1. What programs are offered now and what programs are planned for the future?
2. Where do I get information about financial aid?
3. How do I apply for online courses?
4. How will I be advised?
5. How do I register for a course?
6. Where do I get information about payments for my online courses?
7. What are the minimum hardware/software requirements for success in an online course?
8. How do I log onto my online course(s)?
9. What is the time frame that I am required to log into my course(s)?
10. If I register for a course and then decide not to take it or to complete it, how do I drop the course and what is the refund policy?
11. Will I have face to face meetings with my professor?
12. How many sessions will I have in my course?
13. How will I take tests? Are they open book or on campus?
14. Will I have meetings involving all the students in my class?
15. Will there be a tutorial or instruction regarding use of the electronic library?
16. Will I need to be self-directed in order to succeed in online learning?
17. How do I get help for technical assistance for the online course?
18. Tips for Being a Successful Online Learner
Need additional/general information? Email: HLGonline@HLG.edu
1. What programs are offered now and what programs are planned for the future?
Currently HLG offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program for Registered Nurses. The BSN program consists of major courses, support courses, and electives. Most of our online courses are 3-credit hour courses that are taken in an eight-week term.
2. Where do I get information about financial aid?
For more information about aid go to http://www.hlg.edu/Admiss/financialaid.php. The Financial Aid Office can also be contacted by calling 573-629-3279
3. How do I apply for online courses?
If you have not previously applied to and been accepted as a student, an online application is available here.
4. How will I be advised?
Initial advisement will be carried out by the Director of Online Programs, Carol Bunch. You will later be assigned a faculty advisor in your selected program. Advising will be done by email and/or telephone. You can contact Carol Bunch by email at cbunch@hlg.edu or by phone at 573-629-3107.
5. How do I register for a course?
The HLG Online Coordinator will assist you in registering for courses. To start the course registration process, simply contact:
Caroll Bunch
Director of Online Programs
cbunch@hlg.edu
573-629-3107
6. Where do I get information about payments for my online courses?
Tuition for HLG Online is $319 per credit hour. Hannibal-LaGrange College makes available a payment plan called FACTS which can be accessed on the Financial Aid Page. The payment agreement must be signed and returned to complete registration. Any amount due from the student, for which Hannibal-LaGrange has not received verification of a third party payment source, must be paid prior to the start of the second class period.
7. What are the minimum hardware/software requirements for success in an online course?
You probably will not experience problems taking your online course if your computer was purchased in the last 3 years. The minimum recommended hardware and software requirements for a computer (both PC and Mac) are:
Hardware and Software |
PC |
Mac |
Operating System |
Windows 2000 or higher |
Mac OS 8.0 |
Memory |
256 MB |
256 MB |
CPU |
500 MHz or higher |
Power Mac G3 or higher |
Free Disk Space |
10 MB or more |
10 MB or more |
Browser |
Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher, Netscape Navigator 7.1 or higher, Mozilla 1.4 or higher |
Netscape Navigator 7.1 or higher, Mozilla 1.4 or higher. |
Browser Settings |
JavaScript enabled
Popup blockers disabled Cookies enabled |
JavaScript enabled
Popup blockers disabled Cookies enabled |
Productivity Software |
MS Office or viewers |
MS Office or viewers |
Internet Connection |
56K modem (DSL recommended) |
56K modem (DSL recommended) |
Other |
Sound card and speakers (microphone and webcam recommended) |
Sound card and speakers (microphone and webcam recommended) |
Regardless, you will need to make sure the computer you’ll be using is prepared for class. To prepare your computer, you will need to: get the latest downloads, remove spyware, and set your browser.
8. How do I log onto my online course(s)?
The HLG Online Coordinator monitors and obtains the registered online student list. Once the student registers an online course, an email is sent with the student's username and password.
9. What is the time frame that I am required to log into my course(s)?
Online courses require attendance at any scheduled chat times, participation in discussion threads, and submission of all assignments and evaluations according to the schedule in the syllabus.
The deadline for registering for a course is prior to the beginning of the second week of the course. Students who do not log into their course(s) prior to the second official week and who have NOT previously notified the professor of their absence will be automatically dropped from the course.
10. If I register for a course and then decide not to take it or to complete it, how do I drop the course and what is the refund policy?
If you register for a course and then decide to withdraw from it, you will need to send an email to the Registrar dthomason@hlg.edu and also the course instructor saying that you wish to drop the course. If the email message is received by the Registrar prior to the beginning of the second week of the course, the course will be removed from your transcript and you will receive a 100% refund of tuition paid (minus an administration fee of $50). If the message to drop is received during the second week of class, you will receive a 90% refund, during the third week a 50% refund, and during the fourth week, a 25% refund. Any course dropped from the second through the fourth week will have a transcript notation of “W” (withdrew). Any course dropped from the fifth through the sixth week will receive notations of either “WP” (withdrew while passing) or “WF” (withdrew while failing).
There is no refund for courses dropped after the fourth week of the eight-week term.
(NOTE: Each new week begins at 8:00 a.m. CST on each succeeding Monday morning.)
11. Will I have face to face meetings with my professor?
No. Contacts will occur through email, the chat rooms, and discussion board within the course.
12. How many sessions will I have in my course?
Most courses are organized with weekly chat sessions that require all students to be online with the instructor at the same time (synchronous) as well as discussion postings and other elements that can be done at times chosen by each student (asynchronous). In an eight week course you can expect at least 8 synchronous sessions.
13. How will I take tests? Are they open book or on campus?
Some tests may be given, but courses will usually have a number of graded elements such as papers, projects, and reports that can be used in evaluating the student’s progress. The tests that are used will be administered online and instructors will determine the format.
14. Will I have meetings involving all the students in my class?
Students will engage with classmates through the discussion boards within the course. For instance, the instructor might pose a topic for the weeks discussion and then each student will be expected to offer his or her views on the topic and respond to each other by means of postings to a discussion board feature of the course. In some cases students may be organized into discussion or project groups in which the interaction will be just with group members instead of the whole class.
15. Will there be a tutorial or instruction regarding use of the electronic library?
Yes, you will be required to complete an online tutorial prior to beginning your course.
16. Will I need to be self-directed in order to succeed in online learning?
Yes. The course will provide structured learning experiences but only your work and effort will determine how you meet the course’s objectives.
17. How do I get help for technical assistance for the online course?
Contact the Help Center by dialing 1.866.259.4329.
18. Tips for Being a Successful Online Learner
1. Be self-motivated and self-disciplined. With the freedom and flexibility of the online environment comes responsibility. The online process takes a real commitment and discipline to keep up with the flow of the process.
2. Log on to your course every single day...or a minimum of 3-5 days a week. Once you get into the online system, you will be eager to see who has commented on your postings and read the feedback of your instructor and peers. You will also be curious to see who has posted something new that you can comment on. If you let too many days go by without logging on to your course discussion group, you will get behind and find it very difficult to catch up.
3. Be polite and respectful.Just because you are anonymous, doesn't mean you should let yourself go. Remember, you are dealing with real people on the other end. Being polite and respectful is not only common sense, it is absolutely obligatory for a productive and supportive online environment. In a positive online environment, you will feel valued by your instructor, valued by your classmates, and your own work will have greater value as well.
4. Be willing and able to commit to 4 to 6 hours per week per course.
5. Be able to communicate through writing. In the virtual classroom, nearly all communication is written, so it is critical that learners feel comfortable in expressing themselves in writing. Be sure to use the spell check before posting responses.
6. Be willing to "speak up" if problems arise. Many of the non-verbal communication mechanisms that instructors use in determining whether learners are having problems (confusion, frustration, boredom, absence, etc.) are not possible in the online paradigm. If a learner is experiencing difficulty on any level (either with the technology or with the course content), s/he must communicate this immediately. Otherwise the instructor will never know what is wrong.
7. Be able to meet the minimum requirements for the program. The requirements for online are no less than that of any other quality educational program. The successful learner will view online as a convenient way to receive their education, not an easier way.
8. Accept critical thinking and decision making as part of the learning process. The learning process requires the learner to make decisions based on facts as well as experience. Assimilating information and executing the right decisions requires critical thought.
9. Have access to a computer and a modem. The communication medium is a computer, phone line, and modem; the learner must have access to the necessary equipment.
10. Be able to think ideas through before responding. Meaningful and quality input into the virtual classroom is an essential part of the learning process. Time is given in the process to allow for the careful consideration of responses. The testing and challenging of ideas is encouraged; you will not always be right, just be prepared to accept a challenge.
11. Be open-minded about sharing life, work, and educational experiences as part of the learning process. Introverts as well as extroverts find that online learning requires them to utilize their experiences. This forum for communication eliminates the visual barriers that hinder some individuals in expressing themselves. In addition, the learner is given time to reflect on the information before responding.
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