®
Online Student
Handbook
The Dean
Your Guide to Excellence
Everything in this handbook has value,
or we wouldn’t bother to put it in here.
At the same time, not everything is of
equal value.
The Dean will help highlight those points that you will
use often or that are particularly important.
Shelby Roma
Your Student Mentor & Friend
One of our best students, Shelby will
point out info that has helped her the
most. She’ll also add in pointers that will
help elevate your experience from good
to great. Her strategies can help you get A’s too.
When you see the Dean or Shelby, pay special attention
to what is in the blue or green box and what they point
out in the surrounding text.
Copyright © 2012, 2009 CASI, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This document may be copied and printed
for the personal use of students enrolled in Stevens-Henager College online courses. Other distribution is
prohibited without written authorization.
We are very interested in improving this handbook and appreciate your suggestions about mistakes, needed
additions, and the parts you like too. For information or comments about this handbook, please write
david.cowsert@stevenshenager.edu or write Online Education, 4021 E. 700 S., Ste. 400, Murray, UT 84107.
Last revision: 14 June 2012, all earlier versions are superceded by this version.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents........................................................................................................................................................................ 3
Welcome to Stevens-Henager College Online Education..................................................................................................... 4
Mission & Goals......................................................................................................................................................................... 5
The Successful Online Student................................................................................................................................................. 6
Getting Started............................................................................................................................................................................ 9
Academic Policy Basics........................................................................................................................................................... 11
Academic Integrity................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Resources & Communication................................................................................................................................................. 13
Online Education Technology................................................................................................................................................ 17
Writing - A Quick Primer to Academic Writing.................................................................................................................. 19
Learning Studio - Your Virtual Classroom........................................................................................................................... 21
Transcript & Schedule - Student Portland, Diamond D..................................................................................................... 25
Shelby Roma’s Quick Guide to Getting A’s............................................................................................................................ 27
The Dean’s Short List of Critical Stuff.................................................................................................................................... 28
Glossary..................................................................................................................................................................................... 29
Table of Contents | 3
Welcome to Stevens-Henager
College Online Education
Your Path to a Better Career, Faster
Education is never wasted. We congratulate you on the choice to continue your
formal education.
At the same time, we recognize the many options you have for education
today. Thank you for choosing Stevens-Henager College1. We are confident it is
a wise choice and we commit to providing you an educational experience that is
exceptional, accelerated, and valid in today’s career market.
Before you get started in your first class, you need some tools and
information, thus the Online Student Handbook.
This handbook offers vital information on our policies, computer
programs, and other key points you must know to be successful. It
also offers a variety of tips, strategies for success, background, and
more that will be useful but can be reviewed more casually.
Whether you print this handbook out or keep a copy on
your computer, you should value it and keep it in a place
you can easily access. Several portions of the handbook
will be needed throughout your program of study.
The handbook is just one of the tools available to help
you succeed—especially at the start. Your Admissions
Consultant, Student Advisor, Dean, and others are available
to answer questions and expect to be in regular contact
with you. You can also find the information in this handbook
on the web at http://online-shc.com. In the Learning Studio
system (your virtual classroom that will be explained in
detail), you will find useful guides and resource folders in
your classes as well.
The table of contents and the index of this handbook
will help you navigate to the pieces you need as you need
them. You can also check the quick reference guides here
from the Dean and Shelby Roma. We recommend you
review all of the handbook at least once from front to back
and then revisit the specific parts you need later.
If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact us. Again,
we are delighted to have you with us. Enjoy the journey.
1. Stevens-Henager College is one of four career college brands in the CASI system
and is the home of this online education department. More on our history is
available in this manual on p. ##.
Welcome | 4
Mission & Goals
What Guides Us
Company Mission
We are dedicated to helping our students get a better job sooner. We focus on
educating people for careers. Our goal is for our students to achieve success in
career-oriented programs that will culminate in satisfactory career placement
in entry-level positions in their field of work or advancement in their current
employment.
Education Department Mission
The mission of the CollegeAmerica/College California - San Diego/StevensHenager Colleges education department is to ensure that students master
the content of the curriculum and express satisfaction with their education
experience.
Education Department Goals
1. To develop and provide effective career-oriented higher education
programs consisting of curricula that focus on skills sought by employers.
2. To develop and provide general education curricula designed to enhance
the students’ analytical, oral, and written skills.
3. To provide and promote a stable self-perpetuating climate in which
ethical behavior is valued and where students and employees are challenged
to excel and to develop their talent.
4. To develop and provide services for students that will enrich their
educational experience and enhance their opportunity to achieve their career
goals.
5. To periodically evaluate, revise, and improve the Education Department’s
key programs and processes to ensure continual progress toward attainment
of the educational goals.
Mission & Goals | 5
Our mission
and goals are
about you
achieving your
goals and
dreams. This is
not fluff, it is our
committment
to you and your
education.
The Successful Online Student
Can Be and
Should Be—You!
Successful Online Students Are:
• Highly motivated to achieve academic
success and personal success.
• Excellent managers of their time and
are well organized.
• Active students. They ask questions
and seek clarification when needed.
They pursue additional resources and
understanding in topics of their interest. They participate in discussions
without hesitation.
• Independent and assertive. They are self-directed students; which means
that they forge ahead and seek to learn. They do not wait to be told what to
do next. They seek to understand the achievement criteria and then do it.
• Generally flexible and adapt to change quite readily. They also expect
flexibility from their learning environment.
• “Cyber-social.” They enjoy meeting others in an online environment and
are interested in dialogue among their learning peers and instructor. They
enjoy sharing their experiences, knowledge, and expertise.
• Technologically savvy. They understand how to use PCs and the Internet.
Online education is often easier to access and excel at for non-traditional
students. In other words, the online setting can be particularly helpful for older
students with families and work, students with disabilities, and students who feel
uncomfortable in traditional classroom settings.
The list of traits
for successful
online students
is not meant to
validate what
you are, it’s
meant to show
you what you
can become.
Let’s be honest, I don’t always feel “highly motivated,” “independent and assertive,” or
any of that other stuff.
When I feel overwhelmed or bored or anything else that distracts from success, I don’t
give myself a hard time or a bunch of guilt, instead I do something positive. Sometimes I
just pop some popcorn and go watch a DVD or take a walk around the neighborhood.
At other times, I’ll chat with fellow students or maybe even get ahold of my Academic
Advisor. Whatever I do, I look for the positive and take time when needed for me.
The Successful Online Student | 6
1st Steps to Being a Successful Online Student
If, like most students, you’ve chosen the online education
route but aren’t yet feeling like all of the virtues we’ve listed
for a successful online student apply to you, then here is
how you start building those skills.
1. Read. This seems like an obvious truth but as
multimedia has become the norm in our lives, taking
the time to read and ponder text is becoming more
of something you have to think about. It isn’t enough
to glance at the class syllabus and this handbook. You
need to read them and think about what they are
telling you.
2. Pay attention to the details. Students often see the
dates assignments are due but miss the times right next
to the date. Though often the due date is midnight,
it can also be 5 p.m., before an Eluminate session
starts, or some other time. This is only one example
of why you need to pay attention to the details. Since
fellow students and instructors only see the work you
do, take time to review your spelling and grammar
before posting to the discussion boards. Think about
what e-mails and posts are trying to say, not just the
words used. Paying attention to details is one of those
great skills that will really help in your career as well,
regardless of what field you are going into.
3. Set goals. One easy goal you’ve set just by starting
your education is graduation. Write down your
expected graduation date and work around that. If you
struggle with math, you might set a goal of getting a B
on a particular test. Once you’ve established the goal,
break it down to the objectives needed to meet it. If the
B on a test is the goal, you might decide that to achieve
that you need to double your study time next week
from one hour for math to two hours. You might also
decide to attend one of the virtual tutoring sessions
with a list of problems or concepts you struggle with.
The key is for you to think about the goals that have
value to you and the best strategies for you to succeed
in them. What works well for one student might not
work great for you. At the same time, talk with fellow
students, search the web, and explore other research
options to find ideas. You’ll find many people have
been through the challenges you have and others have
similar dreams, let them help you learn what works
best for you rather than inventing everything from
scratch.
4. Manage your time. This can be very difficult and
is one of the greatest challenges for most students. In
addition to work and family responsibilities, now you
are adding in school. Nobody wants to give up all their
fun time and we don’t encourage that for you either.
So what is going to change? Time has to come from
somewhere. Think about where you can get additional
time and still stay healthy in all areas of your life.
Cutting down on television is one of the best ways to
start but even then you don’t want to simply sit at the
computer. Find a system that works for you. Maybe
a calendar will be effective for you with general due
dates and expectations. Or maybe you prefer to have
each hour scheduled. It doesn’t matter what the system
is as long as it works, but do find a system that can be
repeated and is consistent in delivering good results.
Online education is no different than any other valuable
undertaking—you need commitment, a willingness to
grow, and a desire to succeed. Don’t let our suggestions
overwhelm you, take everything one step at a time and you
will join the ranks of graduates sooner than seems possible.
The Successful Online Student | 7
Getting Started
What to Have and Do Before the First Class
This entire section is essential to you in the beginning and then you can ignore it after you
start your first class.
Please make sure you understand all of the requirements and complete all the needed
tasks. If you have any questions or need help, please contact your Student Advisor right
away.
Basics You Bring to Online Education
In the same way you typically provide your own clothing and transportation for
an office job, there are a couple of items you need to be prepared with prior to
starting online education. The key two items are:
1. Knowledge and comfort in using a computer, Microsoft Word, and the
Internet.
2. Daily access to a computer and the Internet.
If both of those criteria do not apply to you or you are concerned about them, like
not having stable Internet access, then please let your Student Advisor know right
away. Keeping a problem to yourself in the beginning is not only a bad precedent
to set, it could derail your whole education. Your Student Advisor may have
options you haven’t considered before.
Stuff We’ll Give You Before You Start
Your Admissions Consultant and Financial Planner will send you a bunch of
stuff. Other staff might too. Yet what we are referring to here is the great stuff the
education staff and your Student Advisor will make sure you have. You’ll need
these items to get ready for that first day of class—and all the days that follow to
graduation.
• A copy of SHC’s Handbook for Online Students - that’s this document so
yeah, one down!
• Access to our online orientation on the SHARC (pieces are here in this
document as well).
A lot of questions can be answered by checking out our Stevens-Henager
Academic Resource Center, or SHARC, at http://online-shc.com.
Pre-class Requirements from the Education Division
When you signed up for school it was all so easy, your Admissions Consultant
Getting Started | 8
Everything
in this section
should be
completed and/
or available to
you before you
start your first
class.
sent you some papers and you filled them out. Now it seems
more and more people want you to fill out papers. We admit
we are one of those “more people.” Trust us though that all
of these requirements are strictly focused on making you
successful and we have kept them down to a minimum. The
papers help us get you off to a great start.
1. Orientation. There are two versions depending
on how you signed up for school. If you signed up
for school through an Admissions Consultant at a
residential campus, you will attend orientation in
person at that campus. Otherwise you will attend a
virtual orientation. And best of all, you don’t need to
worry about which one applies to you because we’ll let
you know.
websites to visit and so on. Try to relax about it. You won’t
have so many distractions as you get settled in but we’re
trying to give you the tools and information you need to
succeed.
Over and over you’ll hear about the need to
communicate with us. This applies to getting started as
well. If this seems overwhelming or you have questions we
haven’t answered for you, please contact us. We’re anxious
to get you off on a strong start so that you’ll have a great
experience from beginning to end.
2. Completely review this handbook.
It can seem like a lot of papers to sign, calls to make,
Getting Started | 9
Academic Policy Basics
The Key Rules & Procedures You Need Now
While much of this section may feel a bit like the boring stuff contracts are full of, there is
some good details in here.
Please read the part on Academic Integrity at the end of the section, it is one of the
things you must sign off on prior to starting class.
When in doubt, refer to your college catalog or ask your Academic Advisor.
These standards are a combination of best practices and benchmarks in online
learning as recognized by The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools
and Colleges (ACCSC), online learner feedback, facilitator feedback, campus
feedback, and Steven-Henager’s own standards for delivery of quality education.
Students must understand that even though online courses are convenient
and flexible; they also require a great deal of time and effort to complete. Allow
yourself plenty of time to complete course criteria. It is suggested that you create a
schedule and maintain that schedule to stay on track with your coursework.
The use of these standards promotes learner success—your success.
Basic Standards
1. Keep your contact information current (including phone numbers) so
that instructors, other students, and administrators may make contact if
needed. You can update this information by contacting your Academic
Advisor.
2. Logon to Learning Studio and visit each assigned class by clicking on its
link during the first week of the term in order to avoid termination from the
course due to lack of attendance, which we call a drop.
Numbers 2 and 3 are ridiculously easy to do. I check
in on Monday of each Module anyway so I know
what to expect from the course.
Checking the course regularly also helps me be
aware of changes and lets me get ideas from other
students. It only takes a minute or two when I’m busy
and I can dedicate more time when I have it.
3. You are required to participate & logon regularly (4 days per week) to
your courses throughout the week. The Daily Checkpoints are a great way
to be sure you meet this minimum requirement. The syllabus will tell you
how much time you should be spending in the course (an average student
estimate).
4. Post all your weekly assignments and complete all course requirements by
the designated due dates in the course outline.
Academic Policy Basics | 10
The College
Catalog is the
official source
for policy and
rules related to
your education.
5. Instructors will attempt contact with students to
encourage attendance and participation. Students not
participating or logging on will be terminated from
the online course. If you have technical problems, you
must communicate this problem immediately to your
instructor and Associate Dean to avoid being dropped
from the course.
6. If you are unable to meet the attendance
requirements, communicate immediately with
the instructor. Instructors will make provisions
to accommodate legitimate issues based on the
circumstances. Such circumstances may be travel
for work, illness or death in family, and other life
circumstances.
7. Plagiarism and cheating are not tolerated. Please
refer to the Stevens-Henager Academic Integrity policy
section that follows in this handbook. You may view
your peers’ work and postings to gain ideas and learn
from one another, but don’t plagiarize their work, or
the work of others regardless of source. Give credit
when using the ideas and materials of others and
follow the APA guidelines for writing. Collaboration is
one thing (acceptable and encouraged) and cheating an
entirely different thing (unacceptable).
8. Please provide specific feedback in the Course
Evaluations at the end of each course. Stevens-Henager
College and the Dean are serious about reviewing
and implementing change based on the candid and
appropriate feedback provided by students for each
course.
9. Your complaints and grievances will be taken
serioiusly and addressed in accordance with the
complaints and grievances procedures identified in the
college catalog. Your success and satisfaction is always
our goal.
As a Stevens-Henager student you have an individual
responsibility to understand what cheating, plagiarism,
paraphrasing, and quoting are. You must also be aware
that the consequences for cheating and plagiarism are
severe. Whenever you have doubt about what constitutes
cheating, plagiarism, paraphrasing, or quoting contact your
instructor. With the advent of the Internet, the potential
for cheating by simply cutting and pasting information
into your paper is tempting. Be aware that these dishonest
activities will not be tolerated and instructors have access
to increasingly sophisticated search engines to “test” the
validity of your work. Plagiarism, in particular, is easily
traced. Don’t do it.
Consequences
The College will, upon finding that a student has
violated its policies on Academic Integrity, enact the
following:
1. For the first offense the student will receive a zero
on the assignment. The student is likely to be placed on
academic probation for a code of conduct violation.
2. Upon a second offense the student will be
considered for permanent expulsion from the College.
Academic Appeal Process
If you would like to appeal an academic decision, please
refer to the “Grievance/Complaint Procedure” section of the
Stevens-Henager Catalog for information for petitioning the
College to reconsider its action.
NOTE: Online instructors will consult with the Associate
Dean if plagiarism is suspected. This is not something
handled alone by instructors, it is a serious issue.
Policy on Academic Integrity
Cheating is defined as “the giving or receiving of aid,
whether written, oral or otherwise, in order for a student to
receive undeserved credit on class work, homework, tests or
any other assignment that is his or her own responsibility.”
Plagiarism violates the central core of StevenHenager’s educational philosophy. It involves stealing
another person’s work and claiming it as your own. It
occurs whenever one directly copies or paraphrases another
person’s intellectual effort and integrates it into the violator’s
work without giving proper credit to the original author.
Academic Policy Basics | 11
Resources & Communication
You are not alone
When you walk across the stage at the end of your program, you receive that
handshake and recognition alone. You will deserve the celebration of all your hard
work to get to that point. But frankly, you cannot succeed alone—you shouldn’t
even try.
We’ve diagrammed some of the key individuals and positions that are part of
your network of success (on the next page). You will think of others. Let’s talk a
minute about networks of success.
Network of Success
Many of us have networks of failure. These are friends or others we can go to
with complaints like, “My boss hates me and doesn’t take advantage of all I have to
offer. I get paid to little and I should be running the company by now.”
To which our friends respond, “Yeah, dude. Your boss stinks. Let’s go play
pool.”
While we might enjoy the pool game, and it’s good to vent at times, there is
no productive resolution here.
In comparison, those friends and others in your network of success respond
differently. Instead of simply validating your complaints, they will respond with
something like:
“That’s too bad. How are you going to deal with the situation?” As the
discussion progresses, they will ask questions like, “How can I help?,” “What are
your options?,” and “Where else can you get help from?”
In other words, they help you decide what you want to do to improve the
situation, how you will solve the problem, and assist you in gathering resources
and following through with your plan.
Resources & Communication | 12
No matter how
valid the excuse,
failure to meet
standards is still
failure to meet
standards.
Always focus
on solving
challenges and
moving forward.
Do not give
up. Ask for help
quickly, before
problems grow.
This is not just a diagram for me. I know each of the people in my network well and they
know me. I’ve put effort into developing positive relationships with them; kind words,
helping where I can, etc., so when I need them, they are there for me in a strong way.
Because they know me, I am confident of exceptional service when I need it, not out of
duty but out of desire. Knowing that helps me relax and not worry about the future.
Good Communication is Your First Resource
Let’s be frank, despite all the effort we put into emphasizing
communication, practically begging new students to tell us
when problems occur, there are still far too many students
who take too long to realize we really want communication.
We both
agree this is
a no-brainer:
communicate
often with
instructors,
your advisor,
and students.
Perhaps some of your fellow students feel they should
handle things on their own, or they are worried their issue
will seem trivial, or maybe they just don’t like to share.
What the reason or reasons are do not really matter, what
matters is that you—yes you, the student reading this—
understand that we are serious when we say communication
is vital to your success.
We have never told a student their issue is unimportant
or that they should wait and see if it gets worse first. With
modules that last only four weeks, and with assignments
and other expectations occuring within days of each other,
it is essential you let us know as soon as a problem or issue
comes up. It can be as simple as a question clarifying a point
in a syllabus; it doesn’t matter how simple the issue, please
develop a strong communication habit with your Academic
Advisor and your instructors. It will pay off for you as much
or almost as much as the actual study you do.
Effective Cyber-communication
Communicating electronically is an excellent way for
students and facilitators of learning to connect across
distance. Since online learning is so different from being
face-to-face, it is important to consider ways to ensure
understanding and useful two-way communication.
Here are some keys to successful electronic communication:
• Write clearly and specifically. Write in complete
sentences using appropriate rules of grammar,
punctuation, word usage, etc.
• Assume the best intentions. That is, send and
receive electronic messages with positive intentions.
When we send and receive messages, we have no
control over how the receiver interprets the message.
As readers, we make assumptions about tone and
attitude. The interpretation may not be what was
intended. Therefore, we must be very cautious in
our choice of words, as well as our interpretation of
messages received.
• Use emoticons to aid understanding. It is OK to
express emotions online, but do not direct negative
emotions toward the receiver.
• Use inclusive language. Inclusive language
considers everyone’s backgrounds, beliefs, and feelings.
Any language that shows disrespect of others or is
vulgar in any way is in appropriate and will not be
tolerated. The online learning environment is meant to
be a place of safe learning. There is equal opportunity
for everyone to learn and share ideas and opinions.
• Seek first to understand. Then seek to be
understood. Practice netiquette—be respectful, clear,
and on-topic.
• Make your responses substantial and meaningful.
Find specific points, varied viewpoints, and in-depth
questions to help you attain your learning goals as well
as to contribute to the overall learning of others in
the online classroom. Dialogue is essential to learning
and critical in the online environment. Seek and share
other resources to support your viewpoint. Exchanging
ideas is not only interesting, it helps all participants
gain a new perspective.
• Actively seek to learn more. Participate in all
online threaded discussions or chats and seek other
resources outside your textbook.
Student Guidelines and Tips
1. Set goals, both short- and long-term. Having goals
allows you to have something to work toward, and
gives you a sense of accomplishment when you reach
them.
2. Establish a regular schedule, know how to manage
your time, and set priorities. Set aside a physical space
and set a schedule like you were actually attending
class. Identify what works for you, early on, and save
hard things for your “peak productivity period.”
3. Introduce yourself to your peers in each class.
Make a point to get to know someone personally and
academically. Make a point to include someone who
appears to be “sitting on the sidelines.” Ask for his or
her opinion and promote meaningful discussion.
Resources & Communication | 14
4. Collaborate and cooperate in your learning. The
sharing of ideas, experiences, and knowledge promotes
learning more quickly in teams or groups, than by
individuals struggling alone. A community of students
is what we must strive for. You have permission to
discuss answers and ideas, but must submit your own
work in your own voice. Remember to cite your sources!
• Connect with other students. You may live near
each other, and can study together. Or, connect with
others online or over the phone.
5. Be “active” in your learning:
• Celebrate your successes!
• Make studying active. Write down notes, repeat
things out loud—make the information memorable
and fun.
6. Ask Questions!
• Search for concrete practice and applications for
what you’re learning. Join a study group, club, or
participate in some other related “extracurricular”
activity. This could be volunteer work, finding a
mentor in the career field you’re interested in, or
simply doing your own research.
• Talk about it. Share what you’re learning with
friends and family. This way you can make yourself
accountable and receive support from people in your
life outside of school.
• Participate and engage as much as possible. It can
be much easier to sit “in the back of the classroom”
when learning online, but don’t let that be you!
• Be your own advocate, and empower yourself. If
you are confused, ask for help! Your instructor and
advisor are there to help you succeed. Let them do
their job.
• Be persistent and patient. Learning is a process.
When you are truly learning, it will be difficult.
Embrace the challenge, and feel your brain grow!
• Fully understand the resources available to you.
If someone offers you help that you need, take it. Be
prepared and set yourself up for success.
Resources & Communication | 15
Online Education Technology
There are many benefits to taking online courses. Some obvious benefits are:
• Class schedule flexibility: obtain courses needed to fit your program
schedule.
• Personal schedule flexibility: study when & where convenient for you.
• Honing written communication skills: online dialogue forces you to
improve your writing skills & interpersonal skills.
• Becoming a self-directed learner: employers seek individuals who are
motivated & can learn on their own.
However, there is an achilles’ heel as well, you have to have the technology and the
skills with technology necessary to connect to, and participate in, your courses.
This section address the technology you need and how to handle some basic
problems.
Technical Resources
If you’re fortunate to leave near one, on-ground campuses will provide technical
assistance for students living close enough to visit. Each campus has an assigned
online resource staff member.
Other students can access technical support through the online help desk
at 1.866.888.3768. You can also contact your Student/Academic Advisor to get
college advocacy for technical issues. (In other words, your Student/Academic
Advisor can help make sure the issue gets resolved favorably.)
Instructor Expectations: Each online instructor will outline the course objectives
and learning outcomes. He or she will also set expectations for participation
grades, discussion groups, assignments, quizzes, exams, and projects. You are
expected to keep up with all discussions and meet all assignment deadlines. Please
communicate with your instructor if something prevents you from meeting
deadlines.
Attendance/Participation: You are expected to log on and participate in
each online course a minimum of four (4) days per week and interact with
Online Education Technology | 16
Keep this
resource handy
so you can
focus on your
education and
not learning the
“system.”
the curriculum (in other words, do something besides
just look). You will be graded on your substantial and
meaningful participation. Stevens-Henager keeps careful
attendance records for reporting purposes. If you fail to
participate during any 14 day period, you will be dropped
from school. Online courses will be completed by Saturday
at 11:59 p.m. of Week Four.
Possible Technical Problems to Consider
• E-mail appears to be sent, but is not received. First,
check that you have used the correct e-mail address.
A big problem is mistyping the e-mail address. If the
address is correct and you still are having problems,
don’t wait more than 48 hours before making contact
with the Help Desk. DON’T ASSUME THAT YOU
ARE BEING IGNORED! Assume the best…assume
there is a technical problem.
• Some e-mail accounts from (as well as many
others) often limit the volume of e-mail and size of
attachments. Constantly monitor your mailboxes and
remove old items to clear the way for new e-mail.
• Personal e-mail should NOT be used for submitting
assignments, projects or exams to instructors. The
online platform is the place for submitting these items
in order to prevent loss and to provide documentation
that learning criteria has been met.
• Keep copies of every document you create.
Technology is not fail-safe or fool proof. Backup
systems may not work according to plan, so it is wise to
prevent wasted time and energy by saving documents
outside of the online platform.
• The amount of space for posting discussion
responses is large, but limited. If postings go beyond
this limit, they may be lost. It is best that students
format their work in Word and then paste it into the
discussion area
There may be other things that cause technical difficulties,
such as weather, technical breakdown, and much more.
Being aware of these possibilities helps one navigate and
communicate electronically more effectively and without
unnecessary frustration.
Don’t let any computer problems that come up create frustration for you. Take a deep
breath and figure out how to move forward. Your instructors and our staff will work with
you to overcome problems.
The best practice is to backup material often. Keep a flash drive, CDs, or an external
hard drive up to date with your school work in case of viruses or computer malfunction.
Always save documents and e-mails related to coursework prior to posting them.
Online Education Technology | 17
Writing
A Quick Primer to Academic Writing
Writing Style
Stevens-Henager Online Education follows APA writing guidelines for student
papers. APA guildelines and resources are available in SHARC and through other
resources you’ll find in your classes. Your instructors will help you.
The reason we follow APA guidelines is because, a) they are widely accepted
as the premier academic standard in the U.S., b) they provide a strong method
for citing sources, and c) the attention to detail required by the guidelines is good
practice for whatever writing rules your future career and company might impose
on you. A key component of APA is in-text citing of sources used (direct quotes,
summaries, or usage of facts in any way) and a reference page. You must cite
sources in any writing you do, including posting discussions.
You may purchase the APA writing style guide if you want. It is optional, most
instructors do not own a copy. It is called the Publication Manual of the American
Psychological Association, Sixth Edition. Be warned though, despite its usefulness,
it is not a well organized book and you will want to talk to experienced instructors
about how to use the manual.
All instructors are expected to follow the guidelines of APA in all courses
online. Campus libraries keep at least one copy of the APA Writing Style guide on
reference.
Citing Sources
Citing your sources correctly is essential in research, business communication,
and any other situation where you have drawn information from another source.
Although there are several citation formats available, we have selected APA
Writing | 18
The ability to
write well is
consistently one
of the top two
skills employers
want regardless
of profession or
industry.
for the reasons already mentioned. Another beneficial
feature of this style format is its emphasis on the date
of publication—an important element in our technical,
business, and health fields.
Copies of this style guide are available in most public
libraries. Also, there are some great electronic resources that
explain how to properly construct citations for all sorts of
resources. See the links provided below.
An excellent on-line guide is “Using American
Psychological Association (APA) Format (Updated to 5th
ed.)” from the Purdue University writing lab. The Purdue
site—http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_
apa.html. This link will help you with the following:
Additional Resources:
• APA Online Style Tips (www.apastyle.org/styletips.
html)
• APA Online Electronic References (www.apastyle.
org/elecref.html)
Don’t hesitate to ask your librarian for assistance.
• General Format
• In Text Citing
• Examples of various formats for print, electronic,
and visual materials. For more on electronic sources,
click here: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/
research/r_docelectric.html
Writing | 19
Shelby Roma’s
Quick Guide for Getting A’s
1. Use the student portal to find my class schedule in advance.
2. Order books early so I have them at the start of class.
3. Log in to each assigned class on Monday of the first week.
a. Read the syllabus. I’m looking to see who the instructor
is and anything unusual about how the course will be
handled. I also look at the due dates to match them with
my work and personal calendar.
b. Review the first week’s assignments. This lets me plan. It
also lets me start thinking early before I have to write.
c. Complete the Daily Checkpoints. They are easy points
and help keep me focused as well as helping me learn.
4. Complete all assignments, including discussion posts, in
Word so I can save them on my computer. This gives me a
backup of my work in case of problems.
5. Post all assignments at least a few hours early. I try to get
things posted a day or two early. This lessens my personal stress
and gives me greater flexibility with the rest of my life. (Like a
last minute opportunity to go to the movies or a sick child.)
6. Make sure to log in at least four days each week. I’ll
admit, sometimes I just log in long enough to get my Daily
Checkpoint and see if anything new has been posted.
7. Make friends. I’m happy to help fellow students and I count
on them for help as well. I may not see them, but they are still
my classmates and we can do better by helping each other.
8. Keep in contact with the instructor, my Academic Advisor,
and the Associate Dean. Even just a short note from time to
time helps them remember who I am so that if a problem
comes up, I know I have an advocate who knows who I am.
The Dean’s
Short List of Critical Stuff
1. Know the website for Online Education:
online-shc.com - SHARC. It includes a web version of this
handbook and many other resources.
2. Keep all materials from school together. It doesn’t matter
if it is a filing cabinet, a box, or a folder. You’ll want to keep
the following together so you can reference them easily:
a. Admissions paperwork
b. Finanical aid paperwork
c. This handbook if you print it out
d. Computer backups if on CD or flash drive. If using an
external hard drive, make a note for where you keep it.
e. Password list for Learning Studio and anything else that
comes up. Also keep any software serial numbers you
end up with for school.
f. Laptop information
g. Syllabus from each course
h. Major assignments
i. Contact information for your Student Advisor,
Admissions Consultant, Academic Advisor, Program
Coach, Associate Dean, and instructors.
3. Let us know if problems come up as soon as you can.
4. Respond to our efforts to contact you quickly. This is an
accelerated program and we move quickly.
5. Though this is work towards a dream, don’t forget to
enjoy it. You’ll do better if you have fun!
Glossary
Academic Advisor - The Academic Advisor will assist you as a mentor throughout your experience at Stevens-Henager
College Online. Your Academic Advisor will help you understand problems, find resources, explore problemsolving options, celebrate your successes, and help you overcome challenges.
Dean - The Dean is the head of the education program. The Dean administers all of the academic programs through
associate deans and senior instructors. In almost all cases, the Dean is the final point of appeal for academic
issues. The Dean is also one of your strongest advocates. The name and contact information for the current
Dean is located on the website http://online-shc.com.
DiamondD - A software program that manages the student database. It is used to track students from initial interest in
our college through and past graduation. It includes contact information, grades, notes, scheduling, transcript
information, and more. A limited portal is available for each student to see their own transcripts and grades.
Collaborate - Collaborate allows sychronous virtual classrooms. In other words it is a really fancy chat room. Tutoring
sessions, office hours, and weekly lectures are conducted through Collaborate to offer students direct contact
with each other and their instructors. Students are required to either attend Collaborate sessions or to at least
review the instructor’s recording of the sessions. Links for accessing Collaborate are available in each course.
Learning Studio - The main virtual classroom for online students. It is a software system owned by Pearson. Learning
Studio provides an organized system for managing content delivery in a virtual classroom setting; discussion
boards, quizzes, gradebooks, web pages, e-mail, and more. Learning Studio is accessed through either http://
online-shc.com or http://stevensenager.edu - your choice.
Program Coach - Each student is assigned a program coach. This is a senior faculty member with proven experience in
the student’s future career. The program coach will help students understand how their courses connect to
their future careers and help them plan.
Registrar - The registrar maintains all of the student records. The registrar will set your schedule, help you overcome
scheduling problems, provide letters needed for employment reimbursement and other similar needs, and
eventually the registrar will create your diploma. The registrar also maintains your official academic records
and so is the person you will likely deal with the longest as you move on from college and contact us for
transcript info for work.
Student Advisor - Your Student Advisor will help you move from initial investigation of the school through at least your
first module. The Student Advisor will help with orientation, make sure you get your books and laptop, answer
initial questions, and walk you through all of the paperwork. Normally by the end of your first module or two
you will be assigned an Academic Advisor.
Syllabus - A sort of contract for a specific course, the syllabus is the core document defining the course, expectations,
resources, assignments, goals, and other critical information to establish the structure of the course.
Glossary | 22
Welcome & Enjoy
You’ll Love What This Effort Will Bring You