Online Education

General Information for Online Students

Taking an Online Course

An online course provides students with flexibility by replacing face-to-face traditional classes with engaging online instructional activities. An online course requires that students work in an asynchronistic environment, where students will need to:

• Manage their time effectively and efficiently.
• Take increased responsibility of their learning.
• Be willing to seek help from instructors when needed.
• Regularly log into the online course.
• Fully engage in all aspects of the online environment.
• Be self-motivated.
• Be willing to learn independently.

In addition to the above, students should also ensure that they have a quiet learning space for completing their online work and collaborating with others and their professor in a virtual environment. Students should own a computer that meets the minimum technology requirements as stipulated below.

Software & Hardware Requirements

Minimum Tech Requirements

Students must complete an assessment in their student orientation (DEO 100 ) to verify they have the required hardware and software.

Internet Skills

An online student should be able to:

• Send and receive e-mail
• Open an attachment to a message
• Find a Web page using its address or URL
• Follow links from one web page to another
• Use the forward and backward buttons on the browser
• Print a web page
• Bookmark pages to access them later
• Use a search engine on the Internet (e.g., Yahoo!, Safari, Google, etc.)
• Download documents or software from the Internet
• Upload documents 

Accessing Online Courses

Life University online courses are administered through the Blackboard Learning Management System.

Students can submit an IT request to LIFE’s Information Technology department if they are experiencing issues accessing their online courses. The IT request form can be found via the Life University Website. Blackboard support can also be contacted by emailing blackboardsupport@life.edu.

Online Student Orientation

All new online students are required to complete a distance education orientation, DEO 100 , in Blackboard by the end of week two of the first quarter of enrollment. Students will earn a Certificate of Accomplishment upon completion of the course. Further information is contained in this course. Failure to fulfill this requirement as described above may result in deregistration for the quarter.   

Test Monitoring

Online courses will use a test monitoring platform for student authentication in test-tasking. Students will be directly responsible for a fee for this proctoring service. Additional information on this service and its use will be found in the individual online course(s). 

Science Labs

Some science courses require labs at an additional fee. Each course contains specific information on the cost and accessing the labs.

Student Complaints

Complaint Resolution

The mission of Life University is to empower each student with the education, skills, and values needed for career success and life fulfillment based on a vitalistic philosophy. Life University takes all student and consumer complaints very seriously. The University works with students to resolve all complaints in an expeditious, fair, and pleasant manner. The complaint process provides students a path to discuss academic and non-academic concerns or register formal complaints or grievances. This process can also be used to address alleged violations of State consumer protection laws that include but are not limited to fraud and false advertising, alleged violations of State laws or rules relating to the licensure of post-secondary institutions, complaints relating to the quality of education, or other State or accreditation requirements. Post-secondary institutions participating in federal student financial aid programs are required to maintain formal grievance procedures.

Students are encouraged to resolve issues within the University.
Complaints should first be filed internally to the appropriate Life University authority and then, if necessary, to external authorities.

Complaint Resolution related to Academic Matters 
Concerning academic questions or complaints, the student should first go to the instructor involved. If questions are not satisfactorily handled or the complaint adequately handled, the student should go to the instructor’s immediate supervisor (the assistant dean). The next step in the student complaint process is for the student to go to the associate dean (online education) of the college in which the student is enrolled, and then to the dean of the appropriate college if needs are not satisfactorily met through the associate dean (online education). If students wish to appeal the decision of the dean, they should contact the Provost/Chief Academic Officer. The Provost/Chief Academic Officer will make the final decision.

Complaint Resolution related to Non-Academic Matters 
Students with grievances relating to non-academic matters should confer with the Dean of Students. Dean of Students will facilitate a review of the issue as it relates to Life University policy. The role of the Dean of Students is to facilitate a resolution to each issue presented as well as ensure that each individual is treated fairly and in accordance with all Life University policies, procedures and standards of conduct. If a resolution cannot be achieved, the Dean of Students may refer the student to the appropriate department to determine what additional steps may be available.

Complaint Resolution related to Title IX 
In keeping with its mission, Life University is dedicated to cultivating and maintaining an environment free from all forms of discrimination and harassment. Sexual harassment and sex-based discrimination is prohibited by federal law and by University policy. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs and activities, including various forms of sexual misconduct and discrimination for failure to conform to sex-stereotypes. Title IX applies to every member of the Life University community. Anyone with a complaint of discrimination should contact the Title IX Office.

Forms

• Form to report an Academic Misconduct violation
• Form to report an alleged behavioral violation of the Honor Code or for General Complaints
• Form to report a student of concern to the Student Behavioral Assessment Team (SBAT)
• Form to report a Sexual Misconduct Violation

Complaint Resolution related to Online Education 

Life University participates with NC-SARA and is fully authorized to offer online education. SARA consumer protection provisions require the Institution’s Home State, through its SARA Portal Entity, to investigate and resolve allegations of dishonest or fraudulent activity by the state’s SARA-participating institutions, including the provision of false or misleading information.

The student should begin the complaint process with the institution and if resolution is not found, the student may file a complaint with the State of Georgia by contacting the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission. 

Click here for NC-SARA Student Complaints Process Infographic

Listing of NC-SARA States

Complaint Resolution by State
Students/consumers residing outside of Georgia in a Non-SARA state (not listed above) may file a complaint with the appropriate consumer protection agency in the state they live in.

Listing of State Consumer Protection Offices

Complaint Resolution by Accreditor
If the student/consumer is not satisfied with the resolution provided by the University and the state, they may file a complaint with the University accreditation agency. Accrediting agencies will only review issues addressing significant non-compliance with agency standards, policies, or procedures. This is to be considered a last resort effort. If the student/consumer has not followed all of the preceding steps they will be directed by the agency to start at the University.

Life University has accreditation with the following agencies: