EDUCATION IN U.S.A

What Students Should Know Before Enrolling in Distance Education 

What Program are you Thinking of Enrolling in?

•  Are there any residency requirements?
•  What other institutions offer similar programs and do they grant the same credential for similar work?
•  How does the variety of courses offered compare with similar on-site programs?
•  How are course materials made available to students? 
•  What arrangements have been made for me to complete any required laboratory requirements?

Who Designs, Delivers and Monitors the Program?

•  Who designs and delivers the program (and if they are different, how is the delivery controlled)?
•  Where can the qualifications and current professional activity of the faculty be found in writing?
•  What arrangements are made to ensure faculty-student and student-student interaction?

Other Expectations of the Institution and Available Student Services

• What academic, linguistic, and technical skills does the institution require for students enrolling in this program?
• What equipment must I have access to and how will the institution help me in any problems that arise concerning the interface between my equipment and their offerings?
• What counseling, career, financial aid, or other non-classroom services are provided for distance education students?
•  Is there a student handbook for distance education students? If not, where are these issues addressed?
   What is the process for filing complaints?
•  What is the institution’s refund policy if I should have to withdraw from this program?

Final Check on the Integrity of the Degree
 

• How can I assure outsiders that the degree represents an assessment of my work rather than that of someone else?
• Where is there official representation of faculty qualifications, the program’s course sequence and requirements, the nature of student/faculty interaction and assumptions about technical skills?

© Dr. Amy Kirle Lezberg,
Consultant in Higher Education and Accreditation
alezberg@aol.com