After a student selects courses through correspondence study at MSU, he/she will receive a course packet, order the necessary textbooks, and begin a program of individualized study. The course will follow the strict standards for instruction and grading applied in the classroom. Likewise, instructors in correspondence may answer students' questions. Students simply include questions with their written assignments. Graded lessons, instructor comments , and answers to questions are returned to students for use in evaluating progress and studying for the final exam.

Enrollment Requirements

Correspondence courses are only available to students in the United States of America and U.S. territories.  A person repeating a course by correspondence study for the purpose of raising his/her standing must turn in a completed approval form with signatures from the registrar, the chair of the department in which the student is majoring, and the dean of the college in which the student is enrolled.

Each student desiring to earn credit by correspondence study assumes full responsibility for determining if these courses will fulfill the requirements for the degree or certificate. If you have questions, check with your academic advisor before enrolling. The credit hours assigned to a correspondence course will be considered in determining the total semester hours of an MSU resident student.

Credit earned by correspondence study will be credited to the term in which the course is completed.   On the application the student must state whether he/she is or is not currently enrolled in residence, correspondence, or extended campus study at MSU or any other institution; otherwise, credit is jeopardized. A student will be allowed to receive credit for a maximum of six hours each semester, or 12 hours during the regular academic year of nine months, or 16 hours within a calendar year through
correspondence study.

Special Regulations

A maximum of 32 semester hours of requirements for a baccalaureate degree from Murray State may be earned by correspondence study. A student who has 96 semester hours of credit shall be eligible to complete no more than 12 semester hours by correspondence and/or transfer.

Courses taken by correspondence study are normally not acceptable as part of the major or minor. Students desiring to take a correspondence study course in their major or minor field must obtain written permission from the department chair.

Procedures

A student who desires to enroll in correspondence courses should use the application provided in this book. Lessons and course outlines are sent upon receipt of the application and appropriate fees. Then the student purchases the necessary
books and materials and begins work. Lessons are mailed to Murray State's Center for Continuing Education and Academic Outreach where they will be logged and forwarded to the instructor for grading.

Most graded lessons are returned to the student. The instructor reserves the right to have any paper reworked. There is a two-week time allowance for instructors to grade papers and finals. Each student is provided detailed instructions regarding
procedures and practices of the correspondence study program when course materials are sent.

Beginning Date

The beginning date for a correspondence study course is the date of enrollment. A student may enroll for a course any time during the calendar year. The course must be completed within one year from the date of enrollment.  Murray State students who anticipate a graduation date within a year from the date he/she enrolls in a correspondence course need to contact the Graduation Office in Admissions at 800-272-4MSU.  It is his/her responsibility to inquire about possible Graduation Office deadlines to complete the course that may occur before the deadlines actually set by the Continuing Education/Academic Outreach Office.

Fees

The fees established by the MSU Board of Regents for 2007-08 are $225.75 per semester hour.  Full payment must be received along with a completed application and other necessary paperwork before enrollment can be completed.

Refunds

Refunds are granted if requested in writing within six weeks from the date of enrollment. The amount of refund is equal to three­fourths of the original fee, less $5 for each lesson of work previously submitted. No refund will be made after six weeks from the date of enrollment.

Materials

All texts and instructional materials are furnished by the student. Information concerning the purchase of textbooks will be mailed along with lesson assignments for each course. Most texts may be purchased directly from the publishing companies or the Murray State University Store. Used books are sometimes available at the MSU Store. You are encouraged to call them at (270) 762-4388 or 1-800-749-8580. Phone orders may be paid for with a credit card and books will be shipped directly to you.

Course Numbering

The numbers used to identify courses are as follows:

001-089 Special category post-secondary
090-299 Lower-division undergraduate
300-499 Upper-division undergraduate
500-599 Upper-division undergraduate courses or graduate courses (require at least a junior classification)

Course Transfer

A student may transfer from one correspondence study course to another provided the request is made at least eight weeks before expiration of the enrollment period. The fee for transfer is $10 for each course plus $5 for each lesson submitted in the original course.

When a transfer is granted, the second course must be completed within a year from the original enrollment date. Only one transfer will be granted for each initial registration.

Course Completion Time

The minimum completion time is as follows:

2 semester hours completed in not less than four weeks
3 semester hours completed in not less than five weeks
4 semester hours completed in not less than eight weeks
5 semester hours completed in not less than nine weeks
6 semester hours completed in not less than ten weeks

Students are given 12 months from the date of enrollment for the completion of a course. Extensions of three months and six months are considered on an individual basis. Requests for extension should be made in writing to the CE/AO Distance
Learning Specialist.

Final Examination Procedures

A final examination is required at the completion of most of the courses and must be taken within 30 days from the time the last lesson is completed.  Applications for final exams should be received in the CE/AO office at least one week prior to the requested date of examination. After returning the completed
application, the student should report to the CE/AO office for the examination on Fridays between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. These hours are specified so the student will have time to complete the examination before MSU closing hours.

For students who cannot come to the MSU campus, arrangements may be made with a local community college, public school, or other college or university to monitor the examination.

Course Completion Date

The date of successful completion of the course will be the date the final examination paper is received in the CE/AO Office. If credit is needed by a certain time, the student should plan far enough ahead so that the course can be completed according to the rules and regulations of CE/AO. There is a two-week time allowance for instructors to grade papers and finals.

Transcripts of College Credit

As a student completes a course, his/her record will be sent to Murray State's Admissions and Registrar's Office. A notice of completion of the course with the final grade will be mailed to the student. If a student wants credit transferred, he/she
must send a written request along with $3.00 per transcript requested to the Admissions and Registrar's Office, Murray State University, PO Box 9, Murray, KY 42071­0009. Upon receipt of written request and payment from the student, the registrar will send a transcript to the designated location. Results of the work done through Continuing Education will be recorded in the Admissions and Registrar's Office as follows:

A - Exceptionally high quality, valued at four points per credit
B - Good, valued at three points per credit
C - Satisfactory, valued at two points per credit
D - Poor, valued at one point per credit
E - Failure, no credit, valued at no points but counted as hours attempted

Statement of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity
Murray State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, marital status, age, or disability in employment or the provision of services and provides, upon request, reasonable accommodation including auxiliary aids and services necessary to afford individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in all programs and activities. For information regarding non-discrimination policies, contact the Office of Equal Opportunity at (270) 762-3155.