WHAT ARE iCOURSES?
An iCourse is any class that is taught fully online for students enrolled in traditional, on-campus degree programs. Starting with Spring 2015, the schedule of classes has been updated to refer to all of these courses as iCourses.
WHY WAS THIS CHANGE MADE?
This past Spring, the University approved a $50 per class fee for courses taught online to students enrolled in traditional degree programs. Like a lab or special course fee, the iCourse fee is assessed based on enrollment in specific classes and billed with tuition. In order to represent the change to students, and bill correctly, these classes are now labeled as iCourses.
WHAT ARE THE FEES FOR?
iCourse fees help build an online learning experience that is equal to a world-class UA classroom. Your instructors will now have access to resources dedicated specifically to creating quality online learning experiences. These fees also fund customized student services related to online courses for things like tutoring, advising, tech support, and enhanced electronic learning tools. As more fully online courses are created, students will benefit by an increase in the amount of iCourses available overall to assist in balancing student schedules, keeping up with or getting ahead of graduation requirements, and responding to changes in a student’s ability to come to campus five days per week.
HOW CAN I TELL IF A CLASS IS AN iCOURSE?
In the Class Details section of each course, the campus and location will now say “iCourse,” as shown.
WHAT ABOUT FULLY ONLINE CLASSES THAT ARE NOT LISTED AS iCOURSES?
These classes are only available to students enrolled in fully online degree programs.
HOW WILL I KNOW WHAT THE MONEY IS SPENT ON EACH YEAR?
Later this Fall, a Student Advisory Board for the iCourse Fee will be established. It will be comprised of undergraduate and graduate representatives from a cross-section of the student population, and will advise administrators and other staff regarding the use of funds associated with this fee. Information from the Advisory Board meetings will be posted to a central iCourse Fee website along with an annual accounting of fees collected, and their use.
ARE ANY STUDENTS EXEMPTED FROM THE iCOURSE FEE?
Yes. For Spring 2015, students enrolled in iCourses through UA South, distance learning sites, or those administered through the Outreach College, are exempted from the fee. This decision will be reevaluated on a term-by-term basis and the fee may be applied to any or all of these groups in future terms.