General and Technical Questions

How do online courses work ?
What technology do I need?
What if I have questions about using my course?
Do I have to be an experienced Internet or computer user to take online courses?
Who will help me connect to the Internet or to the SLN?
What if I plan to use more than one computer to access my course?
What do I do if I can't access my course?

Degree and Course Questions

Can I earn an SLN degree online?
Will I be able to transfer course credits to my degree program?
What courses are offered through SUNY Learning Network Campuses?
How much time should I devote to my online course?
How often can I login and work in my online course?
Do I have to sign on at one particular time? Or place?
How much does an online course through SLN cost?
Can I get financial aid for online courses offered through SLN?
How do I find out whether or not a specific course is still accepting students?
What if I want to add or drop an online course?
What if I delayed getting online until after my SLN course started?
How do I get my online course materials?

Questions on registering for a course

How do I register for an online course?
Are there tasks I must complete before registering for an SLN online course?
I’m a matriculated student at a SUNY campus. How can I register for an SLN online course offered by another SUNY campus?

General and Technical Questions [top]

I've never taken an online course before. How does it work? [top]
In an online course, the instructor and students are connected to each other through the Internet. Using the Internet, you can receive instruction, compose and submit assignments, ask questions of the instructor and other students, discuss issues and actively participate in the class from your home, your office, or the nearest campus computer lab. Courses may also incorporate other web-based materials, textbooks, application software, and simulations. Some instructors may even include traditional classroom activities such as laboratory experiments, observations, or other projects. Visit New to SLN to find out more information about SLN courses.

I previously completed an online course and may have an SLN account in your system. How do I get started with my new SLN course(s)?
SLN accounts are no longer generated by the SUNY Learning Network, but by SLN partner campuses who particpate in the SLN program. You register for a course with an individual campus, and that campus will provide you with account information and instructions on gaining access to your SLN courses.

If you have any questions, please contact the helpdesk at: 1-800-875-6269 (toll-free within the United States) or 1-518-443-5617 (direct) for assistance.

What technology do I need? [top]
To take courses with an SLN partner campus, your computer system should meet at least the following minimum requirements:

• WIndows Users: Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 or higher, Mozilla Firefox 2.0
• Mac Users: Mozilla Firefox 2.0 (Safari not supported)
  Note: You should never use a Beta version of a web browser while working in your courses.

For ANGEL LMS Users:

ANGEL is designed to support the widest variety of client-side operating systems and client-side browsers through its limited use of client-side technologies. While ANGEL products generally function well in many browsers, the following are formally supported and tested:

• With PCs running Windows OS: Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox.
• With Macs running OS X: Mozilla Firefox

Testing is performed on the latest generally available versions for the above platforms and browsers with each General Release of ANGEL products, ensuring full support at that time. For additional information on browser support please visit http://support.angellearning.com.

Although you may be able to access the SLN web site and/or your courses using a computer system that does not meet the minimum requirements, you may encounter limitations to your participation in the SLN courses. For further assistance, please contact the SLN HelpDesk at 1-800-875-6269 (toll-free within the United States) or 1-518-443-5617 (direct). You can contact SLN Support Services here.

What if I have technical questions about using SLN? [top]
For further assistance, please contact the SLN HelpDesk at 1-800-875-6269 (toll-free within the United States) or 1-518-443-5617 (direct). You can contact SLN Support Services here.

Do I have to be an experienced Internet or computer user to take SLN courses? [top]
Although you do not have to be an expert, you must have basic computer skills such as word processing and some experience using the Internet. SLN recommends signing on with an Internet Service Provider a few months before the semester begins in order to give you time to practice accessing the Internet. The SLN HelpDesk is available to answer your questions.

Who will help me connect to the Internet or to the SLN? [top]
Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) is responsible for helping you configure your computer system so you can connect to the Internet. Your ISP will assist you with problems concerning connectivity to the Internet and both the SLN web site and your campus website. If you have difficulty connecting or maintaining a connection, contact your ISP immediately to determine the source of the problem.

What if I plan to use more than one computer to access my course? [top
Each computer you are planning to use must meet the minimum Technical Requirements .

If you are using a computer connected to a LAN at your workplace, check with your employer's network administrator to determine whether there is a firewall on the Internet connection. A firewall may limit your ability to submit the type of forms the SLN web site uses. If you are using a computer lab on campus or at a library, the network may have a firewall or a block on users sending information to an external web site. Similar problems have been reported by students using a campus dial up connection. Check with the campus technical support staff to make sure you have the appropriate Internet access and will be able to submit forms to an external web site.

What do I do if I can't access my course? [top]
If you experience any difficulties with logging in to your account, accessing courses, sending assignments, or any other technical support issues, contact the SLN HelpDesk at 1-800-875-6269 (toll-free within the United States) or 1-518-443-5617 (direct). You can contact SLN Support Services here.

Degree and Course Questions [top]

Can I earn an SLN degree? [top]
The SUNY Learning Network is not a separate degree-granting institution. Students earn degrees from a SUNY campus, not SLN. There are a wide variety of degree programs at the associate, baccalaureate, and graduate levels. Students interested in pursuing a degree program should contact the SUNY campus offering that program. For a complete listing of degree programs offered by individual SUNY campuses through SLN, visit Degrees. (Please note: The listing of degree programs available with SLN at SUNY Campuses is subject to change).

Will I be able to transfer the course credit to my degree program? [top]
Students must work with their advisor from their home campus to make sure they fulfill the requirements of their degree program and understand the transferability of courses from other campuses, even if the course is offered through SLN.

Your home campus or the campus offering your online course is responsible for the following:

• Providing information on course content and how the course is managed by the professor.
• Advising you on registering for, adding, dropping, or withdrawing from courses.
• Advising you the on the required courses for matriculation into a degree program.
• Determining the credit value of a course.
• Determining tuition and fees for courses.
• Determining the refund of charges if you withdraw from a course.
• Mailing course grades at the end of the semester.
• Issuing transcripts.
• Advising you on the transfer of course credit from one college to another.

Who is in charge of SLN Courses?
SLN Courses are created and managed by the SUNY campus offering the course. You need to follow the campus procedures just as you would if you were registering for a traditional on-campus course. Please contact your campus or the campus offering the course for more information about student services and degree programs by visiting Campus Contacts.

What courses are offered through the SUNY Learning Network? [top]
For information on courses offered through SLN, visit the Courses section of the SLN website and click on the link to the semester course list. Within the course list there is a search and sort option that sorts the courses by campus, course name, credit, discipline, general education requirements, level, and start date.

How much time should I devote to my online course? [top]
Typically, students should plan on 3-4 hours of work per week per credit hour. For a 3-credit course, you should set aside 9-12 hours per week. While course requirements vary, you should also plan on interacting in your course several times during the week. For a better understanding of how online courses work, visit the Demo Course.

How often can I login and work in my course? [top]
SLN courses that are offered online, or that have an online component, are usually available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. SLN SUNY campuses may have specific times and dates that courses may not be available, or have restricted access. In addition, a particular course at a specific campus may require that you log on at certain periods for certain activities. Like traditional on-campus classes, SLN courses have start and end dates according to the college's calendar. Your professor will provide a course schedule for you to follow along with dates and deadlines for assignments. Please contact the campus providing your course for more detail.

Do I have to sign on at one particular time? Or place? [top]
The SUNY Learning Network is always available. However, the exact requirements for any SUNY online course are set by the campus offering that course. You can arrange your schedule based on your own availability and the course expectations set by the professors . Courses are semester-based, which means that they have starting and ending dates. These dates are shown within the course listings in the SLN Course Catalog.

How much does an online course through SLN cost? [top]
Tuition costs vary depending on campus, course level, and residency status. For detailed information on tuition costs for the campuses participating in SLN, visit Tuition/ Financial Aid.

Can I get financial aid for courses offered through SLN? [top]
Students should contact the Financial Aid Office on their home campus regarding information on financial aid before registering for an SLN course. General information on financial aid is also available from SUNY at Tuition/ Financial Aid.

How do I find out whether or not a specific course is still accepting students? [top]
Online courses are popular and fill up quickly. If you are concerned that the course you are interested in may have already filled up, contact the Registrar’s Office at the campus that is offering the course to determine if the course is still open. For a list of registration contacts at the individual campuses, visit Campus Contacts.

What if I want to add or drop an SLN course? [top]
All adds or drops are arranged and processed by the SUNY campus offering the course. Contact the campus where you registered to add or drop a course.

What if I delayed getting online and my login is not working? [top]
SLN courses have start and end dates determined by the SUNY college offering the course. If you are having problems accessing your course, please contact the campus, or the SLN HelpDesk. For more information about who to contact at the SUNY college visit Campus Contacts.

To find a course start date, check within the course listing in the SLN Catalog of Courses.

How do I get my course materials? [top]
Information about course materials is located within the course description on the SLN web site. Students have many options for purchasing texts. Campus and online book store information is included Campus Contacts.

For more information about courses and course descriptions, visit Courses.

Questions on registering for a course [top]

How do I register for a course? [top]
You must officially register at the specific institution or college offering the course. The campus will then provide you with login and password information. Visit Campus Contacts to find the appropriate contact person at the college offering the course.

Are there tasks I must complete before registering? [top]
SLN recommends that you have a working computer and Internet access prior to registering. Each campus has specific registration requirements, and you must contact the campus offering your course to make sure you meet those requirements.

I’m a matriculated student at a SUNY campus. How can I register for an SLN course offered by another SUNY campus? [top]
If you are matriculated at one SUNY campus and are interested in registering for an SLN course offered by another SUNY campus, please be aware that you are responsible for the following:

• Adhering to your home campus policy regarding transfer credit approval. You must seek academic advising as to transferability and degree requirements applicability prior to enrollment in an SLN course.
• Informing the Student Accounts Office (Bursar) and the Registrar's Office at your home campus about the credits taken at another institution as part of your semester workload.
• Acquiring academic approval should an SLN course cause academic overload.
• Requesting transcripts of grades from the other campus to be sent to your home campus.

Please work with your campus and the campus offering the course you want to take to determine if the course is transferable and fulfills your degree or program requirements.