FAQs
- Is Distance Education for me?
- How do I qualify for in-state tuition?
- Am I eligible for Financial Aid?
- How do I drop or withdraw from a course?
- How will I know what textbooks are required, and where I can get them?
- What, if any, special equipment and/or software will I need to enroll and complete a course or program?
- What should I do if I run into a technical problem?
- How do I communicate with my instructors, my classmates, my advisor, and distance education administrators?
- How can I check my enrollment, my grades, or get a transcript, etc.?
- Do I really have to get immunizations and health insurance?
- How do I check to see if I’ve been admitted?
- Does my program require that I come to campus?
- If I come to campus, where do I park?
- Do you have any general advice to a potential student?
1. Is Distance Education for me?
Because students have different learning styles, taking this quick assessment may help you determine whether distance education courses are a good fit with your learning preferences. If you have additional questions or are uncertain about your ability to participate successfully in a specific distance education program, you may want to contact the Distance Education Program Manager assigned to that program.
2. How do I qualify for in-state tuition?
Initial residency decisions for all undergraduate new students are determined in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. For currently enrolled students and former undergraduate students, residency is determined in the Office of the Registrar.
Residency for all graduate and post-baccalaureate students is determined in the Graduate Admissions Office.
View the appropriate links below for additional information:
New and returning undergraduate students:
Undergraduate (Office of the Registrar): Residency for Tuition Purposes:
http://www.registrar.uncc.edu/students/resident.htm
New and returning graduate students:
Graduate:
http://www.uncc.edu/gradmiss/gs_residency.html
3. Am I eligible for Financial Aid?
How can I apply for Financial Aid or Veteran's Benefits? The same financial aid and Veteran's Benefits guidelines that apply to on-campus students apply to distance education course and program students. Contact UNC Charlotte's Student Financial Aid Office for information pertaining to your particular situation.
4. How do I drop or withdraw from a course?
You should contact the Office of Distance Education immediately by letter, phone, or email. Your Senior Program Manager in the DE Office will give you instructions appropriate to your particular situation. Once the drop/add period is over ALL students must work with the Registrar’s Office in order to drop/withdraw. Either way, if you choose to drop or withdraw, it is important that you notify your Senior Program Manager.
5. How will I know what textbooks are required, and where I can get them?
Instructors for individual courses determine which, if any, textbooks are required. Textbook information is provided to students by the Office of Distance Education when they register for courses. Search here for current semester textbooks. You will be able to purchase your textbooks in the way most convenient for you (from the UNC Charlotte Bookstore, through BANNER, from local bookstores or from online book vendors). If students encounter difficulty locating textbooks, assistance is provided by the Distance Education staff.
6. What, if any, special equipment and/or software will I need to enroll and complete a course or program?
Academic departments determine what technology or equipment is required for successful completion of their programs or courses. Review the general Technical Specification from the Office of Distance Education and read the materials for your specific program to determine if there are additional requirements.
7. What should I do if I run into a technical problem?
A special technical help desk is available to enrolled students, accessible by toll-free phone line or email. Access information and instructions are supplied as part of the orientation process.
8. How do I communicate with my instructors, my classmates, advisor, and distance education administrators?
When you are accepted to the university, you will be provided an email account. The university will use this email account as the primary mode of communication with you. You will also be able to contact your instructors, advisor and campus administrative offices via a 1-800 phone number that the Office of Distance Education will provide in your program materials.
9. How can I check my enrollment, my grades, or get a transcript, etc.?
Distance education students, like on-campus students, access this information via the University's student portal, 49er Express. For information on how to use 49er Express, please complete the Technical section of the online Orientation. For an official transcript contact the Registrar's Office.
10. Do I really have to get immunizations and health insurance?
Distance Education students are not required to meet the immunization requirements and are not eligible for health insurance. If you receive a letter from the university regarding immunizations and health insurance and you are a Distance Education student, you may disregard the letter. If you are taking on-campus courses in addition to your DE courses, please review the immunization and health insurance policy at http://www.studenthealth.uncc.edu/.
12. How do I check to see if I’ve been admitted?
Once you have applied to the university, you may monitor you application status via the Undergraduate or Graduate Admissions webpages.
13. Does my program require that I come to campus?
Some online and off-site programs require an occasional visit to campus. You will be notified before you register for classes, by your academic department or Senior Program Manager if you will be required to visit campus.
14. If I come to campus, where do I park?
All kinds of parking information can be found on the Parking Services webpage. Please take note of the maps and the specific Visitor Parking information.
11. Do you have any general advice to a potential student?
- Read carefully all the information provided to you by your Senior Program Manager.
- Contact the Office of Distance Education as soon as you decide that you want to enroll in a distance education course or program at UNC Charlotte.
- Copy everything before mailing it to the university. Please retain copies of all records and correspondence.
- Courses taken through UNC Charlotte's Distance Education Programs are "real" college and graduate courses. You will be generating a college transcript, so take the courses seriously and don't just drop out of sight if you enroll and then cannot complete a course for any reason.
- View the Office of Distance Education staff as your primary link to the university.
