McMicken College of Arts & SciencesUniversity of Cincinnati

Adult Scholars Accelerated Program

Program Overview:

ASAP is a program designed to provide high-achieving non-traditional students with the opportunity to accelerate the pace of their degree completion and at the same time, be part of an innovative learning experience that emphasizes self-direction and academic challenge. Special accelerated weekend courses will be offered throughout the year at the Raymond Walters College campus in Blue Ash.

Qualified students may register via web registration. All students with a 3.0 GPA or better and 30 or more total credit hours of undergraduate work are eligible for ASAP courses. (Classes are capped at 30 students, unless otherwise stated.) All weekend courses offered through the Adult Scholars Accelerated Program (ASAP) require that students enrolled have a strong academic record in order to assure that students can undertake the rigors of significant independent scholarship as well as the intensity of the weekend experience itself. Because this is an accelerated course with fewer classroom hours, you will be required to complete your readings and pre-weekend assignments before the weekend begins. Having gained a preliminary understanding of the subject material through your readings and preparations, you will be ready to analyze and explore the context of that material during the weekend itself. Active student involvement is essential for learning in any class; it is at the heart of the ASAP experience. The final assignment or take-home examination will test your ability to master the goals and expectationsof the class.

In all ASAP classes, full attendance is mandatory. Because this is an accelerated course, no provision will be made for tardiness or absenteeism.

^ Top

How Weekend Accelerated Courses Work:

Step 1: All qualified students will need to access the ASAP Blackboard site for both the ASAP orientation and the course information and documents. Students must contact their instructor and verify that they have accessed both the ASAP program information and the course information from the Blackboard site.

Step 2: Students maintain contact with the instructor prior to the course weekend to confirm the successful completion of reading and assignments. Contact may be established through email, Blackboard, campus mail, telephone, or in-person meetings.

Step 3: Prior to the course weekend, students are completing their pre-class assignments, including reading and written work, preparing for the opening session of the course.

Step 4: THE WEEKEND: Class time for these accelerated courses totals 21 hours and is offered in a variety of weekend formats as listed below:

One-Weekend Format:
Friday night: 6:00 to 10 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM
(A one-hour lunch break is to be scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday. )

hree Saturday or Sunday Format:
Each scheduled date: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
(A one-hour lunch break is to be scheduled for each class meeting.)

Due to the weekend format and long hours in the classroom, it is also necessary to provide ample break time for the benefit of both the instructors and students.

During the course of the weekend/weekends, instructors are encouraged to use a variety of teaching formats and techniques to stimulate learning and to provoke intellectual inquiry. Instructors may utilize guest lecturers, team teaching, film and media presentations, group work, and off-site meetings throughout the weekend. A high level of student participation is expected.

Step 5: At a designated time, usually two to three weeks after the completion of the weekend, a final paper or project is due. Students are urged to maintain contact with the instructor during this period as they complete their work.

Step 6: Once all coursework is submitted, students complete and send in their ASAP Student Evaluation form to the ASAP office. The ASAP Student Evaluation Form is included in your packet of orientation materials on Blackboard.

^ Top

Attendance Policy

In accelerated courses, fewer class hours are required than in traditional courses. Instead of the traditional thirty hours of contact time per quarter, ASAP courses require 21 contact hours. We compensate for fewer hours by requiring mandatory attendance in the classroom plus time spent at the "virtual orientation" via Blackboard, substantial pre-class assignments, and post-weekend projects or examinations.

Because the course is accelerated, it is essential that students be prepared to attend ALL parts of the weekend classes. There is no provision made for partial attendance. If you are not present throughout the entire weekend, you will receive a non-refunded "W" for the course, even if you return later in the weekend. For this reason, students must have well-coordinated back-up plans for work, childcare, etc. The only exception to this policy would be a verifiable emergency. In that case, depending on the amount of time missed, the student could receive an "I" for the course or a "W" with a refund.

^ Top

Withdrawl/Refund Policy

ASAP courses are flexibly scheduled, meaning that they do not conform to traditional formats for class meetings. Because of this, withdrawal procedures are somewhat different than those that apply to traditional courses. Please be sure that you understand the ASAP withdrawal/refund policy so that you can avoid any problems at a later time. These policies are outlined in the ASAP orientation section under "Course Documents" on Blackboard or by calling 556-6612.

^ Top

Notice to G.I. Bill Recipients

Because ASAP courses are flexibly scheduled, registering for them may impact your VA Educational Benefit pay rate. Therefore, please be aware that you may receive reduced benefits because of this flexibly scheduled ASAP format. Contact the UC Veterans Certification Office at (5l3) 556-6811 if you have any questions.

(Note: Full-time students enrolled with twelve or more credit hours of standard l0-week coursework [which applies towards their current degree graduation requirements] who register for courses [beyond those standard l2+ credit hours] may still be eligible to receive VA Educational Benefits at a full-time pay rate.)

^ Top

Suggestions for Living Through A Weekend Course

ASAP courses are intended to stretch you intellectually and academically. They will stretch you physically, as well. To make the weekend as comfortable and enjoyable as possible, please anticipate your needs ahead of time.

  • Dress appropriately. This will be an informal weekend. Wear clothes that are comfortable. Layer your clothing, since some classrooms do not have thermostats that can be adjusted.
  • Bring food if you like to nibble. Eating will provide you with extra energy, something you'll need. In many ASAP courses, students bring food to share.
  • If you need to get up and stretch, do so. We won't subject you to lectures any longer than you commonly hear, but by the end of a long session you may need to move around.
  • Try to establish relationships with some of your fellow students. Exchange phone numbers and email addresses. In this way, you can confer with others both before and after the weekend.
  • Keep in contact with the instructor both before and after the weekend. When you have questions or need feedback, feel free to call, write or come in to the ASAP Office in 115 McMicken Hall.

* ASAP classes for 2006-'07 are held at the Raymond Walters Blue Ash campus. You may wish to use your email function on Blackboard to help arrange for ride sharing. For directions to RWC, see http://www.rwc.uc.edu/maps/directions.htm

^ Top

Cell Phones and Beepers

We recognize the importance of being accessible to family during weekend courses in cases of emergency. For this reason, you may wish to bring a cellular phone or beeper to the weekend class. We do ask, however, that you maintain your beeper on a “vibration” mode rather than a beep. And, please make sure that calls are made only for emergency situations.

^ Top
photo