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SEKESC - Greenbush Toll-Free: 1-800-231-3056 |
Table of Contents Contact Information Welcome
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©2004 by Virtual Greenbush |
Contact Information Office hours for Staff: |
| Staff Email Addresses: |
Mike Bodensteiner |
Certified Administrator | Dave Walters dave.walters@greenbush.org 800-231-3056 |
Program Director |
| Melanie Johnson melanie.johnson@greenbush.org 800-231-3056 |
Program Coordinator |
| Instructors: |
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WelcomeDear Student, We sincerely appreciate your interest in online courses and hope that you will find online learning to be rewarding and challenging. Online courses require about the same amount of work as regular high school classes. However, you will notice that online learning requires a greater student responsibility when completing assignments and activities. We have found that active support of parents and schools can play a key role in assisting the student to complete coursework as well as developing the work ethic needed to be successful in this learning environment. Upon enrolling in a course, students will receive an introductory e-mail from their online teacher. This e-mail will contain background information about your teacher, course information, and teacher expectations. Students are encouraged to contact their teacher or administrative staff any time throughout the course if you are having difficulties. Online teachers are required to respond to students within 24-48 hours. Students are also asked to complete a survey designed to assess the overall effectiveness of online courses provided by Greenbush. The results of these surveys will play a critical role as we continue to modify existing services and develop new programs that meet the needs of students and schools. Students also have access to an Online Tutor who can provide additional support and suggestions for a successful experience with online learning. Please do not hesitate to contact us at 1-800-231-3056, or write us an e-mail for more information or to answer any questions you may have. Good luck as you begin your online course. Sincerely, Mike Bodensteiner |
| General Policies |
| Course Completion: The minimum time for completing a course is three weeks from the time you receive the New Student Information email. You will have six months for a half credit course and twelve months for a full credit course for completion. If you wish to extend the course, a $65/month per course extension can be granted. Please make this request three weeks in advance so that payment can be taken care of before the original expiration date of the course. |
| Lessons in Online Courses : Assignments in online courses may be sent in as emails, email attachments, or as online forms. Each course has directions for sending in assignments as the method of submission is dependent upon the type of course and the preference of the instructor. |
| Grades : Lessons are graded on a percentage basis. Students working back through their local school district will follow the grading scale that exists locally. |
| Tests : Tests must be taken in a proctored setting with the local online contact. These tests are password protected and students can only receive the password from the online contact. The tests may only be taken once. If the student has had a computer or network error, then the test can be reset. However, if this becomes a recurring problem the student will only be allowed to take the exam one time. If students are required to take the test onsite, then the test will be recorded as a zero, if policy was not followed. If a test needs to be reset, this will need to be taken care of through the Virtual Greenbush office. |
| Final Grades : Final grades will be emailed to the student and online contact upon completion of the course. A completion notice will be printed out along with a copy of the grade report and will be faxed to your contact at your school. A copy will also be placed in your file at the Virtual Greenbush office. |
| Email : Students will be required to use an email provided by Greenbush. Students should read through the New Student Information (NSI) email to receive the instructions on accessing their email. All email from the virtualgreenbush.org email will automatically contain a privacy/confidentiality clause as follows: ------------------------------------------------- All mail sent through this server is subject to review. ------------------------------------------------- Confidentiality Notice: This message and any attachments may contain information that is confidential and/or legally privileged. It is intended only for the use of the individual(s) and entity named above as the recipient of the message. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, or if this message has been addressed to you in error, please notify the sender immediately. We ask that you please delete this message, and do not deliver, distribute or copy the message or any attachments. Thank you. |
Transcripts : Students can receive an official transcript of their courses. If students wish to have a transcript, please send a written (email or letter) request to: Southeast Kansas Education Service Center P.O. Box 189 947 W. 47 Hwy Girard, KS 66743 Email: vgbinfo@greenbush.org |
Course Withdrawls : If you withdraw from a course within 14 days of enrollment, you will not be billed for the course and refunded 100%, less processing fees. No refund applies after the 14-day period. Shipping/processing fees will not be refunded. Please allow six weeks for the Education Service Center to process your refund. Withdrawl from a course must be in writing. Your refund will be figured according to the postmarked date on your withdrawal letter or on the date of the email. |
| Extended Inability to Participate : If an unexpected situation should arise and there is an extended leave from participation in the course, make sure the following steps are followed to allow for accommodations to be made.
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| Course Transfers : Transfers can be made from course to course within the first 14 days, but never from student to student. Requests to transfer from a course must be in writing. Your transfer will be figured according to the postmarked date on your withdrawal letter or on the date of the email. |
| Tutorial Services : As in a traditional class, students who are having problems with the content are encouraged to seek outside tutors. However, content confusion should be brought to the attention of the online instructor before acquiring the services of a tutor. By contacting the online instructor, the student’s questions may be answered or the material clarified to a point where no tutorial assistance is needed. There is also an online tutor available in the evenings and on weekends for assistance. |
| Academic Honesty : Academic honesty is expected in the completion of the Greenbush courses. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to: cheating, plagiarism, fabrication of information or citations, facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others, unauthorized prior possession of examinations, submitting work of another person or work previously used without informing the instructor and securing written approval, or tampering with the academic work of other students. Any evidence of academic misconduct may warrant a failing grade, forfeiture of all fees, and an academic misconduct investigation. If a Greenbush instructor suspects academic misconduct, he or she will inform the local online contact listed in the enrollment or the Virtual Learning Director within 10 calendar days (excluding the Education Service Center holidays) of discovering the evidence of possible misconduct. The local online contact and/or Virtual Learning Director will notify the student and the Academic Misconduct Board within 10 calendar days (excluding the Education Service Center holidays) of receiving notification from the instructor. The Academic Misconduct Board will consist of the Program Director, the Program Administrator, and an employee of the Education Service Center Community Learning Center. If the currently serving CLC employee is the instructor who has alleged academic misconduct, another employee will be chosen. From the date the student is notified by the local online contact and/or Virtual Learning Director that he or she is suspected of academic misconduct, the student has 10 calendar days (excluding the Education Service Center holidays) to respond regarding the suspected misconduct. After the 10-day period has elapsed, the Academic Misconduct Board will convene to examine the evidence of misconduct and the student's response. The Academic Misconduct Board then has 10 calendar days (excluding the Education Service Center holidays) to notify the student of the outcome. The decision of the Academic Misconduct Board will be final. If the student is working through a local school district, the local school district will be responsible for handling the academic dishonesty situation. |
| Appropriate Use : Access and use of technology for communication and completion of courses through Greenbush imposes certain responsibilities and obligations on the part of the student enrolled in the course. Appropriate use is ethical and honest, and demonstrates respect for physical and intellectual property, including system security protocols. Students, teachers, and other personnel at Greenbush have a right to privacy and are protected by this policy from intimidation, harassment, and unwarranted annoyance from any other user. When enrolling in an online course, students accept the terms of this policy. Any violation of this policy could result in a student’s dismissal from the Greenbush program. |
| Appeals : Any student who would like to appeal a lesson or test grade must notify the course instructor of the dispute and must attempt to resolve differences no later than 30 calendar days (excluding the Education Service Center holidays). Any student who would like to appeal a final grade must notify the course instructor of the dispute and must attempt to resolve differences no later than 30 calendar days (excluding the Education Service Center holidays) after the grade has been posted and a letter of completion has been sent. The instructor will inform the Virtual Learning Director of the dispute within 7 calendar days (excluding the Education Service Center holidays) after the notification from the student. The instructor will consider the appeal, in consultation with the local online contact and Virtual Learning Director if desired on the part of the instructor, and will inform the student of the outcome of the appeal no later than 30 calendar days (excluding the Education Service Center holidays) after the notification from the student. At that point, the decision of the instructor will be final. For appeals and questions that are not related to grades (for example, slow return of graded work or a problem with the study guide), students should contact the Greenbush office. |
| Student Conduct : Profane, vulgar, or threatening language or actions directed at a teacher, other staff members, or another student will not be tolerated. The student could be removed from the course if such conduct takes place. |
| Equal Access : The Education Service Center - Greenbush is open to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, or disability (temporary or permanent). Independent learning courses can be adjusted according to a student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Contact Greenbush for further details. |
Note: Policies and procedures listed in this Handbook are subject to change without notice.