Frequently Asked Questions for Students
DISTANCE WRITING PROGRAM POLICIES
Is a Distance Writing course right for me?
Online writing courses are particularly challenging and in order to succeed in them, students must have strong communication skills, a high degree of motivation, and an ability to work independently. The English Department's Distance Writing courses were designed specifically for part-time adult learners at WVU and are quite rigorous. They offer the flexibility that is often critical to part-time students; however, they are not self-paced. The courses each have weekly deadines and participation requirements.
The Center for Writing Excellence (CWE) strongly suggests taking required writing course on-site (in a regular classroom) if at all possible. On-site classes let you communicate face-to-face with your instructor and give you access to the full benefit and support of the more familiar structure and format of an on-site class. This might be particularly valuable to you if you find writing a challenge, have a tendency to procrastinate, or try to juggle too many things at one time.
For help determining your general potential for online coursework, you can complete the following questionnaire: http://www.ion.uillinois.edu/resources/tutorials/pedagogy/selfEval.asp. You may also contact Dr. Gouge--the Distance Writing course designer, instructor, and the program coordinator--to discuss your aptitude and options (cgouge@wvu.edu).
Who is eligible to take online courses in English?
The web-based writing courses we offer through the English Department are designed and offered for advanced part-time students who are not able to take on-site courses. Students who are enrolled for more than 12 hours at the start of the term will be administratively dropped from an online writing course. These web-based courses are not meant to replace their on-site counterparts for students who can attend class on campus.
Students who qualify as part-time may be admitted in a distance writing course, space permitting, so long as students meet the following prerequisite requirements:
English 101: students must have Sophomore, Junior or Senior part-time status.
English 102: students must have completed English 101 and must have Sophomore, Junior or Senior part-time status
English 201, 302, 304, 305: students must have completed English 101 and English 102 and must have Sophomore, Junior or Senior part-time status.
Students on the wait list for a Distance Writing course can expect to find out if they can be enrolled the week before the course begins. Priority will be given to students according to rank, meaning Seniors will have priority over Juniors, etc. Any student exceeding twelve hours at the start of the term may be administratively dropped from Distance Writing courses.
How do I register for an online writing course?
If you are a part-time student who has met the prerequisites for the course you would like to take, you may contact WVU's Office of Extended Learning at 1(800)2LEARN2 or 1-800-253-2762 and one of their staff will verify your eligibility and, if you are eligible, help you with the registration process.
If for some reason you do not meet the part-time criteria for admission, or if the course is full, you will need to contact Mary Vasquez in the English Department (304-293-3107 x33410 or mary.vasquez@mail.wvu.edu) and ask that she add you to our wait list. Starting two weeks before each term, we will review the wait list and begin filling available course space with qualified students. PWE minors or English majors will be given priority, as will students with most credit hours completed.
No instructor or staff member outside of the Office of Extended Learning is allowed to sign permits for the online writing courses. No online writing course can be over-enrolled for any reason.
Is a Distance Writing course a good way to complete a "D/F repeat"?
The Department of English and the Center for Writing Excellence do not recommend taking a Distance Writing course, such as English 101 or English 102 as a D/F repeat. Students who struggle with writing and writing courses are strongly encouraged to take writing courses on-site so that they can communicate face-to-face with their instructor and can have the full benefit and support provided by the more familiar structure and teaching/learning format of an on-site class.
If I have a good reason, can I get an “Incomplete” for a Distance Writing course?
No “Incompletes” will be given for any online writing course for any reason. Your instructor is required to assign every enrolled student a grade at the end of the term. Students who do not withdraw and who earn a “D” or “F” can repeat the class during another term if they need a higher grade for graduation, but no student will be given an “Incomplete” in an online writing course.
Is a summer Distance Writing course right for me?
Some students find the self-discipline required of a Distance Writing course more challenging than the traditional classroom approach. Most students who are full-time students during the Fall and Spring semesters find that they are more successful in summer courses that follow the traditional classroom formats. All summer classes work on a compressed schedule, and the demands of the compressed schedule coupled with the online format can be particularly difficult for many students. It is recommended that most students take writing courses in a traditional classroom format.
COURSE QUESTIONS
How do I know when an assignment is due in my course? Where do I go to find out what I should be doing in my class?
Each course provides a set of "Weekly Assignments," linked from the course homepage under “Coursework” that will tell you what assignments you should complete and when they are due over the course of the semester or session.
Where can I learn more about the policies, procedures, and assignments related to my course?
Each course has a "Course Guidelines" link on its homepage which will take you to the course's syllabus, where you can find information about the policies, procedures, and assignments related to your course.
I’ve heard about something called an OWL. What is the OWL?
The OWL stands for Online Writing Lab and is the online version of the Writing Center . For distance writing students, the OWL will appear as a non-credit laboratory class. Currently students in English 101 and 102 distance writing classes are signed up for the OWL as part of your class. Look for other classes to be added in the future. For English 101 and 102 students, the OWL allows you to access peer tutoring, where you can work one-on-one with a writing center tutor on your papers. The OWL is a resource for you, but it is not a requirement for any distance writing classes. Many students in writing classes work with peer tutors in the writing center, and the OWL allows distance writing students to work with a peer tutor through eCampus.
I am encouraged to print a copy of my Course Guidelines and Coursework. Why should I print these?
Having hard copies of your Course Guidelines and Coursework is a good idea for any distance writing student. Sometimes you won’t be able to access WVU’s eCampus because of maintenance. Other times you might have issues with Internet connections being down. Having hard copies ensures that you can continue in the course and that your progress isn’t disturbed.
How can I use the WVU Library if I’m not in Morgantown?
The WVU Libraries offers support and services to Distance Learners. To learn more about the library’s offerings to you, use the following URL: http://www.libraries.wvu.edu/distance/.
TECHNICAL QUESTIONS
Who do I contact if I have questions about WVU eCampus?
Some technical issues are quite common and can be resolved quickly and easily. Your instrctor and/or other students may be able to help you if your question is not an emergency (not about a sudden loss of access or information related to a test or assignment). For the fastest resolution of a technical question, contact the Help Desk at WVU's Office of Information Technology (OIT):
OIT Help Desk
(304) 293-4444 ext. 1
When I try to access WVU eCampus, a warning message asks if I want to accept a Certificate signed by WVU eCampus -- what should I do?
You should accept the certificate by clicking on the "Yes" button. WVU eCampus uses a supplemental software package called Java to present course materials to you. By accepting a certificate, you are enabling the Java software used by WVU eCampus for your computer. If you don't want to hit the "Yes" button every time you access WVU eCampus, simply click on the "Always" button instead. This will tell your computer to always accept the certificates when you access WVU eCampus.
How do I access my WVU eCampus email account?
To access your WVU eCampus email account, click on the link called, "Mail," next to the icon shaped like an envelope on the upper-right-hand side of the page.
How do I attach a file to a WVU eCampus email message?
Begin by clicking on the "Create message" button in the "Mail" module. A new message window will pop-up. Click on the "Add Attachments" button. Another dialogue box will pop-up. Click on the link on the left that says, "Basic View," and then click on the link that appears called, "My Computer." A dialogue box will appear that you can use to find the appropriate file on your computer. Once you've found the file, select it and hit the "Open" button. You will then be returned to the "Basic View" dialogue box. Select your file here by checking the box next to it. Then, hit the "Add Selected" button. This will add the file as an attachment to your Mail message.
How do I find the WVU eCampus email address of my instructor or of a fellow classmate?
Enter the "Mail" module and click the "Create Message" button. Then, click on the "Browse for Recipients" button to find a list that includes the email addresses for your instructor and fellow classmates.
How do I access a topic or thread on the course Bulletin Board?
To access a topic or thread on the course Bulletin Board, click on the "Bulletin Board" link on the course homepage, and then select the link for the particular topic or thread that you're looking for.
How do I access a Chat Room?
If your course has a chat room available, you will find a link to it on the course homepage. Click on the link to access the Chat Room module. To enter a specific chat room, click on the door-shaped icon on the left-hand side of the screen.
What should I do if I cannot access the course because the WVU eCampus server is not responding?
Occasionally, the WVU eCampus server goes offline for periodical maintenance. If you try to access the course during one of these maintenance periods, please be patient and try to access the course a bit later in the day. If for some reason, the WVU eCampus server has crashed or otherwise become unavailable, your instructor will contact you using your WVU MIX Email account.
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