2.0 Academic Programme Administration
ODeL ensures that the academic programmes are effectively managed to ensure that the stated objectives and learning outcomes are achieved.
2.1 Admissions
ODeL students are held to the same admission standards as residential students and must follow the same procedure for admissions at AIU. Students may apply for admission, register for classes, and pay tuition fees without coming to campus.
2.2 Credit Transfer
The office of the registrar academics vets the applicant’s transcripts and transfers one’s credits as guided by the academic policy.
2.3 Registration
Students who wish to register for e-Learning courses should:
(1) Consult with course advisors and
(2) Complete the registration process at the E-Learning website. Students considering an e-Learning course are encouraged to self-assess their technology preparedness by completing the “READINESS Assessment tool” available via the E-Learning website and discuss the results with their advisor, or the ODeL Director. ODeL should prepare an e-learning readiness assessment tool.
2.4 Student Learning Support Services
Support services for the students will be in the form of face-to-face teaching, ICT based electronic platforms, compact discs (CDs), Internet (where available), library services and other teaching/learning media. The face to face teaching includes residential sessions for orientation and continuous online tutoring.
2.5 Orientation
2.5.1. University Orientation.
New students admitted through ODeL to undergo orientation at the University’s Main campus, at least once. New ODeL faculty to undergo faculty orientation. ODeL should develop an orientation manual for this purpose.
2.5.2 Course Orientation
ODeL course orientation is mandatory and will provide an overview of course expectations, course syllabus, technical requirements for Learning Management Systems (LMS), the E-Learning Student/faculty Handbook, and other information as determined by the course instructor. Course Orientation is to take TWO days either on campus or through teaching centers or virtually.
2.6 Enrolment
To ensure quality ODeL will enroll up to a maximum number of 50 students and a minimum of 5 students per course/facilitator.
2.7 Ownership of Material/Intellectual Property
Intellectual Property Policy defines intellectual property and outlines disclosure procedures, royalties and proceeds participation, equity and management, infringement, and production of properties by students.
AIU reserves the exclusive right of ownership of all electronic courses, documents, programs, curricular, etc. developed under the auspices of the university. No established AIU 0nline course material may be transferred to any outside entity in part or as a whole. Each instructor will sign an agreement of ownership prior to teaching online course(s).
ODeL will adhere to the university intellectual property policy.
2.8 Copy Right Laws
Faculty members must comply with copyright law when duplicating print materials and periodical publications, and when including video or broadcasting programming, software materials, digital materials, music, or web-based materials in their courses. ODeL should ensure faculty members comply with Copy right laws.
2.9 Attendance/Absence
Online instruction differs fundamentally from traditional classroom instruction in that the student may access the online resources at times that are convenient to the student’s personal schedule within a range of times defined by the instructor. The following must be observed:
- At the beginning of the course, the instructor must communicate with the student by documented class policies his/her expectations regarding the format and frequency of class participation. However, consistent attendance is required to successfully complete an online course.
- Attendance will be monitored by timely submission of assignments, including quizzes, projects, discussion boards, etc.
- A student is expected to complete all assignments by the appropriate due date. Failure to complete such assignments by the due date, students will be blocked from the course assignment, barring any circumstance. It is understandable that extenuating circumstances occur, such as an extreme illness, death in the immediate family, legal matters, or military duty.
- It is the student’s responsibility to provide appropriate documentation in a timely manner (prior to the due date if all possible) to substantiate such circumstances. At which time the instructor will determine if an extension is warranted. Students and instructors of online courses will adhere to the academic calendar and the process of appeal.
Circumstances that are NOT considered extenuating:
- Registering late for the for the course.
- Failure to read the syllabus
- Failure to plan appropriately
- Not having the appropriate textbook or software
- Technical problems
2.10 Make-up Opportunity for Online Students
Attendance for a Virtual course is monitored by the submission of an assignment, accessing the resources, a student who has been cut from a course will have received a minimum of three zeros. With a student’s right to due process and the option to request reinstatement, having three zeros averaged into their final grade increases the chances that the student may not be successful in the course. In order to award students due Process;
- attendance will continue to be taken through the submission of assignments;
- 24-hour window of time will be made available prior to both the midterm and the final exams to allow students an opportunity to make-up missed assignments. A 10% grade reduction for each assignment will be awarded to compensate for the student not meeting the original due date.
2.11 Withdrawal Process
AIU strongly supports activities that promote student success in classes and degree programs. With this goal in mind AIU provides a means for students to withdraw from individual classes and from the University. Students are encouraged to maintain their enrollment in all courses for the full semester. In cases where the academic load is too great to maintain, the student may reduce his/her load by withdrawing from one or more classes. The student who desires to withdraw from online class should contact the E-Learning office in person or email. Students who stop attending class or are cut-out (CO) and do not withdraw from the class will receive a grade of “F” for the class.
2.12 Student Retention Rates for Virtual
Student success is a primary goal of ODeL. While all students are awarded the same educational opportunities, AIU also realizes that registering students who are academically unprepared for online classes is not in the students’ best interests. . Therefore, students who have been placed on academic probation, suspension, or exclusion will be required to meet with the Dean of the school/ HOD and Director e-learning prior to registering for any online course. During the Intervention meeting, the Dean of school/HOD will review the student’s transcript. If the student has failed or withdrawn from three (3) or more online courses during the current and/or previous semester, the student is allowed to enroll in a maximum of one (1) online class for the upcoming semester. At the end of the restricted-enrollment semester, if the student is successful in the course, the hold will be lifted. However, if the student is not successful, student ought to withdraw from the online courses.
2.13 Academic Honesty Policy
Academic honesty is a fundamental attribute of higher learning. Students who violate the principle of honesty deny themselves an opportunity to master the skills that they are credited to posses, cheat their classmates of deserved recognition, and demean the university and its degrees. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to, deceptive acts such as the following:
- plagiarizing from any source
- cheating in any manner on tests, papers, reports,etc.
- turning in work as their own when, in fact, it was not their work
- improperly using technology
- stealing, buying, or selling course materials
- either impersonating another student during a test or having another person
- assume ones identity during a test
- deliberately conveying false or misleading information
When academic misconduct has occurred, the instructor has the responsibility of assigning an appropriate penalty in accordance with the instructor’s institutional policy. This may include failure of the assignment, failure of the course, or dismissal from the institution.
ODeL shall facilitate the addition of an anti-plagiarism plug in
2.14 Fees
While ODeL considers online students to have been separated by their tutors by distance and time, consideration of ODeL fees shall be determined by the Senate.