1. How do I get started in an online course?
-
Register for the online course by filling out an application form and faxing
it to 503-251-5723.
- Pay your tuition and fees
by sending a check or pay over the phone by calling the Business Office at
503-251-5702.
- The instructor for the course
will send you an email (make sure you put it on your application form) with
your enrollment key word and other instructions. Make sure this email
doesn’t get send to your Junk folder.
- Go to
https://elearn.uws.edu/login/index.php to access your online
classroom. If you go to the online classroom before the quarter begins, the
course may still be “hidden” from your view until the first day of classes.
2. How much does each class cost?
Tuition is $197 per credit and our courses are typically 4 or 5 credits. In addition to tuition there is a $50 enrollment fee.
3. How do I pay for my course(s)?
Payments can be made by mailing a check to UWS, 2900 NE 132nd Ave.,
Portland, OR 97230.
You may also call our Business Office at 503-251-5702 to pay
by credit card over the phone.
Access to online course materials will be granted only after a course has been paid in full.
If you have
questions about your student account, email Accounts Receivable at
ar@uws.edu.
4. Is financial aid
available for these courses?
Financial Aid availability
varies. Please contact the Financial Aid Office, at
finaid@uws.edu or by phone at 503-251-5709.
5. How does the term work?
Online classes follow the
University’s regular quarter schedule. Each quarter is 11 weeks long. UWS’
online classes are not self-paced – you must complete the course within the
11-week quarter.
6. What are the
enrollment dates?
Please consult Academic Calendar.
7. Do students have to sit down at their computers at the same time every day?
No. The frequency with which you are required to be on the course site will be
determined by your instructor’s syllabus and calendar. Although the courses
aren’t synchronous, you should expect to log in to your course frequently.
Students discuss things with each other through discussion boards. Some courses
have group meetings online. This varies by course.
For some courses you leave your written comments or work for others to see, and
check in at a later time to pick up the responses to those messages. But you
might also have a group meeting of a few students to discuss the work that was
posted. Some courses might have very little interaction online between the
students.
8. How is a typical week conducted?
Typically the instructor posts introductory information on the week’s topic in
the online classroom, which includes the assignments, such as reading from the
textbook, completing a case-study, taking part in an online discussion with
other students in the class, or preparing a paper on the topic you’re studying.
The instructor also posts a short lecture or elaborates on the material, and
provides discussion questions related to the topic. Throughout the week you work
on your reading and assignments on your own, just as you would in a traditional
classroom setting. You use the class discussion board to participate in class
discussions with others in the class and to ask questions/receive feedback. When
your assignments are due, you send them to your instructor online, and she/he
grades them and sends them back to you with comments.
9. Can I talk to the instructor in private?
Yes, through
the instructor’s e-mail, by telephone conversation with the instructor at the
college, or by visiting them during their office hours.
10. Does it matter which type of computer equipment an individual uses? What are
the technical requirements?
There aren’t any specific
hardware or software requirements. All you need is a connection to the Internet.
However, sometimes the web browser you use makes a difference in how well you
are able to view things. For example, sometimes PowerPoint presentations are
best viewed when using Firefox as opposed to Internet Explorer.
11. Can I complete my entire course online, or do I have to come to campus for
part of it?
There are no requirements for coming to campus.
12. How many hours per week do students devote to an online course?
Online courses are designed to be the equivalent of face-to-face courses
regarding the amount of time a student can expect to spend on coursework,
including on-line time, homework assignments, tests, etc.
13. Do I have to be an expert in computers to take classes this way?
No. You should, however, know how to use your computer, how to save and retrieve
files and how to download to or update your computer with common programs. You
should be able to type fairly quickly for courses that require a lot of
discussion. You should be comfortable with browsing the Internet and using
e-mail.
14. Are online courses
accredited?
Yes. The online courses have the same
accreditation status as traditional courses – they are transferrable to other
colleges and universities and can be used toward the prerequisites for UWS’
Doctor of Chiropractic program. The University of Western States is accredited
by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
15. How do I get help?
The different format of online classes requires different techniques for getting
help. There are different resources for different questions. You may have a
question that could be answered by your fellow students or instructor and should
be posted for everyone to read as a discussion item. Chances are other students
have the same question.
Likewise, read all the
posts since someone might have already asked the same question. If you need to
ask your instructor a question, you can e-mail him/her or call. Contact
information will be provided to you on the course syllabus. If you have a
technical question, you can use the IT Help Desk by emailing them (helpdesk@uws.edu)
or calling 503-251-2831.