Video Instructional Program

How Do I Proceed? . . .

Once you have selected one or more telecourses that you would like to take simply follow the steps outline below:

Step #1: Find your status below:

Matriculated Students are students who wish to take courses to obtain an UM-St. Louis degree.

Obtain and complete the admissions packet from the Admissions Office, proceed to Step #2 once admission is granted.
Non-Matriculating Students are students who wish to take courses solely for personal or professional development.

Obtain an admissions packet from the Admissions Office, select "non-degree" student status, proceed to Step #2 once admission is granted.

Visiting Students are students from another university or college who wish to take a course at UM-St Louis and requested the grade be reported, by transcript, to their respective schools.

Obtain and complete the admissions packet specifically for "visiting students" from the Admissions Office, proceed to Step #2 once admission is granted.
Admissions Office
358 Millennium Student Center
314.516.5451

Step #2: Make an appointment with an advisor:
Make an appointment with an advisor to obtain the necessary paperwork, approval, and signatures.

Arts & Sciences Advising
303 Lucas Hall
314.516.5501

Business Advising
487 Social Sciences & Business Building
314.516.5888

Nursing Advising
Nursing Administration Building
314.516.6066

Step 3: Register
Register via the online TRAIN system, STARUMSL system, or during the open registration period at the Registration Office.

Office of the Registrar
269 Millennium Student Center
(314) 516-5545

Step #4: Tuition and Fees
Pay the tuition and fees at the Cashier’s Office.

Cashier’s Office
285 Millennium Student Center
(314) 516-5151

Step #5: Telecourse Materials
Purchase the telecourse materials from the University Bookstore. Take your "Student Schedule" with you to the bookstore. Once there ask for the VIP Section, locate and select the specific telecourse materials for your course(s) using the course information from your "Student Schedule" as a guide.

University Bookstore
209 Millennium Student Center
(314) 516-5763

The telecourse materials will include:

The Video Instructional Program Telecourse Packet which contains the:
- VIP Program Information
- Broadcast Schedule(s)
- Syllabus
Textbook(s)
Study Guide
Video Lessons

Step #6: Read, Read, Read
Take everything home and READ, READ, READ! Follow the instructions and information provided in the VIP Student Packet carefully.

If you have questions about the program or the broadcast schedule please contact the VIP Office at (314) 516-5004. If your questions or concerns are regarding the syllabus, any of the materials prepared by the telecourse instructor, or about the examination(s) please contact the instructor or his/her representative as directed in the syllabus.

Fees, Refunds, & Credit
Fees: Normal UM-St. Louis fees apply to VIP telecourses.

Refunds: All refunds are made by mail or direct transfer to your bank and require two (2) to four (4) weeks processing time after withdrawal or dropped classes. Deductions will be made for any financial obligation due the University of Missouri. Stopping payment on a check or non-compliance with assignments and/or exams does not constitute official withdrawal and is not a release from financial obligation.

Credit: Each telecourse carries 3 hours of undergraduate credit, unless otherwise noted.

Adding, Dropping, & Withdrawing
Adding & Dropping:To add courses to their original enrollment, students must get approval from their advisors. Students may not enter courses after the first week of a regular semester or the first three days of the summer session. Courses may be dropped, without approval, through the fourth week of a regular semester and the second week of a summer session. Students may withdraw from courses without a grade up to the end of the fourth week of a regular semester and the second week of the summer session.

complete a drop/add form
seek the required signatures
submit the form:
(1) during the drop/add period submit the completed form to the Registrar's Office
(2) after the drop/add period submit the completed from to your college department

Withdrawing: After classes begin, students may withdraw from the university by completing a withdrawl form, available in the dean's office. During the first four weeks of a regular (Fall or Winter) semester and the first two weeks of an 8-week Summer session, students may withdraw from the university without receiving grades. After this period, grades of F or "Excused" are issued, based on whether the student is passing or failing.

Assignments, Homework, & Papers
It is the students' responsibility to turn in ALL papers/assignments to the instructor. You can mail (via the U.S. Postal Service) or deliver them directly to the instructor’s department. Check the "Syllabus" for your instructor’s departmental address. The VIP staff in the JC Penney Building will not accept papers/assignments.

Grades, Delayed Grade, & Examinations
Grades:The VIP Office does not release grades. Please consult the syllabus in the VIP Student Packet for specific information/details. If information is not provided in your syllabus, please contact the telecourse instructor or his/her representative as directed.

Delayed Grade: A student whose work is incomplete at the end of any semester and who has, in the instructor's judgment, sufficient reasons for failing to complete the work, may, with the approval of the instructor and department chairperson, be assigned a delayed grade. Such work must be made up no later than one semester after the incomplete grade is given or the grade automatically becomes "F". The dean may, in unusual circumstances, extend this time limitation (summer session is not counted as a semester). Please contact your telecourse instructor or his/her representative.

Examinations: Examinations are proctered by the instructor/department. Please consult the syllabus in the "VIP Telecourse Packet" for specific details.

Financial Aid
The Office of Student Financial Aid has developed the following information for students who are seeking financial aid for telecourses. The information below is provided so that you will be better informed on how to protect your financial aid eligibility while taking (VIP) courses.

Students must have a valid FASFA on file. A valid FASFA means that you have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and indicated UM-St. Louis as one of the college(s) you plan to attend and have an "output" document indicating that the Federal Processing Center has accepted your application for financial aid.
Students must be making satisfactory academic progress to remain eligible to receive financial aid for VIP courses. Satisfactory Academic Progress is explained in the insert that all students receive with their award letter. Please read it carefully.
Students must complete course requirements and take the final examination during the semester for which aid was disbursed for the course(s). Failure to do so will result in cancellation of financial aid for future VIIP course(s) and may also result in cancellation of all future financial aid.
It is important to point out that even though an instructor may give a student a delayed grade; a delayed grade is not acceptable for financial aid purposes. The Federal regulations are very specific; a student must complete the course to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress.
Please Note: You may not receive aid for video courses unless they are part of a bachelor’s or graduate degree program. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that course work is part of their academic program. We require all students to consult with an academic advisor before registering for a VIP course.
Audit: A student may not enroll as an auditor. Auditors are charged full fees and receive NO academic credit. A course that is taken as "audit" is not eligible for financial aid.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Student Financial Aid
278 Millennium Student center
314.516.5526

Graduating Senior
As a graduating senior, it is your responsibility to notify the instructor or his/her representative, at the beginning of the semester that you intend to graduate.

Graduating seniors are urged to complete the telecourse early in order to assure grades are posted in the Registrar’s office prior to their due date. Consult with your instructor or his/her representative as to how much time need be allowed.

Study Tips
There is no one "correct" way to study. Students are individuals and what works best for one person may be ineffective for another. However, the following general tips may prove helpful.

Watch all the programs and do all of the readings. Don’t substitute one for the other (i.e. don’t skip a chapter in the text because you saw the corresponding program or vice versa.) The textbooks and programs are complements, not substitutes, and test questions will be taken from both sources. Read the assignments before viewing the lectures.
Do your viewing in an environment as free from interruptions as possible. Arrange for children’s care, take the telephone off the hook, get a snack before viewing, etc. Don’t get too comfortable; sit at a table. Set a routine time for viewing and if you record the programs for later use, view the tapes in sequential order. Be sure to take notes.
Contact your instructor to review any questions you might have. You are encouraged to make contact with your instructor within ten working days of the first broadcast and to continue communication throughout the semester.
Make use of your textbook and study guide. These are designed specifically for your telecourse. Doing the exercises will help measure your progress and identify concepts which need more work.
Complete the assignments on time! Be sure to meet the deadlines for mailing in the assignments and taking the examinations. This will help you avoid penalties that lower your grade. It will also ensure your exam results are returned in time to help you prepare for future exams.
Review the results of your exams when graded and returned. Learn from your mistakes. Some of the questions on the final exam may be taken from previous exams.

Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty is a serious offense, which may lead to probation, suspension, or expulsion. Please refer to the Code of Student Conduct in the UM-St. Louis Bulletin or your Student Handbook.

Cancellation & Refunds
Cancellations: The University reserves the right to cancel without notice any course listed in the Bulletin or the course schedules for any semester or to withdraw any course which does not have adequate enrollment at the close of registration.

Refunds: Refunds are issued to the person making payment. Requests made before the day classes begin receive a full refund (less a cancellation fee); requests postmarked on or before the section’s drop/add date receive a 70 percent refund; no refund if postmarked after the section’s drop/add date or enrollment after the section’s drop/add date. Refunds for cash payments are mailed four weeks after the request is received. Refunds for check payments are sent six weeks after the enrollment date.

Stopping payment on a check or non-compliance with assignments and/or exams does not constitute official withdrawal and is not a release from financial obligation.