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WELCOME TO THE
MAJOR ASSESSMENT FOR DEGREE COMPLETION
General Education Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Total hours required in the program core . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36(Criminal Justice, Human Services, Management, and Public Safety programs)
Additional elective credit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
• Possible sources of elective hours: Associate/General Studies Online courses, training programs, C.L.E.P., or DSST.
• All sources must be approved in advance by the registrar.
A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 must be maintained.
Minimum Credits Required for Graduation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126
• All degree requirements of the Bluefield College catalog in effect at the time of first enrollment must be met.
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Ways to Earn Additional Credit
Bluefield College’s Associate/General Studies Online courses – For course availability, MyBC.Bluefield.edu/ICS/Student .
CLEP/DSST Testing – Transfer in up to 30 hours.
Professional (PST) & Military Training - A combination of sixty credit hours for military and professional training may be applied as transfer credit. This credit must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office using special guidelines. Some professional training will be evaluated only after the student begins the inSPIRE online program.
Please contact Terri Thomason, Assessment Counselor, 1.800.872.0176 ext. 4397 or [email protected] prior to selecting additional credit options.
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Registering for classes
• Registration for general education and elective courses is not automatic.
• New student’s must register by contacting Terri Thomason,
Assessment Counselor, 1.800.872.0176 ext. 4397 or [email protected]
• Continuing student’s can register online through their MyBC account, MyBC.Bluefield.edu/ICS/Student , after registration has been opened for the coming semester.
• Although classes are 8 weeks in duration, registration must span the full 16 week semester in order to be eligible for financial aid.
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Participation and Drop Policy for inSPIRE Online Courses
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• The semester officially begins Monday, May 7th. (As a convenience to our students, the classes will open to participation beginning Saturday, May 5th. )
• A student must participate (respond to a discussion thread or complete an assignment) by 9:00 p.m. of the second day of the semester/term to be considered enrolled.
• Failure to participate by 9:00 p.m. of the second day of the semester/term will result in an administrative withdrawal and courses will be deleted from the student’s permanent academic record. (See the Tuition and Fees section of the catalog for the refund policy.)
• Once a student participates in an online course, it is his or her responsibility to withdraw from the college or drop a course by officially notifying the Registrar’s Office in writing. Charges and financial aid will be adjusted according to the refund policy (prorated) at that point.
• Once enrollment has begun, failure to continue participating in class, without official notification of withdrawal, earns a grade of ‘F’. Full tuition charges will apply.
• Faculty monitor student participation and report to the Registrar’s Office on a weekly basis.
Questions or Concerns
• While you are in a totally online program please know you are not alone. We are here to help you. Our goal is for you to be successful and enjoy your educational experience.
• If you have questions or concerns please follow this process:
1. Review the syllabus and course instructions carefully. The syllabus has instructions regarding your course and for MyBC.
2. Review the useful links and resources found within the course and on MyBC. Technical or administrative issues should be directed to the responsible party. See slide 32 for contact names and numbers.
3. Contact your course instructor.4. If you have issues that cannot be resolved through one of the previous steps, contact
your Department Chair.
• Finally, feel free to contact your instructor or department chair just to chat or fellowship.
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Withdrawal Information If unforeseen “life circumstances” arise
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• Do not stop participating in a course.
• Before making a decision to withdraw, you should discuss your situation with your professor and/or your department chair as stated in the previous slide.
• Should you decide withdrawal is your best option, contact Dena Monroe in the Registrar’s Office, [email protected] or 1-800-872-0176 ext. 4550.
• If you withdraw from a class but remain enrolled with Bluefield College you will receive a grade of ‘W.’ If you withdraw from Bluefield College entirely you will receive a grade of ‘DR’ for all incomplete classes.
• If you do not officially withdraw, you will receive a grade of “F” for all classes not completed.
• The Business Office will will mail you correspondence after caluculations on any credit or outstanding balance have been completed..
• Please refer to the college catalog for the detailed withdrawal & refund policies. An electronic copy is located on the college website, www.bluefield.edu, under “Academics”.
Your Financial Investment (Summer 2012)
Bluefield College
Tuition and Fees - inSPIRE Online Students
2011/2012
Effective August 1, 2011
inSPIRE Online Program:
Tuition $ 325 Per credit hour
Application Fee $ 30
Graduation Fee $ 115
Non-refundable Registration Deposit (New & Re-admitted Students)
$ 25
*Tuition, fees, and deposits are based on present economic conditions. The College reserves the right to increase or decrease the price of tuition, fees, and deposits.
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Your Financial Investment (Fall 2012)
Bluefield College
Tuition and Fees - inSPIRE Online Students
2012/2013
Effective August 1, 2012
inSPIRE Online Program:
Tuition $ 335 Per credit hour
Application Fee $ 30
Graduation Fee $ 115
Non-refundable Registration Deposit (New & Re-admitted Students)
$ 25
*Tuition, fees, and deposits are based on present economic conditions. The College reserves the right to increase or decrease the price of tuition, fees, and deposits.
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Financial Aid Process
If you have not already done so, you should begin the Financial Aid Process right away.
If you plan to pay out of pocket or your employer will pay in advance, you should make arrangements with the Business Office.
If you plan to pay with Veterans Educational Benefits or Vocational Rehab Benefits, you should notify the Financial Aid Office and begin completing paperwork with Amanda Parks the college’s Veterans Certifying Official and Registrar.
If you plan to pay your school bill with federal, state, institutional, outside scholarships, or any other form of assistance, you should contact the Financial Aid Office.
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What is the difference between employer paymentand employer reimbursement?
Employer Payment
The Employer pays Bluefield College within 30 days of class start date.
The Bluefield College business office must receive a written statement on official letterhead stating full employer payment.
Bluefield College will bill the student’s employer.
Employer Reimbursement
The student must pay Bluefield College either by personal payment or by student loans at the beginning of each semester.
The student is reimbursed by the employer after providing grades to the employer.
The Bluefield College Business Office will provide a receipt to the student after receiving an email request. The receipt will include a breakdown of courses and charges, as well as any grants and scholarships or student payments.
It is important to note that the reimbursement agreement is between the student and the employer.
*Ultimately, the bill incurred by the student is the responsibility of the student, should the employer
default in making payment.
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Financial Aid Steps
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Financial Assistance may be available to help you pay for your inSPIRE online program.
We can help you obtain federal and state aid.
Complete the FAFSA on the Web. www.fafsa.gov
Obtain a PIN number to electronically sign your FAFSA www.pin.ed.gov
If you are a Virginia Resident, complete the application form for the 12-13 Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant, and submit it to the Financial Aid Office by July 31 to assure funding. Late applications are accepted through December 1 (awarded only if state funds are available). The form is available on the BC website. The estimated award for 2012-13 is currently $1,400 for Fall and $1,400 for Spring.
So that we may better understand how to proceed with your financial aid, we ask that you complete a Tuition & Fees
Agreement. The form is available on our website. This important form also helps us know who we can speak with regarding your financial matters under the Federal Educational Right to Privacy Act.
The Federal government selects around one-third of federal aid applicants for a process called Verification. If you are selected, we will need copies of your signed tax documents, W-2’s, and a signed Verification Worksheet. We will notify you if you have been selected, and ask for additional paperwork. If you are selected for Verification for the subsequent semester (Fall 2012 and beyond), the paperwork required for verification has changed. We will be in touch with you over the Summer as needed to collect the Verification documents for the 12-13 school year.
Federal Student Loans
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If you apply for federal aid and wish to receive federal loans, there will be a number of additional steps to complete.
You must first complete the FAFSA and be eligible to receive Federal Direct Student Loans.
We will examine your eligibility based on past loans, grade level, dependency, and load/status.
You will need to complete a Loan Request Form and submit it to the Financial Aid Office.
You will need to complete a Master Promissory Note at www.studentloans.gov
You will need to complete Entrance Counseling at www.studentloans.gov
Financial Aid Reminders
Use your MyBC account online to keep up-to-date on your financial aid and school account. You can see your financial aid awards on MyBC as well as any missing documents that may be holding up your financial aid processing or disbursements.
You will need to apply for aid each year by completing the Renewal FAFSA. This may be completed as early as January for the upcoming Fall/Spring/Summer academic year. We ask inSPIRE students to complete the Renewal FAFSA by March 15, but no later than the end of June to ensure their aid is in place for the new year.
You can only receive financial aid at one school per semester. If taking courses at a community college or other school, ensure you only seek financial aid from one institution.
You must be enrolled in a full semester to receive financial aid. For inSPIRE, a semester is made up of two 8-week terms.
You must be at least half time in a semester to receive federal loans.
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Financial Aid Reminders (cont.)
You must be a Virginia resident and a full-time student to receive the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG), and it is only available for Fall and Spring semesters.
Our accelerated degree-completion program often spans more than the traditional two semesters per academic year. If you receive Pell grants or federal loans, speak to us about spreading your financial aid over 3 semesters rather than 2, so that you have enough aid to cover your charges for all semesters.
If you have to drop a course or withdraw entirely from school, be sure to complete the proper paperwork and withdraw officially. Failure to do so could leave you owing a large balance.
Be sure to read all letters, emails, phone calls, & requests we send you. Your $$ depends on it!
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Student Obligations
As an inSPIRE online student: • You agree to assume financial responsibility for all tuition and fees for your education at
Bluefield College.
• You understand that payment is required at the beginning of each semester (unless you have secured adequate financial aid, or your employer will pay the costs due to Bluefield College within 30 days of the start of the semester).
• You understand that your financial obligations are for an entire semester.
• You understand that you will be responsible for any and all legal collection costs if you fail to keep your commitment to Bluefield College.
• You understand that financial aid is only available if the courses you are enrolled in for the semester collectively span a full 16-week semester, (i.e. at least one course in the first 8 weeks of the semester and at least one in the second 8 weeks of the semester); contact the financial aid office for aid eligibility details.
NOTE: Please refer to the college catalog for the detailed withdrawal & refund policies. An electronic copy is located on the college website, www.bluefield.edu, under “Academics”.
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• After registration and prior to the first day of class, an email account will be established for the student through Bluefield College.
(*Contingent upon completion of all required paperwork )
• You will receive a letter via USPS containing your Email user id and password.
• To access email go to https://mybc.bluefield.edu and click on “Student Email” in the left panel titled “Quick Links”.
• To retrieve your specific information: mybc.bluefield.edu/ics/My_Account_Information.jnz.
Bluefield College Email account
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• Your Bluefield College email account is the primary avenue of communication between you and the faculty and staff.
• Please do not use other email addresses such as hotmail, gmail, or yahoo to contact the faculty or staff of the college. Communications from accounts other than your BC email will not be received or responded to.
• Course instructors will only use this BC Email address to communicate with you.
• Important information and reminders from the Bluefield College staff will only be sent to your BC Email address.
Please check it regularly!
Bluefield College Email account (cont.)
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The MyBC portal is located at https://mybc.bluefield.edu (do not use www in front of the address)
The MyBC login is your student ID number.
The passwords for Email and MyBC are the same.
Click on the “Student” link to access your transcript, grades, student account, financial aid information and other student information.
Click on “inSPIRE” to access forms, etc.
The best way to learn what MyBC has to offer is log on and see.
The Bluefield College Student Portal
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What to do if you forget your username or password.
Go to mybc.bluefield.edu Click on ‘My Account Information’ and fill out the form.
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The Bluefield College Student Portal (cont.)
Technology: Computer
• As an inSPIRE student, you will need regular, long term access to a personal computer.
• The following table provides the minimum specifications for this device.
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Windows Apple
Processor: Dual Core 2.0 GHz or higher Intel-basedMemory: 2GB or higher 2 GB or higherOperating System: Windows Vista or higher MAC OS 10.5 or higher
• A broadband connection refers to a high-speed DSL, Cable Modem, or Satellite Internet Connection.
• Slower connections such as cellular and dial-up are not sufficient to meet the online learning demands of the inSPIRE program.
Technology: Broadband Internet Connection
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You will need to protect your computer from viruses and malware. These programs will slow the performance of your computer and possible cause serious damage.
• If you have already purchased an anti-virus program, it is important to keep your subscription active and up to date.
• IST recommends Microsoft Security Essentials which can be downloaded for free from Microsoft, www.microsoft.com/security_essentials. It will update with your regular Windows updates and protect your computer from viruses.
Technology: Anti-virus protection
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• You are required to submit all writing assignments using Microsoft Office Word 2010.
• Your Bluefield College email account is equipped with Microsoft Office Web Apps for free (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote). You may use the applications to create, view and edit documents on the web while logged in to your email account.
• If you would like to purchase a full version of Office for your computer, please go to http://www.journeyed.com . JourneyEd offers a reduced student rate that is generally lower than other sources.
Technology: Microsoft Office 2010
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Since you are enrolled in general education (non-core) courses, you will need to purchase the text books for those courses.
Information on specific e-texts and textbooks for each class, including the publisher and the International Standard Book Number (ISBN), can be obtained on the course syllabus and are published online on the MyBC student portal.
To order textbooks from the Bluefield College Campus Store please contact Judy Akers by calling 1.800.872.0175 extension 4260 or by email, [email protected].
To use your anticipated financial aid funds to purchase text books from the Bluefield College Campus Store, email a request to [email protected].
The College is not responsible for text books purchased through other vendors, and will under no circumstances engage in buying back texts or issuing refunds for the cost of textbooks that have been purchased from another provider.
Text Books
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To use the Easley Library website at Bluefield College,
go to http://www.bluefield.edu/library.
Accessing library databases and e-books requires students to login with a user name and password. For the user name use the beginning part of your BC email address, leaving off the @bluefield.edu part. You will receive the password with your email access letter.
Please note that if you change your MyBC or Email passwords, it will not change your library password. To change this password, you will need to contact the Information Services department, 1.800.872.0176 ext. 4603.
You can additionally reach the Easley Library Website from the quick links panel in the MyBC portal. It is recommended that you not be logged into the MyBC portal when you link to the library. If MyBC “times out,” you will be kicked out of any library databases you have open.
For questions or help with using library databases or e-books contact Paula Beasley, 1.800.872.0176 ext. 4238 or [email protected].
Library Services
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• The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) contains what is known as the APA Writing Style. It was first published in 1929, and is presently in its 6th edition, the Publication Manual contains a standardized procedural writing protocol using a set of style rules and that has become the basic platform for scholarly writing used by business, psychology and the social sciences.
• Mastering APA writing style is an essential skill learned from courses taught in the inSPIRE program.
APA Writing Style
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APA Writing Style
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For specific help with APA Writing Style, go to MyBC and look at the bottom left hand corner. Click on the Library Page or use this link ( http://www.bluefield.edu/how-to-cite-sources ) which is found on the Bluefield College Library Home Page. There you will find online guides that are designed to help you navigate through APA Style:
•Using APA – (Online Writing Lab at Purdue University) contains examples.
•YouTube Video Tutorial: Setting up a paper in APA format in Microsoft Word
•Tutorials from the APA:
oThe Basics of APA Style
oWhat's New in the 6th Edition
•Corrections to the 6th Edition
•Frequently Asked Questions about APA Style
•BLOG - about using APA style
•Contact the APA Style Experts at the APA if you have a question you cannot find the answer to in the above guides.
Writing assistance is available. Students can receive online writing assistance on any written assignment
for any class through our ACE Online Writing Lab.
Students can submit their papers online and receive comments and suggestions for improving writing. Please allow 24 to 48 hours for a response.
Just go to MyBC, mybc.bluefield.edu, and click on the “ACE” quick link. Once on the ACE portion of MyBC select ACE online writing lab from the left menu on the ACE portion and follow the instructions located in the center of the page.
For questions or help with this service, contact Crystal Kieloch, 1.800.872.0176 ext. 4660 or [email protected].
Academic Center for Excellence (ACE)
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Faculty Evaluations
• In an effort to provide the highest quality educational experience, Bluefield College has instituted a mandatory evaluation process for every course in the inSPIRE program.
• The Academic Affairs office will send the evaluation request via BC Email prior to the end of each course. The evaluation is short, only requiring a few minutes of your time.
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Contact Names and Numbers
Associate Vice President for inSPIRE Online Programs:• Dr. Larry Sinsabaugh, 866.870.0293, [email protected]
Department Chairs• Human Services: Dr. Larry Sinsabaugh, [email protected]• Criminal Justice: Dr. Robert Lange, [email protected]
• Pre-law • Criminal Justice
• Management & Leadership: Dr. Mark Gettle, [email protected]• Nursing: Dr. Carolyn Lewis, [email protected] • Public Safety: Dr. Robert Lange, [email protected]
• Homeland Security & Emergency Management
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Contact Names and Numbers (cont.)
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Main Campus 800.872.0176 (Offices are open 8:00 – 5:00 Monday through Friday)
• Director of Academic Programs: ext. 4456 - Ann Looney, [email protected]• Campus Store: ext. 4260 - Judy Vannoy, [email protected]• Credit Evaluations: ext. 4397 – Terri Thomason, [email protected] • Financial Aid Info: ext. 4280 – Debbie Checchio, [email protected] • MyBC: ext. 4219 – Chip Lambert, [email protected] • Library: ext. 4238 - Paula Beasley, [email protected] • Student Account Info: ext. 4204 - A. Michele White, [email protected] • VA Benefits: ext. 4348 – Amanda Parks, [email protected]
CLEP & DSST Testing: Bluefield Campus: 800.872.0176 ext. 4606 - Crystal Kieloch, [email protected] Richmond Office: 866.870.0293 - Ken Newman, [email protected]
Contact Names and Numbers (cont.)
Extended hours assistance:
For your convenience, the following offices are additionally available from 5:00 – 8:00 pm, Monday through Thursday.
• Admissions: 276.326.4233 • Financial Aid: 276.326.4280• Registrar: 276.326.4550 • Student Accounts: 276.326.4204
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THE HONOR CODE AT BLUEFIELD COLLEGE"Honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.” Proverbs, 29:23
Bluefield College is committed to the pursuit of truth, the dissemination of knowledge, and the high ideals of personal honor and respect for the rights of others. These goals can only be achieved in a setting in which intellectual honesty and personal integrity are highly valued and other individuals are respected. This academic code of conduct reflects our corporate and earnest desire to live lives of honor that are above reproach, based upon Christian principles. Each member of the community is called upon to understand and agree to its concepts and to operate within its spirit.
Honor is an ideal and an obligation that exists in the human spirit and lives in the relations between human beings. An honorable person shall not lie or cheat or steal.
In all scholarly work produced by community members, academic honesty is inherent and apparent, the work being the original work of the author unless credit is given through the use of citations and references.
In all relationships, the college community expects respect and integrity between its members and toward all peoples and organizations. Honesty and civility are required elements of an effective learning environment. Truthfulness and respect for others are shared values of Bluefield College and are expected characteristics of its members.
Continued on the next slide:
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THE HONOR CODE AT BLUEFIELD COLLEGE"Honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.” Proverbs, 29:23
Continued from the previous slide:
Students at Bluefield College commit to the ideals of integrity, individual responsibility, and mutual respect when they sign the Honor Code during freshman orientation.
The Honor Code affirms the core values of Bluefield College to “develop students’ potential through academic excellence and the intentional integration of faith, the liberal arts and professional studies;” and to “create a caring community characterized by respect, support and encouragement for each member of our College community.”
Membership in the student body of Bluefield College means agreeing to follow those standards of conduct which govern an honorable person in every walk of life. Because the integrity of degrees granted by Bluefield College depends upon the Honor Code, all students in every class must regard themselves as bound by their honor not to cheat in any form. “Honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.”
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1. Let us know if you have any questions.• Call - 1.800.872.0176• Email – [email protected]
2. Save a copy of this presentation for future reference.• Use the “Save A Copy” function.
3. Complete the confirmation form acknowledging that you have reviewed this PowerPoint Presentation.
• To do this, you will need to return to the original window and complete the confirmation form in the lower left. Please be sure to include your full name.
• It is very important that you complete this confirmation form. It will be added to your file as Bluefield College’s assurance that you:
o Understand the material presented.
o Agree to abide by the Honor Code of Bluefield College.
Please be sure to:
Thank you for choosing Bluefield College’s inSPIRE Online Program.
We look forward to learning with you.
