DISTANCE EDUCATION POLICIES
Graduate:
Students may enroll in a graduate level distance education course as a non-degree seeking student by completing and submitting the Graduate Admission Form to the Graduate Office and then registering for their courses. However, if the students are only taking correspondence or asynchronous Internet courses, there is no need to apply for admission with the graduate office. Please refer to the Correspondence and asynchronous Internet section below.
Undergraduate:
Students currently enrolled in any of the six South Dakota Board of Regents institutions may register for distance education courses from NSU without completing an admissions form. Students not currently enrolled in one of these institutions, must meet university entrance requirements, submit a University Admissions Form and then register for their courses. However, if the students are only taking correspondence or asynchronous Internet courses, there is no need to apply for admission with the admissions office. Please refer to the Correspondence and asynchronous Internet section below.
Correspondence and asynchronous Internet Courses:
Students applying for a correspondence or asynchronous Internet course, whether it is an undergraduate or graduate level course, only need to register for the course by filling out the registration form on the Office for Extended Studies' website. They do not need to apply for admission to Northern to take a correspondence or asynchronous Internet course.
Dual Enrollment:
Northern State University encourages high school students whose maturity, achievement, aptitude and goals warrant special consideration to seek dual enrollment. The program will provide high school students an opportunity to complete university coursework in conjunction with high school activities. Dually enrolled high school students are limited to six credits per semester. Acceptance is contingent upon recommendation from a high school official and completion and submission of the dual enrollment form.
High School Courses through the NSU Center for Statewide E-learning:
Only South Dakota school districts, not individual students, may register for courses through the E-learning Center. District registration is available on line through the high school web site in late March each year. Districts reserve spaces for up to ten of their students and are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
COSTSIn-State distance education students who have not completed the equivalent of ENGL 101 and/or MATH 102 are subject to placement requirements for first-time students based on the availability of valid ACT scores.
Those students without valid ACT scores may take the appropriate COMPASS placement exam at any one of the six Regental universities or county extension offices. Their scores will be sent to the institution offering the distance education course.
Out-of-State Students without valid ACT scores residing in another state who wish to enroll in general English or mathematics courses through distance education are exempted from COMPASS testing.
Tuition and fees for Northern State University courses delivered through distance technologies are set annually by the Board of Regents and are different from those charged for on-campus courses. Self-support, off-campus rates apply to correspondence, asynchronous Internet, Internet, and DDN courses Go to http://www.northern.edu/extension/info4.htm to view current costs.
For standard, semester long courses, students may enroll in classes through census day of the semester (approximately 7 days into the semester.). Students may drop a course up until 70% of the course has been completed, however, the date of the drop will affect their refund (See Refund Policy for details). If students drop within the first 70% of the class, they will receive a W for the course. The last day for receiving a grade of “W” is determined by calculating 70% of the class meeting days in the term. After 70% of the class has been completed, students may no longer withdraw from class and those not completing the course will receive a grade of “F.” Correspondence and asynchronous Internet courses are available year-round. Students may add one of these courses at any time. However, students may only withdraw from correspondence and asynchronous Internet courses through 70% of the length of the course. (See the Refund Policy for details.) The last day for receiving a grade of “W” is determined by calculating 70% of the course length; the length for correspondence and asynchronous Internet courses is either 175 or 350 days from the date of registration. After 70% of the course time has elapsed, students may no longer withdraw from the course and a grade of “F” or “U” (depending on the grading system for the course) will be recorded if it is not completed. All drops or adds must be made in writing and submitted to the appropriate office by mail, e-mail or FAX.
Graduate:
NSU Office of Graduate Studies
1200 South Jay Street
Aberdeen, SD 57401
Phone: (605) 626-2558
Fax: (605) 626-3022
e-mail: griffith@northern.eduUndergraduate
NSU Office of Enrollment Services
1200 South Jay Street
Aberdeen, SD 57401
Phone: (605) 626-3400
Fax: (605) 626-2587
e-mail: hallstrp@northern.eduCorrespondence/Asynchronous Internet
NSU Office of Extended Studies
1200 South Jay Street
Aberdeen, SD 57401
Phone: (605) 626-2568
Fax: (605) 626-2542
e-mail: exten@northern.eduHigh School Courses
Center for Statewide E-learning
1200 South Jay Street
Aberdeen, SD 57401
Phone: (605) 626-3382
Fax: (605) 626-3356
e-mail: schmidtj@northern.edu
Refunds of tuition and fees are based upon South Dakota Board of Regents policy. Students who withdraw, drop out, or are expelled from the university within the drop/add period (or within the first 10% of correspondence or asynchronous Internet courses) receive a 100% refund of tuition and related fees.
Students who withdraw, drop out, or are expelled from the university after 60% point of the enrollment period will receive a no refund of tuition and related fees.
Refunds for rooms are based on the percent of the enrollment period remaining after the date the room contract is canceled. The unused portion of a meal plan contract will be refunded. No refunds will be issued after 60% of the enrollment period has been completed.
Students who withdraw, drop out, or are expelled from the university after the drop/add period, but before the 60% point of the enrollment period, may be entitled to a refund. The amount of refund varies depending on the exact date of withdrawal and Federal Title IV financial aid involvement.STUDENTS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE FEDERAL TITLE IV FINANCIAL AID
The refund shall be determined by computing the percentage of the enrollment period remaining after the date of withdrawal times the tuition and fees originally assessed the student. At no time will refunds be awarded after the 60% point of the enrollment period.
STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE FEDERAL TITLE IV FINANCIAL AID
The U.S. Department of Education requires institutions to apply the Return of Title IV Funds policy for students withdrawing from a University who receive Title IV financial aid programs: Federal Stafford Loans, Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS), Federal Perkins Loans, Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, and other Title IV assistance.
A student who withdraws after the 60% point of a semester is entitled to retain all Title IV aid for that semester. However, if the student withdraws prior to the 60% point of the term, unearned Title IV funds as determined by the federal policy must be returned to the various programs. These funds must be returned even if the University provides no refund to the student. This means the student could owe the University and/or the U.S. Department of Education a significant amount of money.
Title IV financial aid is earned by the calendar day, not class day. This includes weekends, holidays, and breaks of less than five consecutive days. The university is required to determine the amount of Title IV aid the withdrawing student has earned and then either disburse any additional funds to student may be entitled to up to the amount earned, or return funds in excess of the amount earned which the student has already received. If an amount to be returned to a federal program is determined, then a further calculation is made to determine how much of the amount needs to be returned by the University and how much, if any, needs to be returned by the student. The amount to be returned is distributed in a specified order – Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, Subsidized Stafford Loan, Perkins Loan, PLUS Loan, Pell Grant, SEOG, other Title IV assistance, other federal, state, institutional, and private aide, and last to the student. Any grant amount that is to be returned by the student will be reduced by 50% under the regulations. This provision does not apply to grant funds that must be returned by the University. The University has specified timeframes within which to disburse additional funds, return excess funds, and to contact and advise the student of what is occurring and of any needed actions on the student’s part.
The University strongly encourages students and parents to consult with the Financial Aid Office and/or Finance Office to determine the financial impact of withdrawing before making a final decision.