BAS News - Distance Education - The University of Iowa

The BAS Bulletin

The newsletter for students admitted to the University of Iowa's

Bachelor of Applied Studies external degree program

Summer 2007

Volume 2, Number 2

Guided Independent Study Courses now Semester Based
BAS Success Story: James Stoneton
Fall 2007 Online Courses Available From Iowa State University
University of Iowa Veterans Association is Here for You
Grant Writing Course Debuts Fall 2007
Dates and Deadlines
Did You Know?
Let us know what you think
Contact Us . . . We're Here to Help You!

Guided Independent Study Courses now Semester Based

Guided Independent Study (GIS) courses are now available only in the semester-based format. Remember that registration must be requested in accordance with The University's fall, spring, and summer registration periods. Here is a summary of the GIS changes:

Enrollment changes:

You must enroll in GIS courses during on-campus registration periods (this includes early registration). For dates see Academic Deadlines Calendar.

You have two academic terms to complete GIS courses, although you may complete the course in one academic term. If you do not complete the course in one academic term, you will automatically receive an “I” for “Incomplete.” You will not have to request an “Incomplete” from an instructor.

Section numbers on GIS courses have changed from GW to EX. View course information on The University's ISIS system. For instructions, see Find a Course.

The EX section number indicates the semester-based rules apply to course registration. See Course Deadlines Lookup.

Billing changes:

You may no longer pay by credit card.

Tuition charges will be charged to your University Bill.

The Cashier's Office offers two payment options:

1. Paying Balance in Full

If you choose to pay the full amount of the contracted items, you will pay the total shown as the "Balance Due" by the date indicated on your bill.

2. Deferred Payment Plan

By paying the Minimum Periodic Payment listed on the billing statement you will automatically become enrolled in this plan. Students will have their contracted items (Tuition, Room and Board) billed in three installments during the Fall and Spring semesters as follows:

Fall Semester - August, September, October

Spring Semester - January, February, March

A $20.00 Deferred Payment Fee will be assessed on the last installment of the semester if you choose this billing option.

During the Summer Semester installments will be billed as follows:

Summer Semester - June, July

A $15.00 Deferred Payment Fee will be assessed on the last installment of the summer semester if you choose this billing option.

BAS Success Story: James Stoneton

James Stoneton is one of two people who graduated this May from the Bachelor of Applied Studies (BAS) program. These are the first two people to graduate from this two-year-old program. Here, James tells about the path that led him to the BAS program. He reports that he is now eligible for a transitional teaching certificate in Maine.

I have attempted to finish a bachelor’s degree at least three times in my life (more if I feel the need to be truly honest). My life has been filled with detours: marriage, 2 daughters and an administrative career.

My original intent when I graduated from high school in 1989 was to become a teacher. My mother is a teacher, my brother is a teacher and my wife is a teacher. I started to work part time as I began college in order to have some spending money. Very slowly, I got sucked into making money and about the time I decided to get married I chucked the college path and chose the career path. Salaried administration, another word for cheap labor! Ten years and two children later, my wife went back to work, and I decided enough was enough--throw out the old career and enter my original one, education.

There was one small problem. I never finished my degree!!! This meant that I wasn’t eligible for certification above an educational technician II. How was I ever going to finish my degree at night with two young children and a wife? My brother had taken several classes from The University of Iowa’s GIS program and suggested it. I tried it and loved it! I took more away from the online format than I ever had in a lecture format, received much better feedback on individual assignments and most important of all, could work it around my schedule.

It became a nightly routine: tuck the kids in, visit with the wife and at 8:30 start working at the computer for 2-3 hours a night. Some classes took me eight weeks (I could accelerate during my vacations), some closer to 20, but not one ever interfered with my role as a father or a husband. I would still be working on my school work, one class at a time if it were not for the flexibility of GIS.

Fall 2007 Online Courses Available From Iowa State University

More information about the courses below may be found through Iowa State University, Continuing Education and Distance Education, Ames, IA 50011. Telephone: 515-294-6222.

Natural Science/Math

Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology 404--Biochemistry I
Biology 101--Introductory Biology
Biology 155--Introduction to the Human Body
Biology 173/Environmental Studies 173--Environmental Biology
Entomology 201--Introduction to Insects
Entomology 211--Insects and Society
Genetics 308/Genetics, Development and Cell Biology 508--Biotechnology in Agriculture, Food, and Human Health

Professional Fields

Food Science and Human Nutrition 101--Food and the Consumer
Horticulture 193F--Topics in Horticulture: Introduction to Horticulture

Social Science

Sociology 134--Introduction to Sociology
Sociology 341/Criminal Justice Studies 341--Criminology
Sociology 352/Criminal Justice Studies 352--Punishment, Corrections and Society
Sociology 484--Topical Studies in Criminal and Juvenile Justice: Ethics in the U.S. Criminal Justice System
Political Science 413/513--Intergovernmental Relations

For information on enrollment, cost and start date link to: http://www.lifelearner.iastate.edu/

Veterans: The University of Iowa Veterans Association is Here for You

Web site: http://www.uiowa.edu/~uiva/

Address: Room 203 Communications Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242

Telephone: (319) 384-2020

The University of Iowa Veterans Association (UIVA) is a group of Veterans and others interested in helping newly arrived veterans or returning reservists at the University of Iowa to adjust and integrate into University life. Additionally, the group plans to support everyone still serving in the armed forces and their families, and to raise the awareness of fellow students of the sacrifices being made on their behalf every single day. This is not a pro-war or anti-war group; it is a pro-service member group plain and simple, so people of all political ideologies are welcome.

This UIVA Newsletter was created with the intent to inform student veterans of issues and news affecting the veterans’ community, raise awareness of opportunities and activities for veterans on and off campus, and further serve the University of Iowa Veterans Association by being one more resource for veterans on campus to use to get the most from their college experience.

The Newsletter offers advice and information including the following summary in a recent issue from a meeting with Kelly Carrell, a counselor in the UI Office of Student Financial Aid:

Financial Aid Tips

After completing FAFSA you should receive a postcard from UI confirming.
If you receive no postcard confirming your FAFSA, CALL the UI Office of Financial Aid at (319) 335-1450 or (800) 553-4642.
Remember you also have to turn in a copy of your Tax Return and a UI 2007-2008 Verification Form for Self-Supporting Students (can be found on ISIS in Student Records: Financial Aid).
Montgomery GI Bill doesn’t affect your eligibility for subsidized loans.
If you recently have separated from Military Service, that counts as loss of employment under Special Circumstances on #17 on the Verification Form.
Be upfront and honest; if you aren’t they can take money back.

Independent Student

As a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, you are automatically a self-supporting student and are eligible for more assistance. If you are a National Guard or Reserve member, you are eligible if you have been on active duty for as little as a day. If not, you also qualify if you:

[W]ere born before January 1, 1984, enrolled in a graduate or professional program at the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year, legally married on the day you file the FAFSA, an orphan or ward of the court (or have been until age 18), have children who receive more than half of their support from you, have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and receive more than half of their support from you, from the date you file through FAFSA through June 30.

Online Grant Writing Course Debuts Fall 07

A new distance education course debuts in fall 2007. 01P:185/024:170 Grant Writing in the Arts will be available for 3 semester hours. You may view a description via ISIS.

The course will be offered on the World Wide Web, and students will take part in interactive meetings with the instructor every other week using virtual classroom technology.

Offered interdepartmentally by the School of Art and Art History, the course has been developed as part of the Certificate in Nonprofit Management program. Students in the Bachelor of Applied Studies and Bachelor of Liberal Studies external degree programs may incorporate the certificate courses into their degree work. Students not in the nonprofit certificate program are also welcome to register.

The fall semester runs from August 27 through December 21. Students may register online by going to The University’s ISIS system. You must have an active Hawk ID and password to access the registration system.

Dates and Deadlines

July 1	Last date to apply for Division of Continuing Education scholarship for fall session.
July 17	Last date for undergraduates to drop individual semester-length courses or withdraw entire registration of semester-based summer session.
July 18	GIS course work due for summer '07 session grades.
July 20	Last date to file second-grade-only option.
August 27	Start of fall semester.
October 16	Undergraduate degree application deadline for December 2007 graduation.

For additional academic dates and deadlines please see: http://www.registrar.uiowa.edu/calendars/academic.aspx

Did You Know?

In order to validate your admission to the Bachelor of Applied Studies degree program, you need to complete a University of Iowa course within 18 months of your admission date. After this date, you'll need to reapply for admission, and pay the admission fee again. Please note: beginning with students admitted for fall 2007 this timeframe will changed to 12 months.

You can look up your Hawk ID at https://login.uiowa.edu/uip/hawkid-lookup.page. If you've forgotten your password, or if it’s expired, you'll need to contact the ITS (Information Technology Services) Help Desk at 319-384-HELP or 4357 to have it reset. You may call our office toll-free at 800-272-6430, and select the transfer option to the ITS Help Desk. They will not reset passwords by e-mail.

For your protection, passwords expire every 6 months. If you set up the Self-Service Password Reset tool at http://hawkid.uiowa.edu/ you'll be able to reset your own password in the future, even if you forget it and University offices are closed!

A limited number of scholarships covering tuition for one academic credit course in the Division of Continuing Education (Saturday & Evening Classes, term-based Distance Education, or Guided Independent Study) are available. Priority is given to students in degree programs supported by course work offered through the Division of Continuing Education. In addition to degree objective, financial need and academic achievement are taken into account in awarding scholarships. Check out eligibility guidelines, application deadlines, and print out a form at: http://www.continuetolearn.uiowa.edu/ccp/studserv/ss_scholarships.htm

BAS students who are also University of Iowa staff members may be eligible to apply for funding support from the Robert F. Ray Staff Scholarship offered through the Division of Continuing Education. Check out eligibility guidelines, application deadline, and print out a form at: http://www.continuetolearn.uiowa.edu/ccp/stuserv/ss_scholarships.htm

Registered students in UI courses have full student privileges at The University of Iowa Libraries. Privileges include access to the Libraries' restricted databases and document-delivery and reference services. Check out the details at: http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/disted/

Hundreds of non-credit professional development courses are available free to registered University of Iowa students via SkillSoft. Topics include software programs, management, human resources, financial planning, workplace safety and more.

Let us know what you think

The University of Iowa Bachelor of Applied Studies external degree program, approved by The Iowa Board of Regents in June 2005, continues to grow. In addition to individualized contact with each of you, we've created this newsletter as a tool to communicate with all students in the BAS program about topics of common concern. The Bulletin is issued in the fall, spring, and summer each academic year. Each edition will provide you with timely information and include articles we hope you'll find interesting. Please let us know what you would like to see included!

The Center for Credit Programs

Division of Continuing Education

The University of Iowa

116 International Center

Iowa City IA 52242

800-272-6430 or 319-335-2575

Nancy Romine, Academic Counselor
800-272-6430 or 319-335-2040
nancy-romine@uiowa.edu

Dian Gottlob, Program Director
800-272-6430 or 319-335-2035
dian-gottlob@uiowa.edu