Regulations of the online college

[Aspra Roseta Laira]

In preparation for a new term at the University of Talossa 's Online Community College, I want both instructors and students to know the ins and outs of the campus. I hope that a brief list of rules and regulations can help us organize the courses that will be offered.

Term: The duration of each course will be up to the course instructor with approval by the Regent, varying from four weeks to six months. The length of a course should be stated clearly in the syllabus. The credits hours students receive for each course are determined by the Regent based on the amount of material covered. Non-credit courses will also be offered on campus.

Format of Course: All classes will be set up as sub-boards from the University board so that each class can have multiple threads. The subject of the sub-board will be the same as the course title. The sub-board will be created at least two weeks prior to the first day of class to give citizens adequate time to enroll.

Registration: To join a class, post a message to the board to be included. The optional, formal message ("I'm a squirrel seeking nuts -- enroll me!") or anything along those lines should suffice. The policy of the university is for each instructor to accept any citizen regardless of social or political affiliations, race, gender, religion, etc. Students may register after a class has begun if they obtain the instructor's approval. The Registrar will keep track of student enrollment.

Grading Policies: The grading, drop, and attendance policies will be left to the individual instructors, included in their syllabi -- which must all be approved by the Regent before the courses are offered. Grades will be given to each student via a private message by the instructor within two weeks of the last day of class, and this private message will be copied to the Regent.

Class Standing: Freshman (0-11 credits), Sophomore (12-23 credits), Junior (24-35 credits) and Senior (36-48 credits). Those receiving 48+ credits will receive an official diploma from l’Üniversità Talossan (a non-accredited institution). The Registrar will keep track of each student's class standing and promote students' standings accordingly.

Teaching Credentials: All credit course instructors must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited university or have obtained junior standing at l’Üniversità Talossan, but noncredit instructors -- whose only credential is citizenry of Talossa -- may teach on any pre-approved subject.

Non-credit Courses: Students enrolled in non-credit courses receive no credit toward the diploma, but teachers of noncredit courses may receive credit for teaching equal to the intensity level of the course. No more than three (3) teaching credits are possible toward the diploma.

Any further questions regarding regulations will be addressed within this thread.

Go Squirrels!

Aspra Laira, Regent

[Dréu Gavárþic'h]

oh gosh... I don't think I could say this... ugh... okay, here goes:

"I'm a squirrel seeking nuts -- enroll me!"

[Aspra Roseta Laira]

alexandreu said:

oh gosh... I don't think I could say this... ugh... okay, here goes:

"I'm a squirrel seeking nuts -- enroll me!"

S:reu Gavárþic'h,

Thanks for putting a smile on my face. But -- those interested in registering for a class should really post such replies to the individual class sub-boards. There has now been a sub-board created for a class on Hemingway taught by Professor Davis. Please post your reply there. Then he and I will both have smiles! :-)

I'll join you. In fact, I'll start the ball rolling, since I am interested in learning more about Hemingway myself.

Aspra Laira, Regent

[Aspra Roseta Laira]

Amendment to the regulations:

Prospective Citizens may enroll in courses upon receiving the instructor's approval, but only Talossan citizens are eligible for credit; that is, a prospective may enroll, but he or she should be a full citizen by the end of the class term to get credit.

[Aspra Roseta Laira]

In order to receive the best quality instructors that Talossa has to offer, I feel it is necessary to create some tips for prospective teachers.

1. Keep it simple: Don't try to bite off more than you can chew. If you want to teach about mythology, that is probably too broad of a topic. Narrow it down to one or two myths. This will make it easier for students to digest the curriculum and remain active.

2. Make assignments simple. When giving homework, make it short and sweet. No one has time to do a mountain of work, and it is very time consuming to grade so much work. One longer term project and plenty of participation should suffice for this type of course.

3. Make a schedule and stick to it. If you want to keep students active, make sure that you organize the schedule well ahead of when the course begins. Having a bit of leeway to extend an assignment for one week is okay, but too much deviation will be hard on everyone's time.

4. Keep the weekly lectures short, and encourage discussion.

5. Look over the Hemingway course (taught by Alexander Davis) for a very well organized template to follow.

6. Ask for help. You can always send me a PM -- I want to be available for help at any time.

If you have any other ideas for how we can create an active university, please post them here.

[Eðo Grischun]

Hi,

In light of the proposed music appreciation course, I was looking through the old university courses and posts, and I have a bit of an idea/ suggestion to the regent.

I was dissapointed to find that last year there was a VERY interesing course on the life and works of Hemmingway that unfortunatley I missed. My idea only works if the course does not run again, but due to the fact that only a few new citizens arrive each year, that is probably unlikley.

This is a shame as new citizens are most likle not going to get the benefit of a course once it has completed. The only option I have just now is to read over the course and do the work on my own. Doing this, however, means that I do not have anything to show for it, except for a sense of self satisfaction and an increased knowledge on any given subject.

Which leads to my suggestion. Perhaps, once a course has completed, citizens who wish to take the course may do so in an 'open university, 'online university' or 'distance learning' sort of way. How it would work, say, a student would send a PM to the original course tutor stating 'I am a tardy squirrel looking for the late nuts, I wish to enrol on the late study package' or something along those lines.
The course tutor will then send a PM to that student stating a time limit on the student to be able to do so. The student then reads through the old course lessons and handouts, completes the original homework questions or essays by email, and then completes the final exam by email.
The course tutor should also be available by email, PM or some form of instant messenger for help and discussion purposes, if so required by the student.

Now, for instance, The Hemmingway course. I would enrol as shown above, and I would read the material, complete the work and perhaps S:reu davis would set an additional Q and A just to make sure that I have a good understanding of what I have learned, in the absence of being able to take part in class discussions.
The original course, I believe, would allow a student to gain 3 credits, but instead, since I learned in an 'open environment' I would only achieve 1 credit, or 2 if I had shown S:reu Davis an extraordinary interest and ability.

This is just an idea, feel free to shoot me down in flames if it is rubbish or silly, or if indeed the option has already been put in place without me finding out about it, or has already been discussed and dismissed.

[Aspra Roseta Laira]

There will be no flame shooting, your idea is a very good one. Flames ought to be instead aimed at the absent regent. My sincerest apologies for being away for so long. My personal life has gotten in the way of the university's affairs. I will try not to let that happen again.

As for your idea, it would certainly be up to the instructor of each course if s/he would like to take on additional students once the course has ended. I would not be opposed to offering credit as an independent study course with instructor's approval, that is. I understand where your request comes from because I would have been very disappointed if I had missed the interesting Hemingway course offered by S:reu Davis.

[Sir Alexandreu Davinescu]

I will be happy to engage in such with any students who wish to do this. Anyone who wishes to engage in Extra Studies in my course has only to PM me, and we will work something out. I will probably also re-offer the course in a year or so, incidentally.