Orientation to Online Studies

Andrews University is a Seventh-day Adventist institution where we seek to integrate faith, learning and living. We are committed to nurturing the personal growth and development of each student and to fostering a campus environment that is uniquely Christian.

• Honesty - We refrain from lying, cheating, and stealing.
• Modesty - We exhibit appropriateness and modesty in conduct and appearance.
• Purity - We refrain from engaging in premarital sex, adultery and pornography.
• Respect - We do not tolerate any form of harassment, abuse or sexual misconduct.
• Health - We abstain from the possession or use of alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs.

As members of the extended University community, students studying at a distance are invited to consider these values as they strive to remain in good standing with their local communities and to optimize the benefits of the University's whole person educational philosophy. Course materials and student services are designed to transform students by educating them to seek knowledge and affirm faith in order to change the world.

As a distance student, I will uphold the community values as outlined above and in the Student Handbook

1. Meet with your academic advisor to ensure each class meets program requirements. 
2. Ensure that you have a computer with current software and reliable internet access. Review technical requirements here.
3. Purchase the study materials required for each course, as listed in the course syllabus. Syllabi are available in the course schedule two weeks prior to the course start.
4. Access your Andrews email several times a week, and keep your contact information updated.
5. Schedule regular study in order to complete all course requirements before the end dates.
6. Follow directions in your course to hand in work, arrange exams, and request transcripts. Use contact information in course space to get help.  Be proactive & persistent. 
7. Academic integrity is expected of all students. See the AU Bulletin - Academic Integrity section for more information.

New to online?  Read and edit this Online Student Checklist to make it your own. Then post it in front of your study space to recheck often.

Download from your program's webpages or request a program checklist before you begin your first classes. Discuss your prior learning and map a path to success unique to your goals and pace.

Undergraduate degree students, consider the tasks to consider depending on where you begin your Andrews journey.  Email your advisor each time you register with any updates to recalibtrate your study path to fit your unfolding lifework.

As you complete the first quarter of your program requirements:
• Build time management, organization skills, and effective study habits.
• Familiarize yourself with the Community Values Commitment and Academic Integrity expectations and become a responsible member of the Andrews academic community.
• Build financial management skills and live within budget, making payments on schedule.
• Become an active learner that sets and keeps a study schedule.
• Explore the library, tutoring, disability accommodation, spiritual growth, counseling and other student support services for online students.

As you complete 25-75% of program requirements:
• Review your degree plan prior to selecting courses each term; discuss with your advisor.
• Complete any prior learning assessments approved by the Prior Learning Coordinator.
• Research graduate programs and work prerequisites into your degree plan, with advising.
• Update your resume and portfolio; job shadow or follow interview opportunities in jobs of interest. 
• Engage in internships, summer and/or volunteer positions in career interest fields.
• Ask instructors and advisors who know you well for letters of recommendation.

As you register into the last 25% of program requirements:
• Review your CAPP report (in IVUE) along with your degree plan (advising spreadsheet). 
• Check with the Prior Learning Coordinator that any prior learning assessments have been approved.
• Maintain regular contact with your advisor to discuss graduation and post-graduation plans.
• Review the graduation checklist and apply to graduate (online undergrad candidates) by the start of your last term (earlier deadlines may apply - check the current bulletin)
• Finalize plans for graduate study, attend local job fairs, or begin applying for positions of interest.
• Reflect on how you’ve developed personally and professionally through this learning adventure, journal to document this success for yourself or write thanking those who helped you succeed.

Navigating a university study path successfully is best done with the help of enrollment counselors, academic and financial advisors.  Discover who does what to best benefit from your support team!

Enrollment counselors will:
• Provide accurate and timely information about application, admission, and registration procedures.
• Be accessible and responsive to student communication, helping students with timely solutions.
• Assist distance students with admission and registration changes, in collaboration with Records.

Academic advisors will:
• Help students develop academic plans consistent with their self-assessment and study goals.
• Provide accurate and timely information about academic policies, procedures, and resources.
• Assist students in developing strategies to succeed academically, personally, and professionally.
• Listen to and advocate for student concerns, maintaining confidentiality.
• Be accessible and responsive to student communication, maintaining academic advising records.
• Help students make their own decisions, respecting individual values and choices.

Financial advisors will:
• Provide accurate and timely information about financial policies, procedures, and resources.
• Help students clear financially, making decisions fitting their personal financial situation.
• Be accessible and responsive to student communication, maintaining financial advising records.

In all these advising relationships, students will:
• Reflect on values, interests, strengths and challenges in order to refine study and payment plans.
• Take responsibility for academic and financial planning, following all policies and procedures.
• Communicate with advisors each registration and as needed, reading all Andrews email regularly.
• Complete classes that fit educational goals and meet degree requirements.
• Proactively seek assistance from instructors and other distance student services as needed.

How to prepare for advising meetings:
• Undergraduate students: questions for academic advisors
• Make the most of graduate school advising
• Graduate students: working with a faculty advisor
• 3 financial aid questions to ask before applying
• 15  financial aid questions to ask

Here's an Online Advisor Checklist demonstrating what we commit to provide.

In an online classroom, our primary means of communication is written. The written language has many advantages: more opportunity for reasoned thought, more ability to go in-depth, and more time to think through an issue before posting a comment. However, written communication also has certain disadvantages, such as a lack of the face-to-face signaling that occurs through body language, intonation, pausing, facial expressions, and gestures. As a result, please:

• Be aware of the possibility of miscommunication and compose your comments in a positive, supportive, and constructive manner.
• Edit your writing on anything you post in class discussion, email, or submit as assignments. Academic writing requires editing. Run spell checker to help you detect any changes you may need to make.
• Carefully constructed complete sentences and meaningful paragraphs are expected; abbreviated phrases are appropriate for texting, not course assignments.
• Include your full name, Andrews ID, as well as complete information when emailing about a problem for best service.

Login to learninghub.andrews.edu with your Andrews username and password.  Click on your class title(s) on your dashboard. If you do not see your enrolled classes within the week before class begins, and within a day after you enroll, email onlinestudents@andrews.edu.

Find the syllabus in the course schedule or here for information about textbooks and other materials to have in hand by the first day of class. You will find written, audio and video information and learning activities organized within each module of the class.  Tour a sample undergraduate course in this short slide show. Orientiation modules in each course will prepare you for the interaction opportunities in the particular class, as they vary depending on format (less in self-paced, more in interactive online), discipline, teaching strategies selected by the class author, etc.  The course schedule includes email for the instructor, and the course space includes email, phone, and discussion forum interaction with classmates and instructors.

To successfully complete online learning, students must be able to access information online (e.g. assigned articles, videos, simulations, discussion forums), and do assignments using a browser, and word processing, spreadsheets or other software specified for a particular course. 

Check that your computer and internet connection meet minimum technical requirements. As standards change constantly, recheck your technology each time you register.

It is your responsibility to maintain access to your online course and all tech tools needed for the duration of your study. Have a backup computer plan such as a computer at a friend/family’s house, Internet café, public library, university computer labs, etc. Technical problems are not accepted as excuses for missed deadlines for online courses. 

If no instructions are included with an assignment about file format, save and upload in either .rtf or .pdf format.  Click ‘save as’ and select .rtf or .pdf from the formats available for saving your paper or project. Contact your instructor if unsure.

If you detect an error in the course set-up or have a question about text or exam items after completing the assessment, please email dlit@andrews.edu and your instructor. Include a detailed explanation or question with your name, student number, course title and number, and the specific webpage URL or page number.  

Expect to spend 35-45 hours of focused study time to complete each undergraduadte semester credit, and 45-60 hours per graduate credit. Most term-based courses finish within the 12-16 week term; intensives can be scheduled to complete within 3-8 weeks. Read the syllabus carefully and put assignment dates into your personal schedule. To finish a 3-credit undergrad course or a 2-credit graduate course in a 16-week semester, schedule 6-9 hours of study per week.

To succeed in a self-paced open learning class, choose a steady pace and schedule regular, fixed hours of study, ideally during your most alert hours each day. Schedule 100-135 hours to complete a 3-credit undergraduate class. There is wisdom in the saying: to fail to plan is to plan to fail.

Like a face-to-face class, you need to attend class by logging in to your class space regularly.  If you plan to finish in four months, schedule 6-9 hours for learning activities in one class each week. While self-paced classes allow you to flexibly schedule, success depends largely on your commitment to a plan of study at an intensity you pick to finish by the end date - or your own earlier deadline.

Some graduate programs require students to meet face-to-face each year for (re)orientation, group work, and/or intensive classes. All types of online classes use learninghub.andrews.edu as the learning management system. Interactive online classes and cohort-based programs may require at least one synchronous video conference per term. Learn more about course delivery formats here.

Uploading a current photo is required as an academic integrity identification point. Here are the steps to upload your photo, once admitted:
1. Choose a recent color photo looking directly into the lens.  Crop to a head-and-shoulders-only image with dimensions 480 pixels wide x 720 high.  Save to a medium resolution for web/internet publishing.
2. Login to PREVUE
4. Click UPLOAD PICTURE below the photo space, to the left of your name.
5. Browse to locate the photo you prepared (in step 1), and upload.
6. Email onlinestudents@andrews.edu or text 269-397-4477 if you need assistance.

One of the benefits of uploading your photo is that you can then request your Andrews ID card as an online student. The first card is issued at no charge when requested by email to your academic advisor, including your full name, Andrews ID, and the mailing address to which the card should be sent.

Textbooks and any other supplies required for a class are listed in the syllabus.  Access the syllabus through your course space in learninghub.andrews.edu or the course schedule.  FirstDayComplete is a great textbook cost saving service available currently to students admitted to main campus; online students best use amazon or supplier trusted to deliver rapidly in your region.

Success in studies requires access to the learning materials from the start, so order in time to have the texts needed by the first day of class. 

The Andrews bulletin lists any prerequisite for an undergraduate Math course like this: MPE ≥ P2, or MPE ≥ P3, or MPE = P5. A Math Placement Exam (MPE) must be take if a student does not have a transfer math grade of C or higher from an accredited university or college, or SAT or ACT scores at or above the minimum level required for the class to be taken, as listed on this equivalency table.  

Students pay $20 for 6 months access to the ALEKS PPL online learning module, through which the MPE is taken once skills are refreshed.  See the Math Department MPE Schedule to take exams on main campus. Students living more than an hour from campus should use this online calendar to schedule a proctoring appointment to take this exam via zoom video conferencing.

We are committed to providing caring, quality Christian education.  If you have a complaint about any aspect of our educational services, please follow these steps:

1. Read the Right to Appeal/Grievance section of the Andrews University Student Handbook.

2. If your complaint is about a specific course, first contact the teacher. Use the contact information provided in the course syllabus.

3. If the complaint is about other matters, please contact your department chair on campus, using contact information in the Andrews Bulletin.

4. If your concern is not addressed through contact with instructors or department personnel, please complete our Grievance Form. Grievances are reviewed within three business days. Steps to resolve the problem will be communicated to the email address included on the form.

5. Feel free to call Global Campus Adult & Online Student Service Center at 269-471-3432 or email onlinestudents@andrews.edu for additional assistance with complaints regarding distance education services.