Learning Centers

Through their affiliation with the colleges and universities of Indiana, Learning Centers offer many student services and information:

• Student support services
• ICN course catalog
• Nondegree admission
• Pre-registration
• Technology for classes
• Learning space
• Test proctoring

Student support services

Whether a Learning Center is on campus or away from campus, each location and its staff provide services for Indiana learners. At the Learning Center, students learn where student resources are available:

• In-center or nearby technology for receiving classes
• Fax machines and copiers for sending homework to campus
• Special phone numbers to reach instructors or other campus offices
• Local library assistance for research projects
• Test proctoring at center or nearby (see below)

The Learning Center coordinator receives on-going training in new distance-delivered classes and programs at ICN member institutions. The coordinator directs students to the ICN Web site, and Web resources from member universities and colleges. With the coordinator's assistance, the learner can reach on-campus contacts for answers to questions about an individual school's programs, classes, or student services.

ICN course catalog

Use the ICN course catalog to review current distance classes for both undergraduate and graduate-level degree-seeking learners and nondegree-seeking options (see following section). The catalog also lists K-12 distance classes and opportunities from a growing list of nationally accredited and Department of Education sanctioned programs. The learner can choose courses by current or recent semesters, subject area, campus, and method of delivery, such as Internet, two-way video conferencing, or other options.

The catalog offers general information about each course so that classes can be reviewed by anyone interested in exploring distance education from Indiana’s universities and colleges.

Nondegree admission

Learners who have not attended a state college or university before can use the nondegree admission form on the ICN site to request temporary student status to register for an initial class. This form is also helpful for undergraduate students who want a course for job enhancement from a school other than their home university or college.

While the form has been accepted for use by all state schools, nondegree admission is dependent on the nondegree admissions policies of each institution. Forms are reviewed on-campus for accuracy. Graduate students, any student who has completed a baccalaureate program but who would like to take either a undergraduate or graduate course for exploration or enhancement, should contact a university’s graduate office for nondegree admission status. A Learning Center coordinator can help the post-baccalaureate learner reach the correct office on campus for this transaction.

Pre-registration

An online preregistration form allows learners to request registration in an appropriate class. This allows institutions to review student information for prerequisite courses or other registration requirements as described online in the catalog’s course descriptions. A secure process routes the registration to the ICN Student Services Center where the learner’s request to register for class is forwarded quickly to the learner’s home institution and the originating institution if different.

Technology for classes

Learning Centers provide access to the delivery method for distance education courses, whether by Internet, IHETS Interactive, and other methods. Learners, however, may not always find access in the Learning Center location itself. Some centers are really networks of nearby locations for a variety of telecommunication technology.

On campus, computer access may be in library carrels, while classrooms in a nearby building are designated viewing areas for IHETS satellite and two-way video conferencing courses. Learners contact the Learning Center coordinator on campus to locate the technology required to take classes. If the technology is unavailable on-campus, the learner may be directed to nearby locations prepared to offer space and technology to the learner.

Some Learning Centers off campus have technology for distance learning under one roof, but many other centers use already existing access sites within the county. One school district may be a satellite video receive site, whereas another school district may have an existing two-way video conferencing area. The Learning Center may have broadband connections to its computers, and connect much faster than home computer access. Successful students locate the nearest Learning Center before classes begin and ask about accessing their classes’ delivery method from the coordinator at that center.

Learning space

The learner can arrange times for studying quietly in the Learning Center, during times when computers are available, or when videotapes can be reviewed at the center. The coordinator may have arrangements made in the area through public libraries or public schools as well.

Test proctoring

Learning Centers provides learners with appropriate, supervised test proctoring. Instructors can depend on the centers to locate local resources to serve the learner well.