General Information
Brenau University provides quality educational programs utilizing the latest technology in distance learning delivery platforms. These programs are developed to provide the maximum flexibility without compromising learning outcomes or academic rigor.
Online classes are available to all Brenau University students. Students should consult with their academic advisers prior to registering for their first online class.
Note: Students requiring an F1 student visa are not eligible to take online classes exclusively and are advised to contact the Director of International Students & Programs for more information concerning this regulation.
Organization and Structure
The Associate Vice President for Nonresidential Programs supervises the daily operation of this unit of the institution, while the existing academic structure is in place. Deans and department chairs qualify, schedule and evaluate faculty teaching in the online format. The respective departments and appropriate faculty committees approve all courses through the established procedures for curriculum development.
Each of Brenau’s online courses has been carefully designed by one or more full-time faculty member(s) in keeping with the SACS accreditation Criteria for Distance Learning Programs. Brenau faculty members teaching students online have completed a rigorous online facilitator certification program. During this time, faculty members themselves become online students in order to fully gain an understanding of the online learning experience. Course syllabi, assignments, examinations and other instructional materials are converted to or developed for an online format during the training period. These and other measures are undertaken to ensure the quality and consistency of online course offerings.
Attendance Policy
Online classes do not take place at a particular time; the times are flexible, dictated only by the individual schedule of each student. Online students must be “present” five of seven days of the week in order to keep up with assignments and participate fully in class discussions. Students who fail to meet the attendance requirement during the first week of class are administratively withdrawn. Faculty members are “present” daily providing a consistent academic challenge.
Learning is achieved through individual inquiry, collaborative process (student to student and student to faculty) and personal synthesis of ideas into meaningful inference. Outcomes are determined by qualitative analysis of student input, traditional and non-traditional subjective and objective testing models and group and/or individual projects and/or case studies.
Advisement and Registration
Faculty members advise online students prior to their registering for the first online class. After receiving advisement, students may register online via CampusWEB using a secure login. Online registration is then available in all subsequent semesters as long as the student has no lapses in enrollment of more than one semester.
Although online classes are typically offered in one of two 7-week sessions each semester and last seven weeks each, some classes will last 14 weeks.
Orientation
It is important during initial consideration to understand exactly what an online class is and what it is not. First and foremost, an online class is not an easy substitute for its on-ground counterpart. In fact, students find this format very rigorous in nature and quite demanding intellectually. An online class is certainly not a justification to purchase a first computer. Online students are expected to be computer literate and skilled in word processing, spreadsheet and Internet applications. Faculty members expect students to bring these skills to the virtual classroom and do not spend class time providing basic technology instruction.
All students enrolled in online classes are also enrolled in a “Brenau Blackboard Community” class shortly after they register for classes, which allows them to become familiar with the delivery platform. This is not a class per se, but simply a model of what an online class will look like. The community site offers an orientation for new online students, which details policies and processes for online students at the institution. A review of this presentation is highly recommended for all students taking online classes. The Help Desk supports students with technological difficulty and is available toll-free at 800-252-5119, ext. 4774 and by e-mail at helpdesk@brenau.edu.
Majors Offered
Graduate degrees are offered in the following majors:
Accounting (M.B.A.)
Applied Gerontology (M.S.)
Early Childhood Education (M.Ed.)
Early Childhood Education (Ed.S.) Healthcare Management (M.B.A.)
Insurance Management (M.B.A.)
Management (M.B.A.)
Middle Grades Education (M.Ed.)
Middle Grades Education (Ed.S.)
Project Management (M.B.A.)
Undergraduate degrees are offered in the following majors:
Accounting (B.B.A.)
Business (B.B.A.)
Human Resources Management (B.S.)
Liberal Studies (A.A.)
Nursing (B.S.N.) R.N. to B.S.N. Program (online)
Organizational Leadership (B.A.)
A graduate certificate is offered in the following majors:
Accounting
Healthcare
Project Management
Additional degree programs will be offered as they are developed. Current offerings are found in each semester’s published class schedule, which is available online on CampusWEB. To learn more about Brenau’s online degree programs and additional courses, visit the Brenau University Online Studies web site.
Brenau University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools [1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097: Telephone number (404) 679-4501] to award associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and educational specialist degrees.
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