Athens State University (ASU) currently participates in only one consortium agreement. ASU is a member of the Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium which offers ASU biology students the opportunity to take courses during the summer and conduct research in marine environments. In addition, ASU students can earn a minor in Marine Science through the courses offered via the consortium.
The consortium is administered through the Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL), created by the Alabama State Legislature in 1971. The DISL primarily serves the 21 member colleges and universities in Alabama through its summer course offerings. The DISL Summer Undergraduate Program allows students who are attending the member institutions to enroll in a variety of marine science courses in three sumer sessions.
The Presidents of the member institutions of the DISL serve as the Board of Directors and determine the general policies of the lab. The DISL Program Committee consists of one faculty member from each member institution, including ASU. These Program Committee members are responsible for planning and implementing the education programs of the DISL, thus ensuring appropriate academic oversight of the programs.
In addition to the Marine Sciences Consortium, Athens State University also participates in several other agreements with neighboring institutions. Since 1969, ASU has participated in a cooperative arrangement for visiting students with the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), Calhoun Community College, Oakwood College, and Alabama A&M University. All of the participating institutions are accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
The Athens State University Visiting Student Program Policy specifies the conditions governing this program. This policy was recently revised to address some inconsistencies in the language used in the agreement by the participating institutions. The conditions for this program include: - A visiting student must be considered a full-time student by his/her home institution. The credit hours to be taken at the host institution shall be counted in determining the full-time or part-time status of the student.
- Any course to be taken under this program must be approved by the student’s advisor and other appropriate personnel, and must be in the student’s approved schedule and curriculum plan. The course must be unavailable to the student at his/her home institution. Unavailability may result from scheduling/time conflicts with other courses.
- Normally, only one course may be taken at the host institution per semester. However, a second and/or third course (e.g. lab) may be taken with the approval of the chief academic affairs officer, or designee, of the home institution. Distance Learning courses have restricted enrollment and are not normally available to visiting students.
- A visiting student must have a “C” average or better at the home institution and must meet all of the prerequisites of the host institution.
- Students will be admitted by the host institution to a course on a “space available” basis, to be determined by the class count on the last day of regular registration.
- Forms should be returned to the Registrar’s Office no later than the first day of registration at the host institution.
- If a student chooses to drop the course or decide not to attend, the student must process a drop form through the home institution. If the student does not drop the course, he/she will be billed for the course along with receiving a grade of “F” for the semester.
In addition to the visiting student program, Athens State University and Calhoun Community College cooperate in a Special Instructional Request (SIR) program, which permits Athens State University students with deficiencies in general education requirements to take coursework at Calhoun according to specified academic guidelines. Under this arrangement, grades are reported directly to the Athens State University Records Office and recorded on the student’s Athens State University transcript. Conditions for participating in the SIR program include: - The student must be deficient in one of the General Education Requirements (Areas I-V).
- The student must receive approval of his or her advisor.
- The student must acquire the course reference number from the Office of Academic Affairs.
- The student must register at the Admissions Office during the dates listed for online registration.
- The student must pay Athens State University tuition for the SIR course.
- The student must process all SIR withdrawals in the Athens State University Admissions Office.
- The student must register for at least one other Athens State University course.
ASU students are considered visiting students under the SIR program and are placed in Calhoun courses on a space available basis, only after all Calhoun students are registered and accommodated. Students participating in the SIR program cannot enroll in Calhoun telecourses or distance learning courses.
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