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Student Handbook

How Flexible Learning Works

1. Browse our Course Listings

Review our list of College or Professional courses. Each listing includes:

  • a course description
  • the number of lessons and exams
  • the cost of enrollment
  • the cost of the course textbooks
  • a sample of what the course Study Guide will look like.

If you have any questions, review our list of FAQs or contact our office via phone (1-800-327-4218) or on our website.

Note: Please review Important Dates for our College Courses and information on Proctored Exams.

2. Register

There are four ways in which to register in a Flexible Learning distance education course:

  • Complete our online application and submit electronically
  • Print out an application form, complete, and submit via fax or mail
  • Call our office (1-800-327-4218) to register over the phone
  • Visit our office (2209 NW 13th St. Suite D, Gainesville, FL 32609) to enroll in person

Note: In order to ensure that you receive credit toward your major for this distance learning course, we encourage you to consult with an academic advisor from your institution. University of Florida students must obtain approval from either the Academic Advisement Center or your departmental advisor prior to registering for Flexible Learning courses. The Division of Continuing Education is not responsible for ensuring that the credit you receive is transferable or applicable toward your degree program.

3. Begin the Course

After enrolling in a Flexible Learning distance eductaion course, you will receive a course Study Guide and the course textbooks (if you chose to purchase them from our office). Sample Study Guides can be viewed for each course in our college catalog and our Insurance Pre-licensing, Legal Assistant, and Water Management professional programs. You will also be able to access the official course Study Guide via our Online Services as soon as your registration is accepted.

The course Study Guide contains written assignments that you will submit to our office as you work through the course. Those written assignments will be forwarded to your instructor for grading and then returned to you. In general, written assignments may be submitted one of four ways:

Your course may require you to schedule Proctored Examinations. Your proctor will return the completed exam directly to our office.

Read the Study Guide for your course carefully to determine how each Written Assignment should be submitted and each Examination taken. More detailed information is also available on our How to Submit Written Assignments page.

Note: Most distance learning courses contain a limit on how many written assignments may be submitted each week. Please review the Important Dates for our College Courses.

4. Complete the Course
After you have submitted and received a grade for every written assignment and examination in the Flexible Learning course (or after the approved time for you to finish the course has passed), your instructor will assign a final grade. Your grade will automatically be sent to the University of Florida Registrar. If you are not a University of Florida student, you may complete a Transcript Request Form (PDF) (also located in the Study Guide) to have the grade sent to your institution.
 

Course Extension Policy: Once registered, you have 16 weeks to complete the course; an additional 16-week extension is automatically granted resulting in 32 weeks to complete the course.  If the course is not completed in 32 weeks, an “E” grade is posted on your transcript. If you have made significant academic progress (i.e., completion of 50% or more of the course with passing grades), you may request a final extension from the instructor. If granted, you must contact our office to pay the $100 extension fee and receive the FINAL 16-week extension for a total of 48 weeks. Please note that your course grade will be posted on the 48-week expiration date. If there are extenuating circumstances (e.g., medical) preventing completion of the course in 48 weeks, the student must contact DCE - Flexible Learning to request additional time, and must supply documentation of the circumstance preventing completion of the course.