As in traditional programs, there are checks and balances to discourage fraudulent practices. These begin with the application process whereby social security numbers, addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, places of employment, and previous college transcripts are all verified against the other. Small classes foster closer communication between faculty and students, and enable faculty to differentiate and recognize their students' written styles and personalities. When enrolled and actively participating in a class, students should expect to use approximately 3-4 hours of online connect time per week. In the U.S., the cost equivalent of this monthly direct dial connect time could be comparable to the cost of gasoline, parking fees, babysitters, or meals when attending a traditional campus to complete classes.
Some courses have on campus meetings.
These are listed in the description of the course. Students generally spend between 15-20 hours per week on their coursework which includes the reading, writing, studying, and computer time required. You should be comfortable with browsing the internet and using e-mail. Online students are typically the same students seen on any college campus. Students prefer online education for a variety of reasons including the technology itself, elimination of scheduling and transportation problems, disabilities.