DDP Monthly Update
April 2007
(Updates/Announcements Archive Index)

Current Topics
navicon  Calendar Highlights: April & May 2007  
navicon  Return Rental Media To Avoid Late Fees
navicon  Course Completion Policy & Registration Holds
navicon  Proctored Exams for Spring Courses
navicon  Spring Course Evaluations
navicon  Plan Ahead—Academic Seminars at Fall Events Around the State
navicon  Coming DDP Changes—with Revisions
navicon  Spring 2007 Commencement Ceremony
navicon  DDP New Free Tutoring Option  
navicon  ASWSU-DDP News   

pdf    April Update (PDF)

Calendar Highlights: April & May 2007 (Academic calendars by semester: Index)   
  • April 9 (Week 13): Registration opens for summer and fall 2007 courses
  • April 20 (Week 14): Last date to submit print assignments or take-home exams via US Postal Service or courier service (e.g., FedEx), unless instructor indicates otherwise
  • April 27 (Week 15):
    • Last date (e-file date) to submit assignments or take-home exams electronically through WebCT, unless instructor indicates otherwise
    • Last date to use uncontested withdrawal
    • Last date for cancellation of enrollment from WSU

  • May 4: DDP Graduation Reception (see Spring 2007 Commencement Events below)
  • May 5: WSU Commencement (see Spring 2007 Commencement below)
  • May 7 (Week 1): Summer 2007 classes begin
  • May 25: Graduation application deadline for August 2007 graduates

Return Rental Media To Avoid Late Fees
Spring course rental media (DVDs, videos) NOT received by DDP by June 1, 2007, are subject to additional charges. Fees for materials not returned will be processed and posted to students' accounts. See Rental Material Reminder for more details about returning your spring rental materials.

Course Completion Policy & Registration Holds
As summer and fall 2007 registration nears, academic advisors are running audits of all current students and their progress in all active courses. Students MUST meet the following conditions of the CCP:
  1. Students enrolled in 9–11 active credits must submit a minimum of 25 percent of the course work required in all active courses before advising registration holds are lifted and fall 2007 registration is allowed.
  2. Students enrolled in 12+ active credits must submit a minimum of 50 percent of the course work required in all active courses before advising registration holds are lifted and fall 2007 registration is allowed.
  Beginning with fall 2007 for spring 2008 enrollments, students enrolled in six or more credits (semester-based and/or flexible enrollment) must complete at least 50 percent of their course work in each course to be able to register for the next semester.

Proctored Exams for Spring Courses

Spring Course Evaluations
  • Semester-based Course Evaluations:
    Evaluations for semester-based courses are available in myWSU (myWSU) 8:00 am, April 23, EXCEPT College of Business courses, which are linked from their WebCT course spaces or available through the course instructors. Evaluations for HD semester-based courses, College of Liberal Arts, and College of Science will be open through midnight, May 7.

  • Flexible Enrollment Course Evaluations:
    Links to evaluations for flexible enrollment courses are provided in each course's course space when most of the course work has been completed, with the exception of flexible enrollment courses in the College of Human, Natural, and Resource Sciences (CAHNRS: H D and FSHN); links to the CAHNRS flexible enrollment courses are available at the end of the semester with H D semester-based courses in students' myWSU .
     If you can't find your course evaluations, please contact DDP (distance@wsu.edu).

Plan Ahead—Academic Seminars at Fall Events Around the State
Plan now to enroll in a one-credit academic seminar offered during the fall 2007 semester at a location near you. Taught by DDP instructors, these special topic courses will be offered at WSU Learning Centers throughout the state of Washington and at the Cougar Campus Experience in Pullman. The fall seminar schedule is listed below and complete course descriptions will be provided in the May update.

You must officially register for the course and attend the seminar to earn academic credit. Be sure to ask your academic advisor how one or more of these seminars might fit into your academic plan of study.

Fall 2007 Academic Seminars at Open Houses
Date Location Time Seminar Instructor
  October 2 WSU LC—South Central WA (Yakima/Goldendale) 5:30–8:30 pm W St 499x (1 cr)
Gender, Sexuality and Environment in Popular Culture		   Noel Sturgeon
  October 3 WSU LC—Cowlitz & Wahkiakum (Longview) 2:00–5:00 pm H D 499x (1 cr)
Maintaining Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace		   Jeanie Pittman
  October 4 WSU LC—North Central WA (Wenatchee) 5:30–8:30 pm Psych 499x (1 cr)
A Users' Guide to Human Memory		   Paul Whitney
  October 4 WSU LC—Grays Harbor & Pacific (Grays Harbor) 5:30–8:30 pm W St 499x (1 cr)
Gender, Sexuality and Environment in Popular Culture		   Noel Sturgeon
  October 5 Pullman—Cougar Campus Experience 1:30–4:30 pm H D 499x (1 cr)
Maintaining Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace		   Jeanie Pittman
  October 8 WSU LC—North Olympic Peninsula (Port Angeles) 5:30–8:30 pm Psych 499x (1 cr)
A Users' Guide to Human Memory		   Paul Whitney

NOTE: These seminars also may be available at other WSU Learning Centers during the spring 2008 semester.

Registration Instructions for Summer & Fall Courses
Be prepared to register for courses, beginning April 9—see "Enrolling/Registering in Courses"!

Coming DDP Changes—With Revisions
Several policies and procedures are changing at DDP:
  • Media Late Return Fees—Revised Schedule (see NOTE below): Rental media late return fees and deadlines are being restructured. Under the new policy, there will be three deadlines for returning rental media: the first will be four weeks after the end of the original rental period and the last two will follow at three week intervals. Students not returning rental items by the end-of-rental-period deadline, or before the next two deadlines, will be charged a rental media late return fee after each missed deadline equal to one-third of twice the original rental fee.

    Rental Media Late Return Fee Schedule
    Original Rental Fee$30 $60 $90
    Total Possible Late Fees$60 $120 $180
    Late fee if not returned by first return deadline
    (4 weeks after the end of the semester)
    e.g., Fall 2007 rental returns 1st deadline: January 11, 2008    		 $20 $40 $60
    Late fee if not returned by second return deadline
    (7 weeks after the end of the semester)
    e.g., Fall 2007 rental returns 2nd deadline: February 1, 2008    		 $20 $40 $60
    Late fee if not returned by third & final return deadline
    (10 weeks after the end of the semester)
    e.g., Fall 2007 rental returns 3rd deadline: February 22, 2008    		 $20 $40 $60

    NOTE: The three deadline dates published in the example in the spring newsletter and March Update (August 31, September 21, and October 12) are slightly different than they would be using the revised schedule shown above. The summer deadline dates published will be honored for summer returns.

  • Course Completion Policy: See "Course Completion Policy & Registration Holds" above.

  • CougarCards: In the near future, DDP students will be required to fax a copy of an official photo ID when requesting a CougarCard. Details will be provided when available.

Spring 2007 Commencement Ceremony
>> Review . . .
Take Note: We encourage graduates to celebrate their accomplishment at the spring commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 5, and the ASWSU-DDP/DDP festivities Friday, May 4.

DDP New Free Tutoring Option
>> Review . . .
Take Note: Get extra help at no charge when you need it.

ASWSU-DDP News
  • Meet Your 2006-2007 DDP Student Government Representatives!
  • ASWSU-DDP Meetings Schedule & Office Hours
    ASWSU-DDP is YOUR student government. We invite and encourage student participation in all our meetings.
    • Location: ASWSU-DDP Centra (aswsu-ddp.wsu.edu/connection; select "Guest Login" under ASWSU-DDP Meetings)
    • Discussion: Ongoing discussion items are posted to the ASWSU-DDP Hot Line Message Board (ASWSU-DDP Connection; select "Enter Message Boards").

    Senate Meetings: Senate meetings are open to the public. DDP students are encouraged to attend.
    • Location: ASWSU-DDP Centra/Connection (aswsu-ddp.wsu.edu/connection; select "Guest Login" under ASWSU-DDP Meetings)
    • Meeting Times:  Wednesdays, beginning at 6:30 pm (PT)
      April 4 & 18

    Student Leader Weekly Office Hours:
    • Location: Meeting Chat Room (aswsu-ddp.wsu.edu/connection); scroll down to "Chat Room.")
    • President/Vice President Office Hours: Tuesdays, 6:00–7:00 pm (PT)
    • Senators' Office Hours: Non-senate meeting Wednesdays, 6:00–7:00 pm (PT)

  • Upcoming Events
    • May 4: May Graduation Reception  (Pullman campus)
      See also "Spring 2007 Commencement Events" below.
    • May 5: Spring Commencement Ceremonies (Pullman campus)
    • September 8: Cougar Football in Seattle & Reception (Seattle, WA)
    • October 5: Cougar Campus Experience (Pullman campus)

  • 2007-2008 Student Government Election Results
    Congratulations to the new 2007-2008 student government leaders:
      President: Andrew Zander
      Senators: Ann Dahlgren, Crystal Darling, Amy Bray, Debby Poris, and Esther Hyun
    Thank you to all those who placed their votes!

  • Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society
    Invitations have been sent out to those students who qualify to join the DDP chapter of the Alpha Sigma Lambda honor society based on December grades and other qualifying criteria. Letters will be sent to newly qualified students once May grades are posted. If you have any questions regarding the Alpha Sigma Lambda honor society please go to www.alphasigmalambda.org or e-mail Carissa Morgan at Carissa@wsu.edu.

  • 2007 Community Service Project
    >> Review . . .
    Take Note: The deadline for donations is April 20, 2007. Drop off locations include Lower Columbia College (contact: Terri Jones); North Olympic Peninsula Learning Center (contact: Robert Force); North Central Washington Learning Center (contact: Randy de Mars); WSU Grays Harbor and Pacific Learning Center in Aberdeen (contact: Nikole Hill).

  • Spring 2007 Commencement Events
    >> Review . . .
    Take Note: We're looking forward to celebrating your achievement with you. Check out the schedule for the reception May 4 and the commencement ceremonies May 5: DDP May Commencement.





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