University offers new Open Learning classes

By Amy Melin
Western Herald

Western Michigan University’s Extended University Programs (EUP) will begin offering undergraduate students the option of taking Open Learning courses in Spring 2009.

Open Learning courses are online classes that students can take through Academic Technology and Instructional Services, also known as E-learning. The courses have flexible entry and exit dates.
“Our goal here is to make courses more flexible and accessible for students,” said Amy Routhier, director of marketing and communications at EUP.

Students taking Open Learning courses during the Spring 2009 semester can register anytime during the spring registration period and can choose to begin the course anytime between Jan. 5 and April 24. In most cases, students have up to six months from the date of registration to complete the course.
Financial aid recipients and international students may have different time limitations on the Open Learning courses.

Financial aid recipients should contact the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships and international students should contact the International Student Admissions and Services office in the Haenicke Institute for Global Education before registering for any Open Learning courses.

“Because of different factors, international students and students receiving financial aid may not have the full six months to complete the course,” said Teri Cleveland, office assistant for Open Learning.
“While the registration dates may be the same, students may be required to have their courses finished by the end of the semester,” Cleveland said.

Two courses will be offered in the new format during the Spring 2009 semester, ADA 2250, Drug Use: Personal and Social Impact, and ADA 3200, Legal and Illegal Drugs. Students are asked to check pre-requisites before registering for these courses.

“We are trying to bring more departments on board so the program includes more courses in the student’s majors and more general education courses,” Routhier said.

“We are also trying to get approval from the faculty senate so we can begin developing graduate level courses.”

Since the classes use a similar curriculum as the face-to-face courses, the courses are easily transferable.
“All courses must be approved by the department so they meet all the guidelines of a regular face-to-face course,” Cleveland said.

“The Open Learning courses appear no different on a student’s transcript than any other WMU class.”
Open Learning courses cost $297.46 per undergraduate credit hour plus a $20 technology fee that will be added per course. The courses are not included in the flat rate tuition program.

The courses being offered in the Open Learning format during the spring semester can also be taken as a traditional online course and a face-to-face course.

“Overall, what we really want is to have as many courses offered in as many different formats as possible,” Routhier said. “We believe this is one of the best ways for the university to help serve the WMU community.”
Plans for more open learning courses are currently in the works.

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Posted by HeraldAdmin on Nov 25 2008. Filed under Campus, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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