University of Idaho General Catalog » Colleges and Related Units » Independent Study in Idaho

Independent Study in Idaho

Focus Areas Course Delivery and Services Registration and Fees Grades and Transcripts

Barry Willis, ISI Program Administrator: (phone 208/885-6373); ISI office: (PO Box 443081, Moscow ID 83844-3081; phone 208/885-6641 or 877/464-3246; fax 208/885-5738; indepst@uidaho.edu; www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/isi)

Independent Study in Idaho (ISI) was created in 1973 by the Idaho State Board of Education as a cooperative of four accredited Idaho institutions led by the University of Idaho (UI). Other cooperating members include Boise State University (BSU), Idaho State University (ISU), and Lewis-Clark State College (LCSC). The ISI office is located on the University of Idaho campus in the College of Education Building in Moscow, Idaho.

Independent Study in Idaho delivers college-level, online, distance education courses. Independent Study in Idaho courses, sponsored by their cooperating institutions parallel their on-campus counterparts in content and completion standards. Idaho residency is not required. People from all walks of life, worldwide, take ISI courses for various reasons (e.g., to begin college programs early, resolve on-campus scheduling conflicts, satisfy prerequisites, pursue professional development, and for personal enrichment). Students can enroll at anytime and work at their own pace from anywhere. Students have up to one year to complete ISI courses. Registering for an ISI course does not automatically grant admission to any of the ISI cooperating institutions. Although ISI does not offer degrees, credits earned upon course completion transfer to most colleges and universities.

Each member institution of the ISI cooperative is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), the region's accrediting agency.

Focus Areas

Modern Languages and Cultures. Independent Study in Idaho offers German, French, and Spanish courses that provide practice in listening and pronunciation, reading and writing. Course credits may be applied toward the foreign language requirement at the University of Idaho or transferred to another institution.

Library Science. The University of Idaho, through Independent Study in Idaho, sponsors library science courses that are required for the Idaho Education Media Generalist Endorsement (K-12). Independent Study in Idaho also offers courses applicable to the University of Idaho library science teaching minor. These courses are not offered on campus and are available only through ISI. Certified teachers, with a standard or advanced teaching certificate, interested in school library or media positions can earn an Education Media Generalist Endorsement (K-12) by taking library science courses through ISI. The Idaho Education Media Generalist Endorsement (K-12) requires 20 semester-hour credits in the general field of education media (or library science). Library science courses are also offered that are applicable to the University of Idaho library science teaching minor, which requires 24 credits. A list of courses that fulfill these credit requirements is available on the ISI website at www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/isi, select Focus Areas.

Education. Independent Study in Idaho courses may be used toward renewing teaching credentials or for certification. Contact your state department of education to determine if ISI courses are applicable.

Real Estate. Independent Study in Idaho offers courses that can be used toward requirements for real estate licensure in Idaho.

Course Delivery and Services

The per-credit workload for Independent Study in Idaho courses is equivalent to that of on-campus courses. Students can enroll at anytime during the year. Students can work at their own pace from anywhere and have up to one year from the date of registration to complete ISI courses. If a course is not completed within one year, a one-time, six-month course extension can be purchased. The premise of Independent Study in Idaho courses is that the enrolled student is an independent learner; ISI courses are not designed for a student who desires a high level of instructor contact or feedback.

Instructor Contact. Instructors are available to answer questions concerning grading and can be contacted as specified in the Registration Confirmation Letter sent to the student upon registration.

Lessons. Detailed instructions for submitting completed lessons are outlined in the Registration Confirmation Letter. The student sends completed lessons directly to the instructor by e-mail or mail. Send a copy to the ISI office at indepst@uidaho.edu. Students may not submit partial or incomplete lessons. The number of lessons that will be accepted at one time and per week is specified in the Registration Confirmation Letter, and varies by course. The student may not submit all of the lessons at one time. The instructor returns grade information on lessons and exams within three weeks after the date of receipt.

Exams. Most ISI courses require completion of a specific number of exams as outlined in the course guide. All ISI exams require a proctor unless the course guide indicates that an exam is to be self-administered. Independent Study in Idaho sends exams directly to proctors, who supervise the exam process and return completed exams to ISI. Proctor approval is subject to approval by both ISI and the course instructor. Allegations of academic dishonesty may result if a student submits false proctor information or the proctor disregards University of Idaho policy.

Computer Requirements. All ISI course guides are available online. Internet access is required or recommended for the majority of ISI courses. Many courses also require access to a computer with a DVD/CD drive. E-mail is required for ISI students and proctors.

Disability Support Services. Each of the four ISI cooperative institutions offers academic support services to students with temporary or permanent disabilities. Students requesting disability-related accommodations are advised to contact the sponsoring institution's office of disability services. For more information about the services available, access the ISI website at www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/isi, select Services.

Registration and Fees

Students can begin ISI courses anytime during the calendar year. Each course offered through the ISI program is sponsored by one of the cooperating member institutions (BSU, LCSC, ISU or UI. Students can register for ISI courses without applying for admission to any of the cooperating schools. Admission to any of these institutions is not automatically granted upon registering for an ISI course. Payment is required at the time of registration and is accepted by check, money order, Visa, MasterCard, or Discover Card.

Visit www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/isi, select Forms, Registration Form to access ISI's secure online registration system. Registration is also accepted by mail, by telephone, or at the ISI office.

Fees. Independent Study in Idaho fees are subject to change. Check the ISI website for current fee information. Students residing outside the U.S. pay a handling fee. U.S. military and U.S. territory addresses are not subject to handling fees.

Other Course-Related Costs. Registration fees do not include print ISI course guides, textbooks or other course materials. In addition to registration fees, ISI students may incur expenses including, but not limited to, the following: textbooks, course guides, supplemental materials, postage to mail lessons and projects to instructors, and international handling and shipping.

Purchasing Course Materials. Independent Study in Idaho course guides are required for all courses and are accessible online for no additional fee. For most courses, a print version of the course guide can be purchased online from the VandalStore or by telephone, fax or mail. To ensure availability, order your course materials promptly after registration. To access information about ISI textbooks and supplementary materials, visit the VandalStore's website. If textbooks are purchased from another outlet, carefully note the ISBN number for the required edition.

Financial Aid. Independent Study in Idaho does not offer financial aid. Federal and state agencies, businesses, student financial aid services, and veterans' organizations may offer financial assistance or aid to fund ISI course fees. Independent Study in Idaho accepts most tuition assistance payment forms.

College students receiving financial aid are advised to check with their financial aid office to determine if anything is available for ISI courses. Courses taken through ISI do not count toward a student's credit-hour load. ISI courses cannot be used to establish full-time or part-time student status to determine eligibility for financial aid or loan deferment.

Veterans Benefits. The University of Idaho Office of Veterans Affairs can help students apply for and receive education benefits whether a student is an active duty serviceperson, guardsman or reservist, veteran, or a dependent of a veteran. Veterans' Affairs benefits may be used to pay ISI course fees. Upon approval of benefits, ISI will invoice the appropriate agency. For more information, visit the University of Idaho Office of Veterans Affairs website at www.uidaho.edu/dos/veteransaffairs.

Drops and Refunds. If a course does not meet your needs, you may drop the course. Submit the Drop Course Form online at www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/isi, select Forms. The course will not appear on your transcript and there will be no permanent academic record at any of the cooperating institutions. Courses dropped within 21 days of registration qualify for a full course refund, minus the administrative fee and $15 for any lesson/exam already submitted. Courses dropped within 22–45 days of registration qualify for a 50 percent course refund, minus the administrative fee and $15 for any lesson/exam already submitted. Refunds will be processed by credit card or check, depending on the original payment method. Cash payments are refunded by check.

Exchanging Courses. If a course does not meet your needs, you can exchange one course for another within 45 days of registration. One exchange per registration is allowed. The initial course completion date will not change. A nonrefundable $25 fee must be paid when exchanging a course, plus $15 for any lesson/exam submitted for the original course. Submit exchange requests online at www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/isi, select Forms, Course Exchange Form.

Course Extensions. If you are unable to complete an ISI course within one year from the registration date, you may purchase one six-month extension for a fee of $75 per course. Requests must be made before your course completion date. Submit extension requests online at www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/isi, select Forms, Course Extension Form. Extension fees are nonrefundable.

Grades and Transcripts

Students who have a personal deadline (e.g., graduation, certification, program admission) must submit all lessons and exams at least one month prior to their deadline to allow for timely processing. When a final course grade is issued, a Course Completion Letter will be mailed to the student. Transcripts may be purchased upon written request from the credit-granting institution (BSU, LCSC, ISU or UI). It is the student's responsibility to contact the credit-granting institution.