- Online Program Registration
- Online Program Guidelines
- Course Attendance
- Course Participation
- Non-Attendance
- Collaborative Learning
- Hardware and Software Requirements
Programs, Majors and Courses
The programs, majors and courses available through the Online Program are available on the UIU web page at www.uiu.edu under the Online Program section or by contacting the Online Program by telephone, mail or fax as listed below.
Online Program Registration
- An accepted learner interested in registering for an online course may do so by any of the following methods.
Telephone: Call 800-773-9298 to register.
Mail: List full name, address, course number, and title. Enclose with payment and mail to: Online Program Office, Upper Iowa University, PO Box 1857, Fayette, IA 52142.
Fax: Fax the information listed above in the "Mail" section to the Online Program Office at 563-425-5771. Include the name on the credit card to be used for tuition payment, the credit card type (MasterCard and VISA are the only types accepted), the credit card number and expiration month and year.
E-mail: Send a message to OLregister@uiu.edu with full name, address, course number and title, as well as payment information.
Payment is due prior to the first day of class either by check or credit card. Payment information is best given over the phone as e-mail is not a secure environment.
Online Registration Request: Register through myUIU.
Payment is due prior to the first day of class either by check or credit card.
Military Tuition Assistance: Active-duty Army personnel will register through the GoArmyEd portal, which will be sent to the Online office. All other military personnel using Military TA will have their ESO approve the class and fax the completed TA form to the Online office.
Employee Tuition Assistance: If you are receiving tuition assistance, a voucher approved by Upper Iowa University must accompany any portion of the payment for which you are responsible. Contact the Online Program Office for more details. - The Online Program uses Microsoft Outlook Express, a standard Microsoft product that comes bundled with Microsoft Internet Explorer, as the course access software. Outlook Express is available for PCs. Entourage is a similar program available for MACs.
Internet Explorer is provided at no cost by the University for learners who do not have it. Learners registering for their first online course and learners who are returning after a break of more than than a year will be sent a Start-up CD packet. When the registration process has been completed, UIU Tech Support will send the learner a User name and Password in the learner's private e-mail. At that time, the software can be loaded and the Outlook Express classroom will be set up. It is suggested that learners registering for their first course register not less than two weeks prior to the start of the term. - No registration will be accepted after the first day of class, unless approved by the instructor and the Online Program Director and then only in exceptional circumstances.
- Term start dates are published on the web site at http://www.uiu.edu/eu_students/online/ and are available from the Online Program upon request. All published course schedules in the Online Program are subject to change.
- Auditing a course is not an available option in the Online Program.
The goal of Upper Iowa University is to offer its curriculum on a schedule that allows learners to take courses and continue their careers. In general, the six eight-week terms begin as follows:
Term Begins Term 6 July Term 1 August Term 2 October Term 3 January Term 4 March Term 5 May Please contact the Online Program Office for the course schedule and exact starting dates. A schedule is also available at www.online.uiu.edu.
Online Refund Policy and Course Withdrawal
Withdrawing from classes is an expensive decision. Tuition will be adjusted based on the percentages listed below for the weeks completed in the eight-week enrollment period. If a course meets on an alternative schedule consult your Online Program Office for refund schedule.
Refund PercentageWithdrawal before the first class meeting 100% Withdrawal during week one 75% Withdrawal during week two 50% Withdrawal during week three 25% Withdrawal during week four 25% Withdrawal after week four 0% These percentages will also be used to determine eligibility for state aid you may have received. Examples of refund calculations are available from the Financial Aid Office.
Course withdrawal may change the amount of, or eligibility to receive financial aid for a specific term. A financial aid counselor is available to discuss this decision with you.
Upper Iowa University is required to use a statutory schedule to determine the amount of Title IV aid that you have earned when you cease attendance based on the period of enrollment. Up through the 60% point in each period of enrollment, a pro rata schedule, based on number of days in attendance divided by number of days in the payment period, will be used to determine the amount of Title IV aid you have earned at the time of withdrawal.
You may appeal the tuition refund calculation if you feel there are extreme circumstances that warrant an exception to the published policy. Make your request in writing, documenting the extreme circumstances, and submit it to the Online Program Director. A response to the appeal will be made within two weeks.
Online Program Changes in Registration (Drop/Withdrawal Procedures)
Note the following policies for changing registrations:
- If you wish to withdraw from a course, you must notify the Online Program Office in writing prior to the published last day to drop a class, which is the end of the fifth week. A grade of W will be recorded on the transcript. Informing the course faculty member is not sufficient notice for a drop or withdrawal.
- Because of the online delivery mode, learners will not be allowed to add a class after the first day of the term.
Online Program Administrative Withdrawal
Prior to the last date to withdraw, if a learner has not attended (posted one or more notes to the main class meeting within the academic week) for fourteen consecutive days, the instructor or Online Program Office will initiate an administrative withdrawal. A grade of AW will then be recorded. This will affect financial aid funding.
Online Program Guidelines
Course attendance for the Online Program is defined as: A learner who posts at least one or more notes to the main class meeting EACH week. The Online Program course week begins on Thursday and ends the following Wednesday.
You are required, to be considered in attendance, to post a minimum of one note to the main class meeting EACH week. You must meet the attendance minimum to stay active in the class. If you do not meet this attendance requirement for two consecutive weeks you will receive an AW for the course which may affect your financial aid funds for the payment of the course. Financial aid and tuition adjustments will be calculated based on the day your last note was posted to the class.
If you do not drop or withdraw from the course before the end of the fifth week of the term, you will receive a letter grade (A, B, C, D, or F as appropriate) in that course based on what work you did complete in the course in relationship to the total course requirements. The policy of attendance for the program is a minimum to stay registered in the course. Upper Iowa University does not distinguish among types of absences. Official leaves of absence are not granted.
You are expected to participate actively in and contribute to the learning experience in your course at least five days of each seven day academic week. Participation means providing substantive comments, questions and contributions that advance the learning process for you and/or other learners in the course. Participation may include responding to questions and issues posed by other learners. Participation does NOT include submission of homework and other course assignments. Non-substantive comments, non-germane comments and comments of the nature of "I agree" or "I disagree" (unless the latter two are elaborated upon to make them substantive) do not count towards meeting the participation requirement. Attainment of the minimum expected participation is representative of an average learner. Participation in excess of the minimum is expected of superior learners. Your faculty member may amplify or clarify the specific expectations of participation in the course. If you actively participate in the course, you should not have an attendance issue. Participation is part of your grade in your course.
If you have not attended class (posted one or more notes to the main class meeting during the first seven days of the term, you will be considered to be in non-attendance and will be withdrawn from the course. An NA will be recorded on your transcript and financial aid funding will be affected.
Online courses incorporate one or more collaborative learning assignments that utilize "virtual teaming." In collaborative assignments a group of students work on and submit an assignment as a team. Work done in the group is not considered participation for grade purposes. In general all members of the group will earn the same grade on the assignment. If the faculty member determines that one or more group members did not do a fair share of the assignment, those students may receive a lower grade reflecting that. Some faculty members assign the members of groups while others allow students to self-select their group. A faculty member's policy on this will be in the course syllabus.
Hardware and Software Requirements
It is recommended that learners have regular access to a Pentium® processor or better using Windows® 2000 or newer as an operating system. Learners should have a minimum RAM of at least 128 MB (256MB is standard) and disk space. Learners will need a 56kbs modem or faster such as a cable modem or DSL connection. In addition, learners must have access to and be able to use Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Power Point. Software that is capable of both reading and creating Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Power Point files is acceptable. Some courses may have specific additional software requirements. Learners must have Microsoft Outlook Express, which comes bundled with Microsoft Internet Explorer.
In order to protect both learners and faculty from viruses and other malicious code, learners are required to have anti-virus software that is maintained with current virus definitions on any computer used to connect to the course servers. Learners who use company computers or public computers should verify that the computers are properly protected. A learner who repeatedly transmits viruses or other malicious code to the course server after notification that the computer the learner used is infected may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including suspension or expulsion by the University.
