The following policy and information is in effect for all academic programs offered by Wayland Baptist University.
WBUonline is the designation as the department that coordinates Wayland’s online program, as well as supplementing the courses offered at each of Wayland’s physical campuses and supporting the undergraduate and graduate degrees offered online. Additionally, WBUonline supports the university’s mission of helping students reach their educational goals by making courses more accessible.
Standards
All courses taught on WBUonline must meet these minimum standards. Class sizes are usually limited to 25 for undergraduate courses and 20 for graduate courses. All Instructors are qualified and approved by the academic schools in which they teach. Interaction between instructors and individual students is required as well as student-to-student interaction. Assignments require analytical and writing skills; access to examinations is authenticated, often through proctoring. Students may expect prompt responses from instructors, usually within 48 hours.
Computer Equipment
Students must provide their own equipment for accessing online courses. While computer specifications are always changing, computers must meet the minimum requirements posted on the WBUonline webpage (www.wbu.edu/wbu-online) to take classes successfully online
Blackboard
In an online course, the Blackboard Academic Suite functions as the classroom. Interaction between instructors and students or among students is accomplished through email, discussion boards (not in real-time), or Collaborate classrooms (real-time). Homework assignments are posted within Blackboard and students are required to submit completed assignments to their instructors through the Blackboard classroom.
Registration
Students may register for online classes through their campus of record or through Self Service (https://selfservice.wbu.edu). Self Service serves as a portal not only for registration, but for collecting payments and checking grades, as well. Students registering for WBUonline courses should review the Tips for Online Learning Success posted on the WBUonline website (www.wbu.edu/wbu-online).
Limitations
WBUonline does not provide computer equipment to access online courses. Students must contact their instructors to reset exams and assignments or for questions concerning grades. Additionally, students may obtain help on the following from their campuses of record.
- Academic advisement
- Financial aid counseling
- Registration for courses
- Dropping courses
Proctoring
Students are required to make arrangements for any tests requiring proctors. For students near a Wayland campus, office personnel may assist with proctoring when given adequate notice; office personnel cannot be expected to accommodate students who drop in unannounced to take a test. Students not located near a Wayland campus will need to make arrangements with a local proctor or proctor service to have tests proctored. Prospective proctors not affiliated with Wayland must meet specific requirements and submit a completed proctor request form (found at www.wbu.edu/wbu-online) to WBUonline. Students may choose to use the approved virtual proctor software for proctored exams. This service requires a computer, webcam, and microphone. The student notifies their instructor that they wish to use the virtual proctor. Testing fees are paid by the student. The link for all proctor information is found on the services tab on the MyBb page of Blackboard or at www.wbu.edu/wbu-online/current-students/index.htm.
Library Resources
WBUonline students have access to library materials through Wayland’s Mabee Learning Resource Center (LRC); the website is www.wbu.edu/LRC. The LRC provides numerous full-text databases, articles, and books accessible online. The LRC also sends books and articles to students at no charge. The LRC staff answers reference questions by telephone or email. Online tutorials also are available for students to learn how to use LRC resources.
Web Site
WBUonline maintains a home page (www.wbu.edu/wbu-online) on the Wayland Web site.
Here you will find the following information:
- Advice to prospective online students concerning approaches to study
- Minimum technical requirements for taking online classes
- A schedule of courses for the current and upcoming session
- Course outlines of current and upcoming sessions
- Procedures for enrolling in online classes, ordering textbooks, and requesting proctors
- A technical support knowledge base with contact information to support staff
- Links to the LRC, the University Bookstore, Blackboard, and Self Service
- Announcements of important dates and events
- Tips for successful completion of online courses
- Information on using Blackboard and other content delivery systems used by WBU
Class Attendance - Online
Students are expected to participate in all required instructional activities in their courses. Online courses are no different in this regard; however, participation must be defined in a different manner. Student “attendance” in an online course is defined as active participation in the course as described in the course syllabus. Instructors in online courses are responsible for providing students with clear instructions for how they are required to participate in the course. Additionally, instructors are responsible for incorporating specific instructional activities within their course and will, at a minimum, have weekly mechanisms for documenting student participation. These mechanisms may include, but are not limited to, participating in a weekly discussion board, submitting/completing assignments in Blackboard, or communicating with the instructor. Students aware of necessary absences must inform the professor with as much advance notice as possible in order to make appropriate arrangements. Any student absent 25 percent or more of the online course, i.e., non-participatory during 2 or more weeks of an 8-week session, may receive an F for that course. Instructors may also file a ROUP, a Report of Unsatisfactory Progress, for students with excessive non-participation. Any student who has not actively participated in an online class prior to the census date for any given session is considered a “no-show” and will be administratively withdrawn from the class without record. To be counted as actively participating, it is not sufficient to log in and view the course. The student must be submitting work as described in the course syllabus. Additional attendance and participation policies for each course, as defined by the instructor in the course syllabus, are considered a part of the university’s attendance policy.
Distance Education for Out-of-State Enrollment
As a participant in the National Council for the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) Wayland Baptist University affirms its commitment to ensure that courses and programs offered through the SARA initiative provide high-quality opportunities that can help students reach their goals. Wayland Baptist University is currently authorized through exemption and SARA to accept students from all 50 states.
Accessibility Statement
Wayland Baptist University is committed to ensuring that the information and technology that it creates or provides in conducting its activities is accessible in accordance with applicable law. All members of the university community with responsibility for creating, managing, or disseminating information and technology are responsible for ensuring that such information and technology are compliant with this policy and the related standard and guidelines.
Any information and technology–including, but not limited to, computers and ancillary equipment, instructional materials, software, videos, multimedia, telecommunications, or web-based content or products–developed, procured, maintained, or used in carrying out university activities must be compliant with Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, and other related local, state, and federal laws, as well as other related university policies.
WBUonline is actively working to increase the accessibility and usability of our website and course materials. WBUonline endeavors to conform to level Double-A of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1. - WCAG 2.1 AA
Exceptions
WBUonline strives to adhere to the accepted guidelines and standards for accessibility and usability, it is not always possible to do so in all areas of the website.
- Course content is constantly reviewed by the ALLY tool in Blackboard for instructors to address any accessibility issues.
- Courses are reviewed each session for content and video standards by the Effective Design Coordinator.
- Video Captioning is accomplished via the AI tool in VidGrid.
Accommodation Requests
If you encounter course content that is not accessible, please send an e-mail to vcsupport@wbu.edu or call 806-291-3740. Or contact the WBU Electronic Information and Resources Accessibility Coordinator (EIRAC), Dr. Trish Ritschel-Trifilo trifilot@wbu.edu or call 806-291-3745.
Students who need accommodations for coursework should contact the Coordinator of Counseling Services at 806-291-3765.
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