sent in your last lesson.  We will advise you when and to whom the examination is mailed.  You should not go to an examination center until you receive notice that your examination has been sent.  You should arrange with the examiner the time and place of the examination.  It is customary to pay a fee directly to the examiner.  

PRE-ARRANGEMENTS ARE NECESSARY FOR ALL EXAMINATIONS  
THE CENTER FOR REGIONAL PROGRAMS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ASSIGN ANOTHER PERSON TO ADMINISTER THE EXAMINATION, OR TO REQUIRE THE STUDENT TO COME TO THE CAMPUS FOR THE EXAMINATION.

TEACHING CERTIFICATE DEADLINES  
Residents of Arkansas desiring information concerning teacher certification requirements should write to Dr. Mary Jane Bradley, Associate Professor of Education, P.O. Box 940, Arkansas State University, State University, Arkansas 72467, or the Dean of Education at the college or university in the area.  Non-Arkansas residents should contact their State Department of Education to acquire teacher certification information.  The Independent Study Office is not authorized to advise students on these requirements.

TRANSCRIPTS  
Transcripts are not issued by the Independent Study Office.  If you wish to have an official transcript sent to you or to some official or institution, you must make a written, signed request directly to the Registrar’s Office, Arkansas State University, P.O. Box 1570, State University, Arkansas 72467.  You should not make this request until you have received your grade card which will be sent from the Registrar's Office.

A $3.00 charge is assessed for all transcripts, except those requested by the academic adviser.

REPEATING OF COURSES  
Of the first 59 credit hours completed in college, students may repeat up to 18 semester hours in which grades of D or F were earned and have only the last grade counted in computing the grade point average for undergraduate degree requirements. The final semester from which a course can be repeated with grade replacement is the one in which the 59th earned credit hour was completed. Courses may be repeated anytime before the first baccalaureate degree is awarded. The student can select the courses eligible to be repeated as long as these courses meet the requirements below.

  1. The student must have earned a grade of D or F in the course. Note: A grade of F cannot replace a grade of D. If the grade in the first attempt is a D and the grade in the second attempt is an F, both grades will be counted.
  2. Students may repeat up to 18 semester hours.
  3. All other repeated courses will have both grades counted. Degree hours will be applied only once toward graduation requirements.
  4. Students may not repeat for credit any course in which they have earned a grade of C or better.

The student should be aware that the grade of D or F from any previous attempts will remain on the transcript. The previous attempts will be noted with the following "REPEATED (EXCLUDED FROM GPA)."

A formal request for recomputation of grade point averages must be completed and filed with the registrar in order to have only the last grade counted for courses which have been repeated. Developmental courses are not included in the "Repeating of Courses" policy.

The department chair, the appropriate college dean, and the registrar will determine the application of the repeat course policy in those instances where course numbers and /or titles have been changed at Arkansas State University and for courses completed at other institutions of higher education.

Students who are planning to apply for admission to graduate school should take note that most graduate/professional schools recalculate GPA's based upon all courses that students have attempted during their college career. Thus, any repeated courses will have both grades counted in consideration for graduate school admission.

For questions or comments contact webmaster@cvnj.astate.edu.