Platform Time-stamps:

All Participation/Postings to online classroom must be completed before 5:00 am Eastern Standard Time. A one-day period will be from 5:01 am EST to 5:00 am EST the following day.

For a Posting or Participation to count for grades or assignments, they must be within this time period.

For example: If a student posts on Tuesday at 4:58 am, it counts as participation on Monday. If the same student posts on Tuesday at 5:05 am, it counts as participation on Tuesday.

Participation Policy

1. Students must contribute to the class discussion in a substantive way at least four (4) out of seven (7) days each week. As a general rule of thumb, students need to post at least 10-15 substantive notes each week above and beyond the posting of assignments to be considered for full participation points. The quality of the postings is most important.

2. Successful online learning requires active discussion area participation. Substantive participation is measured by recording the posting date on which a student makes a substantive classroom posting. Examples of substantive participation do not include posting assignments or a question a student might have for the facilitator or the group. Substantive participation does include responses to discussion questions as well as discourse between students related to the subject matter. Substantive responses must be based upon the course content, theory or personal experiences.not mere opinion. A simple "I agree" will not count. Substantive responses should also include appropriate documentation/citation. The participation point value in the learning experience is defined within each assignment as presented in the assignment pages associated with each course; and/or as directed by the facilitator.

3. Participation in the discussion area must be completed before 5:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. A one-day period is defined as that period of twenty-four (24) hours from 5:01 a.m. EST to 5:00 a.m. EST the following day. For participation to count for grades or assignments, they must be within this time period. If a student participates on Tuesday at 4:58 am, it counts as participation on Monday. If the same student participates on Tuesday at 5:05 a.m. it counts as participation on Tuesday.

4. Students are not required to participate on any specific day; however, all assignments must be posted by the due date. Students may post assignments prior to the due date during the week the assignment is due. The only exception is the first week of class. During the drop/add period of week one, the student must post at least a bio and respond to one discussion question or assignment to be confirmed as a participant in the course. Failure to do this could negatively impact a student's financial aid. Students should receive faculty feedback/grades on assignments within forty-eight (48) hours of an assignment being due. Grades for the prior week are due by Day 3 of the following week.

5. Posting of assignments, emails to students and/or faculty outside of classroom threads does not count as participation.

6. Students are expected to read all discussion area postings. The quality of the student responses will be graded. Students should expect to contribute 10-15 substantive postings each week. Students will earn weekly participation grades based upon the quality of their responses to weekly assignments, including discussion questions.

To determine the number of missed participation opportunities for a student who has not met his or her weekly participation requirements, simply subtract the number of days that the student participated from the 4-day minimum for the 5 1/2 week courses and 3-day minimum for the 11-week courses.

5 1/2 Week Courses
4-7 days of weekly participation 0 days missed participation
3 days of weekly participation 1 day missed participation
2 days of weekly participation 2 days missed participation
1 days of weekly participation 3 days missed participation
0 day of weekly participation 4 days missed participation

11-Week Courses
3-7 days of weekly participation 0 days missed participation
2 days of weekly participation 1 day missed participation
1 days of weekly participation 2 days missed participation

Academic Probation Policy:

Participation Probation notices will be sent to students via email beginning during Week 2. These notices will be sent to students who are not meeting the minimum requirement on participation. When a student has missed a cumulative 4 days of participation, they will receive an email notification of probation warning for lack of participation.

  • For each student that receives a probation notice, the faculty facilitating that course will receive an email communication. This email will contain the student's name, course #, and missed participation days. A restatement of the policy will also be contained in the email.

  • A response button for the faculty to report a suspension/termination for the course will be contained in the email. The policy is: 8 cumulative participation days missed will result in termination due to lack of participation. The faculty member has the right to exempt the student from termination if there are mitigating circumstances, and alternative arrangements have been made. If the faculty needs to report a termination, then he/she will respond to the email by clicking on the appropriate link contained in the email. The link will lead the faculty to submit the suspension/termination notification.

  • The Suspension/Termination notification will be received by the registrar who will enter a grade of "F" for the course into the Student Information System. An email will also be sent to the student notifying the student of the action that has been taken.