Advising Information for Online Bachelor of General Studies (BGS)

and Online Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS)

Welcome to Southeast Online!  This page is designed specifically for students pursuing the online majors in General Studies and Interdisciplinary Studies.  If you are a new online major and/or this is your first time viewing the page, please read the entire page carefully for important information to assist you in planning your progress towards graduation.

Please click the question of interest to find its answer.

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I've been admitted.  What is my next step?

If you've not done so already, please take some time to read our Online Orientation website and become familiar with Southeast Online and the services and information available for online degree students.  We also recommend  that you read our Southeast Online Handbook and try our demonstration course to get the feel for our online classroom structure.  Your admission letter should include your Southeast ID number, which you will need in order to access other aspects of the university.

If you are a new transfer student or a returning student with transfer credit, your file will be evaluated for precise course transferability.  Once evaluation is complete, the Registrar will mail both you a copy of your full evaluation and advising information.  Once this evaluation process is complete, you can begin working with me to select available courses that match your remaining degree requirements and your personal interests.  Please note that you cannot be advised formally or enrolled until this analysis is complete.

If you are a returning student, please check with Student Financial Services (573.651.2253) before contacting me for advising and enrollment.  If you owe any balance from your past attendance, you will be prevented from registering until the amount is paid, and it is better to discover this early in the process so you have ample time to correct the situation.

Are there any benefits or restrictions for online degree students?

Online degree students are those students completing the remainder of their degree online.  They are not permitted to enroll for any other format of course at Southeast except in rare circumstances when given written approval by their assigned academic advisor.  In exchange, your academic advisor will do his/her best to provide additional enrollment assistance into online courses.  Online degree students are also permitted to enroll in non-blended webinar courses.

As an online degree student, you should complete your advising and attempt to register on your Priority Registration Date, which is based upon credit hours completed.  If you cannot secure your full course load or necessary graduation requirements through open enrollment, please contact me as soon as possible.   We will do our best to assist you in registering in your desired number of hours, but we cannot guarantee availability in specific course choices.  Enrollment assistance for online degree students works on a first-come, first-served basis until (limited) space is no longer available.  The only way to guarantee a seat in a specific course is to self-register in it as soon as your priority date has arrived.

Unauthorized enrollment in non-online courses may be grounds for dismissal from an online degree program. 

How long is a typical course?  Can I work at my own pace? 

Fall/Spring Semester:

Full semester (traditional): 16 weeks

1st 8 week and 2nd 8 week courses are rarely available online.

Summer Semester:

Pre-session: 4 weeks immediately after spring finals

Regular session: 8 weeks in middle of summer

1st 4 week session:  first half of the regular session

2nd 4 week session: second half of the regular session

The pace for each course is already established, and you will want to check for updates each day.  Our online courses follow the same timeline as their face-to-face counterparts.  You can schedule accordingly and work ahead as assignments are announced, but you must meet your course deadlines to receive full credit. The academic calendar includes detailed information about holidays and drop deadlines.
 

How many hours can I take each semester? 

This is a matter I discuss individually with each advisee.  Remember that online courses require the same amount of work as face-to-face courses, but often in a different format.  Be sure to consider the amount of time spent weekly between employment, family and recreation.  Students can take as little as one course (3-5 hours) each semester or as many as 18 hours during the regular fall and spring terms.  You must take at least 6 hours to qualify for your financial aid awards.  To be considered full-time, you must have at least 12 hours for the fall or spring semester.  Most online courses are 3 credit hours.

    Fall/Spring semester maximum:  18 hours

    Summer semester maximum: 4 hours pre-session and/or 9 hours regular session (limit one 4 week course at a time)

If your cumulative (overall) GPA is less than 2.0, then you will be limited to the following:

    Fall/Spring semester maximum:  12 hours

    Summer semester maximum: 6 hours total

Students with a GPA under 2.0 will be subject to suspension from the university unless a 2.0 semester GPA or better is maintained (i.e. demonstrate you are making progress to remedy the situation).

How do I activate my Southeast (SE) Key? What if I lose my password?

To use the student portal site, you must first activate your SE Key.  This can be done as early as 24 hours after you are admitted to Southeast.  Go to http://portal.semo.edu.  Under the login area, click the link for SE Key Activation.  Enter your Southeast ID (SXXXXXXXX)  and day and year of birth to begin the activation process.  Be sure you write down your new SE Key as well as the password you just created. You will use this information to access all services within the portal, including your online courses and Southeast email.   Your email address will simply be SOUTHEASTKEY@semo.edu.  I also recommend that you set up the Password Reset Facility immediately, in case you forget this password in the future. 

If you have problems in activating your SE Key, please contact the Information Technology Help Desk at 573.651.4357.  If you have activated your SE Key and cannot remember your password, you will need to reset the password.  You can do this in person with proper photo ID at the IT Help Desk on the first floor of Academic Hall.  You can also reset it remotely using the following process:

Send a fax to 573.651.2200 of a photo ID along with your Southeast ID number (SXXXXXXXX), signature, and the new password you desire.  Make sure that your password follows the established rules (at least 3 of 4 elements from these criteria - upper case, lower case, symbols, numbers) or Information Technology will be unable to reset your password.

Requests for password resets are generally completed no later than the following business day.  Simply visit the portal and try to login using your new password.  If you still cannot access the portal, please call the IT Help Desk at 573.651.4357 for further assistance.  Additionally, students who are able to visit the IT Help Desk in person may have their password retrieved rather than reset.

My last name has changed since I first attended Southeast.  Can I change my SE Key?

In the event of a name change, you must first update your record in the Office of the Registrar.  If you are unsure of your current status, please visit the Personal Information menu in the portal to confirm.  To update, send a fax to 573.651.5155 including proof of name change (social security card, court ordered document, driver's license), your Southeast ID number (SXXXXXXXX), your request to update your name, and your signature.

Once your name is correct in the database, you may then email Nancy to update your Southeast Key. Please include your previous name, your new name and your Southeast ID number when you write her from your current Southeast Key address.  If your inbox is relatively small, your messages will be transferred to the new account.  However, if you have many messages/undeleted junk emails, you will be instructed how to forward any important messages to your new account.  You should have approximately a week to move messages before your old account is deactivated.  Future messages sent to the old SE Key will be automatically rerouted to your current SE Key.

I can't access my online course through the My Southeast portal.  What do I do?

The portal has a My Courses tab for quick, centralized access to all your online courses.  However, this is not the "source" of your websites.  Instructors should list the actual course website in the syllabus at the beginning of the semester.  We recommend that you bookmark or otherwise note these links at the beginning of each semester in the event of portal maintenance.  You can also search for your course's website by using the search feature on Southeast Online homepage.  If you access the course directly, you will need to enter your Southeast Key and password to access any protected information.  Alternately, you may also use the temporary login location during times that the portal is under maintenance or otherwise inaccessible.

If you find yourself unable to access the portal or the course website, first double check your user name and password.  You may have accidentally activated the CAPS lock key or otherwise mistyped your password.  The portal will lock you out after a certain number of incorrect attempts, and you must wait a short period before trying again.

If you find yourself able to access the portal, but not the course link/website, check to see that you are still registered for the course.  Students who enter financial suspension are not permitted to attend class, and if you've made any recent schedule changes you might have dropped the course by mistake.  Enter the My Southeast Self-Service area of the portal, then the Registration menu to verify your schedule.  If you have difficulty locating this, please refer to the question on how to add/drop courses for more information.

What if I can't open my advising notes attachment?

Advising notes are sent as an email attachment in response to your request for advising.  In the Southeast email system, attachments show as a small paper clip with link at the bottom of your email message. You will need to have the latest version of the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to open the file.  Some students using Internet Explorer and Microsoft Office 2007 may experience a software conflict which will not permit the file to open directly from the email.  If so, please download/save the file to your computer, then open the file to avoid the software conflict.

What is required to complete the BGS degree?

This is the general outline for the BGS degree, but keep in mind that each individual situation is unique and that transfer credit will affect what is needed to graduate.  You must meet all sub-requirements, even if this causes you to surpass the 120 hour minimum for the degree.

I. University Studies Requirements (General Education) 48 hours, 39 lower level (waived by certain AA/AAS degrees) + 9 hours upper level.  More information about the University Studies Program.

II.  Major Requirements - 30 hours at 300-599 level  (Starting with the Fall 2008 catalog (entry) year, this requirement increases to 39 hours)

III. General Requirements for Graduation 

1. Residency at Southeast - at least 30 hours from Southeast
2. Current residency at Southeast -12 of your final 18 hours must be taken with Southeast
3. Grade Point Average at Southeast:  2.0 minimum required
4. Grade Point Average Cumulative:  2.0 minimum required
5. Writing Proficiency - WP003, 75 Hour Writing Proficiency Exam with passing score required
6. A student cannot take more than 30 hours in the College of Business while seeking this degree.
7. California Critical Thinking Exam (CCTST).
8. CL001, CL002, CL003 and CL004 (based upon entry year and credit hours completed previously)

IV.    Other Requirements

1. TOTAL hours required:  120 hours minimum required for graduation
2. ALL required developmental courses must be completed (Courses starting with the number '0' do not count in the 120 hour total)

Can I take a minor with the BGS degree?

As of Fall 2006, BGS students are now allowed to declare minors in conjunction with their degree plan, although the declaration of a minor is NOT required.  Please note that a minor requires a set of specific courses, and simply taking many hours in one subject does not constitute a minor.  Currently, the business administration minor, the industrial management minor and the criminal justice minor are the only three available online by following course rotations and prerequisites.  Other minors may be possible based upon your previous Southeast or transfer credit.  Please check the University Bulletin for more information on the necessary courses for each minor and compare with your degree tracking report for initial information. 

What should I take for my electives?

You may need upper division electives specifically for the graduation requirement or any level electives to fulfill the 120 degree hour requirement.  Upper division electives are courses numbered 300-599.  Free electives can be either upper or lower level selections (100-599).

As a BGS student, you may want to focus courses in one of more directions.  An area of focus is an unofficial designation (i.e. not on your transcript) you may use on your résumé when you have completed 15 or more hours in a particular subject area.  This is highly recommended to enhance your résumé, and you will receive assistance in marketing this designation appropriately when you complete CL004 (or consult Career Linkages if you are not subject to the CLxxx requirements).  Also, a higher amount of upper division is usually desirable to demonstrate your depth of knowledge.  If you choose to fulfill upper division credits largely through our interdisciplinary UI3xx and UI4xx courses, you should prepare yourself to explain to employers the benefits of such integrated coursework.

What is required to complete the IDS degree?

This is the general outline for the IDS degree, but keep in mind that each individual situation is unique and that transfer credit will affect what is needed to graduate.  You must meet all sub-requirements, even if this causes you to surpass the 120 hour minimum for the degree.

I. University Studies Requirements (General Education) 51 hours, 42 lower level (waived by certain AA/AAS degrees or completion of the 42 hour block) + 9 hours upper level.  Detailed information is available here.

II.  Major Requirements

Choose 2-4 areas of emphasis from the approved list for online IDS:

Area #1**	Area #2	Area #3 (if applicable)	Area #4 (if applicable)
Accounting	Criminal Justice	Criminal Justice	Criminal Justice
Business Administration	English Literature	English Literature	English Literature
Criminal Justice	Economics	Economics	Economics
Economics	Industrial Engineering & Technology	Industrial Engineering & Technology	Industrial Engineering & Technology
English Literature	Math	Math	Math
Industrial Engineering & Technology
Management
Management Information Systems
Marketing
Math

 **Students are limited to a maximum of 30 hours AND one area of emphasis from the Harrison College of Business

Each area of emphasis has a minimum of 12 hours and a maximum of 30 hours.

The sum of the areas must be between 48-69 hours, allowing a maximum of 21 hours of IDS electives depending upon the individual student plan.

Courses counting towards a student's University Studies requirements cannot be also included in any area of emphasis.

III. General Requirements for Graduation 

1. Residency at Southeast - at least 30 hours from Southeast
2. Current residency at Southeast -12 of your final 18 hours must be taken with Southeast
3. Grade Point Average at Southeast:  2.0 minimum required
4. Grade Point Average Cumulative:  2.5 minimum required to graduate
5. Writing Proficiency - WP003, 75 Hour Writing Proficiency Exam with passing score required
6. California Critical Thinking Exam (CCTST)
7. CL001, CL002, CL003 and CL004 (based upon entry year and credit hours completed previously)

IV.    Other Requirements

1. TOTAL hours required:  120 hours minimum required for graduation
2. ALL required developmental courses must be completed (and do not count in 120 hour total)

Can I take a minor or another major with the IDS degree?

Because the IDS is a unique program allowing students to design their own major with faculty assistance, students may not declare another major simultaneously or declare a minor.

How do I create my plan and get it approved (i.e. declare the major)?

Initially, most potential online IDS students will be online BGS students while completing the paperwork and awaiting approval.  Other students may elect to retain their current major/advisor while pursuing the approval process.  Once you have decided on your areas, consider how many hours you might like for each area.  Look at the current online courses offered in your subject areas for ideas, and sketch out some ideas of what you would like to accomplish within your areas (i.e. your career and professional goals).  After your initial brainstorming and creating your draft plan, you will work with an assigned faculty advisor to review and approve each of your areas.

If you are interested in pursuing this option, your plan must be approved prior to the completion of 75 hours.  If interested, you can begin your initial plan and let me know of your interest via email while we continue to finalize the online declaration process.  Documents (.pdf) for this degree are available below:

Requirements for Interdisciplinary Studies - requirements to declare and complete this degree

Instructions for Students - important questions and steps to guide you in the declaration process

Official Plan of Study for IDS - main document for creating your plan of study (NOTE: to use the auto-fill option, first save to disk, then enter information and save again)

Revision Request Form - needed in order to make any changes to an approved plan

What is the WP003 Writing Assessment? How do I register?

The WP003 is a writing assessment checkpoint that must be passed for graduation.  There is no fee for taking this assessment, but it is required for graduation.  Southeast wants to ensure that all students are maintaining their writing skills obtained in those initial composition courses.  Upon successful completion of EN140 (English Composition II/Rhetoric and Critical Thinking) and at least 75 credit hours, you may register for this assessment.  Be sure to click the CRN link on the class schedule to see which date the assessment is being offered.  New transfer students with more than 90 degree hours completed may be waived from this assessment.

Scoring criteria, scoring scales and sample essays are available through the the Center for Writing Excellence website.  If you do not pass the assessment, you must contact the Center for Writing Excellence so they can explain the options you have for meeting the WP003 requirement .  This portfolio option generally occurs over the duration of the semester with scheduled checkpoints.  Students scoring just under the required mark may also be notified of the opportunity to appeal the score. 

This assessment may be completed either online or at a campus convenient to you.  If you wish to take the assessment in person, you must bring two valid forms of identification - and you may register on open enrollment.  If you wish to take the online assessment, contact me to request registration.  You must be an online degree student to obtain approval for this section.  In the online version, you will be provided a particular 24 hour window in which to take the approximately 3 hour assessment.  Note: the online version is only offered once each fall and spring semester.
 

What is the Career Linkages initiative (CL001, CL002, CL003, CL004)? How do I register? If I am not required to take these, can I still receive career assistance?

The Career Linkages initiative is a four part sequence designed to assist students with career planning and goals as they progress to graduation.  Thus, when you graduate with your degree, you will also know how to effectively market yourself.  This is required for all students beginning at Southeast Fall 2005 or beyond or students returning to Southeast after an absence of one year or more.  If you are unsure whether this applies to you, please contact me for clarification.  There are no fees associated with registering for these checkpoints.

Please note: any student may request individual career planning assistance, regardless of whether the CLxxx sequence is required.  For more information, please refer to the Career Linkages frame within the My Southeast Portal, located in the left column of the Student tab.

New freshmen take CL001 at the same time as their UI100 First Year Seminar course.  New transfers or returning students who have already completed GS100/UI100 or who are waived this requirement should enroll for CL001-69X and CL002-740 during the same semester when possible.  CL002, CL003 and CL004 must be completed different semesters.  Student with over 90 degree hours upon transferring to Southeast (or returning after a prolonged absence) will be exempt from parts CL001-CL003. 

To register for CL001-69X or CL002-740, please contact me.

Online students should self-register for any "main campus" section of CL003 or CL004 at the proper time in the sequence as there is not a dedicated section for online degree students.  If the section is not assigned a room location, it is being conducted through OIS.  If all of the general sections are closed, please contact me.

Description of CLxxx sequence:

CL001 - Complete and submit FOCUS, a web-based career interest inventory

CL002 - Discuss FOCUS with a career counselor (phone or IM available) and begin a profile on GreatHires.org

CL003 - Update GreatHires.org profile and submit initial résumé and cover letter for critique

CL004 - Complete GreatHires.org profile and submit final résumé and cover letter for evaluation, complete mock interviews if appropriate (can be phone interviews)

What is the California Critical Thinking Assessment (CCTST)?  What is MAPP1 and MAPP2? How do I register? 

CCTST is another checkpoint required for graduation which can be taken after the completion of 75 credit hours.  This short assessment will test your ability to obtain details from given information.  Skills such as deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning, inference, analysis and evaluation will be assessed.  There is no required score, but if you achieve a score above the current Southeast benchmark, you may have your graduation fee waived when you apply for graduation.

This assessment is not currently available online.  To register and check test locations, please visit the Testing Services website.  If you feel there is not an accessible location, you must secure a proctor via a local high school/college/library.  Proctor information, including the proctor candidate form, is available on the Testing Services website.

As of Fall 2009, all new freshmen are required to take the MAPP1 prior to enrolling for their second semester.  As of Spring 2010, new transfer students and returning students will also be required to take the MAPP1.  There is no required score for the MAPP1 as it is a baseline assessment for each student.

As of Spring 2010, the CCTST assessment will be replaced by MAPP2.  The MAPP2 can be taken upon the completion of 90 hours or more.  All graduating students must complete the MAPP2.  There is no required score, but if you achieve a score above the current Southeast benchmark, you may have your graduation fee waived when you apply for graduation.

Special note: Students who complete the CCTST prior to January 2010 will have fulfilled the MAPP2 requirement.

Am I required to meet with an advisor? How does advising work?

As an online student, you have the flexibility to complete your academic advising by Southeast email or in person.  Email is the preferred method as no appointment is required.  You must confirm degree requirements and course selection each semester with your advisor before registering as your Alternate PIN is different for every semester of attendance.  Once you have completed advising, you will receive your new alternate PIN for registration (needed for adding and dropping courses).  Due to the security reasons and the complex nature of thorough academic advising, I do not use the phone for primary advising purposes.  However, you are welcome to call for clarification of advising notes received in person or via email attachment.

Note: if you have elected to place a confidentiality hold on your account, I am unable to disclose any information by phone related to your attendance at the university.

Advising requests can generally begin once the new semester schedule is available for viewing in the Southeast Portal.  Currently enrolled students also receive an email reminder several weeks prior to the registration start.  You should request email advising at least one week before your priority registration date to avoid any delays in your registration.   When requesting advising, your email should include the following:

• Your Southeast ID number (S0xxxxxxx)

• The number of hours you would like to take for the upcoming term

• A list of classes you are considering taking

• Subjects or topics of interest if you are unsure how to find related courses

• Any questions or concerns you have about the upcoming semester/courses listed

Students using email advising will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader 8.0 or higher (free) in order to open the .pdf advising notesheet that I will send in response to your request for advising.

Students may alternately schedule a face-to-face appointment by calling the advising office at least 24 hours in advance of the desired appointment day/time.  Please bring the above information to the appointment.

If you encounter registration difficulties, the sooner I know, the better your available options.  Please include alternate selections with your request for assistance in case your first choice(s) are already full.  This helps to minimize unnecessary delays due to extended communication (i.e.  I need course A.  --> Course A is full.  What other choices did you have in mind? --> (one week later) Course B.  --> Course B just filled.  Can you provide a list of several choices, in case something else fills while you are deciding?).  The more information you are able to provide me, the more quickly I can find alternate options.  Please know that requests for assistance may take several days, even up to a week, to process and approve.

When/How do I register for courses? How do I drop a course? What is the refund schedule?

Course registration generally begins in the following pattern:

        Fall Semester - late March/early April

        Spring Semester - late October/early November

        Summer Semester - early February

Registration priority is based upon your completed credit hours on file at Southeast.  You can determine your earliest date to register by checking the priority enrollment dates.  The earlier you are advised and self-register on the portal, the better selection of courses you will have available.  Some courses will fill within the first few hours registration opens, so do be proactive about registering as early as permitted. 

If you are unable to get your target number of credit hours or specific requirements for degree goals, please contact me for enrollment assistance as soon as possible.  It is not recommended to add new online courses beyond the 2nd day of the course as not to risk starting the semester already behind on your assignments.  Keep in mind all schedule changes will affect your textbook rental, and please take into account the time needed to receive your new book.

Registration opens at 7 am daily and closes at 9 pm.  If you attempt to access the menu outside of this time range, you will receive a message that misleads you to believe your alternate PIN is not correct.  Please try again during the scheduled hours before contacting me or technical support for assistance.  To check course availability and register, login the My Southeast Portal and choose the Student tab.  Enter My Southeast Self-Service and select the Student and Financial Aid menu, then choose Registration.  A how-to guide for registration (.pdf) is available to walk you through the process.

    * To look up course availability, select Look Up Classes.  My quick list of University Studies (general education) courses shows which courses are offered online for the current semester.

    * To register, select Add or Drop Classes.  Select term for which you wish to register and enter the alternate PIN obtained in your advising session.

If you need to drop a course, please check the refund schedule to see what percentage, if any, you will receive back.  Your textbook refund is determined by its postmark date.  Please note that your financial aid could be adversely affected by dropping a course -- please consult Student Financial Services before you drop any course.  You will need your alternate PIN for the current semester to be able to drop a course.  Simply change the drop down menu beside the course you wish to drop and submit your changes.  After doing so, the drop down option should disappear and the course will be designated as dropped within the semester. 

How do I check my progress towards completing the degree?

All students have access to their Degree Audit Report (DAR) via the Southeast Portal.  You can access your DAR through entering the Self-Service area and selecting the menus Student & Financial - Records to determine your individual requirements for the degree. 

Each request is a snapshot in time, showing how you met the requirements at that particular moment.  Any time you have made schedule changes and need to reference your DAR, you should generate a NEW copy for accurate advising information.  If you have not made recent changes, you may review previous requests rather than generating a new report (i.e. you need to reference your report after logging out of the portal earlier that day).  Older or duplicate requests may be deleted by selecting the checkbox beside the entry.  Any requests that do NOT have a checkbox were generated for advising purposes by an academic advisor or graduation official and may not be deleted.

A step-by-step guide for using the DAR (.pdf) is available to walk you through the process, as well as a new video to demonstrate using the DAR (requires JavaScript to be turned on and a recent version of Window Media Player).

How can I calculate my potential semester GPA?

After finding your attempted hours on your Unofficial Transcripts (Student Records submenu of Student & Financial Aid within the portal), you can use the following GPA calculator to play "what if" with your current or future courses.  Any courses starting with the number 0 should not be included in the calculations (i.e. MA090, CH081, etc). 

What does it mean to be on academic probation?

Students who have a cumulative GPA under 2.0 ('C' average) are placed on academic probation.  Academic probation students are limited to 12 hours in the fall or spring or 6 hours in the summer semester.  Additionally, students on academic probation may find limitations in regards to available financial aid.

Students must achieve a 2.0 semester GPA to demonstrate continued improvement or they will be suspended from the University for one fall/spring semester.  Students who are readmitted after sitting out and who fall on probation a second time will be disqualified for one full academic year and will be required to submit an appeal to be considered for readmittance. 

The fastest way to raise GPA is to repeat courses of 'D' or 'F' grades.  Southeast has a policy in which only the most recent attempt of a course will be counted towards your GPA.  (All attempts will remain a part of your academic record, however.) 

How do I know if I meet the pre-requisites for my courses?

The first step is to find the course description in either the University Studies Handbook (only University Studies courses) or the University Bulletin (all courses).  Some courses will not have pre-requisites, while others may require certain University Studies categories (i.e. Living Systems, Social Systems, Political Systems) or even specific courses (i.e. SC105, PS103 or PS104, MA134 and AD101).  Still other courses may state junior standing (60 hours) or senior standing (90 hours) in order to take the course.

Course levels:

100-200 level courses are open to all students (if any).

300-500 level courses are open to students with at least 45 hours completed.

600-700 level courses are ONLY for graduate students.

800 level courses are workshops for both undergraduate and graduate students.  800-833 are open to all students and are considered lower division credit, while 834-866 are open to students with at least 45 hours completed and are considered upper division credit.

The second step is to check your Unofficial Transcript in Self-Service.  This will show all courses completed and in progress to help you remember what you have already taken.  If you have credit that is over 10 years old, next check the title on the needed pre-requisite(s).  If you are still uncertain, you should confirm your selection with me as some course numbers may have changed since you completed the course (i.e. US101 = US105, MA136 = MA140, EN150 = EN140). 

Note: the registration system is NOT currently designed to check pre-requisites except in rare cases.  It is your responsibility as a student to make sure you are not only prepared for your next course, and that you will not be dropped by the department when they realize you lack the proper prerequisites.  Most departments check rosters in close proximity to the semester start, and finding a replacement may not be possible that close to the semester start. 

When/how do I apply for graduation? If I am not going to the ceremony, do I still need to apply?

Once you have confirmed remaining requirements with me (and minor if applicable) and you have registered for all courses, you should download the graduation application and mail to Registrar's Office. 

You must apply for graduation no later than the FIRST day of classes of your LAST semester.  If you are a summer graduate and wish to participate in the commencement exercises for spring (since there is no summer commencement), you must apply for graduation no later than the FIRST day summer registration opens (mid-February).  For exact deadlines and dates for submitting paperwork, please visit the commencement website.  If you have missed the stated deadline, I encourage you to call the Registrar's Office -- IF they agree to accept you as a late addition, a late fee would also apply.  The commencement website also has an excellent handout with Senior FAQ and other helpful graduation details.

If you wish to participate in the ceremony, you must return the appropriate documents by the deadlines - otherwise, there will be no cap and gown waiting for you at the Show Me Center!  We welcome all online students to participate in the commencement exercises, especially if this will be your first visit to our campus. 

Even if you do not wish to participate in the ceremony, you MUST apply for graduation at the proper time.  Otherwise, the Registrar's Office will not know your intentions nor review your eligibility for graduation.  Your degree will not be awarded, and you will not graduate unless you apply and submit senior papers by the given deadlines.  Do not forget this important step!

How/when do I get textbooks?

Once you have finalized your schedule, you must request your books at the Textbook Rental website

under Textbooks - Textbook Rental - Web/ITV.  Their web request form (below costs and instructions) is the easiest way to request your books as it provides a confirmation page for your reference.  Your rental fees and shipping fees will be added to your account balance. 

Please note that some courses require supplemental materials.  After requesting your rental textbooks, check the Southeast Bookstore to see if your course(s) requires any additional materials for purchase. 

Requested textbooks begin shipping approximately 1-2 weeks before the session starts, and arrival time will vary depending upon the date of your request, your distance from Southeast and the method of shipping you select.  Once shipped, you can check your textbook status within the portal.  If you did not receive a confirmation email within 24 hours of submitting your request online, please contact Textbook Rental.  There may have been a problem with your submission.

If you live close to Cape Girardeau, you are welcome to pick up your books in person the week before classes begin.  However, you must bring a copy of your schedule AND a student ID card to receive your books. 

There are several options for returning rental textbooks at the end of each semester:

• Return textbooks to main campus -- must be received by 4 pm the Monday following finals

• Return textbooks to any of the Sikeston, Malden, Kennett, or Perryville regional campuses or the Poplar Bluff site -- must be received by 4 pm the Monday following finals

• Return textbooks via mail -- must be postmarked by the Monday following finals

How do I get a student ID card?

Beginning Fall 2006, a new Redhawk ID card was implemented.  ALL active students will need to have a Redhawk ID that reflects your new student ID number (S0xxxxxxx) for fall 2006 and beyond.  Older ID cards will no longer be accepted for university purposes.  New and returning students at a distance can use the following procedures:

• Using a digital camera, take and save pictures to your computer, CD or Disk (preferably a CD-RW) in the .jpg format.
• The individual should be posed in front of a light colored wall or background, and the picture should capture the head and shoulders.  Please do not wear sunglasses, hats or other items that obscure the face.
• On a piece of paper or in the body of the email, please indicate the following information as it corresponds with the photo:
  • Last Name
  • First Name
  • Middle Initial
  • Student ID #

• If mailing a disk/CD(s), it should be wrapped in additional padding (sheets of paper, plastic, bubble wrap, etc.) and enclosed in an envelope with the above information and mailed to:

      ID Services/Information Desk

      Southeast Missouri State University

      1 University Plaza, MS 1175

      Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

• If you prefer to submit the above information via email, please email Redhawk Card Services.
• Please be sure to include a return address where the completed ID card should be mailed to and your contact name and number in case of questions.

If you plan to visit campus, you are also welcome to visit ID Services in person to receive your Southeast ID.  Regional campuses may also have special dates each semester when ID Services will be on location.  More information is available on the Redhawk Card Services website.

How can I borrow library books and videos?
 
Online students can have books and videos from Kent Library at Southeast Missouri State University, in addition to books from the state-wide lending program MOBIUS, shipped to their primary residence free of charge.   Each library item shipped comes with a prepaid return envelope.  Additionally, materials may be picked up at one of the over 60 Missouri libraries in the MOBIUS system.

For more assistance on this process, visit the Kent Library page for distance learners for more details.

How can I find articles for my class assignments?
 
All Southeast students have access to library subscription databases that can help you find an article that matches your topic.  The library has full-text access to over 24,000 journals, magazines and newspapers, so you will be able to get the full-text to many articles with a single click.  To learn more about finding articles, you can complete the self-paced tutorial Module 4- Finding Articles.

How can I receive assistance with my writing?

All Southeast students have access to the Online Writing Lab (OWL).  Using OWL, students can submit drafts of papers for additional feedback and guidance on the drafting process, walk through writing tutorials to refresh memory or ask individual questions of the writing staff.  Please note that the staff will not correct your entire submission, but rather they seek to work with you in order to teach you how to be a better proofreader as well as clarify any repetitive errors made.  If you utilize this resource, please do so well in advance of your submission deadline for the course so you have adequate time for the revision and communication process.

The online submission form will not allow students to submit documents over 6 pages in length.  As an online degree student, you can still receive assistance with longer submissions.  Please contact Writing Outcomes through the above link for help in submitting longer drafts.
 

What if I need disability or tutorial assistance?  What is available to me?
 
The Offices of Learning Assistance Programs and Disability Student Services provide both disability and tutorial assistance to Southeast students.  Online students with disabilities may receive assistance by registering with the office as outlined on their website.   Although online tutorial assistance is limited, online students are welcome to visit them for face-to-face tutorial services and other learning resources.  Additionally, if you have difficulty in understanding your materials or assignments, many faculty will answer additional questions via email or phone - or refer you to additional resources that may assist you in your studies.

How do I view my bill or financial aid status/awards?

Login the Southeast Portal using your SE Key and Password
        click on the Student Tab

        click on the My Southeast Self Service link (2x)
        click on Student
        click on Student Records
        click on Account Summary
        click on the Account Summary button
 

You can view your account status and aid awards, make a payment by electronic check, enroll in the Installment Payment Plan (IPP), and add or update direct deposit information.

Other unanswered questions? Comments about this page?  Let me know your feedback about this website!

 University Studies courses available online:

Descriptions available in the University Studies Handbook

NOTE:  This list is not an exhaustive list of online courses, but rather a guide for those of you still needing to fulfill basic University Studies requirements.  Please view the schedule in the My Southeast Portal (under the registration menu) for a complete course listing.