Independent and Distance Learning is open to all who can benefit from it, and formal admiss ion to the university is not required for enrollment. Admission to IDL programs, however, does not constitute admission to Ohio University or any of its degree programs. You may enroll for courses at any time during the year. Independent and Distance Learning does not follow the traditional academic calendar, so you can begin your course as soon as yo u enroll.

If you are a high school student: Although most persons who enroll are high school graduates, it is not necessary for you to have a high school diploma if you are an adult. High school students re commended by their principal or guidance counselor are eligible to enroll in lower-division courses.

If you plan to transfer the credit: If you are currently enrolled at another institution of higher education or if you plan to transfer the credit earned, you should obtain written permission from the college that is to accept the credit. Others do not need special permission.

If you are an O.U. student: If you are an Ohio University student, you must obtain a permission slip from your college to enroll in an Independent and Distance Learning course. Students who are enrolled in the Schools of Art, Music, Theater, or Dance who wish to take courses through IDLP must have permission from the director of their respective school as well as from the College of Fine Arts.

If you want to enroll on a noncredit basis: Enrollments are accepted on a noncredit basis for those who are not interested in college credit but who are studying for personal satisfaction. The noncredit fee is the same as the credit fee, but the supervised examinations can be omitte d.

Read all the information contained in this section, and then select the course or courses for which you wish to enroll. Complete the enrollment application and submit it. You may enroll for a course at any time. T he IDLP staff can supply more detailed information about correspondence courses, web courses, or course credit by examination courses.  However, we cannot provide advice or recommend courses to meet particular requirements or to use in a particular program of study.

Students whose institutions will accept such credit may enroll for the pass/fail option if they so indicate at the time of their enrollment. If you are enrolled in a degree program at Ohio University, you must have written permission from the dean of your college in order to select the pass/fail option.

Ohio University students may not select this option (1) for any course that satisfies any major or minor requirements, or (2) for any course used to satisfy a Tier or distribution requirement. If you wish to change your grade option from pass/fail to a letter grade or vice versa, you mu st notify the IDLP office within 4 weeks of your enrollment date or before you take the first examination in the course, whichever comes first.

Courses by Correspondence $136  (Add $20 per course for course study guide)

Web Courses $136 (Add $15 per quarter hour Technology and Development Fee)

Independent Learning Projects $136   (Add $15 per credit hour Individualized Course Fee)

Course Credit by Examination $69

Special Course by E xamination $69  (Add $15 per credit hour Individualized Course Fee)

Some courses carry additional fees which are listed in the individual course descriptions. All fees must be paid at the time you enroll.

Method of payment

Make your check or money order payable to Ohio University. You may also pay fees by Discover®, VlSA®, o r MasterCard® (see application). Students residing out of the United States should pay fees on a United States bank, payable in United States dollars. Bank drafts will not be accepted.

If you are receiving financial aid from other sources, such as scholarships or employee educational benefits, you must provide a billing authorization and account number from the source of the financial aid. The Independent Study office takes no responsibility for obtaining payments from outside sources unless you provide proper authorization forms from that source.

The credit earned in this program is expressed in quarter hours. All credit is considered resident credit at Ohio University and there is no limit to the amount of IDLP credit that can be applied to an Ohio University degree. IDLP credit can generally be transferred to othe r institutions; the accepting institution, however, establishes the policy in this matter. You are therefore urged to make arrangements in advance so that you will know that the credit earned will transfer.

Ohio University is on the quarter-hour system. Each university course credit value in quarter hours is indicated in parentheses after the course number and title in the course listings. The table shows the relative value of quarter and semester hours.

1.5 quarter hours = 1 semester hour
3.0 quarter hours = 2 semester hours
4.5 quarter hours = 3 semester hours
6.0 quarter hours = 4 semester hours
7.5 quarter hours = 5 semester hours

Graduation is not automatic. To graduate, apply online at www.ohiou.edu/registrar. You may apply in person at the Registrar Services Window, first floor lobby, Chubb Hall, or at the regional campus student services offices.

If you intend to graduate from Ohio University in November 2006, and plan to use IDLP course credit toward that graduation, all lessons and examinations must be completed and in our office by November 8, 2006. The deadline for March 2007 graduation is March 2, 2006. The deadline for June 2007 graduation is May 25, 2007. The deadline for August 2007, graduation is August 10, 2007. Neither Independent and Distance Learning Programs nor the university can guarantee graduation if these deadlines are not met.

Most of the independent study options require one or two supervised examinations. If you reside near an Ohio University campus, you must take your examination at the nearest campus. Others can arrange to have their examinations proctored at another accredited college or university or, if it is more convenient, at a local accredited high school. Ohio University reserves the right to reject a proposed examination supervisor. Detailed information about examination procedures will be included with your enrollment material.

Students enrolled in independent study are expected to maintain high standards of honor and integrity. All work submitted is to be accomplished through your own efforts. Academic penalties will be invoked in cases involving dishonesty or plagiarism.

Along with the material you will receive upon enrollment, a form is provided which you may use to request an official transcript of a completed course directly from the Office of Student Records, Chubb Hall 108. You may also request a transcript online at www.ohio.edu/registrar/transcri.htm. Regulations prevent the IDLP office from requesting a transcript. The fee of $5 for each transcript must be sent with the request; the transcript will be sent to the person or institution indicated on the form.

For students who complete correspondence courses, independent learning projects, or web courses the transcript will indicate that they were completed by "Independent Study"; for students who complete course credit by examination the transcript will indicate they were completed by "Course Credit by Exam." All types of independent study credit are considered resident c redit by Ohio University and there is no limit to the amount that can be applied to an Ohio University degree.

Ohio University abides by the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. Under this act, educational records of students are released only with written consent and request of eligible students except , in accordance with the law, to authorized persons within the university and to authorized agencies outside the university.

In addition, eligible students may inspect their records by requesting an appointment in writing.

IDLP course credit can usually be applied toward teacher certification requirements. However, graduate-level and methods courses in education are not available through IDLP. Individual cases should be checked with the institution responsible for recommending for certification or with the Department of Education in your state. In Ohio, students who are completing an undergraduate degree or who hold one from an Ohio institution should check with their university. Those holding an undergraduate degree from an out-of-state institution should check with the College of Education at Ohio University or another state-supported college or university.

Many employers are willing to help subsidize the education of their employees. Students whose fees are to be paid by their employers should include an official authorization for billing.

Ohio University is also cooperating with DANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Educational Support). Ohio University IDLP course offerings and course credit by examination are listed in the DANTES catalogs. The catalogs are available for reference at all Armed Forces education service offices.

If you are interested, consult with your educational service officer concerning enrollment and the availability of tuition assistance. If you are on active duty in the armed forces, you may use the DANTES application form to enroll in independent study courses. DANTES enrollment applic ation forms are also available upon request from the IDLP office.

High school students in Ohio may not use IDLP courses to earn college credit under the provisions of Ohio Senate Bill 140.

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