College of Education Policies

College of Education Online Policies

Columbia International University's AccessCIU is the home for online learning at CIU www.ciu.edu/academic-programs/online-studies  An online course involves a cohort of students studying at the same time, but not necessarily in the same place. Because online courses use a cohort model, at least five students must be registered for an online section of a course to be offered.

Registration

Register at CIUOnline www.ciuonline.com using your CIU username and password. Online courses have the letter “O” after the course number. Contact the Office of the University Registrar registrar@ciu.edu or (803) 803-5033 if you need registration assistance.

Official Communication

Because of privacy laws, all official e-mail correspondence will be sent to your CIU e-mail address (username@mailbox.ciu.edu). Be sure to check your CIU e-mail address regularly, and communicate with your instructor only from that address.

Course Materials

You are responsible for purchasing materials for your online courses. A list of required materials and online ordering information can be found on the CIU Bookstorewebsite www.ciu.edu/bookstore. Additional help is available at bookstore@ciu.edu or (803) 807-5263. Refunds for course materials must be handled through the bookstore or vendor from which you purchased the materials.

Timelines

Due dates are set throughout the course. You are responsible for submitting work by the due dates listed in the syllabus. Work submitted late may receive a grade penalty. All work must be postmarked no later than the course end date. If you are graduating, all course requirements must be received by noon on the course end date.

If your are completing prerequisite courses or electives in another college, please confirm the timeline for graduation submission.

Submitting Work Online

Students are responsible for course content located on the course website. Most work will be submitted on the course website, but it is required for the student to keep an electronic copy of documents. The format of online exams varies from course to course so refer to the syllabus for exam dates and specific details.

Online students are expected to be honorable in all their academic work. All students are responsible to complete all assignments to insure their submissions are received by the professor on or before assignment deadlines. Dishonesty in examinations, assignments, written papers, or any other academic work is contrary to scriptural principles of Christian living and is an affront to the CIU community of students and faculty.

Allocating Time

Set aside blocks of time for the course lectures and assignments in your calendar. These assignments are the equivalent of attending class meetings and completing your homework for courses on campus. You need to pace your work evenly so that you have time for comprehension and reflection. It is important to keep up with your work for your online course. Enrollment in a three-credit online course requires you to commit to approximately ten (10) hours of study for each week.

Other Deadlines, Fees, & Administrative Procedures

Fees and deadlines related to registration, drop/add and withdrawal are set by the Registrar’s Office. Any questions about these items should be directed to that office.

Dropping or withdrawing from an online course must be completed through the Office of University Registrar. Call (803) 807-5059, or e-mail registrar@ciu.edu for assistance.

Under exceptional circumstances, a faculty member may permit additional time up to 30 days for the completion of course requirements after the end of the semester. A temporary grade of “I” (Incomplete) will be assigned to a student whose performance is satisfactory but, due to unforeseen circumstances, has been unable to complete all course requirements. An “I” is not given to enable the student to do additional work to raise a deficient grade.

Retaking a Course

If your grade in the course does not meet the program requirements for successful completion, you may re-enroll in the course by paying the current tuition and fees and completing the requirements set out in the current syllabus. Re-enrollment entitles you to a new start to the course, with new deadlines as set out in the syllabus. Note that both the new and the old grade will appear on your transcript. Only the last grade will be computed into your GPA for academic purposes.

VA Students

Students using military benefits are responsible for contacting their instructor every week. Weekly documentation of progress is required to maintain your benefits.

ADA Accommodations

Students needing accommodations must contact CIU Academic Success Services (800) 777-2227, extension 5611 or AcademicSuccess@ciu.edu at least 30 working days prior to the first day of class. Approval for reasonable accommodations for completing assignments and/or exams must be granted when you first enroll in the course.

NOTE: POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND FEES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.