COLLEGE FOR AMERICA STUDENT HANDBOOK

2017 ACADEMIC YEAR Revised 11/1/2017

INSIGHT and GUIDANCE INTO the CfA DEGREE PROGRAMS

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome to College for America at Southern New Hampshire University (CfA)!

PART ONE: LEARN ABOUT YOUR DEGREE PROGRAM

• Understand how the Curriculum is Structured• Learn the Key Words and Definitions

PART TWO: GETTING STARTED & STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

• What to expect in your first term• Acquire the required technology• Complete the CfA Orientation• Submit your Academic Plan

• Taking Time Off

PART THREE: LEARN ABOUT THE PROJECT COMPLETION CYCLE

• Understand the Project and Completion Cycle• Deploy Key Strategies for Staying Engaged• Celebrate Your Success• Be proud of Competency Milestone Certificates• Graduation Review

PART FOUR: WORKING WITH INTEGRITY

• Reach out to your Learning Network• Collaborate Successfully• Start a Study Group• Study Group Guidelines• Manage Conflict• Study Tips from CfA Students• Study Tips from CfA• The Student Ambassador Program• Student Services at CfA

PART FIVE: APPENDIX

• Academic Plan• Tour your Learning Environment

This Handbook offers insights and guidance to help you complete your CfA program. It should be used in conjunction with the CfA Academic Catalog

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• Maintain your Scholastic Standing

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• Connect with your Academic Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

• Complete Academic Learning Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

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WELCOME TO CFA!

Dear student,

Welcome to College for America (CfA)! By enrolling in CfA you are becoming part of Southern New Hampshire University- an institution that has provided quality, innovative education for over 80 years. CfA is a nonprofit college built specifically for working adults and their employers—and to better connect workforce research, higher education, and labor market needs. As a College for America student, you are part of a dynamic network of professional peers as well as the CfA support community that includes your Academic Advisor, your fellow students, Project Reviewers, and mentors.

I commend you on your commitment to your profession and your commitment to life-long learning that is demonstrated by your decision to enroll in CfA. We are committed to helping you reach your educational and professional goals.

In this Student Handbook you will find useful information on the steps you will take on your journey from application to graduation. We have included information on the support and services that are available to assist you along the way. This Student Handbook is a companion to the Academic Catalog, which contains policies and procedures. I encourage you to familiarize yourself with the contents of this handbook as well as the Academic Catalog and hope that you will find them invaluable.

Your Advisor can assist you in your academic planning. If you have questions about any of the programs or requirements described in this handbook or in the catalog, please feel free to contact us.

On behalf of the administration, staff, advisors, and Reviewers, I welcome you to our online community and wish you every success in your academic endeavor and look forward to your graduation from CfA.

Sincerely,

College for America

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PART 1: LEARN ABOUT YOUR DEGREE PROGRAM

UNDERSTAND HOW THE CURRICULUM IS STRUCTURED At College for America at Southern New Hampshire University (CfA), the learning process is simple: You demonstrate mastery of competencies not by sitting through classes and exams, but rather by completing real-world Projects with the support of Advisor, a community of peers, open-source resources, and rigorous Project evaluation.

At CfA, you are working towards your degree from the moment you enroll in your program. If you choose, you can seamlessly graduate from an associate’s degree program and continue into a bachelor’s degree program. The degrees at CfA are stackable, which means that the 120 Core Competencies you complete in an associate’s degree are your springboard to the 120 Advanced Competencies in a bachelor’s degree.

When you graduate, you will have compiled a rich portfolio of work that shows what you have learned and are able to do, and you will have earned a degree that is highly relevant and applicable in the workplace.

LEARN THE KEY WORDS AND DEFINITIONSCOMPETENCY: A “can-do” statement, such as “can define and use marketing terminology and concepts” or “can generate a variety of approaches to addressing a problem.” You master competencies by completing Projects.

GOAL: An achievable section of work containing competencies that are divided into Projects.

PROJECT: Real-world activities that enable you to demonstrate mastery of multiple competencies. Projects are organized into Goals.

PATH: Each degree program at CfA is designed to help students approach the Projects in a way that encourages mastery. A Path allows you to choose which Projects you complete inside a Goal.

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS (120 CORE COMPETENCIES)There are two paths inside the AA degree:

• The Blue Path is made up of small to medium sized Projects.• The Purple Path is one large Project.Both Paths involve mastery of the same competencies – the difference is how you get there. Some Goals will have both the Blue and Purple Path option, while some Goals will have the Blue Path only. All students must complete at least three Purple Path Projects to graduate.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM (60 CORE COMPETENCIES) There are also two paths inside the Certificate program:

• The Blue Path is made up of small to medium-sized Projects.• The Purple Path is one large Project.

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Both Paths involve mastery of the same competencies – the difference is how you get there. Some Goals will have both the Blue and Purple Path option, while some Goals will have the Blue Path only. You are not required to complete Purple Path Projects in the Certificate Program. However, if you plan to continue into the Associate’s degree you will be required to complete three Purple Path Projects. Any Purple Path Projects completed during the course of your Certificate Program count towards this requirement, so you can get a head start if you choose to. Otherwise, you will be able to complete Purple Path Projects when you continue into the Associate’s degree.

BACHELOR OF ARTS (120 ADVANCED COMPETENCIES)In the Bachelor of Arts (BA) program each Goal contains one Path — the Gold Path. The Gold Path contains multiple Projects, which are completed in sequential order. Each of the following Projects builds on one another. In order to master the competencies in this Goal you will need to master each Project in the sequence presented.

For example, in the Goal called “Advertise a Product or Service” there are four Projects:

• In the first Project, you learn about advertising tools and concepts and take a quiz todemonstrate your mastery of the concepts.

• In the second Project, you learn about the history and development of advertising and identify atarget market for your product.

• In the third Project, you create an advertisement and develop a script for a 30-second TVcommercial for a product.

• In the final Project, you develop a polished, professional presentation to showcase yourlearning and “pitch” your ideas to a board of directors.

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PART 2: GETTING STARTED & STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

WHAT TO EXPECT IN YOUR FIRST TERM

Day 1: On the 1st of the month you will receive a “Getting Started” email with a temporary username and password to log into your student portal for the first time.

Day 1-30: In the first 14 days of the term, be sure to:

• Submit your Academic Plan• Complete Orientation• Join the Learning Community• Connect with your Academic Advisor to start building your relationship and

review your academic plan and program requirements.

By Day 30 of your term, be sure to:

• Submit at least one project to remain enrolled in your degree program.• Connect with your Academic Advisor to discuss what you learned about

yourself as a learner, key takeaways, and your short and long-term goals and reflect on the project completion cycle.

ACQUIRE THE REQUIRED TECHNOLOGY When you start your program at CfA you will need access to a computer and the Internet. In addition, the CfA Student Portal, which is a web-based system, works best with the Google Chrome browser, but it will work with Safari (which comes standard on Apple Mac computers) and Firefox browsers. It will NOT work with Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. If you are currently using Internet Explorer, we recommend that you install the Google Chrome browser. It is okay to use multiple browsers on your computer at the same time, so if you prefer Internet Explorer for your personal browser, you can keep Explorer open while working in Google Chrome on your CfA Projects.

GOOGLE CHROME recommended

SAFARI recommende

d

FIREFOX recommende

d

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COMPLETE THE CFA ORIENTATION

The new student orientation is one of the first steps of your journey at CfA. The orientation tells you about the people who will help you from the beginning of your journey to degree completion, including your Academic Advisor, Reviewers, your peers, and the people in your life who will help you reach your goals. You will also complete several activities in your orientation.

You should begin orientation on the first day of your first term and should complete it within the first 14 days.

The orientation is located on your Dashboard and looks like this:

INTERNET EXPLORER NOT Recommended

The Orientation To-do list on your Dashboard

SUBMIT YOUR ACADEMIC PLAN EACH TERM Submitting the Academic Plan inside the Learning Environment confirms your registration and enrollment in your term. Through the Academic Plan you are empowered to select the Goals for your term, swap throughout the term, and add Goals to your term.

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When you log in on day one of your term you will see the Academic Plan:

• Scheduling a Project

• Submitting a Project

• Resubmitting a Project

The Academic Plan

You must submit your Academic Plan by end of day on the 14th day of your term to finalize your enrollment in the term. If you do not complete your Academic Plan by the deadline you will be withdrawn. Talk to your Advisor if you have questions. And remember, if you run into any technical problems you can connect with the CfA Support team to get them resolved quickly.

COMPLETE ACADEMIC LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Each week you should complete academic activities and earn Kudos. Kudos are participation points that help keep you on track to reaching your goals. You earn Kudos for academic activities, for example:

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MAINTAIN YOUR SCHOLASTIC STANDING AND ENROLLMENT STATUS

Please note that you must master at least eight (8) competencies in each six-month term to remain in good academic standing. To read more about this policy, please visit the Scholastic Standing policy in the College for America Academic Catalog.

If you are participating in your employer's tuition reimbursement program, make note of any requirements that may apply for financial assistance. Connect with your HR representative for more information.

Work closely with your Advisor to map out your path to graduation. You can also talk with your Advisor about working at your own pace, should you want or need to progress more quickly.

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CONNECT WITH YOUR ACADEMIC ADVISOR Your Academic Advisor has been trained to support your learning process and help you navigate the path toward achieving your goals. You can work with your Advisor to develop your abilities to:• solve problems• identify and take advantage of useful resources• engage with teams and groups• use feedback• ask for help• lean into challenges

These skills will help you succeed in your degree program. However, they are also some of the skills that will help you continue to learn and thrive after you graduate.

Getting Started To get the most out of your experience and develop a positive working relationship, you will have regular conversations with your Academic Advisor throughout your degree. As you begin your degree program, your Advisor will be in touch more frequently to ensure that you are acclimating to the learning environment and help you develop the skills to succeed.

You should have a call with your advisor early on in your first term to review your Academic Plan and discuss your responses to Orientation activities to develop an initial plan for success.

As you continue your regular conversations with your Advisor, you will discuss a variety of topics including, but not limited to:• your past experiences as a learner• your short and long term goals• your progress on the first Projects• obstacles and opportunities you are or anticipate encountering

TAKING TIME OFFIf you need to take a break from your CfA program you may do so by either withdrawing or by applying for a Leave of Absence. Talk to your Advisor to learn more about these options. A Leave of Absence may be a good choice for you if you encounter a medical, family and other personal situation requiring your immediate attention. If you take a Leave of Absence you must select a specific return date when you will continue your studies. If you would like to take a Leave of Absence (LOA) you must first contact your Advisor. Your Advisor will provide you with a Leave of Absence form, which must be approved by CfA. Your Advisor may also refer you to the One Stop office so you can consider the financial implications of taking a Leave of Absence or withdrawing.

If you choose to withdraw you can return to your program at any time by contacting CFA Student Support or admissions@collegeforamerica.org.

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PART 3: LEARN ABOUT THE PROJECT COMPLETION CYCLEThe Project Completion Cycle contains five phases. This cycle is one way to consider approaching your Project work and you earn Kudos along the way. You can talk to your Advisor about how to approach your Project work in each phase so that you keep moving forward.

UNDERSTAND THE PROJECT COMPLETION CYCLE

DEPLOY KEY STRATEGIES FOR STAYING ENGAGED IN THE PROJECT COMPLETION CYCLEWe have designed a personalized learning program that supports your individual needs. Here’s how you can partner with us to succeed:

Believe that you can do it!

• Recognize that your contribution is unique and that it matters.

• Discover the relationship between your efforts and your progress.

• Since CfA is a “no fail” zone, as long as you are engaged as a student, ongoing efforttowards project completion and competency mastery will pay off.

Engage in your learning Process

• Keep your goals, vision and values front and center at all times.

Use the Project Completion Cycle to guide your Project work.

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• Believe in yourself and your colleagues.

• Lean in to the challenge (this is noteasy!).

Find right-sized challenges to build your momentum.

• Log in every day to find out how you’re doing and what’s going on!

• Receive and apply feedback to improve your process and projects.

Partner and connect with peers and Advisor.

• Remember that learning is social and no one does this alone. The best students ask for helpearly and often.

CELEBRATE YOUR SUCCESSThroughout your degree program you will reach Competency Milestones. Reaching a Competency Milestone at CfA is an accomplishment that we want to celebrate with you! In this spirit, after you reach a Competency Milestone, you should connect with your Advisor to complete the Milestone Check-in, which is a 20-30 minute conversation.

During the call you and your Advisor will discuss your experience in CfA, what is working well and where your Advisor can supply you with additional resources. Here are some questions for you to reflect on in preparation for the Milestone Check-in:

• What Project(s) work are you most proud of and why?

• On which Project(s) did you learn the most? Where did you start and where did youend?

• Which masteredcompetencies are currentlyuseful at work? Or applicable toa future goal?

• As you look towards yournext term, what do you mostwant to learn most?

• Which Projects are you mostlooking forward to?

BE PROUD OF COMPETENCY MILESTONE CERTIFICATES

When you reach a Competency Milestone you will receive a Competency certificate from CfA to showcase your accomplishment. We encourage you to proudly display your Competency certificate. You can do this in many ways, including:

Competency mastery certificates are designed so you can display them proudly.

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• Print your Competency certificate and hang it up where colleagues and friends can see youraccomplishment.

• Take a picture of you holding your Competency certificate and post it to the CfA Facebookpage.

GRADUATION REVIEWAfter you master all competencies in your degree program, CfA will conduct a Graduation Review.

The Graduation Review serves several purposes:

• It gives CfA a chance to review your entire body of work from a degree perspective (as opposedto Goal-by-Goal).

• It enables CfA to check any academic honesty issues that were not previously detected. It istheoretically possible that a student might need to do additional or replacement work.

The review process is important because each graduate represents the CfA program— and it is essential that we ensure the integrity of the CfA degree.

Your Graduation Review will be completed within two weeks of mastering all competencies in your degree program.

If you have any questions about this process please talk to your Advisor.

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PART 4: WORKING WITH INTEGRITY

REACH OUT TO YOUR LEARNING NETWORKLearning is a social process. Friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, mentors, and acquaintances have helped you grow and learn throughout your life. When you begin your academic journey, we add an Advisor, Reviewers, and the online community of students to your network.

Academic Advisors: At the start of your program, you are assigned an Advisor who will serve as your primary point of contact. Your Advisor works closely with you to set goals, to establish a pace for finishing Projects, and to develop your broader support network.

Reviewers: A Reviewer is a knowledgeable field expert who will review your submitted work and provide clear, contextualized, and timely feedback so that you know what you need to do to achieve mastery of the required competencies. The Reviewer uses the Project Rubric to evaluate your Project and provide feedback. You should feel free to ask your Reviewers clarifying questions as needed.

Learning Community:College for America has a robust learning community in which students can receive academic and technical support from peers. Your fellow students are your greatest resources. Together, you can celebrate your successes and help one another past obstacles.

Support Network:The support network includes an Accountability Partner, chosen by you, who will help keep you motivated and on track. You may also want to choose a Mentor from your place of work, who can help you with career development.Friends and family are also important parts of your learning network. In addition to cheering you on, they can help you stay accountable to your goals and help shoulder some of your responsibilities, so you have the time and space to do the work. They might even have the expertise, or know someone who does, to proofread your work, help with a computer problem, answer questions about topics you are struggling to understand, work through problems, and imagine next steps.

The relationships in your Learning Network are yours to choose and develop based on your needs and preferences. Continue to reach out, and you’ll be surprised at how often you will find people willing and able to help.

COLLABORATE SUCCESSFULLY

During your degree program we encourage you to collaborate with other students. Please remember that collaboration does not mean giving each other answers, but rather helping each other to learn. Here are some examples of acceptable collaboration activities (this is not an exhaustive list):

• Talk about which projects you want to tackle first and why.

• Read a draft of your deliverable to a peer. Your peer can then provide verbal feedback about whatyou might work on next. While listening to the paper, your peers can share back what they findconfusing, interesting, or maybe off-point from the rubric.

• If you need help getting started on a deliverable, your peers can describe how they started theirs,how they interpreted the rubric criteria, and/or discuss resources with you.

• Share study tips and encourage each other.

• Share helpful resources and stories for overcoming obstacles.

• If you would like support with writing mechanics or the process of writing, we recommend that youvisit tutor.com/cfa. Through this service, expert tutors can provide you with 24/7 support on topicsranging from writing and citations to economics, math and statistics as well as with applications suchas PowerPoint and Excel.

The purpose for outlining these collaboration guidelines is to help you make sure you have mastered all of your program’s competencies. You are enrolled in College for America to learn and demonstrate mastery of new competencies- so as you complete work, always ask yourself the following:

• Have I learned this material?• Have I demonstrated mastery of these competencies?

As you work on individual Projects, it is advisable not to share your deliverables directly with other students. If you share your deliverable with other students (and they copy it), you will be implicated in the resulting academic honesty review. To protect yourself, do not give other students your completed or mastered work. Here are some examples of activities to avoid:

• Revising and editing another student’s work.• Sharing completed or mastered work with another student.• Providing answers to another student or telling another student what they “should” do.

You should not be getting help to the point where you are not learning. Please ask your Advisor if you have any questions about collaboration.

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• Take time for getting to know one another

• Share your CfA experiences and stories

• Post resources, tips, and ideas

• Ask questions and share concerns

• Collaborate on challenging Projects

• Refer to the article in the Help section of the CfA Learning Portal called, “What is College for America’s Academic Honesty Policy?” for information on acceptable collaboration

• Try to find a location free of interruptions and excessive noise, for in-person groups

• Establish support and/or accountability partnerships

• Maintain a consistent meeting schedule to ensure success

• Schedule weekly or biweekly get-togethers

• Reach out to check on colleagues who stop showing up

• Encourage participation; ask others, “What do you think?”

MANAGE CONFLICTIf you are having interpersonal challenges with your team or another student you should contact your Advisor for support.

For example, contact your Advisor if:

• A team member is non-responsive or not participating in the team Project

• You are experiencing a conflict on your team or with another student

• You are experiencing a conflict with another student in the community

When you are dealing with these types of situations, your Advisor can help you resolve the problem and keep moving toward your goals.

START A STUDY GROUPIt has been our experience at CfA that developing strong connections with other students promotes success and persistence. Strong connections with your peers also create more meaningful learning experiences. For that reason, we strongly encourage and recommend study groups.

For those students who cannot meet with others in person, online groups are a great option. Students can use Google+ Communities and Google Circles to develop friendships with others and to “meet up” virtually. And we’re here to help, if you need it! Please reach out to a CfA Student Ambassador if you have any questions about setting up a study group.

STUDY GROUP GUIDELINES

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STUDY TIPS FROM CFA STUDENTS

As you work towards your degree you will develop new habits that help you to stay motivated and organized. Here are some ideas from our student community:

• “Set up a routine. I take one task at a time. I read the directions and view all the resources thefirst night. The second night, I start the Project. Depending on the size of the Project it may takea day or a few days. After complete, I review the rubric and make sure I hit all the points. I rereadall my work and then submit. If you follow the same routine for each Project, it seems to movealong quickly, following these steps I’ve almost completed the whole program in only five-and-a-half months.”

• “Pace yourself and take each task one step at a time. Sometimes you will feel overwhelmed, butthat is when you need to rely on your Advisor and the support of the CfA community.”

• “Do not give up! There is help available for everything from the actual work to technical issues.Look through several Projects and find what you will and can work on now. Set a Goal, such ascompleting one submission per week, and you will be surprised at how much you can do. Askyour family to support you…having my kids ask me how I’m doing and saying they are proud ofme has been so helpful.”

• “Life has a way of getting in the way of things, and sometimes school ends up on a back burner.The Projects are self-paced. Even if you have taken a week off, jump back on the bandwagon!The longer you put it off, though, the harder it is to get back into the swing of it. There’s lots ofsupport out here, and I’m sure one of us has struggled with an aspect of the program that youmay be struggling with. Reach out!”

• “Learn to use Google Drive.”

• “Don’t get put off by the directions for Projects the first time you read them. There’s a lot of newinformation that you’re going to be unfamiliar with. Reread the directions. Once you startresearching the Projects and going through the resources you’ll understand things a lot better.Then reread the directions again. You’ll be surprised how much clearer they are and how muchmore positive you’ll feel about being able to master the Project.”

• “Try and set your own pace and stick to it.”

• “You can do it. I believe for many of us high school was our last formal education. Even thoughit has been awhile since we’ve been in school, this venture can still be done. Go at your ownpace!”

• “Remember that we enter this program with different knowledge, experiences, and withdifferent responsibilities and/or distractions. It takes every student a bit of time to settle into aroutine that works for them—- so don’t get discouraged.!”

• “I reduce my stress by developing the habit of planning when and where I am going to do mywork. And I plan my study time with members of my household in mind. For example, my familyhas a system where if my office door is closed, it means I am studying and can only be botheredfor emergencies.”

• I found that it helped me to get familiar with Google Chrome and Google Drive before the firstterm starts. They are useful tools that can eliminate the frustration of lost work or being tied upif work isn’t shared between computers. It also makes collaborating with a group much easier.”

• “I connect with my Advisor regularly. We have a system where I e-mail in depth questions, orquestions that go beyond a yes/no answer, ahead of time so my Advisor can prepare for ourcall.”

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THE STUDENT AMBASSADOR PROGRAMThe CfA Ambassador Program is made up of student volunteers who represent and promote CfA in various ways and who serve to inspire student success. The Ambassador program was created to develop and promote student leaders and to build a supportive, energized community of learners.

WHO IS A CFA STUDENT AMBASSADOR?

A student ambassador is a person who is enthusiastic about CfA and our mission, is passionate about learning and education, and who wants to help other students succeed in the program. Student ambassadors will give voice to the whole student community in improving all aspects of CfA, including the learning portal, tools, Projects and resources, and the entire student experience. Student ambassadors represent CfA and serve as role models for all.

WHAT ACTIVITIES AND TASKS DO CFA AMBASSADORS PERFORM?

As a CfA student ambassador, there are many possible activities and tasks that you might participate in. For instance, you may support online or employer-based CfA events, help other students use technologies and platforms they are unfamiliar with, or share your positive CfA experiences with other students, employers, community members, staff, and donors. Student ambassadors may contribute to blogs and newsletters, write posts in the Google+ learning community, and encourage student connections online. Other activities include testing new Projects and platform features, participating in CfA surveys, calling new students to welcome them into the program, and responding to student posts in the learning community.

STUDY TIPS FROM COLLEGE FOR AMERICA

• Don’t try to do too much at once. Create a to-do list and prioritize personaland professional tasks to get them out of your head. Once you can see all your commitmentsand want-to-do’s, you can decide which ones can wait or evenbe dropped.

• Block specific time for working on course assignments and completing assigned reading.

• Be sure to block time for family and friends, too! Enjoy social events and activities.

• Communicate your expectations and schedule. Your friends and family can help you stay on

track, but only if they know your plans.

• Get into the spirit and focus on positives. You will feel better. You will also be more productive.To adopt a positive mindset, try naming three good things that happen to you each day.

• Take care of yourself physically. Watch what you eat and drink. Get enough sleep. Exercise.

• Work in small—15, 30, or 45 minute—segments. Set a timer if you need to.

• Claim a calm space free of distractions to complete academic work. This is your study space,and you can condition yourself to learn in this location.

• Reward yourself. Give yourself a reward for working on CfA Projects. A reward could be a cupof coffee, a walk, time to watch the game, or anything else that gives you pleasure.

• Create a study group in the CfA Learning Community. It can be surprising how much peers canhelp each other stay focused and motivated!

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HOW DO I BECOME A COLLEGE FOR AMERICA STUDENT AMBASSADOR?

Student ambassadors are recommended by their Advisors and will either have reached at least 30 competencies in the program or have graduated. Current students must maintain a pace of at least 24 competencies per six-month term. Candidates for the program will be contacted by CfA’s Community Manager to determine their interest and commitment level as well as what events, activities, and tasks they would like to participate in.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BEING A STUDENT AMBASSADOR?

As a student ambassador, you will work with and learn from a wider network of CfA professionals and leaders. You will also gain valuable and relevant life and workforce knowledge and experience in areas such as leadership, team building, community outreach, marketing, technology, social media, and communication.

STUDENT SERVICES AT COLLEGE FOR AMERICA

As a student, you have access to a wide range of student services to support you.

Engage in the Learning CommunityIf you are working on a specific Project or Goal, you can post inside the learning community to form a study group or post a specific question. The knowledge and inspiration you get from other students can be invaluable to your success. To join the learning community, follow this link to access the CfA Learning Community Guide. Student Ambassadors can be found inside the Learning Community and can provide support and encouragement through your academic journey. Ambassadors will help you stay motivated, celebrate academic achievements, direct you to existing resources and host support webinars.

Contact Your Academic Advisor Your Advisor will serve as your primary point of contact throughout the program. S/he will be reaching out to you regularly to discuss your progress. You can also find your Advisor’s contact information inside your learning portal. If your Advisor is unavailable, please connect with another available advisor through our general advising line at 855-764-8232.

Advising Office Hours: • Monday – Thursday 8:00am – 9:00pm ET• Friday 8:00am – 5:30pm ET• Saturday and Sunday 9:00am – 4:30pm ET

Connect with Your Reviewer When you submit a Project to be reviewed, a Reviewer provides feedback that highlights what you are doing well and how you can improve. When you have questions about the feedback or you are feeling stuck on your deliverable revision, feel free to ask your Reviewer clarifying questions. Type your question or comment into the Feedback/comment box inside the Project page in the learning portal.

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Use Tutor.com/CfAYou have access to 24/7 online tutoring to support your success. Expert tutors can provide you with support on topics ranging from writing and citations to economics, math and statistics, as well as applications, such as PowerPoint and Excel. Tutor.com/CfA also offers drop-off Essay Review.

To connect with a live tutor or utilize the drop-off essay service, follow the link for tutor.com/cfa (Online Tutoring) located inside the Help section of the learning portal. Register using your @collegeforamerica.org email address. Once you sign in, let the tutor know what you would like to work on and he or she will assist you. For Drop-off Essay Review, go to the website and select Drop off Essay Review and submit your document to receive feedback within 24 hours.

Conduct a Search in the online ‘Help’ SectionIf you have a question about your degree, a technical question, or a question about resources or your learning network, conduct a search in the ‘Help’ section of the online learning environment. Inside the Help’ section you can view articles, webinars, links to resources, and tutorials by conducting a keyword search in the search box provided.

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Get Technology Support If you are having a technical problem, contact the Student Support Team. • Call 855-764-8232, Option 1 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm ET on weekdays.• Email: support@collegeforamerica.org• Online: Submit a case in your learning portal by clicking on the question mark (“Help”) icon in the

top-right of your screen. Click the “My Cases” link, then the "New Case" tab to open a new caseand request help from the Student Support Team.

Attend a Goal Q&A SessionHave you ever wished you could talk to a Reviewer before you submit a Project? Now you can for many of the goals! Goal Q&A sessions are free, regularly scheduled, live video sessions, hosted by a Goal Mentor. These sessions are open to multiple students at the same time, so you benefit from hearing each other’s questions answered by an expert. To review the full Goal Q&A Sessions Guide please click here.

Access Shapiro Library OnlineThe Shapiro Library online provides resources and services to identify and locate sources (books, articles, etc.) that you will need to use in your research, and to support other important aspects of the research process like developing a research question, evaluating sources, avoiding plagiarism, and more. Check out the Shapiro Library online by visiting https://my.snhu.edu/cfa/Pages/default.aspx

Connect with the Online Accessibility Center (OAC)It is our policy and practice to create an inclusive and accessible learning environment. If there are aspects of instruction or project design that present barriers to accessibility, please notify the Online Accessibility Center (OAC) as soon as possible.• Phone: 866-305-9430• Email: oac@snhu.edu• Online: Visit my.snhu.edu/cfa and click on Online Accessibility Center• Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM ET , Friday from 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM ET

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Contact Student Financial ServicesIf you have questions related to billing and financial aid needs, Student Financial Counselors can assist you. • Phone: (877) 455-7648, Option 3• Email: sfscfa@snhu.edu• Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00am – 4:30pm ET

Utilize the SNHU Wellness Center We promote wellness by providing educational resources and information through a self-service wellness site. This includes physical wellness, mental wellness, spiritual wellness, emotional wellness, social wellness, environmental wellness, financial wellness, and occupational wellness. Visit my.snhu.edu/cfa and click on the link for Wellness Center.

Access the Academic CatalogThe Academic Catalog contains information about our history and mission, our services and outreach, our facilities and the many opportunities we provide students for meeting their life and career goals. In addition, you will find information about program requirements, academic standards, your rights and responsibilities, and the Student Code of Conduct. Visit my.snhu.edu/cfa and click on the link for the College for America Catalog.

Find Additional Online Student ServicesLogin to mySNHU, your student portal, at my.snhu.edu/cfa, to do the following:• Request a transcript• Request or review enrollment verification• Review financial aid award, forms, conditions, and requirements• View student account information• Pay your bill• Access tax forms• And much more!

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PART FIVE: APPENDIX

ACADEMIC PLANAs a CfA student you now have access to your Academic Plan inside the Learning Environment. Submitting the Academic Plan confirms your registration and enrollment in your term. Through the Academic Plan you are empowered to select the Goals for your term, swap throughout the term, and add Goals to your term.

When you log in on day one of your term you will see the Academic Plan:

The Academic Plan

You must submit your Academic Plan by end of day on the 14th day of your term to finalize your enrollment in the term. Talk to your Advisor if you have questions about the Academic Plan. And remember, if you run into any technical problems you can connect with the CfA Support team to get them resolved quickly.

To see a tutorial video and step-by-step instructions please go to the Help section and search for the article called “How to Submit your Academic Plan”.

UPDATE YOUR ACADEMIC PLAN

Throughout your term you may elect to update your Academic Plan by either swapping a Goal or, in some cases, adding a Goal to your Academic Plan. Before attempting to update or add to your Academic Plan it is recommended that you discuss this action with your Advisor.

TO SWAP A GOAL

If you have not submitted work inside the Goal, you may swap that Goal for another on your Academic Plan. Use the “Swap a Goal” Link inside the Goals section of the Learning Environment. To see a tutorial video and step-by-step instructions please go to the Help section and search for the article called “How to Swap a Goal on your Academic Plan”.

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TO ADD A GOAL

If you have submitted all of the Projects that are on your Academic Plan you may add more Goals. If you have not submitted all of your active Goals you should return to your active Goals and submit all remaining Projects in order to add another Goal. Use the “Add a Goal” Link inside the Goals section of the Learning Environment. To see a tutorial video and step-by-step instructions please go to the Help section and search for the article called “How to Add a Goal to your Academic Plan”.

PREPARE FOR YOUR NEXT TERM

Towards the end of your term you will receive a message inside the Learning Environment asking you to confirm your intent to re-enroll in your program. We want to hear from you so that we can support you in your term transition. Please note that your response to this survey is confidential and you are not financially responsible for the term until you complete your enrollment by submitting your Academic Plan after your new term has started. If you have any questions about this please contact your Advisor or the Student Support team.

You will receive this message towards the end of your term

As you prepare to enroll in your next term, take a moment to reflect on your current progress and how much you have accomplished! Consider reflecting on the following prompts in preparation for your conversation with your Advisor:

- What have you learned or what goals have you accomplished?- What were your biggest challenges?- What do you want to change or adjust going forward?- What goals do you want to set for yourself in your next term?- How can your Advisor best support you?

Remember, you are not alone! Your Advisor and your network of peers is here to support you. Talk to your Advisor for more information.

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TOUR YOUR LEARNING ENVIRONMENTBelow is an introduction to specific areas of the CfA Learning Environment. Please log in and navigate to the ‘Help’ section for detailed information and tutorials.

DASHBOARD

The Dashboard is your home page within the CfA Learning Environment. From here, you can:

• View your recent Projects, feedback,and messages at a glance

• View and add items to your to-do list

• Connect with your Advisor

• Navigate to every area of theLearning Environment

KUDOS

You can easily see the number of Kudos you have earned this week and last week on your Dashboard.

Navigate to your dashboard. Underneath the status bar you will see the number of Kudos you have earned:

• Last week

• This week

• Altogether at CfA

By clicking on the Kudos link you can see how you earned your Kudos.

An example of a CfA Dashboard

An example of Kudos explanations

Access your Kudos information from the top of your dashboard.

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THE WEEKLY LEARNING ACTIVITY SURVEY

You can access the Weekly Learning Activity Survey in your to-do list on your dashboard. If you have not completed the survey in the past seven days, the survey will automatically be presented to you when you log in to the CfA Learning Environment.

Click on the survey link to open the survey and complete it.

GOALS PAGE

Inside the CfA Learning Environment you have a “Goals” page that displays the Goals that you are working on during the term. This is also where you access your Academic Plans, swap Goals and add Goals to your Academic Plans, and print your Academic Plans.

An example Weekly Learning Activity Survey.

Access your Goals and Academic Plans on the “My Active Goals” page.

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GOAL DESCRIPTION

Inside each Goal you will see:

• A description of theGoal

• The competenciesthat you will master inthe Goal

• Project Pathinformation

In the Associate of Arts degree (120 core competencies) each Goal has a Blue Path and a Purple Path.

In the Bachelor of Arts degree (120 Advanced Competencies) each Goal contains one Path—the Gold Path.

Be sure to carefully review your Path options.

The B.A. degree has one Gold path.

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PROJECT PAGE

Inside the Project page you will see all of the information you need to complete a Project, including:

• Overview and Directions

• Deliverables and competencies

• Project Resources

• Skill-building Resources

• The Rubric

• Project Feedback

You can also upload and submit your work. For Projects requiring an audio recording, you will have access to CfA’s audio recorder tool on the Project page.

PROFILE

Inside your CfA profile you can edit your personal information to keep it up-to-date.

PROJECT PORTFOLIO

You can open your Project Portfolio where you can:

• view the status of your Projects and Goals

• view and download your mastered work

• review your Project Reflection

• indicate a Project you would like to reviewwith your Advisor during a MilestoneCheck-in

An example of a CfA profile.

Inside a CfA Project Portfolio.

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ORIENTATION MATERIALS

Inside the “My Orientation” section you can access your orientation materials.

The steps of orientation.

CALENDAR

Click on the calendar icon at the top of the screen inside the Learning Environment to see all upcoming target due dates. From within your calendar, you can drag and drop target due dates to adjust them as needed.

What your CfA calendar will look like.

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HELP

Inside the ‘Help’ section you can view helpful articles by conducting a keyword search in the search box provided. You can also access tutor.com/cfa by clicking on the “Online Tutoring” link. The Academic Catalog and Student Handbook are also available for download.

The CfA Help section.

MY CASES (HELP REQUEST)

Click on “My Cases” link and then the "New Case" tab to open a new case and request help from

the student support team.

Open a support request inside the Help section.

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WRITING TOOLKITS (CFA WRITING GUIDE) Click on “Writing Toolkits” to access the College for America Writing Guide. Review the CfA Writing Guide for a variety of tools and tips that will help you develop a writing process, understand the "dos and don'ts" of collegiate writing, and become an overall stronger writer.

What you will find in the Writing Toolkits.

ONLINE TUTORING

As a CfA student you have access to 24/7 online tutoring services to support your success at College for America. Through this service, expert tutors can provide you with support on topics ranging from writing and citations to economics, math and statistics as well as with applications such as PowerPoint and Excel. To connect with a live tutor, follow the “Online Tutoring” link located inside the Help section of the CfA Learning Environment.

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You can access Gmail from the top of your dashboard.

On tutor.com you will be asked to register using your @collegeforamerica.org email address. Once you sign in, simply let the tutor know what you would like to work on and he or she will assist you.

GMAIL AND GOOGLE PLATFORM (YOUTUBE, COMMUNITIES)

To access your Gmail account, which is your gateway to the Google platform, click on the envelope icon at the top of the screen inside the Learning Environment. When you click on this icon, your Gmail account will automatically open.

LEVERAGE THE GOOGLE PLATFORM

We encourage you to learn as much as you can about Google+ apps and technology to help you create your Project deliverables and connect with other CfA students. The new technology may seem overwhelming at first, but once you learn how to create and share a document in Google Drive, or how to upload a video to YouTube, you will find that using the tools is pretty simple and the skills are useful both at CfA and your professional and personal work.

As a CfA student, you have your own CfA Gmail account, which you can access directly from the Learning Environment. Gmail is a great tool for connecting with your fellow students, your Advisor , and your extended network.

To read more about Gmail, including how to access your Gmail account, visit the ‘Help’ section of the CfA Learning Environment and search for “Gmail”.

Several of the Projects in your CfA program require you to submit a video that you create on a specific topic (sometimes with a group) to YouTube. YouTube is a website where you can watch, create, edit, and share videos. It’s a quick and easy way to upload a video for submission to CfA for review. In addition, your personal YouTube channel saves all of your videos so you can watch them and share them anytime. To learn more about YouTube, including how to share videos, visit the ‘Help’ section of the CfA Learning Environment and search for “YouTube”.

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Google+ Communities are places for people to get together and talk about the interests they share. Several CfA Projects require you to work together with other students—and a community is a great place to connect. You can start a study group by connecting with other CfA students who are working on the same Project or Goal, or with whom you have partnered on a group Project.

To learn more about Google+ Communities, visit the ‘Help’ section of the CfA Learning Environment and search for “Learning Community”.

Your Projects require you to create and submit deliverables, many in the form of a document, spreadsheet, or presentation. In addition, many Projects ask you to collaborate with other students to create deliverables. As a CfA student, you already have a Google+ account, which includes access to the Google Drive. Google Drive is a quick and easy way to create, edit, and share documents, and submit them to CfA for review.

In addition, Google Drive saves all of your documents so you can access them from any device and share them anytime. You can even access your files after you go offline. Think of your Google Drive as a way to store all of your documents inside the cloud. You can save your documents, edit your documents, share your documents, and download them at any time.

To read more about Google Drive, including how to create, edit, and share documents, visit the ‘Help’ section of the CfA Learning Environment and search for “Google Drive”.

Throughout your degree, you will connect with other students, both for group Projects and socially. Google+ Hangouts is a fast and easy way to connect with other people online.

Video calls from Hangouts lets you have face-to-face conversations with up to ten people. It’s easy to invite specific friends or Google+ circles. If someone is unavailable, Hangouts will send a missed call notification and the person can call you back.

At some point you may want to record a group presentation as a Project deliverable. With Hangouts On Air, you can broadcast live discussions and performances to the world through your YouTube channel. After your broadcast is over you can edit and share a copy of the broadcast on YouTube or submit it for review. To learn more about this, check out the CfA Video Guide inside the Help section.

To see tutorials and read more about these features, visit the ‘Help’ section of the CfA Learning Environment.