How Colorado Online and Distance Education Works

Colorado Online and Distance Education (CODE) courses and programs are offered by eleven public colleges and universities. The courses and programs offered by this consortium are subject to the institution's policies and regulations as well as the Statewide Extended Studies policies approved by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education. The information below is provided as general guidelines about the CODE courses. Contact the institutions for more details and for specific requirements of programs and courses offered.

Working with Instructors

Instructors are available by telephone, fax, e-mail, mail, and through any online course software that is used. More detailed instructions about how to work with your instructor will be provided with the course materials and syllabus.

Credit for Courses

The institution at which you complete a course will award academic semester-hour credit. If you wish to apply independent study courses toward degree requirements or for certification or licensing, contact your advisor or the certification/licensing agency before registering to make sure a course will meet your requirements.

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment in courses does not constitute admission to the institution(s) that are offering the courses. Enrollment is contingent on completing the prerequisites or demonstrating that you have met the requirements for prerequisites. Contact the institution that is offering the course for more information about prerequisites.

If you are currently enrolled in a degree program, check with your advisor to make certain the course will apply to your degree and academic plan.

Textbooks

The titles of required textbook(s) and ordering information will be provided upon enrollment. Books may be purchased at many bookstores, but the only way to ensure getting the correct edition is to order them from the bookstore of the institution offering the course. Each bookstore stocks books required for only those courses offered by that institution. If you wish to know textbook costs prior to enrollment, contact the appropriate institution. Do not include payment for books with tuition unless specifically indicated in the course description.

Postage Information

For those course that are conducted over the mail, postage may be charged. Prior to enrolling in mail based correspondence course make sure that you contact the institution in order to understand additional cost associated with postage. This is especially important for students that require international mailings. There may be a surcharge assessed for international airmail service.

Grades

Courses that carry academic credit will be graded and recorded on the student's transcript. In general A, B, C and D are passing; F is failure; and, at some institutions, W is withdrawal. Some institutions offer courses on a pass/fail basis