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Online learning gives you flexibility, but that freedom also requires structure, self-motivation, and accountability. Before diving in, ask yourself the following questions in each of the five categories.

If you answer "yes" to more than 50% of these, you are likely well-prepared! If there are several "no" or "not sure" answers, that’s not a dealbreaker, it just means you may need to work on certain areas or get extra support.

Time Management & Motivation

• Can I manage my time well without constant reminders?

• Am I self-motivated to complete assignments and study independently?

• Do I follow through on tasks without procrastinating?

Technology: Skills & Access

• Do I have reliable access to a personal computer and high-speed internet?

• Am I comfortable using email and learning new technology platforms?

• Can I troubleshoot basic technical issues or seek help when needed?

Learning Preferences & Focus

• Do I learn well through reading, videos and independent research?

• Can I stay focused without the structure of in-person classes?

• Do I actively take notes and study without being told to?

Communication

• Can I clearly express myself in written form (papers, discussion forums, email)?

• Am I comfortable reaching out to instructors or classmates if I have questions?

• Do I know where to get help (advisors, tutors, tech support) if I need it?

Environment & Readiness

• Do I have a quiet and organized space to study?

• Can I set boundaries with family and friends during study time?

• Am I mentally prepared to manage the independence and accountability required in online college courses, where success depends on dedicating 18–20 hours per week per course?

Remember: Without daily reminders from instructors, self-discipline and time management become essential. Online courses provide fewer in-person cues to keep you on track, so it’s easy for deadlines to sneak up if you don’t plan ahead. Without a clear structure, it’s also easier to fall behind—and much harder to catch up.

How Much Time is Required?

We expect students to spend 18–20 hours per week per course to be successful in 7-week online courses. Successful college students are expected (as a general rule) to spend 2-3 hours outside of class studying for every hour they are in class.  This means for an on-campus class of 3 credit hours, students should spend 6-9 hours per week with the content for 15 weeks.

Online classes are just as rigorous as on campus classes.  Students will need to be self-motivated and not procrastinate. Some classes will take longer to 'get it'.  All students learn differently, so find what works best for you and set aside enough time each week to work on your classes.  You can do this!  We are here to help!

Tips for Success in LSUA Online Classes

• Order textbooks and materials.

• Read the syllabus thoroughly and note any due dates for assignments and exams.

• Re-read the syllabus. Information in this document is critical. Print it out and keep it handy.

• Ask questions directly and immediately if you do not understand the instructions or due dates for assignments.

• Complete the Academic Engagement Activity (AEA) in MOODLE for EVERY class. This is how we measure attendance. It must be completed by the 3 day of class or you will be dropped for non-attendance.

• Organize your time in a way that allows you to thoughtfully and thoroughly complete assignments.

• Keep up with assignment due dates and submit assignments on time or early.

• Technical problems related to your computer connections or equipment cannot be used as an excuse for failure to complete assignments or to participate online. If you have a technical problem, have a backup plan to stay current with your coursework. Colleges, libraries, friends, relatives, or neighbors are just some of the options for backup connections.

• Report technical problems with your course login, campus email, or LSUA service to the LSUA Helpdesk or Distance Learning immediately. File a helpdesk ticket (iethelp@lsua.edu) or call 318-473-6421. You can contact Distance Learning at online@lsua.edu - indicate your name, the course(s) you are taking and the problem you are having. Never email your social security number and never give your password to anyone.

• Participate in online discussions (if required) by reading and responding respectfully to your classmates and instructor. Participation is often required and may count toward your grade.

• Participate in group projects or activities as required. Your contributions to the group (or class) are a valuable part of the learning process for all involved.

• Log in to your online class at least 3 - 5 days per week. Work on content, assignments, and studying multiple times every week.

Adapted with permission from Participation Contract developed by Professor Tani McBeth, provided by 2014 MarylandOnline

In order to be successful as an online student, you need to ensure you have the proper equipment to complete your coursework.

Hardware Requirements

• Modern Computer with updated Operating system Reliable Broadband Internet Connections (fiber, DSL, cable, satellite)

• Speakers/Headphones

• Webcam/microphone combo (may be required for proctored exams using online proctoring services)

Software Requirements

• Anti-Virus Software

•  (recommended browser for systems)

Provided to students for free:  Microsoft Office 365 (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel)

Skill Requirements

An Internet connection is necessary to participate in discussions and assignments, access readings, transfer coursework, and receive feedback from your instructional associate and/or professor.

For web-based courses, students should have a basic working knowledge of computers and Internet use as well as access to a computer with a broadband (fiber, DSL, cable, satellite) Internet connection. Copying and pasting, along with attaching/uploading documents for assignment submission, will also be required.

File Types

You are required to submit your assignments as Microsoft Word documents unless instructed otherwise.

Exporting Mac Documents to PC Files

Helpdesk

Contact the LSUA Helpdesk for any questions or technical issues by sending an email to iethelp@lsua.edu.

�黨��Ƶ Policy

PS 242 – Policy for Students with Disabilities outlines roles and responsibilities of providing and obtaining services for students.  Students can access accommodations regardless of whether on-campus or at a distance. For information on accessing accommodations, see the links below.

Accessing Accommodations

Students requiring accommodations should visit the Disability Services web page to complete the intake form.  The office is open from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Central Time. Appointments (by phone or email) can be scheduled by calling 318-427-0137 or emailing disabilityservices@lsua.edu.

Moodle (Learning Management System - LMS)

Moodle complies with all major international standards in the area of accessibility. For more information on Moodle and its development, please visit .

Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)

Faculty are encouraged to use the accessibility checker in Microsoft Office products to ensure files are accessible to students with disabilities.

ProctorU or MonitorEdu- Used to Proctor Exams Online

Students can view the ProctorU Accessibility Information by clicking here:  .

Students can view the the MonitorEDU Accessibility information by clicking here:

If accommodations are needed tfor exams, please get in touch with Disability Services at disabilityservices@lsua.edu.

Adobe Reader

Adobe® Acrobat® Pro DC and Adobe Reader® DC software continue the tradition of providing strong accessibility support for Adobe PDF documents and forms. Acrobat DC features several built-in accommodations for people with disabilities and support for users of assistive technologies. In addition, Acrobat DC provides authors with a complete set of tools to create and optimize accessible PDF files from almost any source.  For more information, see Adobe Accessibility Statement.

Privacy Policies

�黨��Ƶ strives to ensure user data privacy for information collected by the institution and in contracts with external vendors or service providers.

• �黨��Ƶ Privacy Policy

• �黨��Ƶ Online Privacy Statement (see below)

�黨��Ƶ Online undergraduate students who have completed at least 15 credit hours of online coursework at LSUA with a 3.2 GPA or better will be invited to join the . Qualifying students will receive an invitation via email and must respond to the invitation by the deadline specified in the email in order to join.

Joining this exclusive group of online students acknowledges your academic excellence and provides access to benefits such as networking opportunities and eligibility for Omega Nu Lambda scholarships.

For more information about Omega Nu Lambda at LSUA, please contact Amber Weidner, LSUA Chi Chapter Advisor, at ONLHonors@lsua.edu.

Degree Navigator helps students plan degree completion by allowing them to:

• track their progress through their degree plan

• view ‘what if’ plans to see if changing their primary (or catalog) would help them complete their degree more quickly

• view course options for degree requirements

• calculate the GPA needed to meet program requirements

To access Degree Navigator, login to and select "Degree Navigator" from the Student tab. The videos below show how to use different features in the program. If you have any questions or feel something is not showing correctly, please email degreeaudit@lsua.edu

Library research is critical to student success. LSUA provides online access to thousands of journals, articles, and books. To access library resources off-campus, you will need your student ID number and your birth year.

You may find the following information helpful:

• James C. Bolton Library

Online students have access to Tutoring services through the following options:

• Thinking Storm – Online Tutoring: This service is through a vendor and provides tutoring.  Each LSUA student has up to 10 hours of free access to tutoring-on-demand in a wide variety of topics. Access is found under the Student Menu in the MyLSUA Portal.

• �黨��Ƶ Tutoring Services: Online students can also utilize campus tutoring services via Zoom. Our tutors are certified to assist in a variety of topics.  Appointments are made on the Tutoring webpage (scroll down to Virtual Tutoring).

General Guidelines

1. Follow the guidelines in your class syllabus. Different instructors use forums and written assignments to develop and measure different skills. Follow their instructions - always.

2. People will express opinions different from yours. Be respectful. No name calling, no profanity, or slang.

3. Use correct spelling and grammar rather than text shortcuts or hashtags. U R 2 Smrt 4 tht. #spellitout

4. Do not use all caps. Using all capital letters is equivalent to SHOUTING!

5. Be brief and stick to the topic. Your instructor and classmates are busy people; respect their time, and they will more likely respect yours.

6. Follow the Code of Student Conduct.

Tips for Emailing Instructors

1. Always use a subject line that includes your course and section. Instructors often teach four to six classes a semester. Include your class and section with a brief description in the subject line. For example, use "ENGL 1001 (003x) - Exam 2" not "Question, can you call me?"

2. Use their appropriate title when addressing your faculty member. Look at the syllabus for how to address them. If they have a Ph.D. or Ed.D. after their name, please address them as Dr. If they do not, address them as Professor unless they have asked you to address them in another manner.

3. Be brief—separate ideas into clear, concise paragraphs with spaces in between.

4. Verify you are sending to the correct address (check your syllabus). Faculty and staff email addresses do not have numbers in them.

5. Be patient. Not all faculty members have offices on campus. They have families and responsibilities outside of teaching. Give them time to respond before re-sending your email. Most faculty will respond within 48 hours (2 business days).

6. Use email for issues related to only you; use the class discussion area to ask questions that apply to all students or are specifically about content or course policies. Check the syllabus first - the answer may be there.

Tips for Forums

1. Participate often - follow submission requirements from the syllabus for each course.

2. Work to further the discussion. You are a part of the learning community. Responses like "I agree" or "Me, too" do not expand the discussion.

3. Stay on topic - use reply to keep discussion threads together and put descriptive subjects if you are starting a new thread. Keep comments on the single issue of the line.

4. Use email for issues related to only you; use the class discussion area to ask questions that apply to all students or are specifically about content or course policies. Check the syllabus first - the answer may be there.

Some classes (not all) require that students take ‘proctored’ or ‘monitored’ exams.  Faculty will determine the best proctoring service/option for their classes.

1. MonitorEdu: Some exams can be taken through MonitorEDU. The fee is paid at the time the test is taken. No appointment is required, however exams are set up within a specific window of time set by faculty. Students need a Smartphone, plugged in to charger, and placed so that the test taker and the computer can be seen. MonitorEdu

   • Exams are $13 per test regardless of length.

2. ProctorU: Some exams can be scheduled with ProctorU. ProctorU fees must be paid at the time the test is scheduled. Exams must be scheduled at least 72 hours in advance or additional fees apply. Students must have a web cam and a wired Internet connection and a PC or Mac Computer/Laptop. Chromebooks cannot be used for testing with ProctorU. Proctor U Student Guide

   • Prices:

     • Up to 60 minutes - $15

     • 61-90 minutes - $19.75

     • 91-120 minutes - $25

     • 121-180 minutes - $30

* Based on time scheduled by faculty, not time used by student.

* The exam time is set by the instructor.

• How to Schedule with ProctorU

�黨��Ƶ has a set of policies that provide direction to students, faculty and staff. The following policies are of particular importance to students. The full list of policies is located at the bottom.

• PS 206 - Student Class Attendance Policy

• PS 207 – Student Grievance Procedure

• PS 217 – Privacy Rights of Students (Buckley Amendment)

• PS 218 – Grades and Grading

• PS 228 – Code of Student Conduct (Plagiarism on Page 6)

• PS 230 - Policy for Persons with Disabilities

• PS 250 – Network and Email Password Policy

Full Policy Library of Current Policies

�黨��Ƶ Privacy of Student Records The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their educational records. These rights are presented here:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the university receives a request for access. Students should submit to the Registrar an official, written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The Registrar will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.

2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records when the student believes they are inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the university to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. In such cases, students should write to the university official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the university decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, it will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided when the student is notified of the right to a hearing.

3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception that permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the university in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position (such staff include law enforcement and health personnel); a person or company with whom the university has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the university’s governing boards, or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an educational record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. The university discloses educational records without consent when requested by officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. Directory information concerning the student may be released by the university unless the student has requested that such information not be released.

Under the terms of FERPA, directory information includes the following items: 

• Student Name

• Student ID Photograph

• Local Address/Phone

• Home/Address/Phone

• E-mail Address

• Date and Place of Birth

• Degrees and Awards/Honors Received and Dates

• Dates of Attendance (Current and Past)

• Full or Part-Time Enrollment Status

• Participation in Officially Recognized Activities

• Participation in Officially Recognized Sports

• Weight/Height of Members of Athletic Teams

• Most Recently Attended Educational Institute

• Major Field of Study/Classification

Students’ overall grade point averages may be released to honorary organizations only when they are to be used in determining eligibility for membership.

Students who wish to withhold directory information should complete the appropriate form in Records before the seventh class day of any term. Requests to prevent disclosure of directory information will remain in effect until a written request to rescind is received by the Registrar.

�黨��Ƶ also maintains a global email address list via Microsoft Outlook. Students who wish to add their physical addresses and phone numbers to this directory can do so by logging on at My.LSUA and then click on the Update User Info link.

Parents or guardians of students who are dependents for income tax purposes may review their dependents’ academic records. It is assumed that all undergraduates are independent of their parents. Each request to review a student’s academic records must be accompanied by appropriate documentation. Transcripts, however, cannot be released to a third party without the student’s signature, except in those circumstances indicated in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

1. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Louisiana State University at Alexandria to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is provided below:

Family Policy Compliance Office

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20202-5920

The State Authorization Regulation

Chapter 34, § 600.9(c)

“If an institution is offering postsecondary education through distance or correspondence education to students in a State in which it is not physically located or in which it is otherwise subject to State Jurisdiction as determined by the State, the institution must meet any State requirements for it to be legally offering distance or correspondence education in that State. An institution must be able to document to the Secretary the State’s approval upon request.” 

Federal and State Regulations on "State Authorization" of Distance Education

�黨��Ƶ is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA).  All States except California are members of this agreement and students can participate in programs.

Program Specific Licensure

Additional information on programs leading to licensure can be found at our 

View more information about this in the .

Distance Learning Complaint Process For LSUA Students

Students who have a complaint or grievance should work through the campus process first. The Student Complaint Procedure outlines appropriate steps to reach resolution. If after following LSUA's process, the issue is not satisfactorily resolved internally and the student seeks additional resolution, grievances may be appealed to either the student's home agency or the institution's home state agency.  Questions about the process can be directed to online@lsua.edu.

Please use the following resource to locate each state's contact agency: .

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