Beginning this fall, in an effort to increase student success, all students will be required to engage in their courses by completing specified assignments during the first five to 10 days from the first day of the class.
Faculty members can choose from a variety of ways to verify whether students are actively engaged, including tests, assignments, or active participation in an online discussion. Students are responsible for completing any academic activity that the instructor has developed for the course. If students do not see an activity to complete then they should make sure to attend class because that instructor has likely chosen physical attendance as the form to verify that students are engaged in class.
Students who do not engage in the manner set by their professors will be at risk of losing their financial aid for that course.
This new process is the result of a federal policy that holds universities accountable for determining that students are engaged in their classes. Under the policy, universities are in jeopardy of losing federal financial aid, which they disburse to students who have failed to prove they are engaged.
“In order to succeed in college, students have to show up and engage,” said Gordon Chavis, associate vice president for enrollment services. “It’s common sense. It goes hand in hand with planning, studying and being successful academically. Now we have a process in place to make sure we’re tracking engagement and reaching students before they get penalized academically and financially.”
Students who have questions about the required form of academic engagement for a particular course should ask their professors. Students who have general questions about their financial aid should call the Office of Student Financial Assistance at 407-823-2827.