General Information - Online Programs

Definition of Online Program

Online courses in the College of Management and Business are much like classroom courses, but they are conducted entirely over the Internet. Online courses ARE NOT independent study courses. The courses we offer have definite educational objectives tied to specific course content. Like any college course a pre-requisite is likely to be involved. In addition to providing the latest information in theory and practice, each course involves assignments and student projects. This enables students to see the relevance and utility of course content.

Delivery of Online Courses

An instructor facilitates the course material and learning experiences. Some course material is provided on the course Web site/Forum that is accessible only by password. Other material may be provided through links to other Internet sites. Teaching and class discussion are carried out through a Discussion Forum and individual email.

Like a classroom course, readings and assignments are required. Students can expect an online course to require the same amount of work as a classroom course. Students are expected to complete an online course by the ending date. Students are not required to participate at any designated time. However, instructors may specify how frequently students are expected to log in or to contribute to the course discussion. At their convenience, students may log in to the course, access related Internet sites, add their comments to the Discussion Forum, or send assignments by email attachment to the instructor.

Communication/Interaction Policy Between Students and the Professor and Among Students

Communication/Interaction between students and professor and among students is mandatory. If you miss a week's discussion assignment, you need to initiate a learning contract with your instructor to make up the work. Normally, it is expected that a person logs into the Discussion Forum and participates in course interaction twice a week. Please check the course policy to see the specifics about the student interaction.

The Discussion Forum is the nucleus of our interaction between students and faculty, and among students. It is a required and vital piece in our online courses, which simulates the traditional classroom discussion activities among groups and between students and faculty. All topics in the forum are private. They are password protected so only the professor and the students can have access to course discussion. We use a state-of-the-art Discussion Forum that consists of the following powerful features:

Private reading topics (password required to read discussions)
Attachment uploading (documents, text files, binaries)
Cookie-based login (optional; selectable by users)
Email notification enhancements (selectable by subtopic or replies)
Enhanced user profiles (picture, personal information)
Log analysis tools (posting log and NCSA format server log)
Works fully with Netscape and IE (and many more)
Simple, understandable user interface
Remembers what you read (links marked unvisited when new messages posted)
Fast loading (messages in a discussion are on the same page)
Formatting without HTML, including image and table upload
Keyword and new message search
Comprehensive online documentation

Email is also used to enhance the interaction process.

An 800-phone number is available to access the professor via voice mail. (800-443-NLU TODAY. Please check the professor's board for his/her phone extension).

Online Student "Profile"

Novice computer users should not register for an online degree program. We will not teach you the basics of computer operation. If you don't already own and frequently use a computer, odds are you are not ready to succeed in an online course. The person most likely to receive the maximum benefit from online courses:

Has access to a computer at home and a "dedicated" phone line.
Has an ISP (Internet Service Provider) that offers full and fast (28.8K - 56Kbps) access to the Internet (America Online and Prodigy subscribers will experience significant problems. A local ISP is strongly recommended).
Can create, change, remove, upload, and download files.
Can compose, customize, receive, forward, save, print, delete, and add attachments to email.
Has experience using word and data processing software.
Can bookmark Internet sites for future access.
Has experience or is willing to quickly learn how to post messages and interact with a group on the Discussion Forum.

Hardware/software/operating system necessary to take an online course

You will be most efficient taking an online course if you have a computer that meets minimum requirements for hardware and software. Click below to find the minimum requirements for the program you are considering:

Reality of taking an online course

The lack of formal schedule in an online degree program can be liberating. It can also be demanding because the student must determine when to make time for class. A bit of self-discipline is helpful for participating in an online degree program. It is important to understand that while technology offers opportunity and speed in many ways, it also may require patience at times. Flexibility and an adventurous spirit are also useful.

Ethical Consideration

Like any university, NLU has policies and procedures for handling issues related to the use of intellectual property, copyright, and plagiarism. Students are expected to do their own work. There are ways we can check to see that it is you performing your assignments and we will do that if we believe it necessary to do so.

Personal Motivation

Online learning assumes a high level of maturity and professionalism. It is designed to make learning more convenient but no less rigorous. Admission standards are the same as they would be for traditional learning formats so it is up to you to do the rest. This includes getting learning materials, class schedules, and any other relevant materials.

Our Pledge to You

Instructors will be accessible. Phone calls and e-mails will be returned within 24 - 48 hours. This also applies to NLU administrative and supports offices. If a technical glitch is beyond an instructor's expertise we will have a technical expert get to you as quickly as possible in order to minimize downtime.