Open University

The Open University Program provides an opportunity for students who have not been admitted to the university, or who have been denied admission or academically disqualified, to enroll in online state-support courses, based on faculty permission and space availability. This program is not intended for degree-seeking students and does not meet financial aid requirements. Open University is not available if you are eligible to enroll as a state-support student, or if you are a non-resident of California who was enrolled for the previous term as a regular matriculated student. If you are enrolled as an Open University student and decide to apply for admission to CSU, Chico, you must meet all regular admissions requirements.

Permission of the instructor is required to register as an Open University student. For off-campus students, Continuing Education will check space availability and request the faculty permission for you. Other criteria may be established by the department or college. If more information is needed, Continuing Education will contact you. Adding courses after the registration deadline requires the permissions of the instructor, department chair, and college dean. Any debts to the University or registration holds must be resolved before registration can take place. Student ID cards will be mailed to you once your registration is complete. For more details concerning refund policy, unit load, and student health services, please read below.

Step 1. Talk to an Advisor
It is strongly recommended that you talk to an advisor before attempting to register for any classes.

Step 2. Request your Course(s) to begin the Registration Process

Please complete and submit your fall 2012 course request between the dates of 8/6/2012 and 9/21/2012. During this time period we only are able to process requests for the fall 2012 semester. Fall classes begin 8/27/2012.

If today's date falls between the dates stated above, you must use the Open University request form and add courses from the list provided for fall 2012. Access to this form will be opened at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, August 6, 2012. The courses listed are those for which the instructor has given advance permission to enroll Open University students and for which there is still space available. Requests are honored in the order they are received. Students granted permission to enroll must pay the entire course fee before accessing the online course materials.

Step 3: Space Availability and Faculty Permission
Before the Open University registration period begins, the Continuing Education staff will check each online course to see if there is space available and, if so, will seek the instructor's permission for you. If the instructor allows Open University enrollments and you do not have any University holds on your record, you will be notified by email that you are eligible to take the course. Your payment will be requested at that time by Visa, MasterCard, or check. Payment must be received before your registration can be processed. If you choose to pay by check, we cannot process your registration until your check arrives at the Continuing Education Office.

Step 4: Registration/Fee Payment
The final deadline for payment of Open University fees is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 21, 2012, for any online classes offered during the fall 2012 semester. Fees are expected to be approximately $280 per unit. Any debts to the university or registration holds must be resolved before registration can be completed.

Late Adds
Classes added after Friday, September 21, 2012, require: (1) approval of the instructor, the department chair, and the college dean; (2) a "serious and compelling reason"; and (3) a $10 late fee per class. Contact Continuing Education as soon as possible at 530-898-6105 to add a course after the September 21 deadline.

Step 5: Student Identification (ID) Card:
You will receive an off-campus student ID card within 3 weeks of registering for your online course if you haven't already been issued one. This ID entitles you to a number of services on the CSU, Chico campus, such as library privileges and WildcatMail (e-mail account).

Step 6: How do I Access my Online Class?
Go to the Portal Account Tools web page. You will set up your Portal account using your 9-digit student ID number (which will be on your enrollment verification form) and your date of birth. Once you have established your Portal account, the Portal will automatically provide you with access to the courses in which you are enrolled the (access connection takes one to two business days after enrollment). First, click on "WebCT Vista" under Online Course Resources. If you have any problems using the portal, just use the toll-free number for Student Computing help, 1-800-780-4837 (select option 3), and the technical staff there will help you. Many instructors should have instructional materials available starting one week prior to the start of the semester.

Step 7: Be Prepared for Class:
If a syllabus is posted, review the course outline and booklist. Starting approximately three weeks before classes start, you can purchase your books online through the Chico State Wildcat Store.

Disqualified Students and/or Students Who Have Been Denied Admission

If you have been disqualified and/or denied admission at CSU, Chico you will need the permission of the instructor, the department chair, and the undergraduate advising office in order to enroll. This permission is obtained by on-campus students via signatures on a Change of Program (COP) form. However, as a courtesy to online distance students, Continuing Education staff will request the permissions required via email.

Refund and Drop Policy

A 65% refund (minus $10) will be granted to those students who have faculty permission to drop by the fourth Friday of the semester -- for fall 2012, this is Friday, September 21, 2012. A request to drop, including the instructor's permission, must reach the Center for Regional and Continuing Education (e-mail or call 530-898-6105) no later than 5:00 p.m. on September 21, 2012. No refund will be granted after that date. At your request, Continuing Education staff will request faculty approval for you to drop. If the instructor gives permission, staff will drop you and request a refund, if dropped by the refund deadline. After the fourth Friday of the semester additional approvals of the department chair and college dean are required in order to drop a class, as well as "a serious and compelling reason." Continuing Education will request these additional approvals and let you know if the drop was approved. Drop requests received before the first day of class will receive a full refund, minus a $10 processing fee.

Maximum Units Toward a Degree

The maximum amount of Open University units which may be applied toward an undergraduate (B.A. or B.S.) degree is 24 units. The maximum number of units which may be applied toward a masters degree is 9 units. If you are planning to pursue a master's degree, please refer to the department office of the appropriate major for the unit limit. Note: Master's Study (699) courses cannot be taken through Open University.

Student Health Services

If you are an Open University student taking 6 or more units you may have access to Student Health Services for $120 per semester. You may pay by calling Contining Education at (530) 898-6105. The deadline for paying the Student Health Fee for fall 2012 is September 21, 2012 (the fourth Friday of each semester).

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