advising@uopeople.

edu

Username (Student ID#): S272864

Password (initial): A1Y21T5 (password is case sensitive)

UoPeople Time is (GMT-5 time zone)

Because at UoPeople, Wednesday is the end of the Learning Week.

everything has to be submitted, rated or “turned-in" by Wednesday at 11:55pm

UoPeople Time (GMT-5 time zone)

Option A) 3 hours a day for 5 days

Option B) 6 hours a day on Saturday and Sunday, along with one hour during 3
other days
Option C) 4 hours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, along with one hour during 3
other days
Option D) Any other combination of 15 hours that works for you mapped out
Thursday-Wednesday

Each week you’ll see one unit. We can see the first week’s unit and next week,
you will have unit two, on the third week you will have unit three.

Moodle Support
Moodle Support is available to registered students through email at support@uopeople.edu. In order
to troubleshoot the problem, students are asked to include the following information in the e-mail:
1. Student ID number and the student’s first and last names
2. The course number and the course name (example: BUS 1103 Microeconomics).
3. Provide a brief description about what happened when the error occurred.
4. Include any error messages received. Another option is for students to press the ‘print screen’
button (located on the upper right corner of most keyboards) and copy and paste the image into the
body of the email.
5. Record the exact time (University of the People time) that the error occurred. 
Also, reaching out to your program advisor is also a great way to get your questions
answered. 

Here's a bit more about Yammer.  You can use the UoPeople Yammer network to:
1) Meet and communicate with others in the larger UoPeople community.
2) Join online groups, interest groups, UoPeople groups (there are many to choose from) to keep all
conversations, updates, and files for a project in one place.
3) Create your own groups.
4) Ask questions, share status updates, ideas, news and get to feel like you are on a campus!
Do I have to join Yammer?
No, participation in Yammer is optional. 

Yammer Support
All questions about Yammer should be directed to outreach@uopeople.edu

Access to the Library - LIRN and JSTOR

Do’s and Don’t’s for a University Classroom

 DON'T plagiarize. 
 DO use citations.
 DON'T miss class. Each class covers a great deal of material and attendance may affect your
grade as well. 
 DO ask questions in class.
 DO take notes. Your notes are as important as your textbooks. Also, note taking helps commit
new information to memory.
 DON'T use inappropriate language. 
 DO be respectful to your instructors and peers. 
 DON'T treat your peers as your competitors. Help them and be a team player.
 DO your homework. University courses cover a great deal of material, and have reading
assignments that students are expected to do in their own time. Coming to class without having
done these assignments is like missing a class
 DON'T ignore the deadlines. Manage your time properly to meet your deadlines. 
 DO be sensitive to different cultures. 
 When necessary, DO give constructive criticism.

Academic Year
American colleges and universities operate on an academic year that runs from Autumn to Spring.
 

America University Dictionary – Important Terms and Concepts

Academic Advisor – an individual whose job it is to help students navigate the challenges of
college/university and make plans for their academic and professional careers (also called Program
Advisor).
 
Associate Degree – a type of undergraduate degree. Typically completed in two years, this degree
prepares students to continue studying at the bachelor’s degree level.
 
Bachelor’s Degree – a type of undergraduate degree. Typically completed in four years, this degree
educates students in a broad range of general academic areas as well as in a chosen major.
 
College versus University – both colleges and universities are institutions of higher education.
While a college will only offer a bachelor’s degree, a university will include both undergraduate and
graduate programs.
 
Credits – all undergraduate degree programs, as well as master’s degree programs, will require
students to complete a certain amount of credits. Each course will give students a certain number of
credits towards their degree.
 
Dean- the head of a college or university department. For example, “Dean of Admissions.”
 
Diploma - a certificate showing that a student has graduated from a course of study with a certain
qualification. There are high school diplomas as well as undergraduate and graduate degree
diplomas.
 
Dissertation – a work of original research and scholarship to be presented by Ph.D. students.
 
Freshman – an individual in their first year of a bachelor’s degree program.
 
GPA – Grade Point Average. The calculated average of a student’s grades from high school or
college/university. From 0.0 to 4.0.
 
CGPA – Cumulative Grade Point Average. The average of Grade Points obtained in all the subjects
excluding additional sixth subject as per Scheme of Studies. 
 
Higher Education – This term refers to education at the college/university level.
 
Junior – an individual in their third year of a bachelor’s degree program.
 
Major – a student’s chosen area of study during undergraduate studies.
 
Master’s Degree – a type of graduate degree. Completed in one to three years, a master’s degree
offers a specialized education in a specific area of study.
 
Ph.D. – a type of graduate degree. This intensive course of study involves the completion of an
original dissertation.
 
Elementary School – The earliest level of formal schooling in the American system, starting at age
5 and lasting six years.
 
Secondary School – The second level of schooling in the American system, including middle
school and high school. Upon completion of high school, students receive a diploma and are
qualified to continue to higher education.
 
Senior– an individual in their fourth year of a bachelor’s degree program.
 
Sophomore– an individual in their second year of a bachelor’s degree program.
 
Syllabus– an outline of topics covered in a college or university course, including units of study,
texts, and assignments.
 
Teacher/Professor/Instructor - instructors in high school are typically referred to as teachers, while
college and university instructors are typically known as instructors or professors.
 
Thesis – an intensive research paper, often required by master’s degree programs.
 
Transcript – an official record of one’s past academic experience and grades.
 
Transfer - to transfer is to switch from one college or university to another. Students who enter a
college or university as a transfer student may find that many of their credits transfer with them.
 
Tuition – the cost of college or university. Tuition refers to the cost of education itself, but does not
include other costs such as housing, learning materials, application fees, examination fees, etc.
 
Tutor– an individual who helps students prepare for courses and develop their grasp of course
material. Tutors may be professionals or assigned through peer-tutoring systems.
 
Withdrawal - withdrawal from a college or university program refers to temporarily or permanently
leaving the program before completing it.

Click the 'next' arrow to your right or click here to move on to the next reading which is called
'Understand the Basics of American e-learning Technology'. 
Role of the Online Instructor and Faculty
What exactly is the role of your online instructors and faculty?

 To be present and to be engaged. Instructors are encouraged to come online to check on

their students at least once every 2 days.

 To be responsive to students through email or Moodle.

 To be a mentor, especially for new students.

 To be effective written communicators. Constructive feedback is important at UoPeople.

 To bring their own experience and own knowledge to the course.

 Post updates, announcements and reminders.

 Kick off the weekly discussion.

 Because it is asynchronous, there is no live interaction. However, instructors should be

active.

 Grading.

 Help out with grading and problems during Peer Assessment.

 To be responsive to the school.

University Offices and Helpful Resources

The University of the People encourages all admitted and prospective students to
contact the relevant University office for any assistance and clarification of
policies and procedures.
If you ever have a question or need help with something, you can always reach
out to your program advisor or course instructor. 
Program Advising Office
The Program Advising Office is designed to be a partnership between Program Advisors and
students whereby every incoming student is assigned a personal Program Advisor who remains their
single point of contact for academic and administrative support throughout their studies at UoPeople.
Program Advisors work with students at University of the People to answer questions and respond to
concerns about academic progress, goals in attaining their degrees from the University, and
challenges and decisions that need to be made throughout their academic studies.
Students may reach out to their personal Program Advisor as often as needed, but are advised to be
in touch at least once a year to monitor degree progress; Program Advisors can be reached at their
personal email address or at advising@uopeople.edu.
Financial Aid Office
The Financial Aid Office reviews and processes requests from applicants seeking grants to help with
the Application Processing Fee and from applicants and enrollees seeking scholarship support to
assist with the Course Assessment Fees. The Financial Aid Office can be reached
at financial.aid@uopeople.edu.
Office of Academic Affairs
The Office of Academic Affairs oversees all aspects of the curriculum with a primary commitment to
creating a dynamic atmosphere for student learning and success. In assisting students with advice
pertaining to their academic studies and information regarding academic policies and procedures,
Academic Affairs provides guidance and leadership to assist students in solving academic-related
problems within their courses, including such things as peer assessment issues, communication with
Course Instructors, and other general course-related issues.
UoPeople Course Instructors are available to students via email throughout the academic year and
students who have academic-related questions should contact their Course Instructor first.
Instructors respond to students within 72 hours and usually sooner, but there may be technical
difficulties. Students who have not heard back from their Course Instructor within 48 hours should
contact their personal Program Advisor for additional support.
Peer Assessment Office
The Peer Assessment Office (PAO) is resource center for students at the University in Moodle
devoted to supporting students as they navigate the peer-to-peer learning and assessment
processes. Peer Assessment Advisors and Peer Assessment Student Advisors are available to help
students to become more proficient in the processes at UoPeople.
The PAO is accessed via the Learning Resource Center (LRC); participation, however, is optional at
all times. Students who do not wish to have access to the PAO may send this request to the Office
of Academic Affairs at academic.affairs@uopeople.edu.
Degree Seeking Students are invited to participate in the PAO, and participants are required to
follow all the rules and regulations outlined in the Catalog and posted in the PAO. Inappropriate
postings violating the General Code of Conduct and/or the Code of Academic Integrity will be
removed from the PAO, and students with repeated violations will no longer be given access to the
center. All violations are grounds for disciplinary action.
Office of Student Affairs
The Dean’s Office in the Office of Student Affairs (student.affairs@uopeople.edu) oversees the
review of Satisfactory Academic Progress, the naming of students to the President’s, Dean’s and
Honor’s List, UoPeople Partnership nominations, and supports students who may be encountering
or anticipating academic difficulties, or may require special assistance in completing their
requirements for graduation.
Office of Student Services
The Office of Student Services forms part of a comprehensive network of services at the University
designed to support and help students throughout their studies. Student Services maintains all
student records and supports students with both administrative and academic services in
consultation with other offices in the University, responsibly implementing university policies and
procedures, degree audits, and the conferment of university degrees.
Office of Admissions
The Office of Admissions oversees the admissions process for prospective and current applicants to
the University, including the processing of all applications for admission to UoPeople's degree
programs. Providing assistance and guidance regarding all admissions requirements, the Office of
Admissions answers questions regarding prospective students’ applications and provides updates
on their applicant status. More information about the admissions process can be found in Chapter 3;
interested parties can reach the Office of Admissions at admissions@uopeople.edu.
Outreach Office
The Outreach Department works hard to ensure that applicants around the world are able to access
the opportunities UoPeople offers to study online, accredited and tuition-free. The Outreach Office
can be reached at outreach@uopeople.edu.
Payments Office
The Payment Office oversees the processing of payments for both Application and Course
Assessment Fees at UoPeople. Also working in conjunction with the Financial Aid Office, the
Payments Office processes and reconciles scholarship payments for students unable to pay Course
Assessment Fees.
For questions regarding payments including payment methods, amounts payable, and payment
deadlines, applicants and students may contact the Payments Office at payments@uopeople.edu. 
Career Service Center
University of the People’s Career Service Center offers career guidance and advising for
professional discovery and success both during and following the completion of a UoPeople degree.
The University of the People Career Service Center offers students’ comprehensive, expert
guidance as well as tools to improve vital professional skills pertinent to the business world,
including: 

 Resume building and cover letter writing

 Job searching skills
 Interviewing techniques
 Professional networking skills
 Career planning in the area of one’s major 

The Career Service Center is accessible to students throughout the course of their studies, as well
as after they graduate. Whether students are thinking about their first professional job in the
workplace, wish to enhance their skills in their current field, or are considering a career change, the
Career Service Center offers vital tools to help them succeed. Students enrolled at UoPeople may
access UoPeople’s career development services at http://www.uopeople.edu/student-
experience/quality/career- development/.
Note that select Career Service Center initiatives are still being designed and are not yet available.
Internship Opportunities
University of the People provides access to a number of different internship opportunities offered by
internationally recognized corporations and organizations. Participating in online internships in a
variety of sectors, students gain invaluable work experience and networking opportunities.
All internship opportunities consist of defined projects within the host’s organization, creating
valuable learning opportunities for the student. Internships opportunities are available to all current
UoPeople students and are announced by email over the course of their studies.
Mentorships
The University of the People Mentorship Program brings students and professionals together for
mentoring. Students are provided with individualized, one-on-one professional guidance from
industry leaders working at some of the top companies worldwide. The mentorship program is
designed to enrich students’ studies, offering them an opportunity to apply concepts learnt to real-life
settings. The mentorship program allows students to gain insight into specific job and career paths,
as well as develop their personal and professional skills, and build career goals.
Global Employment Network
Networking is vital in the quest to build a successful career, no matter what the field. At UoPeople
our international community of faculty and students provides a global networking community. With
faculty hailing from some of the top universities, corporations and foundations worldwide, and
students hailing from over 180 countries, the networking potential at UoPeople is immense! Our
global employment network aids in broadening the career opportunities as well as strengthening the
career options for our students, providing each student with a classroom of international learners
and peers to create an extensive professional network. Outside the classroom, UoPeople partners
with world renowned corporations offering excellent networking opportunities for our students, which
in turn, broadens their employment opportunities. UoPeople develops students’ networking abilities
as participants in a thriving global community. Combined with internship and mentorship programs,
students gain the skills to utilize these connections, in real life work experience. 
Library Resources and Services
UoPeople belongs to the Library and Information Resource Network (LIRN), a consortium of
institutions that makes available to its members a rich and powerful collection of resources including
over 60 million journal articles, books, encyclopedias, newspapers, magazines, and audio and video
clips. Students gain access to the ProQuest online data bases and GALE databases through LIRN.
UoPeople also subscribes to JSTOR giving students online access to a wide array of journals to
support research, writing and learning activities. JSTOR too can be accessed directly within Moodle
and includes access to more than 2,300 academic journals and more than 50 million digitized pages.
All University of the People instructional personnel and enrolled students may use these resources
free of charge. Additionally, students are provided at no charge with other open education resources
including textbooks and course materials.
For questions or suggestions regarding the University of the People Library and Resource Center,
including LIRN or open educational resources, students may contact UoPeople’s Director of Library
Services at library@uopeople.edu.
Learning Resource Center (LRC)
The UoPeople Learning Resource Center (LRC)is a resource center for students who wish to
improve their general and academic writing skills through peer sharing and the development of
strategies and knowledge to cultivate success as writers. In accessing resources in the form of
guides on the writing process, research methods, ESL, APA format, and best practices to avoid
plagiarism, the LRC helps students develop and further polish their writing and editing skills.
The LRC is an optional resource for students at UoPeople.
Computing and Networking Services and Requirements
Although Moodle and Class Forums are not open to public access, students should note that these
online spaces are neither private nor confidential. Neither students nor instructional personnel
should assume privacy when communicating in the Virtual Learning Environment. The University
may access and observe communications conducted in the Virtual Learning Environment for
regulatory, accreditation, research, and other administrative purposes such as enforcing the General
Code of Conduct, including investigating allegations of misconduct, suspected misconduct or other
complaints. Additionally, the University of the People may provide limited access to learning
resources to individuals other than students, alumni, instructional personnel, and staff.
Contact Information for Students
The primary form of official communication from University of the People is through e-mail. Students
are required to maintain active e-mail addresses and are responsible for keeping their contact
information accurate and current. Students should note that the email address they used to apply to
the University of the People is the one maintained by the Office of Student Services unless they
have subsequently submitted a request to change their email address. Students wishing to update
any of their contact information should contact their personal Program Advisor with the following
information: the student’s full name including both the first and last name, the student’s ID number,
and any details to be updated.
Students should note that any change of contact information on Moodle at http://my.uopeople.edu is
not considered a formal change of contact information. Finally, to ensure receipt of important
announcements from the University, students should check that spam filters are set to receive email
from University of the People.
Student Login Username and Password
Each student is assigned a designated username and password to log into the University of the
People Online Learning Platform (Moodle) and courses. UoPeople students with technical issues
related to Moodle Support should contact support@uopeople.edu for assistance with login problems.
Students’ usernames and passwords are vital for the security of a student’s work. The responsibility
for all activities carried out under a student’s username rests solely with that student. Please ensure
you keep your password secret and do not give it to anyone else.
Other
UoPeople does not currently offer the following services: Student ID cards, a graduation ceremony,
or counseling services.
Disability Policy
University of the People recognizes and accepts its obligations under the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990 (as amended), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended),
requiring the University to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified disabled students in its
educational programs.
Applicants with questions about disability accommodations should confer with their Admissions
Advisor.
Students admitted to the University with a disability requiring reasonable academic accommodations
may submit a Disability Accommodation application to the Office of Student Services
at student.services@uopeople.edu and it will be directed to the Disability Services Committee.
Students will receive written notification by the Office of Student Services of accommodations
offered and/or denied within six weeks.
UoPeople is committed to maintaining the confidentiality of all student records related to requests for
disability accommodations.

Language Barriers and Culture Shock

If this is your first experience with an American university, you might experience a language barrier
or culture shock at the beginning of your studies. Don't be discouraged! Here are some tips to help
you out:
Overcoming Language Barriers

 Utilize our writing center (Online Student Writing Center)! There you will find writing
assistants who are also instructors and offer resources. 

 Links in Online Education Strategies course to Purdue OWL website

 Check out this article on Language Barriers and Culture Shock in eLearning!

Overcoming Culture Shock

cul·ture shock

noun

1. the feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to an

unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes.

 Be prepared that UoPeople is a diverse university with students from all over the world with
all different perspectives. Understanding is key. 
 What is Culture Shock, and What Can I do to Avoid it?

First, what is a Learning Journal?

In each UoPeople course your Course Instructors may choose to assign specific topics and/or
relevant questions as a weekly Learning Journal entry for students to complete.  The Learning
Journal is seen only by your Course Instructor. Some instructors might use this space to ask you a
purely reflective question about the material, to write questions that you may have encountered,
and/or share what you thought was exciting in your weekly learning. Other instructors might use this
area to give specific questions that will expand your knowledge of the learning through practice or
research based exercises. Regardless of the question or exercise, please remember to always use
proper citations and references when using someone else’s words or thoughts (for example, a quote
or an idea you read during your research).
Learning Journal Question:
Do you feel that you understand how the American academic system runs? Are you worried or do
you feel confident about understanding the material covered on the topic of the American academic
system?

UNIT 2
Reading Assignment
So let's begin to think about academic writing systematically.  Here are 8 questions to
review every time you sit down to write.  They are guiding principles for you as you
begin your studies at UoPeople, and our hope is that you will use them so often that
you end up knowing them intrinsically and instinctually; until then treat this like as a
check list to review before you start writing. 

1. Do I understand the assignment? 

It may seem obvious, but always review the instructions for your writing
assignment once, twice, or even three times to be sure you understand what
you're supposed to do.          

2. Have you completed all the readings for the week first?
Reading always comes before writing.  It's the 'official' unofficial rule.  If you're
trying to do it in the reverse order, think again, especially if you are supposed to
comment on an article or reading and have not yet done the reading. 

3. Is there anything about the reading or assignment that I just really do not
get/understand?

It's hard to write when you are not sure you understand the reading and/or the
assignment instructions; if that's the case, you should ask a classmate or your
Course Instructor for assistance.  The best place to ask a question to all your
classmates is in the Course Forum.

4. Do I know what I want to say?

If you sit down to write and don't know what you want to say, you usually end up
sitting for some time and write without any direction at all, or writing in circles. 

Better to stop and pause to think before you start writing.  Many people like to
think aloud as if they are having a conversation with themselves.  You may ask
yourself, "Okay, what is the assignment again, and what are my own ideas about
the topic?  What other ideas have been introduced to us this week in the reading
or in previous weeks?” 
 Talk it out; think before you start writing to try to pull together your thoughts
into some kind of coherent way; it doesn't have to be super coherent, but you
should know what you're trying to say, more or less. 

5. Do I have enough time to let whatever I have just written 'sit' for a bit?  That
is, have you left enough time to edit what you wrote?

Usually when we write, the writing is rough and needs some fine tuning and
polishing.  Or perhaps your thoughts are just not fully formed and you just need
some further time to rework your ideas. 

Time away from your writing is always best.  If you write a draft and even just
walk away for an hour and come back, usually you can see some obvious ways to
edit and clarify what you have earlier written. 

So going away and coming back to your writing is the #1 writing tip we can
recommend to you.  This is why writing at the last minute is not a great approach;
usually your best editing comes after you've stepped away from what you've
written for even just a little while. 

And you'll always want to edit anything you submit, at least a few times, until it
seems ready.

6. Have I successfully quoted or paraphrased ideas that are not my own, and
given credit where credit is due? 

If you're not sure whether you may be in violation of the Code of Academic
Integrity, go back and check before you submit anything.  You should surely be
able to know if what you've written doesn't seem like your own writing, and/or
you've used other ideas without citing the references.

Golden Rule:  if your paper does not sound like you, it means you have been
using too much of the writing of others and inserted it into your document. 
Sometimes we do that because we've got a reading in front of us and the way the
other person has written it sounds so great.  But stop immediately and go back;
delete their words and write them in your voice/words and with your own
explanation, and be sure to quote anything you want to directly quote from a
text using the standard APA Style. 

And then run your paper through an online plagiarism checker. This one or this
one. 
 7. Have I referenced the articles/websites/books etc in my paper?

UoPeople follows the APA Style.  If you're not sure how to cite the source in your
paper, refer to the OWL (Online Writing Lab) Citation Chart below from Purdue
University: 2014 OWL Citation Chart 

8. Have I proofread the entire document before submitting my assignment?

This is key and please don't skip the proofreading step.

We recommend, if you can, to read your paper aloud to hear if your sentences
make sense to you.  This process will help you be sure that what you want to
submit is really what you want to submit.  This may seem obvious, but doing one
last 'once-over' of the document should never be skipped and so often is.  Some
people call this step 'dotting their i's and crossing their t's which is just another
way of saying that you should make sure everything looks just right.

So to be sure everything you write is really sharp and proofread; read through
everything one last time before submitting your work.

Golden Rule: Post Early!

If there were a list of golden rules at UoPeople, one of the first would surely be: post
early and do not wait until the last minute!

Remember too that if you run into difficulties, be sure to let your Course Instructor know what's
going on.

 Every Thursday, your instructor will post discussion questions. You will do the
readings and then start answering the questions by hitting reply.

 You will Peer Assess three other students.  

A key aspect of peer-to-peer learning is that you are (1) given the opportunity to learn
collaboratively by doing an assignment and then (2) given the chance to review your classmates’
assignments.
So 'Where' does Peer Assessment happen exactly?

Each course will list your requirements for the week in the Learning Guide. The two areas
where you will complete peer assessment are:

(1) on your peers' assignments, and

(2) on at least three of your peers' Discussion Assignment posts in the Discussion Forum.

1 - Peer Assessment with Assignments

Each week you will be required to submit an assignment by the end of a Learning Week
which is always on Wednesday. A week later, you will be required to peer-assess three
(3)* of your classmates’ assignments (that had been submitted from the previous week)
according to the instructions found in the Assessment Form. Moodle will group you
randomly after the due date for the assignment so that you can assess each other. It is
an anonymous assessment, and you will not know whom you are assessing. You will do
your peer assessment in the feedback section of the Assessment Form. There, you will
say why you awarded the grade that you did to your peer.

* Very rarely you might see more than three assignments to assess. Please ignore the
extra ones. Again, you are only required to peer-assess three.

How does the grading work?

First, let's clarify that you will receive two grades for your weekly Written/Programming
Assignment: one for the assignment you submitted the previous week, and the other
based on the quality of the peer assessments you made the second week while
reviewing your peers' assignments.

 The submission assignment grade is based upon the average score your peers
gave you for that assignment. This grade is usually based out of 90 points.
  The assessment grade is based on how close you were to your peers when you
assessed your grouped assignments for the week.  This is performed by Moodle’s
algorithm.  This grade is usually based out of 10 points.
 Note: Peer assessment, although important to success, does not make the
majority of one’s grade.  Individual work effort accounts for a larger portion
overall.

To summarize: Peer assessments on the discussion posts happen the same week that you
are completing the Discussion Assignment, whereas peer assessment on unit Assignments
always happens a week later.

When you email your instructor, be sure to include detailed information such as the course you
are taking (as some instructors teach more than one course), the Assignment #, Week #,
Discussion Forum #, dates of both threads and responses, and then you will want to briefly share
why you believe you’ve been unfairly assessed.

Is Peer Assessment Required?

Peer assessment is a requirement of the course. If you do not assess your peers, you are
not performing the entire assignment task, and you risk failure for that assignment and
the course. Further, by not assessing others, you are telling them that their hard work is
not worth your time in reviewing. This is counter to the philosophy of education as a
human right, a philosophy upon which the university is built.
What if I Need Additional Help and Support with Peer Assessment?

There is a Peer Assessment Office (PAO) at UoPeople to help students fine-tune their
peer assessment skills.  This office will be open and available after week three, once you
begin your studies at UoPeople. You can find this office by going to the Learning
Resource Center (LRC). If you cannot find this resource, please contact your Program
Advisor for assistance.

Academic Integrity is one of the four core values of UoPeople. As stated in the Code of
Academic Integrity (See the UoPeople Catalog):

Discussion Forum Rating Guidelines:

10 (A) - Excellent, substantial, relevant, insightful, enriching, and stimulating
contribution to the discussion. Also, uses external resources to support position where
required and/or applicable.
8 - 9 (B) - Good, quite substantial and insightful, but missing minor details which would
have otherwise characterized it as an excellent response.
6 - 7 (C) - Satisfactory insight and relevance, but required some more information and
effort to have warranted a better rating.
4 - 5 (D) - Limited insight and relevance of the material; more effort and reflection
needed to have warranted a satisfactory grading.
0 - 3 (F) - Unsatisfactory insight/relevance or failure to answer the question, reflecting a
poor or limited understanding of the subject matter and/or the guidelines of the
question.

If at any time you suspect that a post in this Discussion Forum violates UoPeople's rules
regarding plagiarism and/or any aspect of UoPeople’s Academic Code of Conduct,
please notify your instructor immediately.

Remember that your instructor will be reviewing responses, ratings, and comments -
and will adjust ratings if he/she believes that they do not seem warranted or
supportable.

During regular UoPeople courses, all your weekly Learning Journal prompts will appear
here, as well as in the corresponding Learning Guide chapter. Unlike Assignments,
Learning Journals are instructor assessed, not peer assessed.
 Unit 3

The UoPeople MBA is entirely online and is structured around three curricular components: Core
Courses, Electives, and the Capstone Project. The three components are described below.

Core Courses

The Core consists of eight courses covering the theory, principles, concepts, and tools of
the academic disciplines that undergird the field of management. Taught from a global
perspective, they build the competencies that students need whether they are involved
in the private, public or nonprofit sector.

 BUS 5110 Managerial Accounting

 BUS 5111 Financial Management
 BUS 5112 Marketing Management
 BUS 5113 Organization Theory and Behavior
 BUS 5114 Management Information Systems and Technology
 BUS 5115 Business Law, Ethics and Social Responsibility
 BUS 5116 Operations Management
 BUS 5117 Strategic Decision Making and Management

Electives
Electives enable students to select coursework tailored to personal interests and offer
the opportunity to acquire breadth beyond that specified in the course courses.
Students can shape this unstructured exploration to satisfy their intellectual curiosity
and individual academic needs by choosing electives to reflect individual interests and
provide the flexibility to explore in areas of interest while ensuring that primary
academic skills are being developed. Choices can be made to gain breadth in general
management competencies or to develop depth in some particular area. Students
complete at least three elective courses chosen from the following:

 BUS 5211 Managing in the Global Economy

 BUS 5411 Leading in Today’s Dynamic Contexts
 BUS 5511 Human Resource Management
 BUS 5611 Managing Projects and Programs
Capstone Project
The Capstone Project, BUS 5910 Management Capstone, is completed as the final
course in a student’s program of study. It offers student the opportunity to apply the
knowledge and research skills gained in their MBA coursework to an applied
management project. Students present a final research product at the conclusion of the
course.

Group Projects
Most MBA courses include working in subgroups on a project. This video tutorial can
guide you.

What is a period of separation?

A period of separation includes any time a student is out of residence – that is, not
studying at UoPeople/inactive at the University— which includes being either
unenrolled from UoPeople, and/or enrolled at UoPeople without completing any course
work in the intervening terms, and/or on a Leave of Absence.

Note that the time granted for your inactivity at UoPeople will not count against the total time
allowed to complete the degree.

Good Standing
Students in the undergraduate program maintaining a minimum CGPA of 2.00 are in
good standing.

Students in a Graduate Degree program maintaining a minimum CGPA of 2.50 are in

good standing.

Academic Warning
Students in the undergraduate programs who had been in good standing in the
previous term and whose minimum cumulative GPA drops to below 2.00 at the end of
the current term are placed on Academic Warning. Students on Academic Warning who
meet or exceed a 2.00 cumulative GPA during the subsequent term return to good
standing.

Students in a Graduate Degree program who had been in good standing in the previous
term and whose minimum cumulative GPA drops to below 2.50 at the end of the current
term are placed on Academic Warning. Students on Academic Warning who meet or
exceed a 2.50 cumulative GPA during the subsequent term return to good standing.

Students on Academic Warning are encouraged to be in contact with their personal

Program Advisor.

Academic Probation
Students in the undergraduate programs who had been on Academic Warning in the
previous term and whose minimum cumulative GPA continues to be below 2.00 at the
end of the current term are placed on Academic Probation. Students on Academic
Probation that meet or exceed a 2.00 cumulative GPA during the subsequent term
return to good standing.

Students on Academic Probation are encouraged to be in contact with their personal

Program Advisor.

Probation Continued
Students on Academic Probation who failed to achieve a CGPA of 2.00 at the end of the
preceding term but who did earn a 2.00 GPA or better are placed on Probation
Continued. They may stay on Probation Continued as long as they earn a minimum GPA
of 2.00 in each subsequent term until their CGPA reaches a 2.00. If students on
Probation Continued fail to achieve a 2.00 GPA, they are dismissed from the University.

Degree Seeking Students on Probation Continued are encouraged to be in contact with

their personal Program Advisor.

Academic Dismissal
Students in the undergraduate programs who had been on Academic Probation or
Probation Continued in the previous term and whose minimum cumulative GPA
continues to be below 2.00 at the end of the current term, are dismissed from the
University. In some cases, and at the sole discretion of the Dean of Student Affairs and
the Student Affairs Committee, Degree Seeking Students only may instead be placed on
Probation Continued status or Academic Suspension.

Students in a Graduate Degree program who had been on Academic Warning in the
previous term and whose minimum cumulative GPA continues to be below 2.50 at the
end of the current term, are dismissed from the University. In some cases, and at the
sole discretion of the Dean of Student Affairs and the Student Affairs Committee,
Degree Seeking Students only may instead be placed on Probation Continued status or
Academic Suspension.
Academic Dismissal is a permanent separation from the University, and means a student
may not enroll in any succeeding term unless given permission by the Student Affairs
Committee pursuant to the appeals process.

Academic Dismissal and Suspension Appeals

Dismissal and suspension appeals are available only for Degree Seeking Students.

Students who have encountered unexpected or extenuating circumstances that

significantly prevented them from completing their academic requirements are eligible
to request reconsideration of the decision by submitting a written appeal to the Student
Affairs Committee no later than thirty days from the suspension or dismissal notice.
Students who do not request an appeal within the 30-day deadline forfeit their right to
appeal.

The appeal should include a clear description of the basis of the appeal, students’
reflections about their own academic difficulties at the University, and evidence of
probable academic success if permitted to return to the University. Students should also
submit any documentation of mitigating circumstances contributing to their poor
academic performance.

All appeals should be sent to the Office of Student Services

at student.services@uopeople.edu and will be directed to the Student Affairs
Committee. Once the appeal is submitted, students will receive a confirmation email
within one week from the Office of Student Services and a final decision about the
appeal within six weeks of their submission of the appeal. Decisions rendered by the
Committee are final and binding.

When an appeal is granted or when the specified suspension period had ended,
students may apply for reinstatement as a Degree Seeking Student by emailing the
Office of Student Services at student.services@uopeople.edu. If reinstated, students
will be required to sign a contract for Improved Academic Performance with the
Program Advising Office by the first day of the term of reinstatement or will not be
permitted to return to their studies.

Dismissed students whose appeals are denied and who wish to return to their studies at
UoPeople are required to apply for Academic Renewal after being out of residence from
the University for a minimum of fifteen consecutive terms. Out of residence refers to the
number of terms that a student has been inactive at the University— either unenrolled
from the institution and/or enrolled at UoPeople without completing any course work in
the intervening terms.
Proctored Exams

University of the People students are required to successfully complete the required
number of proctored exams prior to graduation according to their degree program. It is
a condition of awarding a degree and diploma and students cannot graduate unless all
required proctored exams are successfully completed.

How many proctored courses are required?

 Associate’s Degree students beginning their studies at UoPeople in Term 2 of the 2011-
2012 academic year are required to complete at least five course final exams under the
supervision of an approved proctor.
 Bachelor’s Degree students beginning their studies at UoPeople in Term 2 of the 2011-
2012 academic year are required to complete at least eleven course final exams under
the supervision of an approved proctor.

What happens if a student skips taking a proctored exam?

Students who do not take a proctored exam at the end of a course will be issued a
failing grade in the course regardless of the student’s prior performance in the course.

Note that all University policies, including the Code of Academic Integrity, apply to
proctored exams.

Proctor Requirements

It is the student’s sole responsibility to choose a proctor, and proctors must meet
several requirements:

 be responsible adults, such as a local official, supervisor at work, librarian, or a religious

figure, and be at least 21 years old;
 be willing to comply with policies and procedures to ensure the integrity of the exam
process;
 have adequate and reliable access to the Internet, including email services;
 be available to be physically present with the student throughout the entire proctored
exam.
Be advised that students cannot register themselves as their proctor, and the proctor
cannot be a relative of the student, another student at UoPeople, or an applicant to
UoPeople, nor can the proctor have a conflict of interest or have any vested interest in
the student’s grade or performance on his/her exam. The University reserves the right to
verify a proctor at any time, and students who assign proctors that do not meet the
requirements will have their registration denied.

The proctor should be from the same locale as the student since, during the
examination, they are required to be physically present in the same room as the student
taking the exam. Students are also strictly prohibited from offering the proctor any
payment or other benefit in return for the proctor’s willingness to supervise the exam.

Students may elect to pay ProctorU directly for its services, or they may select an
approved third-party individual or organization offering proctoring services. Students
should be aware that they will be responsible for any fees incurred for this service. The
hiring of a third-party proctor is not required by UoPeople.

The University reserves the right to verify a proctor at any time.

What is Proctor U?

Proctor U provides an online proctoring service and students may elect to pay ProctorU
directly for its services or they may select an approved third-party individual or
organization offering proctoring services.  Students should be aware that they will be
responsible for any fees incurred for this service.

The hiring of a third-party proctor is not required by UoPeople.

Regulations for the Exam

 Students must identify a proctor during online registration for courses that require a
proctor by entering the proctor’s first and last name, email address, telephone number,
occupation, and place of residence. It is the student’s sole responsibility to inform the
Office of Student Services of any changes to the proctor’s contact information.

 UoPeople reserves the right to verify a proctor at any time by contacting the proctor
directly in order to validate his/her identity and to assure that the proctor meets all the
requirements. If UoPeople rejects a proctor, the student will be notified accordingly and
it will be the student’s sole responsibility to provide another proctor. Rejecting a proctor
is at the sole discretion of UoPeople, and the University has no obligation to provide
 reasons for the decision.

 It is the student’s sole responsibility to coordinate the date, time, and location of the
final exam with the proctor. The final exam period starts on Thursday, Week 9 of the term
at 12:05 am UoPeople Time (GMT-5 time zone) and ends the following Sunday at 11:55
pm UoPeople Time (GMT-5 time zone). The proctored exam must be taken within this
time period. UoPeople will send the proctor a reminder a week before the exam.

 Students are advised not to schedule an exam too close to the end of the final exam
period in case there are technical problems or other unexpected issues. This will ensure
that there is sufficient time to receive support if needed.

 A student will not be allowed to start a proctored exam without the presence of the
proctor. Prior to starting the proctored exam, students must present to the proctor a
government-issued ID which will be used to identify the student. Once the student is
identified, the proctor must enter the exam code in the exam password field after the
student has logged into the course area. The code will be provided to the proctor by the
Office of Student Services a week prior to the beginning of the exam.

 It is the student’s sole responsibility to make sure that the proctor is available during the
final exam period. A scheduling problem with the proctor will not be considered a
legitimate reason for extending the exam or requesting a makeup exam.

This tutorial on how to submit your final exam can be helpful:

Click the 'next' arrow to your right or click here to move on to the next reading
which is called 'Payment of Course Assessment Fees'. 
Assessment Fees

UoPeople is a non-profit academic institution but charges course assessment fees which
apply to all students studying at the University.  We've prepared some key points for you
here to remember that all apply to students studying at the undergraduate level at
UoPeople.  There are separate Course Assessment Fees for graduate students at UoPeople.

1. Assessment Fees apply to all students studying at the University.

2. All Degree Seeking Students and all non-degree students are required to pay an
Assessment Fee of $100 for every end of course assessment taken at the undergraduate
level.
1. (Non-degree students include all students studying in UoPeople Foundations,
students enrolled in ENGL 0101 English Composition 1 to demonstrate English
proficiency, students taking prerequisites to be admitted for graduate study, and
any other student who is not in a degree program.)
3. Graduate degree-seeking students and all non-degree students are required to pay a
Assessment Fee of $200 per course at the University.
1. (Non-degree students include all students studying in MBA or M.Ed. Foundations,
students enrolled in ENGL 0101 English Composition 1 to demonstrate English
proficiency, students taking prerequisites to be admitted for graduate study, and
any other student who is not in a degree program.)
4. All applicants and/or students applying for academic renewal, including students who
began their initial application to University of the People before August 27, 2012, are
required to pay Assessment Fees.
5. For students who need to repeat courses at UoPeople:  course assessment fees are
incurred for students repeating courses at UoPeople; students will need to pay an
additional Course Assessment Fee for each course taken.
6. Students who are applying to UoPeople for admission to a graduate level degree
program who are completing prerequisite courses at the undergraduate level also pay a
$100 Course Assessment fee per course required in addition to the Graduate
Foundations English course. All Graduate Foundation Students taking the Graduate
Foundations English course are required to pay $100. All other courses taken at the
graduate level have a cost of $200 per course.

The amount for Course Assessment Fees is reviewed annually by UoPeople, and students will be
notified if there is a change no later than June 1st each year.
Students are encouraged to plan, anticipate, and budget for all Course Assessment Fees
payments to avoid interruption of their academic schedule. Payments for Course
Assessment Fees are due after the drop/withdrawal period is over (which is the end of
the 4th week of the term) and before the end of the final exam period.

We cannot emphasize enough that UoPeople provides a fairly substantial window (just
over 4 weeks long) for students to pay for their Course Assessment Fees.  We therefore
encourage you to highlight these dates on your personal calendars accordingly for each
of the 5 terms throughout the academic year. 

If you are looking at the UoPeople Academic Calendar, please note the following
two dates for each of the 5 terms: you may pay after the "Last Day - course withdrawal"
for the term you are enrolled and you must pay before the "Final exam period ends" for
the term you are studying.  Those are the dates on the Academic Calendar to look for!

You may be asking how you can pay.  Here's how:

Payment methods for Course Assessment Fees can be made as an online or offline
payment with a PayPal account or as a guest for payments via credit card. All payments
made offline with PayPal should be sent to payments@uopeople.edu and a detailed
note including the Student/Applicant ID, name, and type of payment should be
included.

Offline payments can be made with Western Union Agent Location, Money Gram,
Western Union Global Pay or cashier’s check.

All clarifications, questions, and requests for assistance regarding how to make
payments should be directed to the Payments Office at payments@uopeople.edu.

What happens if students do not pay the Course Assessment Fee within the time
required:

If a student takes the final exam and the Course Assessment Fees is not paid by the end
of the final exam period, a financial hold will be placed on the student’s file.

What exactly happens if a student is placed on financial hold?

In the event that a student is placed on a financial hold, (1) a student's course
registrations for the upcoming term are cancelled and (2) a student cannot register for
or to continue taking courses until all outstanding payments are made and the hold is
removed.

What happens if a student has a financial hold but pays before the end of late
registration?

If all outstanding balances for Course Assessment Fees are paid before the end of late
registration, students can register for courses during late registration and continue with
their studies. 

But please note that course selection during late registration typically does not have a
great selection of open seats for students wanting to register, so waiting to register
during late registration should not be your first choice at all.  Also, note that students
who had previously registered for courses during the regular 3-week registration but did
not pay their Course Assessment Fees in time do not get to necessarily re-register for
the exact courses that they had registered for as those course spots will have already
been canceled as soon as soon as the student is put on financial hold.

What happens if a student is trying to secure additional funding but cannot pay

over an extended period of time?

Students may be on a financial hold for up to three terms.  By the start of the fourth
term if any outstanding payment is still due, the student will be administratively
withdrawn from UoPeople. A student may request re-enrollment or reinstatement to the
University, or apply for academic renewal, but only after any overdue payments are
made in full.

What options are available to students who want to inquire about financial aid?

Students may review outstanding balances and payments due to the University inside
the Student Portal.  In the event that student cannot pay the Course Assessment Fees,
they may request financial aid by contacting the Financial Aid Office
at financial.aid@uopeople.edu. In this case, students should apply for a leave of
absence (LOA) from the University.

Registration Tips and Applying for a LOA

Inactivity Policy and Leave of Absence (LOA) Allowance

We want to be sure you understand UoPeople's policy on Inactivity first, and then you
will better understand what is required if you plan to be an inactive at UoPeople during
an upcoming term.

Inactivity Policy

UoPeople allows students to be inactive for up to three (3) consecutive terms but not

inactive for more than three (3) terms in a given academic year (September to August).
Under special circumstances such as military service, a student’s inactivity may be
extended for a maximum of five years. Please note that in order to approve such a
request, supporting documents must be sent.

What happens if you need to be inactive at UoPeople more than what is allowed
by the University?

Students requiring an extended period of inactivity at UoPeople may wish to consider

withdrawing from the University.

When are you considered inactive during a term?

Students are considered inactive during a term:

 with an approved leave of absence (LOA)

 when dropping and/or withdrawing and/or being granted an administrative course
withdrawal from all classes

What happens if you know you cannot study at UoPeople during an upcoming
term?

Students must apply for a leave of absence when they are not planning to study at
UoPeople during in an upcoming term.

How do you apply for a Leave of Absence (LOA)?

Students not planning to register for classes during an upcoming term are required to
request a leave of absence (LOA) via the Self-Services Portal using the online form.

What is the deadline each term to apply for a LOA?

Students have until one (1) week before the term begins to make this request.[1]
Can students apply for a LOA after the term has already started if they dropped or
withdrew from all their classes?

Students cannot apply for a leave of absence after the term begins, and do not need to
apply for a leave of absence if they drop and/or withdraw and/or are granted an
administrative course withdrawal from all courses during a term; it will be counted as an
inactive term for the student.

What happens if a student does not register for classes for an upcoming term and
also does not apply for a LOA?

Students who do not register for classes for an upcoming term and do not apply for a
LOA are administratively withdrawn from UoPeople.

Special Instructions to Graduating Students on Applying for a LOA: 

Before the end of the registration period during the term in which they will complete all
requirements for the degree, students should apply for a LOA for the upcoming term
and for each subsequent term until their degree is conferred by the University.

If you have questions about applying for a LOA, please contact your personal Program Advisor.

[1]    The University reserves the right to request supporting documentation for any
leave of absence. University of the People's decision to grant or refuse a request for a
leave of absence will be final and binding.

We wanted to share a few final tips before you begin your courses next week:
(1)  The Self-Services Portal is a very important 'place' at UoPeople. It's where you will:

a) register for courses

b) drop or withdraw from a course

c) apply for a Leave of Absence (LOA)

d) request to change majors

e) access your unofficial academic record (which is your unofficial UoPeople transcript)
f) access information useful to students like frequently asked questions about proctors
etc.

The Self-Services Portal can be accessed through Moodle by entering your Student ID
number and your password.  Your password in Moodle and the Self-Services Portal is
the same. 

If you have any trouble accessing the Self-Services Portal contact your Program Advisor.

REMINDER:
AS YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN REGISTERED FOR COURSES FOR YOUR FIRST
TERM AT UOPEOPLE, BUT FOR ALL FUTURE TERMS, YOU WILL NEED TO REGISTER FOR
CLASSES FOR THE UPCOMING TERM.
(2)  Registration

After your first term at UoPeople, you will need to register for courses on your own. 

There is a three week registration period during weeks 5, 6, and 7 of every term.  For the
specific dates, please refer to the UoPeople calendar.  We recommend that you register
early as courses fill up and close.  So to get your best pick of courses for an upcoming
term, we strongly recommend that you mark your calendar and register on the very first
day!

Late Registration:
Note that there is a three day late registration period at the end of every term, but there
is a very limited selection of courses offered during this time.  It's best not to rely on
picking courses during late registration.

If you have not yet updated all important dates for the term on your personal calendar,
please get organized now which includes marking down the registration dates on your
calendar so you can register early next term!

(3)  What you need to do every term you are enrolled to avoid being administratively
withdrawn:

Every term you are expected to either a) register for courses for the upcoming term or
b) apply for a Leave of Absence (LOA) in the Self-Services Portal.

If you are not planning to register for courses during an upcoming term you are
required to request a leave of absence (LOA) via the Self-Services Portal using
the online form. You have until one (1) week before the term begins to make this
request.

If you do neither (that is, you do not register for a course or apply for a LOA), you will be
administratively withdrawn from the University. 

It is your responsibility to let us know your plans.

(4)  More about applying for a Leave of Absence (LOA)

You cannot apply for a LOA after the term begins, and you do not need to apply for a
LOA if you drop, withdraw, and/or are granted an administrative course withdrawal from
all courses during a term. However any time you drop or withdraw from all courses, note
that the term will then be counted as an inactive term for you.

Students are encouraged to learn and comply with all LOA procedures; failure to comply
with the LOA policy is grounds for University administrative actions including
administrative withdrawal from UoPeople.

(5)  How many terms/how often you can be Inactive (not take courses) at UoPeople

UoPeople allows students to be inactive for up to three terms, but not inactive for more
than three terms in a given academic year (September to August).

Again, if you drop or withdraw from all your courses during a term, it will be considered
an inactive term at UoPeople.

You have completed the readings in Module 3! Click the 'next' arrow to your right
or click here to move on to the Discussion Assignment.