Online Education 53
ONLINE EDUCATION
ONLINE EDUCATION be in the highest 10% of the Online Campus remote student
Online Education assists students in completing their population, and have a minimum 3.75 GPA. The student must
educational goals in an environment that is flexible yet also be degree seeking with Columbia College.
conducive to teaching and active learning. This flexibility A one-time $25.00 membership fee is due at the time the
provides a viable alternative to students who have schedule student joins the Nu Lambda Chapter. Because of the nature of
constraints that don’t allow them to attend traditional courses, our online students and the logistical impossibility of conducting
students who do not have access to a campus location, or local meetings, electing officers, etc., memberships in the Nu
students who need specific courses not currently being offered Lambda Chapter will be strictly honorary.
at their campus.
Online courses are designed to be the equivalent of a
DEGREES
traditional class taught in the classroom. They have the same
course description and course objectives as traditional The Online Campus is approved to offer all undergraduate
classroom courses. Online courses are usually taught by courses available at Columbia College. The degrees that have
instructors who also teach the courses in the traditional all coursework available online for degree completion include:
classroom setting. Associate of Arts
Any Columbia College student can take online courses. Associate of General Studies
Students who receive advising and registration services from Associate of Science in Business Administration
the Online Campus are referred to as remote students.
Associate of Science in Criminal Justice Administration
If a student receives advising and other student services from
Associate of Science in Fire Science Administration
any campus, the student is referred to as a campus student.
Associate of Science in Environmental Studies
Associate of Science in Human Services
ACADEMICS
Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with majors in
Web based Online Campus courses count for residency Accounting, Financial Services, Human Resource
credit and financial aid applies for those who qualify. Management, International Business, Management, and
At present, all online courses are scheduled in eight-week Marketing
sessions and follow the AHE Academic Calendar. See the
Bachelor of General Studies
academic policies, regulations and procedures section of the
undergraduate catalog for a complete listing of academic Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with majors in
policies, regulations and procedures. Accounting, Financial Services, Human Resource
Management, International Business, Management, and
Marketing
Academic Advising
Academic Advising is available for remote students from the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration
Online Campus advising staff. Academic Advising is strongly Bachelor of Arts in American Studies
encouraged but not required for remote students. Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Campus students will receive academic advising at their Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
campus. With all Columbia College students, the ultimate
As the academic year progresses, all coursework for additional
responsibility for understanding and meeting graduation
degree programs may become available online. If a student
requirements rests with the student.
can complete a degree program that is not listed above,
but is listed as a degree offered by Columbia College,
Alpha Sigma Lambda using a combination of campus coursework, online
Alpha Sigma Lambda (ASL) is an adult honor society for coursework, and transfer credit, the student may be
students who attend and receive service solely from the Online awarded that degree.
Campus (remote students). The Chapter for the Online Campus
is Nu Lambda which means New Learning. ASL is a not-for-
profit organization that has been in existence since 1946, COURSE FORMAT
providing a means of recognition for the special achievements of The online course format allows students to participate in the
adults who accomplish academic excellence while facing course anytime, anywhere there is computer access to the
competing interests of home and work. Students who attend a Internet. Each course website has a menu that includes a
campus are not eligible for membership in the Nu lambda syllabus, discussion board, dropbox, quix function and other
Chapter. features used at the instructor’s discretion. The course software
Eligible students will be invited to join the Nu Lambda Chapter used to facilitate online learning is Desire 2 Learn.
by the Online Campus. The criteria for membership is The discussion board is the student’s opportunity to interact
completion of 24 hours of course work with Columbia College, with peers and the instructor. Students and instructors create a
54 Online Education
collaborative learning environment. Instructors operate in the corporate executive officers. Personal friends, family members
tutorial mode while students reinforce each others questions or direct supervisors are not acceptable.
and comments with written responses. The discussion consists
of topics created by the instructor. The students are able to view REDUCED TUITION PROGRAMS
all responses by the instructor and fellow classmates. This Warranted degree programs are not available for online
facilitates a forum for active collaborative learning. courses.
This active collaborative learning environment requires
students to do more on their own than they may in a traditional STUDENT ISSUES
classroom setting. Online students must be prepared to commit Student issues with an online course should first be
the same, or sometimes more, time and effort as they would in a addressed with the instructor of the course, then with the Online
conventional class. The result is a challenging and meaningful Campus administrative office.
learning experience.
BOOKS
OVERLOAD POLICY
Books are required for all online courses. Students are
Six credit hours per eight-week session is considered full-
strongly encouraged to purchase books from Missouri Book
time. This includes any combination of traditional classroom or
Service (MBS) prior to the start of the session. Campus
online courses.
bookstores do not stock books for online courses. To view the
Campus students with at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point booklist, and/or order books, call or visit MBS online at:
average (GPA) and a compelling reason may request an
Telephone: 800-325-3252
exception from their Campus Director to take 9 credit hours in a
particular session. Remote students will request this exception Fax: 800-499-0143
from the Online campus. Website: http://direct.mbsbooks.com/columbia.htm
No student will be allowed to take more than nine credit hours If you are eligible for a book voucher, contact your campus
in a session for any reason. There is no overload fee associated location staff to obtain one. The campus staff will authorize the
with this policy, unless the student is attending the day program. proper amount for charges.
Most Columbia College campuses, as well as the Online
COURSE SCHEDULE
Campus, use the services of MBS Direct as the official textbook
Course schedules are prepared by the Online Campus. vendor to provide students a convenient way to order textbooks
Copies are available in print at the local campuses or on the and other course material via the Internet, mail, fax or phone.
website at www.ccis.edu/online/schedule approximately two
Information needed for ordering includes your school name,
weeks before registration begins for a given session.
campus location and complete course information, including
Notification of canceled courses will be sent to the
course title. Online course textbooks may differ from on-campus
CougarMail accounts of students enrolled in the cancelled
classes. MBS Direct will ship orders within 24 hours Monday-
course. Online course instructions and online student
responsibilities are included in the printed schedule for the Friday, and payment is accepted via credit card, personal check
current session. Students who register for courses online will be or money order.
emailed course and email access instructions along with the Web-based master syllabi book information is recommended
registration confirmation. only. Please review specific course syllabi for textbook
information.
OVERRIDES MBS Direct guarantees delivery of the correct books and will
Online courses have a maximum class size. After a course is replace any defective or incorrect item. Columbia College is not
closed the campus staff may request an override through the responsible for any incorrect or late textbooks not purchased
Online Campus office. The Online Campus will evaluate the from MBS or another college-authorized supplier.
student’s situation and coordinate with the instructor to
determine if an override is possible. Overrides are granted on a ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
rare basis for students with special circumstances, such as
Remote students should see the academic calendar at the
fulfilling a graduation requirement which is the last course
beginning of the undergraduate catalog for important dates.
needed for the degree.
All aspects of the AHE Degree Completion Catalog apply to
PROCTORING remote students.
Remote students taking courses that require proctored exams For more information about specific online offerings, visit the
must submit the proctor information by the second week of the website at www.ccis.edu/online/schedule.
session to the instructor. The instructor has the right to approve
or deny the proposed proctor. Acceptable proctors include
Columbia College campus staff, ministers, public librarians, high
school or college instructors, high school or college counseling
services, commanding officers, education service officers, and