The guidelines that follow are specific to online education at Vanguard University. Nothing within this guide is meant to replace or amend the Vanguard University Student Handbook. For a copy of the Vanguard University Student Handbook please visit http://studentlife.vanguard.edu/student-handbook/
COMMUNICATION WITH VANGUARD
Any email communication from Vanguard will be sent to the student’s Vanguard email address (i.e., john.doe@vanguard.edu). It is the student’s responsibility to check their Vanguard email address on a regular basis to ensure they are up to date with all important correspondence from their professors and the university. If students have another email address they prefer to use as their primary email address, students may also forward their Vanguard email address to another email address. Directions on how to forward your email can be obtained from the Information Technology website or by contacting helpdesk@vanguard.edu.
REGISTRATION
Students wishing to enroll in online courses must first complete the online learning orientation. The orientation is akin to a virtual tour of the campus which mirrors the experience an on-campus individual might experience during “Welcome Week.” The orientation will consist of an introduction to the university’s CMS, directions on how to access university services including the library, business office, chapel resources, information technology, writing center, and others.
WITHDRAWAL
Students wishing to withdrawal from an online course must follow the procedures outlined within their respective program.
ATTENDANCE AND TARDY POLICY
Although online classes do not keep attendance in the same manner as a traditional course, you will need to make sure you watch all online lessons, participate in every online forum, and continue to check in with the course website as often as necessary to stay current with the course.
COURSE PARTICIPATION
You must be prepared and participate in all online discussions. Criterion: Is the student engaged in classroom discussions? Does the student demonstrate an ability to handle assigned material with a degree of proficiency? Does the student demonstrate genuine engagement with the assigned material through the types of questions he of she asks and the kinds of comments he or she posts? Student contributions are evaluated according to quality, not quantity, of participation.
SUBMISSION OF FINAL EXAMS / PAPERS
The method for the submission of homework and the final exam or final paper will be determined by the professor. The professor will inform students of the method of submission in the course introduction. All exchanges of papers will be between the student and the professor.
LATE PAPER POLICY
You are responsible for submitting assignments on time. Unless authorized by the Professor in advance, no credit will be given for assignments not turned in when due. Any assignments that are accepted late may be subject to a reduction of the student’s grade as deemed appropriate by the professor.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Work submitted for assessment purposes must be the independent work of the student. Plagiarism, or copying and use of another’s work without proper acknowledgment, is not permitted. Nor is it permissible for any former or present student to allow another student to refer to, use as a sample, or in any way copy or review their work. If a student needs guidance, he or she must seek the Professor’s assistance or refer to the catalog policy on plagiarism.
DISABILITY SERVICES
For students with documented medical or psychological disabilities, please contact the Coordinator of Disability Services to request reasonable accommodations. The Coordinator of
Disability Services is located in the Counseling Center on the second floor of the Scott Academic Center and can be reached at extension 4489 or by email at disabilityservices@vanguard.edu.
For students with a documented learning disability who would like to request appropriate accommodations, please contact the Director of Learning Skills at extension 2540 or by email at disabilityservices@vanguard.edu.
