Online Cohort Enrollment Handbook
Life Pacific College | Emerging Leader Network
Online Cohort Enrollment Handbook
Description The LPC/ELN cohort consists of students from a number of ELN programs across the country taking courses together online. Students will be able to dialogue with one another concerning their learning, life, and ministry application. Courses are 12 weeks long, beginning in mid September and late January, and operate asynchronously, so students do not have to be online at certain times during the week. Students should anticipate investing 8-10 hours per week into each course. Students may enroll in either one or two courses each semester and can complete up to 24 units upon completion of a two-year ELN program. LPC is providing a tuition grant of over 60% in order to keep the cost as low as possible, and is partnering with the Foursquare Foundation to lower tuition costs even further. The ELN student cost for 2015/16 will be $200 per course, plus textbooks. Students who have participated in the LPC/ELN online cohort are encouraged to enroll in a BA program with LPC either through either a traditional residential program or, for those who meet age and transfer unit requirements, LPC’s online degree completion program. Units earned through the cohort are also transferable to other institutions dependent upon the receiving institution’s policies. Students who successfully complete two years of an ELN program and enroll in a BA program with LPC will be granted a total of 8 units of credit for the learning gained through their ELN experience (3 units for Foundations of Ministry, 3 units for Discipleship & Spiritual Formation, and 2 units for Gm223 Ministry Internship). Total unit potential: 24 unit curriculum, 8 unit ELN experience = 32 units, equivalent to one full year of study at LPC. Students who successfully complete one year of an ELN and enroll in a BA program with LPC will be granted a total of 4 units of credit for the learning gained through their ELN experience (3 units for Foundations of Ministry, and 1 unit for Gm223 Ministry Internship). These units are available to ELN graduates whether or not they participated in the LPC/ELN online cohort.
ELN Eligibility The ELN program must possess certification from the Foursquare Institute Office.
Student Eligibility • Must be a high school graduate with a 2.5 GPA or have a GED • Must be active in a certified ELN • Must submit an application for admission to LPC, including a one page essay and a College Readiness Self-Assessment
Dates To Remember Schedule
Fall Semester 2015 Spring Semester 2016
Last Day to Submit Applications* Last Day to Submit Tuition & Course Enrollment Forms* New Student Online Orientation Classes Begin Last Day to Drop Classes with a WP Last Day of Classes
August 31 September 8 September 8-13 September 14 October 23 December 6
January 11 January 19 January 19-24 January 25 March 4 April 17
* These dates are when materials must arrive at LPC. Please allow extra time for shipping.
Online Courses First Year Students Second Year Students
Fall Term
Spring Term
Gm118 Faith for Life Bi113 Intro to Biblical Literature Ev210 Spiritual Gifts & Evangelism So131 Cultures of Ancient Civilizations
Ev110 Multi-Cultural Evangelism Bi101 Pentateuch So230 Marriage & Family Bi216 Synoptic Gospels
All courses are 3 units of semester credit.xtr
a time for shipping.
Application Students will complete a short non-degree seeking application. The application package includes the following items: • A minimum one page essay describing their personal history, salvation experience, and Christian faith. This essay will help to assess their ability to write successfully in college-level courses. • A completed LPC/ELN College Readiness Self-Assessment to help the student determine if he/she is prepared for college-level coursework. • Course enrollment form identifying which course(s) the student is planning to enroll in for the term. • An optional/highly recommended Student Information Release Authorization form allowing LPC to disclose enrollment status and grades to their ELN Director The ELN leadership should collect all student applications with attached essays, self-assessments, and course enrollment forms and send them to the LPC Special Programs Coordinator at one time. Applications must be received at least two weeks before the start date of classes to allow time for application review, admission decisions, and processing. The LPC Special Programs Coordinator will notify ELN leadernship as well as the individual student of acceptance decision by email.
Enrollment A course enrollment form, signed by the student, identifying which course/s the student is planning to enroll in for the term must be submitted with the applications for new students in their first term as well each subsequent term.
Billing and Payment • The LPC Special Programs Coordinator will send one bill for all students to the ELN program. • Payment must be received one week before the start date of the course. Please allow for adequate time to mail payments, as students will not be enrolled in courses until payment is received. • LPC will not reimburse tuition for students who withdraw from a course after the payment deadline.
Online Student Orientation Students who are taking their first online course with LPC must complete the Orientation to Online Courses before the start date of their first course. This orientation ensures that the student understands the structure of the Moodle course management system and how to use its various functions such as submission of documents, online discussion, accessing materials, and tracking progress. • Students will be enrolled in the online Orientation one week before the course start date. • Students should be able to complete the Orientation in 1-2 hours. Please schedule appropriate time for your students to complete the Orientation.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Attendance is measured through participation in the online discussion. • If a student does not participate in the discussion in week one, he/ she will be withdrawn from the course and the course will not appear on his/her transcript. The LPC Special Programs Coordinator will attempt to contact the student and ELN Director (if permission has been granted by the student) and warn of repercussions prior to removal. • If a student does not participate in the online discussion for two straight weeks, or over 50% of the weeks of a course, the instructor will file a faculty initiated withdrawal and the student will receive a WF (instructors are expected to attempt to contact a student prior to filing a faculty initiated withdrawal in order to encourage the student to re-engage the class or initiate a student withdrawal to receive a WP if the course has not exceeded 50%). • This generous online discussion policy is meant to accommodate the busy nature of ELN programs, recognizing that it’s possible students may be impacted by travel or intense church schedules. Students’ grades, however, may be impacted by their inability to participate in weekly discussions. ELN programs are encouraged, as much as possible, to maintain schedules to allow for weekly student engagement online during the 12-week semesters. When students will be unable to participate in online discussions for a full week, they should notify their instructor ahead of time. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 after completion of each term to continue enrolling in courses.
ELN Leader/Director Role • ELN leaders will facilitate students’ application to the program and ensure that the student is enrolling in courses aligned with the ELN program’s schedule. • ELN leaders will process payment of tuition prior to each semester’s deadline. • ELN leaders will ensure students have sufficient access to computers to engage in online cohort discussion and successfully complete their coursework. • ELN leaders should be able to explain the basics of the online course structure to their students, including “when” and “how” to get online and complete their course work. • ELN leaders should schedule sufficient study time so that students can succeed in college-level coursework. • ELN leaders may be asked to facilitate proctored exams. • ELN leaders should intervene with students who are struggling academically. For this reason, it is important for students to sign the Student Information Release Authorization form allowing LPC to disclose enrollment status and grades to their ELN Director. • ELN leaders may request to be added to cohort courses, allowing them to participate in the online discussions with students. • ELN leaders with a Master’s degree in an appropriate field are encouraged to apply for consideration as adjunct faculty to teach selected courses.
FAQ’s Is it possible for a first-year student to take a second-year course, or vice versa, if the student has already successfully completed any of the listed courses? Yes, as long as the student can demonstrate they have already completed the lower level courses. Note that some of the second year courses are sophomore level and are designed for students with some completed college level work. What is the smoothest way to process student enrollment? We suggest the following steps for ELN leaders: • Help each student decide whether or not he or she wants to take courses for credit (use the College Readiness Self-Assessment to aid this discussion) • Determine how many and in which courses you want your students to enroll. • Have each new student who is enrolling in courses for credit complete an application including the one page essay. • Meet with the students as a group and ask them to complete and sign the Course Enrollment form identifying the course/s in which you want them to enroll. • Strongly encourage students to sign the Student Information Release Authorization form allowing LPC to release information to the ELN leadership in order to help them succeed. • Send all completed materials to the LPC Special Programs Coordinator in one package: applications, self-assessments, course enrollment forms, and student information release authorizations. • Process payment as soon as the bill is received, being mindful of due dates and extra time needed for shipping. How do students purchase their textbooks? LPC will provide a list of textbooks for each course at least one month before the classes start. Students may purchase textbooks from the College’s online provider, MBS Direct, or from any other source they prefer. How much will the cost of this program increase in the future? LPC will adjust the ELN tuition for inflation, up to 3% annually. Are student eligible for financial aid? Since the students are not enrolled in a degree program while participating in ELN, no federal or state financial aid is available.
1100 W Covina Boulevard, San Dimas, California 91773
For more information visit us online:
lifepacific.edu/academics/partnerships
Online Cohort Enrollment Handbook
Description The LPC/ELN cohort consists of students from a number of ELN programs across the country taking courses together online. Students will be able to dialogue with one another concerning their learning, life, and ministry application. Courses are 12 weeks long, beginning in mid September and late January, and operate asynchronously, so students do not have to be online at certain times during the week. Students should anticipate investing 8-10 hours per week into each course. Students may enroll in either one or two courses each semester and can complete up to 24 units upon completion of a two-year ELN program. LPC is providing a tuition grant of over 60% in order to keep the cost as low as possible, and is partnering with the Foursquare Foundation to lower tuition costs even further. The ELN student cost for 2015/16 will be $200 per course, plus textbooks. Students who have participated in the LPC/ELN online cohort are encouraged to enroll in a BA program with LPC either through either a traditional residential program or, for those who meet age and transfer unit requirements, LPC’s online degree completion program. Units earned through the cohort are also transferable to other institutions dependent upon the receiving institution’s policies. Students who successfully complete two years of an ELN program and enroll in a BA program with LPC will be granted a total of 8 units of credit for the learning gained through their ELN experience (3 units for Foundations of Ministry, 3 units for Discipleship & Spiritual Formation, and 2 units for Gm223 Ministry Internship). Total unit potential: 24 unit curriculum, 8 unit ELN experience = 32 units, equivalent to one full year of study at LPC. Students who successfully complete one year of an ELN and enroll in a BA program with LPC will be granted a total of 4 units of credit for the learning gained through their ELN experience (3 units for Foundations of Ministry, and 1 unit for Gm223 Ministry Internship). These units are available to ELN graduates whether or not they participated in the LPC/ELN online cohort.
ELN Eligibility The ELN program must possess certification from the Foursquare Institute Office.
Student Eligibility • Must be a high school graduate with a 2.5 GPA or have a GED • Must be active in a certified ELN • Must submit an application for admission to LPC, including a one page essay and a College Readiness Self-Assessment
Dates To Remember Schedule
Fall Semester 2015 Spring Semester 2016
Last Day to Submit Applications* Last Day to Submit Tuition & Course Enrollment Forms* New Student Online Orientation Classes Begin Last Day to Drop Classes with a WP Last Day of Classes
August 31 September 8 September 8-13 September 14 October 23 December 6
January 11 January 19 January 19-24 January 25 March 4 April 17
* These dates are when materials must arrive at LPC. Please allow extra time for shipping.
Online Courses First Year Students Second Year Students
Fall Term
Spring Term
Gm118 Faith for Life Bi113 Intro to Biblical Literature Ev210 Spiritual Gifts & Evangelism So131 Cultures of Ancient Civilizations
Ev110 Multi-Cultural Evangelism Bi101 Pentateuch So230 Marriage & Family Bi216 Synoptic Gospels
All courses are 3 units of semester credit.xtr
a time for shipping.
Application Students will complete a short non-degree seeking application. The application package includes the following items: • A minimum one page essay describing their personal history, salvation experience, and Christian faith. This essay will help to assess their ability to write successfully in college-level courses. • A completed LPC/ELN College Readiness Self-Assessment to help the student determine if he/she is prepared for college-level coursework. • Course enrollment form identifying which course(s) the student is planning to enroll in for the term. • An optional/highly recommended Student Information Release Authorization form allowing LPC to disclose enrollment status and grades to their ELN Director The ELN leadership should collect all student applications with attached essays, self-assessments, and course enrollment forms and send them to the LPC Special Programs Coordinator at one time. Applications must be received at least two weeks before the start date of classes to allow time for application review, admission decisions, and processing. The LPC Special Programs Coordinator will notify ELN leadernship as well as the individual student of acceptance decision by email.
Enrollment A course enrollment form, signed by the student, identifying which course/s the student is planning to enroll in for the term must be submitted with the applications for new students in their first term as well each subsequent term.
Billing and Payment • The LPC Special Programs Coordinator will send one bill for all students to the ELN program. • Payment must be received one week before the start date of the course. Please allow for adequate time to mail payments, as students will not be enrolled in courses until payment is received. • LPC will not reimburse tuition for students who withdraw from a course after the payment deadline.
Online Student Orientation Students who are taking their first online course with LPC must complete the Orientation to Online Courses before the start date of their first course. This orientation ensures that the student understands the structure of the Moodle course management system and how to use its various functions such as submission of documents, online discussion, accessing materials, and tracking progress. • Students will be enrolled in the online Orientation one week before the course start date. • Students should be able to complete the Orientation in 1-2 hours. Please schedule appropriate time for your students to complete the Orientation.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Attendance is measured through participation in the online discussion. • If a student does not participate in the discussion in week one, he/ she will be withdrawn from the course and the course will not appear on his/her transcript. The LPC Special Programs Coordinator will attempt to contact the student and ELN Director (if permission has been granted by the student) and warn of repercussions prior to removal. • If a student does not participate in the online discussion for two straight weeks, or over 50% of the weeks of a course, the instructor will file a faculty initiated withdrawal and the student will receive a WF (instructors are expected to attempt to contact a student prior to filing a faculty initiated withdrawal in order to encourage the student to re-engage the class or initiate a student withdrawal to receive a WP if the course has not exceeded 50%). • This generous online discussion policy is meant to accommodate the busy nature of ELN programs, recognizing that it’s possible students may be impacted by travel or intense church schedules. Students’ grades, however, may be impacted by their inability to participate in weekly discussions. ELN programs are encouraged, as much as possible, to maintain schedules to allow for weekly student engagement online during the 12-week semesters. When students will be unable to participate in online discussions for a full week, they should notify their instructor ahead of time. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 after completion of each term to continue enrolling in courses.
ELN Leader/Director Role • ELN leaders will facilitate students’ application to the program and ensure that the student is enrolling in courses aligned with the ELN program’s schedule. • ELN leaders will process payment of tuition prior to each semester’s deadline. • ELN leaders will ensure students have sufficient access to computers to engage in online cohort discussion and successfully complete their coursework. • ELN leaders should be able to explain the basics of the online course structure to their students, including “when” and “how” to get online and complete their course work. • ELN leaders should schedule sufficient study time so that students can succeed in college-level coursework. • ELN leaders may be asked to facilitate proctored exams. • ELN leaders should intervene with students who are struggling academically. For this reason, it is important for students to sign the Student Information Release Authorization form allowing LPC to disclose enrollment status and grades to their ELN Director. • ELN leaders may request to be added to cohort courses, allowing them to participate in the online discussions with students. • ELN leaders with a Master’s degree in an appropriate field are encouraged to apply for consideration as adjunct faculty to teach selected courses.
FAQ’s Is it possible for a first-year student to take a second-year course, or vice versa, if the student has already successfully completed any of the listed courses? Yes, as long as the student can demonstrate they have already completed the lower level courses. Note that some of the second year courses are sophomore level and are designed for students with some completed college level work. What is the smoothest way to process student enrollment? We suggest the following steps for ELN leaders: • Help each student decide whether or not he or she wants to take courses for credit (use the College Readiness Self-Assessment to aid this discussion) • Determine how many and in which courses you want your students to enroll. • Have each new student who is enrolling in courses for credit complete an application including the one page essay. • Meet with the students as a group and ask them to complete and sign the Course Enrollment form identifying the course/s in which you want them to enroll. • Strongly encourage students to sign the Student Information Release Authorization form allowing LPC to release information to the ELN leadership in order to help them succeed. • Send all completed materials to the LPC Special Programs Coordinator in one package: applications, self-assessments, course enrollment forms, and student information release authorizations. • Process payment as soon as the bill is received, being mindful of due dates and extra time needed for shipping. How do students purchase their textbooks? LPC will provide a list of textbooks for each course at least one month before the classes start. Students may purchase textbooks from the College’s online provider, MBS Direct, or from any other source they prefer. How much will the cost of this program increase in the future? LPC will adjust the ELN tuition for inflation, up to 3% annually. Are student eligible for financial aid? Since the students are not enrolled in a degree program while participating in ELN, no federal or state financial aid is available.
1100 W Covina Boulevard, San Dimas, California 91773
For more information visit us online:
lifepacific.edu/academics/partnerships
