Extended Studies, University of Nevada, Reno

Guidelines for Semester-Based Courses (Online Only)

PLEASE read all the information provided. You are expected to know and follow all applicable policies and procedures.

The following guidelines are for students taking online semester-based courses. Please see the links on the main page for additional general information about independent learning policies and procedures that may also apply. Guidelines for online and print-based open-enrollment courses available here.

Courses available
For all independent learning university courses listed by subject area with full course descriptions and details, click here; high school courses are listed here.

Technical requirements and skills for online courses
Please be sure you have the appropriate technology requirements before enrolling in an online course. Familiarity with your personal computer, its programs and its operating system will help you succeed as an online student. The University of Nevada, Reno uses the course software WebCampus for most of its online courses. Students enrolled in online independent learning courses will need access to a computer with a printer and access to the Internet. We recommend a computer running Windows 95 or higher or Macintosh OS 10 or higher, a printer, access to the Internet and a supported Web browser installed. To see if your browser is functional with WebCT, visit: www.webct.com/tuneup/. Knowing how to use e-mail and navigate the Internet is essential. Students must be able to send messages to their instructor, post assignments, communicate with other students and reach the online classes’ web pages. Students registering for online courses must have the computer skills necessary to participate in and complete a course on the Internet, as well as uninterrupted Internet access.

Enrolling in a semester-based course
When can I enroll? You may enroll at your designated registration time when the university ePAWS registration system becomes available each semester; usually in April for Fall courses and November for Spring courses. For more information on specific registration times for the semester in which you are enrolling, visit: www.unr.edu/epaws.

Enrollment deadlines

For Spring 2008:

Friday, Jan. 18, 2008 is the final date to:

enroll and pay without late registration fees
pay fees on ePAWS with a credit card by 5 p.m. to avoid penalties

Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008 is the final date for:

late registration with late fees, adding classes and paying fees
receiving 100 percent refund if dropping a class or completely withdrawing from the semester

For Summer 2008 :

Friday, May 16, 2008 is the final date to:

enroll and pay without late registration fees
pay fees on ePAWS with a credit card by 5 p.m. to avoid penalties

Monday, May 19, 2008 is the final date for:

receiving 100 percent refund if dropping a class or completely withdrawing from the semester

Tuesday, May 20, 2008 is the final date for:

late registration with late fees, adding classes and paying fees

For Fall 2008 :

Friday, Aug. 22, 2008 is the final date to:

enroll and pay without late registration fees
pay fees on ePAWS with a credit card by 5 p.m. to avoid penalties

Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008 is the final date for:

late registration with late fees, adding classes and paying fees
receiving 100 percent refund if dropping a class or completely withdrawing from the semester

What Paperwork do I need to Enroll in a Semester-based Course?
If this is the first class you’ve taken from the University of Nevada, Reno, you’ll immediately need to submit the University of Nevada, Reno application form, and pay a nonrefundable $60 application fee, payable to Board of Regents. Your personal information will be entered into the University computer system, which will allow you to obtain access to ePAWS, the online registration system. Please allow approximately 72 hours before logging onto ePAWS to continue registration.

If you have taken a prior class from the University in the previous semester, no paperwork is required; your personal information is already in the University system.

If it has been more than one semester since you last took a class at the University of Nevada, Reno (not including summer session), please use the Returning Student Application Re-Activation Form. You cannot use this form if you have not paid the application fee previously. For more information and to access this form, visit the University website at: https://apps.ss.unr.edu:2020/rtstud/.

Once my personal information is in the campus computer system, how do I register for a class on ePAWS?
Just contact the independent learning office at (775) 784-4652 or 1-800-233-8928 for the course call number. Then log onto ePAWS, the campus registration system, to register and pay for the class online: www.unr.edu/epaws. Online enrollment is mandatory. You may pay online with a credit card, or if you prefer, you may pay in person at the Cashier's Office on campus in the Fitzgerald Student Services Building, third floor.

Course materials for semester-based online courses
Students are required to contact the Independent Learning office to request and purchase course textbooks and materials once they have completed the following steps, in order: (1) Contact Independent Learning for course call numbers and provide current mailing address, phone number and e-mail address. (2) Enroll for courses via the campus online registration system, ePAWS. To request course materials, call (775) 784-4652, or e-mail istudy@unr.edu. Students enrolling in semester-based online courses will receive a welcome packet from the Independent Learning office, sent to the address on file. It is very important that you initiate this contact with our office to ensure your course welcome packet is delivered to you via mail or e-mail in a timely manner. The packet contains important course information, including access instructions and deadlines. You may also order textbooks at this time if you wish.

Once I've enrolled, how do I access my semester-based online class?
Once your information from the application form (above) has been entered into the University’s system and you have registered, go to http://webct.unr.edu and click on “Activate your NetID account.” That function will also provide your password and logon information to enter your WebCampus online class. Semester-based online courses are not available until the first day of the term in which they are offered.

Fees and other charges

Course costs: For course fees, click here.

Course materials
Course materials and textbooks for semester-based courses: Once you've enrolled and verified your mailing address with Independent Learning, we will send you a welcome packet with information about the class. You may purchase texts by phone from the Independent Learning office and they will be shipped to you with the welcome packet. If you live locally, you may purchase your texts from the independent learning office if you prefer. Textbook costs are not included in the course tuition and are listed separately. The listed amount in the catalog is the publisher's price at the time of publication of the catalog and is subject to change without notice. Please note: Independent Learning does not buy back textbooks or other course materials.

Financial aid
In most cases, financial aid applies to semester-based courses. For example, these courses apply to Millennium scholarships. Please check with your financial aid advisor if you have questions.

Refund policy for semester-based courses
Refund deadlines match the campus calendar. If you drop before or on Jan. 31 in Spring, May 19 in Summer, or Sept. 4 in Fall, you will receive a 100 percent refund. For specific refund dates for each semester, please visit: www.ss.unr.edu/records/cal.asp.

Transfer policy
No transfers are allowed out of or into semester-based courses.

Lessons
Lesson assignments: If you are an average or better student, you will spend at least three or more hours per week per credit to complete each assignment satisfactorily.

All work you submit must be done independently. Students in residence study are expected to maintain high standards of honesty and integrity; similarly, as a student in independent learning, you shall not submit the work of another person as yours or work in groups on assignments.

Each student's class begins at the start of the semester and the online syllabus indicates specific due dates for each assignment. Late assignments are not accepted. All deadlines match the campus semester dates: late adds, refunds, drops, etc. If a student does not drop the class by the last drop deadline and does not complete the course with a grade, an "F" will be posted on his/her transcript.

How to prepare and submit your lessons/reports: You will be submitting all of your lessons to the instructor via WebCampus. Your online syllabus will have instructions on how to submit assignments, access the bulletin board and other features in WebCampus. Lessons are due on specific days and by specific times.

Time requirements
Time requirements and regulations for semester-based courses: Courses begin and end as designated by the online academic calendar at: www.ss.unr.edu/records/cal.asp.

Extension of enrollment period for semester-based courses
There are no extensions allowed for semester-based online courses; the course must be completed by the end of the semester, as indicated in your online syllabus.

Examinations
Examinations for semester-based courses: You must take your exams by the designated dates in your WebCampus course, otherwise your grade may result in an “F” for the exam and/or the course. No exams may be taken before or after the designated dates.

ALL STUDENTS must request each exam at least two weeks prior to the designated testing date.

Click here for more information.

Grades
Grading system: Click here for more information.

Reporting grades to campus
Your class will appear on your campus transcript in SIS (University of Nevada, Reno's student information system) as soon as you enroll.

The semester course grades are always posted at the end of the semester. It is not possible to have a grade posted any earlier than at the end of each semester. If you are taking a final exam with an out-of-state proctor, we recommend you give the proctor a pre-paid overnight mailing envelope in which to return your exam so it can be received and graded by your instructor in time for the graduation deadline.

Reporting grades to students
Your grade will be posted on the University's system and available to view at the end of the semester online via ePAWS at: www.unr.edu/epaws. You will not receive your examinations, but you will receive the test cover sheet with the instructor's comments. However, exams are kept on file in the Independent Learning office where you may come to review your work. If you live outside the Reno-Sparks area, you can arrange to review your exams any time during the course with an acceptable testing supervisor. Your exams are kept by our office for a limited time only (approximately six months after completion); please schedule your test reviewing accordingly.

Transcripts
Click here for more information.

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