Requirements for each course will be different, so you should view your syllabi for course-specific information as soon as possible. Individual course syllabi are availble on COLWeb or on the CDM Website if you go to Course Schedule under ACADEMICS and search for your specific course(s).

Your course syllabus and the course website will be important information sources for you throughout the quarter. Though you watch your lectures online, rather than attending at the scheduled time, you must fulfill the same requirements on the same schedule as the on-campus students. The course will be in the same terms of content and rigor. If you have questions about homework assignments, projects and exams, as well as any other course specific information, you should contact your instructor.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Do I have to watch the recording at a certain time?
A. No. The recording of your class will be available online within a few hours after the regular class session. You can then watch it any time. Be aware that you will need to follow the schedule of assignments, due dates and exams provided by your instructor.
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Important Online Learning Policies

Please familiarize yourself with the Online Learning Policies For Students. You also should be familiar with the Exam Policies For Online Course described here.


Warning to Undergraduate Students

Online Learning courses take a great deal of self-discipline and time-management skills. Historically, undergraduate students registering for OL courses fail and withdraw at higher rates than their peers in traditional sections. While CDM policy does not prohibit undergraduate students from taking a limited number of online courses, we strongly encourage you to carefully consider your reasons for registering for the OL section. If you have questions about whether or not OL is appropriate for you, please contact your advisor as soon as possible.


Course OnLine

Learn more about Course OnLine (COL) here. We assume that you understand the Course OnLine system when you sign up for an Online Learning course. 


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Frequently Asked Question

Q. How soon after class are courses available online?
A. Typically, courses will be available online within 6 hours after each lecture. However, Online Learning students should not plan to watch a course until noon the day after the lecture. This delay allows us to correct any technical problems that may arise. 
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Our system of capture and playback is always improving. Please, know that we are constantly trying to improve the quality of the Course OnLine system, but there are still some imperfections in the sound and whiteboard quality. Also, some instructor's voices are better captured than others. It is important for you to view the sample and the first session of your course early. If you find the quality to be unacceptable, you should drop the course before the drop date.


COL Playback Options

COL Player

COLPlayer is recommended for most CDM students. The player provides a customizable screen layout, advance browsing options, the ability to watch the lecture on two screens, and lecture management tools, such as CD burning. 

Other important COLPlayer features include:

• COL Casting: Also known as the Auto-download option, COL Casting allows students to setup a COLPlayer at the start of the quarter to automatically download new lectures as they become available.
  
  
• COL Mobile: A Beta version of Mobile COL is available for Pocket PC users. COL Mobile does not work on Smartphone devices at this time.

To use COLPlayer, students must download the player and install the Windows application to their local PC. Each week when a new lecture becomes available, students will access the recording file online and use the COLPlayer to view the lecture. Lectures can be viewed in an instant playback mode, or they can be downloaded to the user's machine and viewed offline.

CDs burned using the COL Player application use digital rights management to limit access and control expiration of the CD. The CDs will require an initial login into the COL server the first time a CD is used on a new machine. On the last day of the quarter, just as the online recordings are removed from the web, the CDs will expire, and the COL recording on the CD will no longer be viewable.


COL For Mac
Mac users can view lecture recordings using the original web interface on the Safari browser. COL for Mac is only available in the instant playback mode, and special setup is required. Setup instructions are available in the Course OnLine For Mac.

COL Flash Player
A flash player is now available for any platform that supports the Flash 9.0+ plugin. This option is mainly for Mac and Linux users, Windows users are encouraged to use COLPlayer.

Legacy Player
The original COL viewing interface, referred to as the Legacy player, has been replaced by the COLPlayer for Windows users. This browser-based java player is less reliable and provides lower quality playback than the COLPlayer. All future player software upgrades will be done for COLPlayer only.

Legacy COL is available in three ways:

• Instant playback requires an internet connection during viewing. Sound and images are downloaded as the lecture advances. Instant playback is available for low, medium and high speed connections.
• Buffered playback allows users to download the images into memory to reduce buffering time while viewing the lecture. Users must still be connected to the internet.
• Full downloaded versions for low, medium and high speed connections let users download the entire recording into memory, then disconnect from the internet and view the recording offline. The recording remains in memory until the browser window is closed.

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Frequently Asked Question

Q. How soon after I register will my courses appear on COLWeb?
A . It takes about 24 hours for the COLWeb database to reflect new registrations. If it has been more than 24 hours since you registered and you don't see your course listed under the Select a Course menu in the top right corner of the COLWeb screen, please submit an error report through the COLSupport website.
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Technical Support

If you have a technical difficulty, we ask that you use the error submission system available on the COLSupport website. This system gives us additional information about your computer, and allows us to better track your problem.


Your Online Learning Accounts and Credentials

Login Credentials

You will log into Course OnLine using your DePaul Campus Connection username and password. You should be welcomed by name upon entering the system. 

If you indicated on your application your intention to be an online student, you should have recieved your login credentials in the mail after you were admitted. If you do not have this information and you are an undergraduate or local student, you may pick up your login information at one of the ID Services offices on any DePaul campus.
Remote students should e-mail CDM Admissions to find out the status of their ID Letter. If you have not received your Campus Connection credentials in time for you to register for class, you should contact CDM Advising for assistance.

If you become locked out of Campus Connection, you should reset your password using the forgotten password tool on the login page of Campus Connection. You can also call the University's Help Desk at (312) 362-8765 to have the password reset. The Help Desk can only help with University IT services such as Campus Connection. 
COLPlayer and COLWeb are maintained by the School of CDM and problems with these systems should be submitted through the error reporting system on the COLSupport website.


Changing Your E-mail Address

Any changes to your e-mail address or other demographic information should be made in Campus Connection.


Exam Policies and Procedures

Online Learning students should examine the course syllabus to find exams, dates and the instructors policy on make-up exams. Read CDM's Exam Policies for Online Course.


Scheduling a Local Exam

Students located in the following Illinois counties are considered local and are expected to come to DePaul campus to take any exams required by the course:

• Cook County
• Lake County
• DuPage County
• McHenry County
• Kane County

An exam scheduling system is available in COL for scheduling exams. When your instructor enters the exam name and dates into the system, you will recieve email notification that you should sign up for an exam time. Students can usually sign up to take the exam with the regular class or at regularly schedule times at the loop, O'Hare, Rolling Meadows, Naperville or Oak Forest campuses. An unofficial schedule of exam appointments is available here. Official times can be found on COLWeb under exam scheduling.

Once you sign up for an exam, your ability to cancel and reschedule is limited. We encourage you make sure you are available when you sign up for a test.

Note: You will receive more information on exams prior to the start of midterms.


Scheduling a Remote Exam

A proctor is an impartial monitor who administers a student's exam and ensures the security and integrity of the exam process. If you live outside the Chicagoland area, it is your responsibility to secure an acceptable proctor to administer your OL exams. It's a good idea to find a proctor before you register for your first course.

Please be aware that you may be charge a fee by your proctor. You are also responsible for any costs incurred with the administration of your exam, including postage to return the exam. Fees vary, and only your proctor can provide specific charges.

A system for scheduling exams is available on COLWeb. When your instructor enters the exam name and dates into the system, you will receieve e-mail notification that you should sign up for the exam. First, contact your proctor to confirm that they can administer the exam on the day you need to take it. Then, register for your exam in COL. When you register, you will be prompted to enter all of the contact information for your proctor.

Note: You will be expected to take the exam on the schedule provided by your instructor.


Finding a Proctor

To begin your search, explore the links below. These website may be able to provide contact information for appropriate local organizations.

1. National College Testing Association
2. Worldwide Public and Academic Libraries
3. Sylvan Learning Centers

Then contact your local library, community college or university or, if you are in the military, contact your education officer. If you are unable to find a proctor in your area, please contact OL Staff for advice and further assistance.


Standards of Acceptability

A proctor must be completely impartial and able to uphold DePaul University's Academic Integrity Policy. The proctor must also be able to return the completed exam to CDM in a timely manner. We expect proctors to fax a copy of the exam to our toll-free fax number within a short time after completion. We will not accept proctors who are unable to return exams via fax.


Acceptable proctors include:

• A librarian at an academic or public libarary
• Testing centers at 2 or 4 year colleges and universities
• Faculty or staff members at a local university or community college
• Commercial learning/tutoring centers (i.e. Sylvan Learning Center)
• A Learning Center or officer of higher rank, if in the military
• Corporate education centers
  

Proctors are unacceptable if they are:

• Relatives
• Friends
• Neighbors
• Co-workers or supervisors
• Staff members or clergy at a place of worship

Note: Exams may not take place at a private residence.


Proctor Responsibilities

We will provide the exam and instructions to the proctor via email. When you arrive for the exam, the proctor should:

• Check your picture ID
• Provide a secure, quiet space for you to take their exam
• Explain the rules and instructions provided
• Ensure that you follow the exam rules. You may not use anything for the exam that is explicitly allowed in the instructions (such as books, notes, or electronic devices, and
• Collect the completed exam.

Immediately after the exam is completed the proctor should fax the exam to our toll free number then return the original via US mail in an institution envelope.

More detailed instructions will be provided to proctors prior to the exam.


Important Contacts and Resources

The following resources may be useful to you as you complete your Online Learning course. For course-specific information, see your course syllabus or contact your instructor. 

• COL - For questions and issues relating to the Course OnLine System, check the information on this website or use the search or error reporting function on the COLSupport website. 
  
  
• Exam Scheduling - For exam scheduling questions and issues:
  Call (312) 362-5243 or e-mail the OL Staff
  
  
• Advising - The advising team will help with general information and advising:
  Call (312) 362-8633 or e-mail CDM Advising.
  
  
• Admissions - The office of admissions answers questions for prospective students:
  Call (312) 362-8714 or e-mail CDM Admissions.
  
  
• DePaul's Virtual Bookstore - Online students can search by course and order required books through DePaul's bookstore for online and suburban campus students.
  
  
• Academic Calendar - For important academic dates like Add and Drop Dates, Holidays, etc 
  
  
• Tutoring Services - CDM tutors can be visited on campus or can communicate with you via phone or e-mail. For more information visit the website.