General Information

Assignments and Exams

Distance students are enrolled in the same courses as offered on-campus, are responsible for the same homework, and generally take the same exams.

Since instructors evaluate distance courses in addition to their on-campus obligations, it typically takes two to four weeks for you to receive graded assignments and exams. At certain times of the year, such as final examination periods and semester breaks, you are cautioned to expect more elapsed time.

Your instructor will provide their preferred method of communication along with other course-related information in the syllabus.

Assignments

Distance students are required to complete homework assignments and submit them directly to their instructors or through our offices by FAX, mail or email. We recommend that students keep a copy of all mailed assignments.

When faxing assignments, be sure your Instructor's name, address, and telephone number are on the cover sheet.

Exams

Most courses (except online) require proctored examinations. Proctors are individuals who agree to administer the examination to the student following the guidelines provided by Colorado State. Exams are mailed directly to your proctor, so please contact your proctor prior to your examination.

Online courses offered through RamCT may offer slightly different exams to each student in order to maintain the integrity of the examination process. Online exams are typically graded minutes after the exam is completed.

Certificate Requirements

A Certificate of Completion will be issued by the Division of Continuing Education when all courses have been completed with a passing grade.

  • For undergraduate students, a passing grade is equivalent to a D or better.
  • For graduate students, a passing grade is equivalent to a C or better.

You must enroll for no less than 50% of the specified curriculum courses through the Division of Continuing Education. Some certificates may have requirements that supersede or are in addition to this enrollment requirement.

All university holds must be cleared prior to receiving the earned certificate.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

For certain noncredit courses, CEUs or Professional Development Units (PDUs) are awarded for participation. Each CEU represents 10 hours of instruction; a PDU represents one hour of instruction. These units are respected in many industries as proof of commitment to continuous learning and accepted for recertification requirements as a measure of in-service activities in professional fields.

CEUs and PDUs do not, however, count toward a degree nor are they recorded on an official transcript.

DANTES

The Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Educational Support (DANTES) is for military personnel on active duty. Colorado State University courses are approved for the DANTES program. Eligible military personnel should contact their Education Officer for additional information and applications.

Discount Code Disclaimer

Discounts are only available for noncredit courses offered through the Division of Continuing Education and are redeemed through the use of discount codes. Discounts apply to tuition only. Discount codes are available for a limited time and are subject to expiration. Only one discount may be applied to each course; if multiple discounts are available, the maximum discount will be applied. Discounts must be redeemed by the student at the time of registration; under no circumstances will discounts be applied retroactively. Discounts apply to tuition only and are non-transferable.

Faculty Interaction (office hours)

Interaction with the departments and instructors is made possible through email, mail, telephone and FAX. Instructors teaching distance courses anticipate the needs of students and are prepared to respond quickly to questions. Contact information for your instructors is listed in your course syllabus or in the University's online directory.

Your instructor will provide their preferred method of communication along with other course related information in the syllabus.

As with on-campus courses, instructors hold office hours during which students may contact them with questions. These times are usually listed in your course syllabus.

Materials

Course materials such as handouts and the course syllabus are provided by the academic department, the Colorado State University Bookstore, or shipped with videotapes. It is your responsibility to order required materials, textbooks and videotape sets, from the bookstore.

Open Entry

Some distance courses are termed "open entry" courses and provide you with a window of time to complete the course. These courses are open to registration year-round and you do not have to be admitted to register or receive academic credit for these courses.

Open entry credit courses require you to complete the course within six months of the day of enrollment. On the day you are registered, the enrollment is placed on your University transcript. If your course work is not finished by the end of the semester, an "Incomplete" ("I") is posted. Upon course completion your earned grade is recorded. Failure to complete a course or withdraw in writing results in an "F" grade on your transcript.

Early Completion

Distance education courses carry the same credits as regular on-campus courses; therefore, the same amount of time and effort is required to achieve a satisfactory grade. You may complete the course before the given deadline. The minimum suggested time for course completion of an academic open entry course is eight weeks from the date of enrollment; noncredit courses vary. This is sufficient time only if you can work very quickly and if there is no delay in getting graded materials back from your instructor. Since instructor commitments include on-campus and distance learning courses, there is no guarantee of early completion.

Extensions

Students enrolled in open-entry courses may have the option to apply for one six-month extension per course. Extensions are granted by Continuing Education by submitting a Request for Extension Form. Effective Fall 2007, open entry courses conducted online will not be eligible for a course extension.

Postage

You must pay the postage on all correspondence with our offices. We provide postage-paid reply envelopes for proctors when returning exams to be graded.

Proctors

A proctor is someone who ensures academic integrity by administering your exams. You must select someone to act as your proctor. Every semester, you must notify us of your chosen proctor by submitting the Proctor Agreement Form before the first day of class (the College of Business does not require a new agreement if you intend to use the same proctor every semester). You will not be able to take exams without a proctor agreement form on file.

Colorado State reserves the right to verify a proctor's identity, require additional proof of eligibility, or require the selection of a different proctor. The proctor agreement may be terminated at will by the proctor, student, or Colorado State by providing written notification to all parties involved.

Our offices can act as proctors for your exam. Please contact us ahead of time to schedule an appointment.

Proctors can be:

  • college or university testing center representatives,
  • military educators,
  • pastors or ministers,
  • continuing education officers,
  • librarians,
  • certified school teachers,
  • school principals, or
  • supervisors.

Proctors cannot be:

  • fellow students,
  • subordinates of the student,
  • coworkers, peers, friends, or
  • related to the student in anyway.

Technical Problems

If you encounter technical problems with any videotape, DVD, or VCD, please contact the department or college offering the course.

You are not required to return purchased videotapes but you may donate them to a school or library.

Textbooks & Materials

The textbooks and materials that you will need for a course are listed with the course information. All textbooks and materials are considered to be required unless noted as being optional.

Unless otherwise indicated, it is the responsibility of the student to obtain the textbooks and additional materials. Required textbooks, videotapes, and study guides for credit and noncredit Continuing Education courses are available through the University Bookstore.