University of Idaho General Catalog » Colleges and Related Units » Independent Study in Idaho

Independent Study in Idaho

Focus Areas Course Delivery and Services Registration and Fees Grades and Transcripts

Barry Willis, ISI Program Administrator: phone (208) 885-6373; ISI office: (875 Perimeter Drive MS 3081, Moscow, ID 83844-3081; phone (208) 885-6641 or (877) 464-3246; fax (208) 885-5738; www.uidaho.edu/isi; indepst@uidaho.edu)

Independent Study in Idaho (ISI) was created in 1973 by the Idaho State Board of Education as a cooperative of four accredited Idaho institutions led by the University of Idaho (U-Idaho). Other cooperating members include Lewis-Clark State College (LCSC), Idaho State University (ISU), and Boise State University (BSU). The ISI office is located in Moscow, Idaho, on the U-Idaho campus in the College of Education Building. Each member-institution of the ISI cooperative is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), the region's accrediting agency.

Independent Study in Idaho courses, sponsored by the cooperating institutions, are delivered online and parallel their on-campus counterparts in content and completion standards. Idaho residency is not required. A complete list of ISI courses, course syllabi and ISI policies and procedures are available on the ISI website. Although ISI does not offer degrees, credits earned upon course completion transfer to most colleges and universities.

People from diverse backgrounds worldwide take ISI's online courses for various reasons (e.g., to begin college programs early, resolve on-campus scheduling conflicts, satisfy prerequisites, and to pursue professional development and personal enrichment). Independent Study in Idaho courses are designed for students who work well independently with limited interaction with instructors. Students can enroll anytime and work at their own pace from anywhere. Students have up to one year from the registration date to complete ISI courses.

Focus Areas

ISI offers a number of courses in specific focus areas that support degree programs.

• Modern Languages and Cultures
• History
• Psychology
• Library Science

The University of Idaho sponsors library science courses that are only available through ISI. These courses are required for the Idaho Education Media Generalist Endorsement (K–12). Additionally, ISI offers courses applicable to the University of Idaho's library science teaching minor. These courses can also be taken for professional development and personal enrichment. The programs are as follows:

Education Media Generalist Endorsement (K–12). Certified teachers who are interested in school library and media positions and have a standard or advanced teaching certificate may earn an Education Media Generalist Endorsement (K–12) by taking library science courses through ISI. This endorsement requires 20 semester-hour credits in the general field of educational media (or library science) including at least three credits in literature for children or youth, and a passing score on the Idaho Praxis II Test number 10311. Courses that fulfill the 20 semester hours are LibS 420, LibS 421, LibS 423, LibS 425, either LibS 419 or LibS 424, and LibS 428 or LibS 429. These courses may be approved for endorsements in other states. Teachers outside the state of Idaho should check with their state's Department of Education to determine requirements and to obtain written confirmation that ISI credits are acceptable for their state's endorsement.

Library Science Teaching Minor for University of Idaho Students. To obtain a teaching minor in library science, students must be admitted to the University of Idaho. The teaching minor in library science requires 24 credits. At least 12 of these must be in the area of selection, organization and administration of library materials. This teaching minor qualifies students for the Idaho Education Media Generalist Endorsement (K–12). Since library science is not a teaching field, the teacher-librarian must also qualify for a standard Idaho elementary or secondary teacher's certificate.

Education Professionals (K-12). Independent Study in Idaho courses may be used toward renewing teaching credentials and for certification. Contact your state Department of Education to determine if ISI courses are applicable.

Course Delivery and Services

Online Course Delivery. Internet access is required for the majority of ISI courses. Upon registration, the student will receive a Registration Confirmation Letter. The Registration Confirmation Letter contains information pertinent to the course, including the student's vandal number (V number), the instructor's contact information and office hours, a list of course materials, lesson, exam and submission guidelines, and directions on how to access online ISI courses in Blackboard Learn (BbLearn). Students submit lessons to the instructor through BbLearn, email or mail.

VandalMail. All ISI students are assigned a VandalMail account upon registration.

Exams and Proctors. Students recommend an exam proctor who will manage the exam files and supervise the testing process. Proctor selection is subject to approval by both ISI and the course instructor. Some acceptable proctors include: educational institution faculty and staff, testing center staff, business education personnel, librarians, U.S. military education officers. View complete information concerning proctors and submit a Proctor Information Form on the ISI website.

Disability Support Services. Each of the four ISI cooperating institutions offers academic support services to students with temporary or permanent disabilities. Students requesting disability-related accommodations must contact the sponsoring institution's office of disability services. To determine the credit-granting institution, note the abbreviation listed in the course syllabus on the ISI website. Contact information for each disability office is listed on the ISI website.

Library Services. University of Idaho's library services are available to ISI students with a library barcode number. To request a library barcode number call (208) 885-6559.

Registration and Fees

Registration. Students can register for ISI courses online on the ISI website without applying for admission to any of the cooperating schools. Admission to any of these institutions is not granted upon registering for an ISI course. University of Idaho students working toward a degree are required to obtain written approval from their adviser and academic dean to register for an ISI course and to ensure that ISI course credits are applicable toward their degree. It is recommended that students at other institutions obtain signature confirmation that ISI credits will be accepted. A space for this signature is provided on the Registration Form.

Fees. Non-residents pay the same fee as residents. Fees included registration and online course access, but do not include print ISI course guides, textbooks and other course materials. Fees are subject to change, and the most current fees are posted on the ISI website.

Purchasing Course Materials. Course guides are required for all courses. Each course guide includes the course syllabus, a list of required course materials, assignments, exam information and lecture materials. An electronic course guide is accessible online through BbLearn at no additional cost. For most courses, a printed course guide may be purchased from the U-Idaho VandalStore. Textbook information is provided in the course syllabus available on the ISI website and on the VandalStore website. If textbooks are purchased at another outlet, carefully note the ISBN of the required edition.

Financial Aid. Financial aid is not offered by ISI. Federal and state agencies, businesses, student financial aid services, and veterans' organizations may offer financial assistance or aid to fund ISI course fees. Most tuition assistance payment forms are accepted by ISI. College students receiving financial aid are advised to check with their financial aid office to determine if anything is available for ISI courses. Courses taken through ISI do not count toward a student's credit-hour load and cannot be used to establish full-time or part-time student status to determine eligibility for financial aid or loan deferment.

Military Benefits. The Veterans Assistance office at University of Idaho can help students apply for and receive education benefits whether a student is a serviceperson, guardsman, reservist, veteran or dependent of a veteran. University of Idaho programs are approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and students may use GI benefits or tuition assistance to help pay their ISI course fees. The University of Idaho's veterans' adviser at the Dean of Student's office will assist with the VA education application process, and ISI will accept payment vouchers.

Drops and Refunds. To drop an ISI course, submit the Drop Course Form on the ISI website. The course will not appear on your academic transcript, and there will be no permanent academic record at any of the cooperating institutions.

Refund Schedule. Courses dropped within 45 days of registration qualify for a refund based on the following schedule: Full course credit fee refund: the drop request must be received by the ISI office within 21 days from the registration date; 50 percent course credit fee refund: the drop request must be received by the ISI office between 22 and 45 days from the registration date. The course credit fee will be refunded minus $15 for each lesson/exam already submitted. Refunds will be processed by credit card or check, depending on the original payment method. Cash payments will be refunded by check. There are no refunds after 45 days, regardless of lesson/exam submission or the student's progress in the course. Administrative fees are nonrefundable.

Exchanging Courses. Students may exchange one course for another within 45 days of registration. One exchange per registration is allowed. A non-refundable, $25 fee must be paid when exchanging a course, plus $15 for each lesson/exam submitted for the original course. View complete information concerning exchanges and submit a Course Exchange Form on the ISI website.

Course Extensions. If you are unable to complete an ISI course within one year from the registration date, a $75, nonrefundable, six-month extension may be purchased. View complete information concerning course extensions and submit a Course Extension Form on the ISI website.

Grades and Transcripts

Transcripts can be purchased upon written request from the credit-granting institution. To determine the credit-granting institution, note the university abbreviation listed in the course syllabus on the ISI website. Contact information for each transcript office is also listed on the ISI website.