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Student Services
Student Services Marty Lynn, director; Lloyd Woods, assistant director
The Student Services Division is responsible for supporting the mission of the University by
developing and executing policies for the servicing of students from the moment they learn
about NationsUniversity all the way through to graduation. These policies are consistent
with those adopted by the Board of Regents, harmonize with those of the other divisions of
the University, and have the support of those who are charged with their execution.
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Director of Student Services is the organization's
leader in carrying out the responsibilities of the Student Services Division. This includes
identifying, recruiting, training, and supervising staff, contract staff and volunteers who perform
the actual work. These individuals are physically located both in the Brentwood office and in
other locations and countries around the world.
For accreditation purposes, the work is functionally organized under three general headings:
(a) student recruitment and enrollment, (b) course completions, and (c) program completions.
Specific tasks associated with these three areas of Student Services are outlined below.
a. Student recruitment and enrollment Anastasia Cullum
Tasks:
1. Recruitment. Recruiting refers to those methods used to make the University known
of media and is delivered to potential students in every part of the world. Potential
students learn of NationsUniversity through Internet surfing, referral by a friend,
recruitment from representatives of NU, and response to special promotions.
Specialized functions related to recruiting include:
a. Correspond with prospective students, applicants, alumni, and others seeking
information on admission standards and academic and non-academic programs
following established procedures and precedents.
b. Recruitment of prisoners. Incarcerated individuals require specialized attention and
processing, as they are generally unable to access the Internet and must rely on the
assistance of others for communication via the postal service. This function is
managed by the Director of Prison Enrollment, who also represents the University
at prison workshops and lectureships and seeks to secure funding to service
incarcerated students. The Director of Prison Enrollment reports to the Director of
Student Services. John Casteel
c. Registration post management. This refers to authorizing posts in geographically
diverse or remote locations to assist students to register and receive materials when
students in a geographical area do not have access to the Internet. The University
secures a tightly worded agreement that maintains the integrity of the University's
program and prohibits the location from claiming it is a branch or an affiliation of
NationsUniversity.
d. Web search facilitation. This relates to proactively working to enable potential
students who are searching the Internet to easily identify NationsUniversity as a
desirable institution for their theological education.
2. Enrollment. Enrollment commences with the electronic registration of a potential
a. The student is issued a Username and Password that enables him/her to access the
course syllabi.
b. The student is given a Welcome Letter, which provides instructions as to procedures.
c. Formal assignment to a particular academic program is made after receipt and
evaluation of educational credentials and assessment of the individual's ability to do
collegiate level work. This assessment includes
(1) Credentialing and classification
(a) Transcript evaluation
(b) Transfer credit
(c) Curriculum assignment
(2) Language skills
(a) Determining the adequacy of English skills to study in English
(b) Restricting students whose English skills are lacking
b. Course Completion
Scope: The course completion function means all activities taken to service students
from the time they are enrolled until they complete the work associated with whatever
course they are currently taking. Courses must be completed before they can apply
toward the fulfillment of a degree. The institution assumes responsibility toward
encouraging the student to complete courses.
Tasks:
1. Student Advisor. The student advisor is the "front line" for this work. This function
is performed by a corps of primarily volunteers who are organized by geographic
location (Africa, Americas, Prisons, etc.) and language (Arabic, Farsi, Spanish,
Portuguese, etc.). Advisors play a vital role in helping students succeed in their
academic pursuits. Tasks associated with this function include
a. The Advisor is assigned a list of students.
b. The Advisor then establishes rapport with the assigned students, reviews the
students' user reports, and advises the students on their courses and program
and makes suggestions regarding short term and long range goals.
c. The Advisor is responsible for responding to student questions within 24 hours.
d. Effective personal rapport and encouragement are major expectations for this
position.
2. Requirements and training for an advisor:
a. Identification
(1) Web announcements and application form
(2) Screening
(3) Set-up and test messaging
b. Assignment: Each will agree to
(1) Welcome and orient students
(2) Daily correspondence
(3) Quarterly contact
c. Training
(1) Take NU course, unless an NU student/graduate
(2) Letter composition: Excel reports, CMS use
(3) Technical skills
3. Routine tracking: General encouragement Advisors
Task. It is the policy of NationsUniversity that each student will be given
personal encouragement as he/she pursues his/her work. In addition to the stduent
advisors, this encouragement is provided by assigned staff and volunteers
in the forms listed below.
a. Letter writing. Develops quarterly letters to be sent to every student via
My.emma electronic mail. Marty Lynn
b. Student Newsletter. Develops and publishes a quarterly Student Newsletter.
Melanie Anderson
c. Technical delivery. Provides specialized assistance to students in their use of
the University's electronic course delivery systems. Melanie Anderson
3. Translation services. While English will remain the foundational language of the
University, it is the University's policy to provide curriculum in other languages as
well. Translation services are provided by persons who often live in locations
where the language is used.
4. General processing
a. Grading exams. Where the grading of tests cannot be performed electronically,
manual grading is done by assigned by trained personnel.
b. Follow-up letters. Communication with students is provided in those cases where
the student advisor is not the appropriate party.
c. Records and filing. The recording of each student's work is primarily done via
electronic means. However, in those cases where the student's work is done by
post or e-mail, hard copy records are maintained.
(2 Funding, sponsorships
Every student's expense ($100 per student per year) must be underwritten.
This is accomplished through (a) solicitation of churches and interested
individuals and (b) the development of registration centers in strategic locations.
(3 Representations, public relations
Represent NU at prison workshops and lectureships.
(b) Managing registration centers
(c) Web searches John Gibbs
(3) Language skills Alice Jewell
(a) Testing for students with English as second language
(b) Limiting student access when skills are inadequate
c. Program completions
Scope: The program completion function means the identification and processing of a
student who has completed the course work required within the individual's program of study.
Task:
1. The student advisor is trained to recognize that a student has completed the required
work for whichever program he/she is working toward. At this point, the advisor forwards
the notifies the Director of Student Services, who reviews the student's progress.
Student Advisors
2. If the Director judges that the program is complete, the Director of Academic Affairs is
notified for a final and official review. Marty Lynn
3. Once a student is student's completion has been certified, the Director of Academic Affairs
notifies the Registrar Mac Lynn
4. The Registrar issues an appropriate diploma and transcript. Marcia Willison
5. Graduation exercises may be organized in a location where
and by persons who can bear the expense of the activity. Melanie Anderson
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