Credit Courses Online -
Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I earn my degree online?
2. Do I have to take all my courses online? Can I take just one?
3. How do I access an online course?
4. Will another college accept credits from a Cayuga online course?
5. If I am in high school, can I take online courses for credit?
6. Do I have to sign on at a particular time or place?
7. Can I work at my own pace? Are there deadlines?
8. Do I have to be an experienced computer/internet user to take an online course?
9. How do I know whether online courses are right for me?
10. How do I register and pay for online courses?
11. Can I drop, add, or change an online course after registering?
12. What is required for admission to the college?
13. Is a placement test required?
14. What do online courses cost?
15. How do I apply for financial aid?
16. How do I get my books and course materials?
17. What technology do I need?
18. Is technical help available throughout the course?

1. Can I earn my degree online?

An option for completing many Cayuga courses is online study. Anyone who is qualified to take a classroom course make take the same course online. Many Cayuga degrees can be completed either through on-campus coursework, online study, or a combination of both.

The following degree programs can be completed 100% online:

• Business Administration A.A.S.
• Business Administration A.S.
• Liberal Arts and Science / Humanities and Social Science A..A.
• Liberal Arts and Science / Mathematics and Science A.S.
• Criminal Justice / Police A.A.S.
• Criminal Justice / Corrections A.A.S.

Coursework for the following degree programs can be completed more than 50% online:

• Accounting A.A.S. (41 of 68 credits)
• Computer Information Systems A.A.S. (36 of 67 credits)
• Criminal Justice / Corrections A.A.S. (39 of 63 credits)
• Geographic Information Systems A.S. (38 of 64 credit)
• Liberal Arts and Science / Mathematics A.S. (38 of 63 credits)

In addition, two certificate programs can be completed 100% online:

• Criminal Justice Certificate
• General Business Certificate

2. Do I have to take all my courses online? Can I take just one course online?

You can mix and match online and classroom courses within any semester. With more than 350 online sections offered each year, Cayuga has a wide selection to choose from. If you haven't taken an online course before, we recommend that you start with just one or two online courses.

3. How do I access an online course?

https://cayuga.sln.suny.edu is the site for Cayuga online courses. NOTE: The prefix "www." is not used.

At this site and elsewhere, you will sometimes see a reference to the "Angel" online course delivery system. This is the system used to manage and deliver all Cayuga online courses.

To access this website, you will need a login name and password. For details on getting started, please read Getting Started in Your Online Course.

4. Will another college accept credits from a Cayuga online course?

Your course will appear on your transcript (course record) exactly the same as if you had taken it in class, with no indication whether or not it was online. If you are interested in transferring Cayuga course credit to another institution, you will need to adhere to that college’s transfer credit approval policy. Check with that institution for specific information on transfer credit and applicability of coursework toward a degree program elsewhere.

5. If I am in high school, can I take online courses for credit?

For “dual credit” (counting a course both for college credit and toward your graduation from high school in New York State) you will need your high school administration’s permission and approval. To obtain this, ask your guidance counselor  to send a letter to the Cayuga Community College Admissions office indicating the need for this course as a part of your education. In general, Cayuga will admit anyone who can benefit from a course and has completed the prerequisites.

6. Do I have to sign on at a particular time or place?

All fully online courses are asynchronous, which means that you can sign on at any time of the day or night wherever you have internet access. You will need to plan your schedule based on the instructor’s course expectations. You will be granted access to your course between the starting and ending dates of the course.

7. Can I work at my own pace? Are there deadlines?

These courses are not self-paced or self-study. They are actively led by an instructor, and there are deadlines. Normally, a semester course will consist of a series of two-week modules. In each module you will be expected to read the textbook and other materials, read faculty lectures online, submit your answers to questions, complete other exercises or assignments, and participate in online discussions. (In online discussions, you will read short notes posted by other students and post your own responses.) You will probably have to log on to the website about three times per week to complete your work.

8. Do I have to be an experienced computer/internet user to take an online course?

Although you do not have to be an expert, you must have basic computer skills. You need to know how to access the internet and navigate websites, use word processing software (such as Microsoft Word), and copy and paste between two programs running in separate windows. You should also know how to save a document in “rtf” (rich text file) format. Once you apply for your password for an online course, you will be presented with an SLN tutorial. We recommend that you complete the tutorial, to better understand how to participate. SLN offers HelpDesk services seven days a week to answer your technical questions.

9. How do I know whether online courses are right for me?

Many students find that online study provides valuable flexibility to fit courses into their busy schedule. You might find this aspect of online study ideal for your needs, too. However, you must be self-motivated and disciplined. You’ll have to commit to a schedule of coursework just as you would for on-campus classes, but on your own initiative rather than on a fixed class schedule. SUNY offers a readiness test for online study at http://sln.suny.edu/sln_rightforyou.htm.

10. How do I register and pay for online courses?

You can enroll in online courses just as you would for a classroom course. If you plan to pursue a Cayuga degree either full-time or part-time, start by contacting the Admissions office. If you do not plan to pursue a Cayuga degree or are already enrolled as a Cayuga student, you can register directly with the Registrar’s office by phone or e-mail. Cayuga’s Business office and Financial Aid office serve online students also.

11. Can I drop, add, or change an online course after registering?

Please contact the Registrar if you wish to add, drop, or change an online course after registering. College policies for online courses are the same as for on-campus courses. These include dropping, adding, or changing a course, academic calendar, withdrawal dates, and refunds. For more on College policies, see the College catalog.

12. What is required for admission to the College?

To become a full-time student, you will need to supply your high school transcript or copy of your GED, as well as transcripts from any other colleges where you have earned credit. Contact Admissions at:

Office of Admissions
Cayuga Community College
197 Franklin St.
Auburn, NY 13021
admissions@cayuga-cc.edu
315.255.1743 ext. 2241

13. Is a placement test required?

For all students, a placement test is required for English and mathematics courses. The College’s Academic Support Center offers placement testing on-campus and can arrange for online placement testing as needed. The Admissions office can assist you with this process. If you take the placement test off-campus, you may have to pay for proctoring (supervision).

14. What do online courses cost?

Tuition is the same per credit hour as for on-campus courses. Online course fees apply. Complete information is at Tuition and Fees.

15. How do I apply for financial aid?

Follow the same procedure as you would for on-campus courses. Details are at http://www.cayuga-cc.edu/financialaid/apply.php. You can download and submit forms from there, and view contact information for the Financial Aid office.

16. How do I get my books and course materials?

It is your responsibility to get the required textbooks and materials before your course starts. Course descriptions for SUNY Learning Network (SLN) online courses include information on required textbooks and materials, as well as information about the College bookstore, under the “Book Info” link. You can visit Cayuga’s bookstore at either the Fulton or Auburn campus (for online courses, check to make sure the campus store has your textbooks in stock), or you can phone your order to the bookstore and have it shipped to you. You can buy your textbooks from other sources, but it is your responsibility to get the right titles and editions. Failure to obtain correct textbooks or materials will not entitle you to a refund of tuition if you drop the course, nor does the College or faculty have any responsibility to assist you with these materials.

17. What technology do I need?

Minimum requirements for your computer are:

• Pentium II processor or equivalent with Windows 95 or higher operating system, or a Macintosh G3 processor with OS 8 or higher operating system (most systems bought since 2000 will suffice).
• 32 MB RAM
• 56K baud modem or cable modem or DSL
• PPP/SLIP internet connection
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher as your web browser. (Note: Do not use IE 7.0 or Safari because of browser incompatibility.)
• An internet e-mail account that accepts mail from the SUNY Learning Network and re-directed mail and does not "block" messages (available free at yahoo.com, hotmail.com and other sites)
• Word processing software with the capability to save files in Microsoft Word 6.0 or RTF formats
• Successful completion of the SLN ”Test Your System” check (This demonstrates that you can copy/paste text between two applications and upload/submit a file attachment.)
• Optional: printer for documents such as the syllabus, course schedule, and assignments
• Course-specific software/hardware: Check with your instructor or campus to determine whether course assignments may require you to use additional software and hardware, such as Office 97 or Office 2000, a scanner for a graphic arts course, or spreadsheet software for a business course. Some instructors include special requirements as part of their course descriptions.

Although you may be able to access the SLN website using a computer system not meeting the minimum requirements listed above, your participation may be limited for technical reasons. For example, WebTV will not provide sufficient capability for course participation. We also recommend that you do not use a beta version of a web browser.

18. Is technical help available throughout the course?

If you need help getting into your course, sending assignments, requesting a password, or resolving other technical issues, contact the SLN HelpDesk at 800-875-6269 x 2 during the following hours (Eastern time), or e-mail helpdesk@sln.suny.edu.

Contact Information

For more information about Cayuga's online courses, contact Ed Kowalski in the Continuing Education Office at 315-255-1792 x 2498.