Messiah Online FAQs
Courses
List of Courses - What courses are being offered for summer 2011?
Credits - Are all of Messiah's summer courses offered for academic credit?
Degree - If I'm a current Messiah student, will my summer course credits count towards my Messiah degree?
Transferable - Are Messiah College's summer course credits transferable to other institutions?
Professors - Who teaches Messiah's summer courses?
Dates - How long is Messiah's summer session and when does it run?
Registration
Eligibility - Who is eligible to take summer courses at Messiah? How do I register?
Limit - How many summer courses may I register for?
Finances
Costs - How much do summer session courses cost? Are course material costs included?
Payment - When is payment due for summer session?
Refunds Policy - What is Messiah's refund policy for summer session?
Financial Aid - Does Messiah offer financial aid for summer session?
Textbooks - How do I purchase textbooks for online courses?
The Online Format
How it Works - What is the format of Messiah's online courses--how do they work?
Time Commitment - How much time should I expect to engage in an online course?
Preparation for Success - How can I help prepare myself to succeed as an online student?
Technology Requirements - What are Messiah's technology requirements for online courses?
Support - Will Messiah provide me with technical support if I take an online course?
Online Courses During the Academic Year - Does Messiah offer online courses during the academic year?
Audits - May I audit an online course?
Contact - Who should I contact if I have additional questions about summer session?
Proctoring - Approval and Verification
How long is Messiah's summer session and when does it run?
Messiah's summer session is eight weeks in length, running May 30 through July 22, 2011.
We will offer 1 course, MATH 308 Differential Equations, as a 3 week course (May 30 - June 17).
Who is eligible to take summer courses at Messiah? How do I register?
In addition to our current students, Messiah College invites high school seniors or homeschool seniors, Messiah employees, alumni, parents, and friends, or anyone who would like to further their post-secondary education at Messiah College to apply for summer course study.
Current Messiah College students
How to Register: If you are currently enrolled at Messiah College, you will be eligible to register via MCSquare according to your Fall 2011 registration appointment time through May 24.
Individuals who are not currently enrolled at Messiah College
How to Register:
- Anyone who is not a current Messiah College student and is seeking to take a summer course for credit, but not as part of a Messiah College degree program, should register as a part-time, non-degree student, by completing the online registration form. You are eligible to register from April 7 through May 24, 2011. There is no application fee and you will be notified by the Registrar's Office when your application has been processed, typically within 3-4 days.
- Anyone who is not a current Messiah College student and is seeking to enroll in a summer course as part of a Messiah College degree program must apply for admission to the College using the regular application form and process, which is explained in more detail at: www.messiah.edu/admissions/application/index.html.
It is important to note that all students must fulfill prerequisite course credits (or their transfer equivalencies) for those summer courses that require them.
How much do summer session courses cost? Are course material costs included?
Messiah summer online courses are an affordable option, discounted by 50 percent as the same courses offered during the academic year. The cost per summer credit hour is $420, or a total of $1,260 for a three credit course (subject to change). (There is no technology fee for summer online courses.) The cost of textbooks and other course materials is incurred separately.
When is payment due for summer session?
For students not currently enrolled at Messiah College, payment is due at the time of registration. For current Messiah College students payment is due prior to the beginning of the class start date of May 30 (you will be billed through the Messiah College Business Office).
How many summer courses may I register for?
Because the average person should expect to invest a minimum of 15 hours per week per 8 week course, taking two online courses is the rough equivalent of a full-time job. Therefore, it is the College's policy to limit registration to two courses per person during the summer session.
Are all of Messiah College's summer courses offered for academic credit?
Yes, all of Messiah's summer online courses are credit-bearing. And because Messiah College is a fully accredited academic institution, all courses offered by Messiah, including online courses, fall under that accreditation.
What courses are being offered for summer 2011?
Messiah College is offering a selection of 21 different courses for summer 2011. Messiah's Summer 2011 Online Course Offerings.
Who teaches Messiah's summer courses?
All of Messiah's online courses are developed and taught by current Messiah College faculty, who are dedicated, experienced educators known for integrating their Christian faith with their outstanding scholarship, teaching and expertise. Messiah's online course content is designed and delivered to meet the same high standards as courses offered in our traditional classroom-based format.
If I'm a current Messiah student, will my summer course credits count towards my Messiah degree?
As a current student, Messiah's summer course credit is applicable toward your Messiah College degree. However, you are encouraged to work with your academic advisor to ensure that the summer course(s) you wish to take will help you to meet your major's specific curriculum requirements.
Are Messiah College's summer course credits transferable to other institutions?
Messiah College is fully accredited and credits earned at Messiah, including summer courses, will transfer to most other colleges and universities. The decision about transfer credits and their application to specific degree requirements, however, is the decision of the receiving institution. To be certain, it is advisable that you confirm this in advance with the institution to which you wish to transfer credit.
What is Messiah's refund policy for summer session?
Summer Session Refund Policy: Refunds for students who withdraw voluntarily or involuntarily are determined according to the following policy:
1) The portion of tuition to be refunded to students who withdraw prior to the end of the work day (5:00 pm EST) listed will be as follows:
| 8 Week Courses | ||
| Day of Semester | Actual Date | Percent of Semester Completed |
| Day 1-4 | (June 2) | 100% |
| Day 5-8 | (June 6) | 75% |
| Day 9-11 | (June 9) | 60% |
| Day 12-15 | (June 13) | 50% |
| Day 16-19 | (June 17) | 25% |
| 3 Week Course - MATH 308 Differential Equations | ||
| Day of Semester | Actual Date | Percent of Semester Completed |
| Day 1 | (May 30) | 100% |
| Day 2-3 | (June 1) | 75% |
| Day 4 | (June 2) | 60% |
| Day 5-6 | (June 4) | 50% |
| Day 7 | (June 5) | 25% |
3) All requests for drops or withdrawals must be in writing and emailed to the Registrar's Office at SummerSession@messiah.edu. The date of the email determines the refund date used in 1) above. It is important to note that notifying an instructor does not constitute an official request to drop or withdraw from a course. Read the complete refund policy.
How do I purchase textbooks for online courses?
There are two ways you can purchase from the Textbook Express at Messiah College: in-store or online.
Of course, if you are currently a Messiah College student or live near campus, you may always purchase your textbooks from the Textbook Express at our physical location in the Eisenhower Campus Center. Books will be available no later than May 4 so that students may purchase before leaving for summer break. Textbooks purchased from the Textbook Express are fully refundable, provided that all the terms of our return policy are met, if you decide to withdraw from your course.
The Textbook Express will also provide the option to purchase textbooks online for summer courses. You may search the titles of the textbooks you need and purchase them online from the Textbook Express through The Campus Store website. Online purchasing will also be available no later than May 4. If you have any questions regarding textbooks, please direct them to Aleisha Wildon at awildon@messiah.edu or at (717) 796-1800 Ext. 3070.
Does Messiah offer financial aid for summer session?
If you are considering taking classes during the summer session at Messiah College, and are interested in applying for Financial Aid to help you with the cost of attendance, here are some important facts you will need to know.
- Messiah College does not offer institutional financial aid for regular summer classes. Because the cost of a credit during the summer is only about 50% of the cost of a credit during the regular academic year, a student’s institutional financial aid for summer classes comes in the form of this greatly reduced cost.
- For most forms of financial aid, a student must be enrolled at least half-time. Half-time at Messiah College for undergraduate students is defined as at least six (6) credits.
- The Federal Stafford Loan, or an alternative student loan, is often the only form of financial aid that a student will receive during the summer.
- The Federal Stafford Loan does require at least half-time attendance. See more information on applying for a Stafford Loan at: http://www.messiah.edu/offices/financial_aid/loans/stafford.html
- Some of the alternative loan lenders with which we work do offer loans for less than half-time attendance. Please see our alternative loan lender list for more information: http://www.messiah.edu/offices/financial_aid/loans/private.html
- Aside from student loans, the most common forms of financial aid that a student could apply for during the summer are the Federal Pell Grant and the Pennsylvania State Grant. Of course, you must otherwise be eligible for these forms of aid in order to utilize them during the summer. If you have not received them during the regular academic year, then it is unlikely that you will qualify during the summer.
Please be aware of the following in regard to the Pennsylvania State Grant: The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency does offer grants during the summer and they do have a part-time (down to half-time) grant program. There is an eight (8) semester limit on all Pennsylvania State Grants, and the summer grant amounts are typically somewhat less than the amounts for the regular academic year. So, using the Pennsylvania State Grant during the summer means that you will use up some of your eligibility for future semesters, and you might receive an overall lower amount over your college career. So, the only situation in which it would make sense to use some of your Pennsylvania State Grant during the summer is if this summer term will replace all or part of a future semester.
If you decide that you would like to apply for financial aid for the summer term, please contact the Financial Aid Office and we will review your eligibility.
You can call or write us at:
Messiah College,
Financial Aid Office,
Grantham, PA, 17027
Direct dial phone number: 717-691-6007 (ext. 6007 on campus)
FAX 717-691-2349
E-mail: FINAID@MESSIAH.EDU (just Financial Aid on campus)
What is the format of Messiah's online courses--how do they work?
Messiah's online courses are conducted as a personal, interactive learning community. Interaction among students and faculty is foundational to all courses taken at Messiah--and communication and facilitation of class assignments between you, the professor, and other students will take place through an online learning management system called Sakai. Specific procedures will vary depending on the individual course, and will be communicated to you and your classmates by the faculty member facilitating the online course. For example, some classes may require you to engage in synchronous (live) online communication for the course, but this would be outlined in advance in the course syllabus.
Most courses do not require a campus visit--but as an online student, you will have access to the extensive online resources of Messiah's Murray Library. The method of delivering tests and exams will vary from course to course, but many will be administered electronically through Sakai. Online courses will have the same letter grading scale as traditional classroom courses; the specific grading criteria for each course will be outlined in the course syllabus.
How much time should I expect to engage in an online course?
Generally, you should expect to invest a minimum of 15 hours per week per course--however, this will vary from course to course and is based on your pace as an individual learner.
How can I help prepare myself to succeed as an online student?
The resource “How to Succeed as an Online Student” provides some practical tips and ideas for taking online courses. Link requires Adobe Reader which can be downloaded here.
What are Messiah College's technology requirements for online courses?
Students who enroll in an online course must have basic computer skills including a working knowledge of word processing, e-mail, and internet usage. You must have access to a computer, the Internet, a web browser, and other software and hardware configuration as described below.
If you are a new student not previously enrolled at Messiah, you will receive a Messiah College computer account upon acceptance for summer online study, which will give you access to Messiah's network including our e-mail system (GroupWise), student portal (MC Square) and the online learning management system that will facilitate your online course (Sakai). Current Messiah College students taking online courses will continue to use their established computer account.
Online Courses System Requirements:
Minimum system requirements can be found here. Note: Link requires Adobe Reader which can be downloaded here.
Will Messiah College provide me with technical support if I take an online course?
Messiah will provide you with "real person" technical support as an online student through a variety of ways including instant messaging, phone, and e-mail through Student Computer Services. Note: Link requires Adobe Reader which can be downloaded here.
You will also have access to technical support (i.e. turorials, help functions, etc.) through the through the College's Learning Management System, Sakai via Help (For Students) tab and also through the Information Technology Services website. See Course Demo for more information.
Does Messiah College offer online courses during the academic year?
Currently, Messiah College is only offering undergraduate online courses during its summer session.
May I audit an online course?
You may choose to audit an online course and not receive academic credit, however, payment remains the same for this option, and the same procedures apply to auditing a traditional classroom-based course (which may be read in section 8.22.6 in the online Community of Educators Handbook).
Who should I contact if I have additional questions about summer session?
For additional questions or information about Messiah College's summer online courses, please contact the Registrar's Office at (717) 691-6034 or via e-mail at summersession@messiah.edu.