Frequently Asked Questions - Independent Study
Q: Where can I find a listing of the courses available through Independent Study?
A: Visit the Global Campus website at globalcampus.uark.edu and click the Independent Study tab to find the link "List all Independent Study Courses." This link will take you to a list of all classes, the required textbooks, the number of lessons, the number of exams, the cost, etc. This list also indicates whether a course is print-based (paper) or web-based (Internet).
Q: Where is your office located?
A: The Independent Study Office is located on the downtown Fayetteville square at the corner of Center and East streets, across East Street from Arvest Plaza and south of the Chancellor Hotel. Take the elevator to the third floor, and turn right as you leave the elevator. Visit the Global Campus website for a map to our Fayetteville location.
Q: How do I enroll in an Independent Study online class?
A: You can find aRequest for Enrollment form on the globalcampus.uark.edu website. Click the Independent Study tab and look under forms. You also have the option of picking up a request form at the Independent Study Office on the third floor of the Global Campus. Please print the form, complete all information fields, sign the form, and submit it to the Independent Study Office for processing. If you are a degree-seeking UA student, you are required to get the approval of your academic dean's office prior to enrolling in any Independent Study class. Once you submit your application, the fees for the Independent Study class will appear within 7-10 days of enrollment on your ISIS account, the UA student information system (isis.uark.edu). Once the fees are posted, you are responsible for making payment directly to your ISIS account.
Q: Where do I get my books?
A: Most of the textbooks are available through the University of Arkansas bookstore, or students may to use outside sources to obtain the required textbooks. Students need to check the ISBN (book number) to make sure the correct book/edition is purchased.
Q: How long do I have to complete my course?
A: The normal enrollment period is a maximum of 6 months and a minimum of 6 weeks to complete the course work, including all lessons and exams. The exception is students who sign up using Financial Aid (including scholarships, grants, etc.), which means those students have only the semester in which they enrolled to complete the course work.
Q: Are the exams all online?
A: No. In fact, most web-based courses currently require face-to-face written (paper/pencil) exams.
Q: Where do I take my exams? Do I have to make an appointment? Is there a charge for testing?
A: For students in the Fayetteville area, exams will be given in the Independent Study Office, 2 East Center Street, Fayetteville. Testing hours are Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with 3 p.m. being the latest a student can begin an exam. Students who live outside of the Fayetteville area will need to fill out and submit a proctor request form, which can be found on our Global Campus website. Once the proctor information has been verified and approved, the exams will be mailed to the proctor as the student becomes eligible. There is no fee for taking an exam in our office, but, for exams that are proctored at other sites, the proctor may charge for the service. Students are responsible for those costs. Exams that are taken at the Independent Study office do not require an appointment unless the exam is a computerized exam, which does require an appointment.
Q: Will these hours count toward my status as a full-time student? Will this class count toward the 15 hours required for my scholarship/financial aid?
A: The hours will count toward maintaining a full-time status or toward the required 15 hours for scholarship/financial aid purposes only if the application is processed under financial aid guidelines (including scholarships, grants, etc.). Financial aid guidelines stipulate that applications must be submitted within a window of time at the beginning of each semester. After the application is processed, there is another window of time (after the first day of classes) in which the first assignment in each class MUST be submitted to qualify for financial aid. After the first lesson has been submitted, then the course will be posted to ISIS (the UA student information system) under the traditional academic term. At that point, the hours of the Independent Study course will be added to your schedule along with your other courses for that traditional academic term, as defined by the academic calendar. Applications that are not processed under financial aid guidelines are added to the Independent Study term, which does not follow the traditional academic term. While the hours are not counted for a given term, the final grade is averaged in with the cumulative grade point average. Guidelines are available at the UA Office of Financial Aid, 114 Silas Hunt Hall, 479.575.3806, or online at http://finaid.uark.edu.
Q: Can an Independent Study course be used for grade forgiveness?
A: Yes, if a student follows UA policy. Grade forgiveness permits a student to improve his or her GPA by repeating a maximum of two courses (up to 9 hours) in which a "D" or "F" was earned. To apply for grade forgiveness, students must file their requests with the Registrar's Office, Hunt Hall 146, 479.575.5451. (This form is not available online.)
Q: How do I get my grades posted to my transcript?
A: The final grades will be posted automatically to the transcripts by the instructors upon completion of the course requirements. If a transcript is needed to be sent to another school, a written request must be made directly to the Registrar's Office, 146 Silas H. Hunt Hall, 1 University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701.
Q: What is the difference between web-based and print-based courses?
A: Lessons for web-based courses are submitted via the Internet; lessons for print-based courses are submitted on paper through the U.S. mail. Tests (some online, some on paper) for web-based and print-based courses can be taken at the Global Campus.
Q: How long does it take to receive my grade?
A: As a general rule, you should allow up to two weeks for a lesson to be graded and returned.
Q: How much does it cost to take a course? How do I pay?
A: Tuition is $99.99 per credit hour for Arkansas residents and $105.25 per credit hour for non-residents. Each course has a $10 application fee and a $7 outline fee. Additional fees may be charged depending on the course. Charges for your course(s) will be posted to your ISIS account, the UA student information system (http://isis.uark.edu). Once you submit your application, the fees for the Independent Study class will appear on your ISIS account within 7-10 days of enrollment. Once the fees are posted, you are responsible for making payment directly to your ISIS account.
Q: How do I view my charges and pay my bill?
A: A list of charges due is available on ISIS, the UA student information system (http://isis.uark.edu) in the "Finances" section of your online "Student Center." Payments may be made online. Detailed information about making payments is available at the Treasurer's office website (http://treasurer.uark.edu).