Overview
During the 2024-2025 academic year, Bentley is embarking on a pilot program to give qualifying undergraduate students the option to take one course in the asynchronous online modality during the Fall and Spring semesters as part of their regular course load. These classes are developed and taught by the same Bentley faculty who teach face-to-face courses. This pilot is intentionally designed to provide students with additional flexibility by taking a course that offers more options to organize their busy days, while maintaining the exceptional learning experience they have come to expect at Bentley. If the pilot proves successful, the asynchronous online in-semester option may become a more permanent option.
Who is eligible?
In the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 terms, undergraduate students, other than exchange students and those participating in study abroad programs, may enroll in one asynchronous online course each semester, if they meet one of the following eligibility criteria:
- Students admitted to Bentley as first-time, first-year students who have attended Bentley for at least two semesters and have a class standing of second-year or higher, as defined in Workday Student, in the fall or spring term in which they take an asynchronous online course, or
- Transfer students who have a class standing of second-year or higher, as defined in Workday Student.
What to Expect
Courses in the asynchronous online modality do not require students to be in a specific place at a specific time. For the most part, coursework can be done at a time and pace most convenient for the student.
Courses will be formatted in a 12-week length, so coursework will end earlier than a typical class would during final exam period.
The Bentley faculty teaching these courses are trained to deliver a high-quality, engaging learning experience with the course commensurate with the high standards we already place on our in-person courses. As a result, the courses are just as rigorous, relevant, and impactful as their in-person counterparts, with the added convenience of flexibility to complete the coursework.
Students should expect to spend a comparable amount of time with their asynchronously delivered course as they do with any other course to ensure comparable learning outcomes. In other words, the asynchronous online courses are no ‘easier’ or ‘harder’ than the in-person equivalents, nor are they less work. In a 12-week course, students should expect to dedicate about 10 hours per week to course learning activities.
Additional Details
It is important to note that as a pilot program, there will initially be a limited number of course and section options. During this pilot program, not all students who qualify are likely to be able to take an asynchronous online course. We will continue to build capacity to offer a broader selection of courses and sections to improve access going forward. It is, however, important to underscore that all eligible students may not be able to take an asynchronous online course in the near term due to the limited availability of asynchronous online course offerings.
How can I enroll in an asynchronous online course?
Courses that are asynchronously delivered do not have an easily identifiable section designator. Rather, there are three ways to determine if a course is delivered asynchronously:
- Course Tag: Filter courses by modality, as “Asynchronous.” This will show a listing of all course/sections that are part of this program.
- Public Notes: When reviewing the course for possible registration, these notes will indicate the course is asynchronously (online) delivered.
- Meeting Patterns: Even though the course will not have any particular meeting time, the course will show a meeting time of Sundays, 12:00am – 12:01am. The course does not actually meet then (or at any particular time). However, in order to load the course into the Workday system a meeting pattern must be created in the system.
I started in Fall 2023 as a First-Year student, but took a leave of absence in the Spring 2024 semester. Am I eligible to take an asynchronous online course in the Fall 2024 semester?
No. Eligible students must have a class standing of second year or higher.
I was admitted as a January Acceptance with a start date of January 2024. Can I enroll in an asynchronous online course in the Fall 2024 semester?
No. As a January 2024 start date, students will be eligible to take in-semester asynchronous online courses two semesters later in the Spring 2025 semester (after the Spring 2024 and Fall 2024 semesters).
Why are First-Year students excluded from taking asynchronous online courses in-semester?
As students who are new to Bentley and college, the focus of their initial year should ideally be learning how to be a college student, creating community, and connecting with peers, faculty and staff in meaningful ways. For this reason, we are limiting these courses to those that have already built those community foundations and college skills.
Do these eligibility rules apply to Winter Session, May Session, or Summer Session asynchronous online courses?
In general, no. The eligibility rules and policies outlined in this document apply specifically to the fall and spring ‘in-semester’ undergraduate asynchronous online course offerings. For ‘off-semester’ asynchronous online course offerings (Winter, May and Summer), there are generally no restrictions on eligibility for taking those courses. However, in some cases, there may be limits on the number of courses that can be taken in a given session, or other policy rules that apply.
I am studying abroad this Fall. Can I still take an asynchronous online course at Bentley during that semester?
No. International Study Abroad students are not eligible to take courses asynchronously at Bentley or elsewhere. This is a policy intended to ensure students studying abroad focus on the academic and cultural enrichment experiences that define the study abroad experience.
I am an exchange student. Can I take an asynchronous online course?
No. Exchange students are not eligible to take courses asynchronously at Bentley. This is a policy intended to ensure exchange students focus on building connections within the classroom and the broader campus community that define the abroad experience.
I am a second-year student that qualifies to take an asynchronous online course, but there are no courses/seats available. Can I be added into a course?
Like other courses, asynchronous online courses can be waitlisted. However, there is no guarantee that a seat will become available. In most cases, adding an additional asynchronous online section is not possible. Due to the currently limited capacity to provide asynchronous online courses and sections at scale, not all students who wish to take an asynchronous online course may be able to find a seat in a suitably desired course.
How long will the Add/Drop period be open for asynchronous online courses?
Starting in Spring 2025, the Add/Drop for the asynchronous online courses is four days.
How long will I have to withdraw from an asynchronous online course?
Students will have until the end of the eighth week to withdraw from their asynchronous online course.
I am a senior and only have three courses left to take, and it would be more convenient to take the remaining courses asynchronously. Can I do that?
No. By policy, undergraduates who qualify may only take one course asynchronously. All other courses must be through the traditional classroom modality regardless of circumstances.
I have a learning disability in which an asynchronous learning environment would be beneficial. Can I take more than the one course limit of asynchronous online courses?
Students with specific learning disability accommodation questions should contact Disability Services.
I am an athlete with a complicated practice schedule that makes it hard to build a course schedule. Can I take more than one asynchronous online course?
No. Students, regardless of circumstances, may only take up to one course asynchronously per semester.
There is a course I need in my major that I need to take, but it is not offered asynchronously. When can I take it asynchronously?
There is currently a limited portfolio of courses that we can offer. In future semesters we will look to increase the variety of course offerings, including some major-specific courses in various disciplines. However, there is no guarantee that a specific course will be available in the asynchronous online format, and not all courses should be expected to be available in an asynchronous online format.
How long do asynchronous online courses run?
Asynchronous online courses run over 12-week terms during fall and spring semester and start at the same time as in-person courses.
How much time should I expect to spend on online coursework?
In a 12-week term, expect to spend up to two hours per day, over five days each week.
When will asynchronous online courses become available?
Courses become available in Brightspace two weeks before the start of the term. Access to weekly materials may be limited and not available until the course start date. The instructor may also stagger availability dates of specific weekly materials and deliverables.
Will there be deadlines, or can I complete the course at my own pace?
Starting in the first week, there will be deliverables due each week. Video or interactive lessons will be posted in Brightspace along with all other assignments and projects. Students will take part in online course discussions, may work on group projects and keep current on assignments through Brightspace. While students have flexibility to schedule themself throughout the week, they must meet regular course assignment deadlines. Group work and planned group meeting times may be required, for which they may have to use Zoom or other virtual meeting tools, or even meet in person.
What if I’m in a different region or country while I’m taking an asynchronous online course?
Students may be traveling or live in an international (non-U.S.) location while taking this online course. It is their responsibility to make sure they have a reliable internet connection and are not restricted in accessing online course sites, including Brightspace and Zoom and any third-party resources the instructor may link to (i.e. YouTube, U.S. Government websites, etc.).
How should I communicate with my instructor for an asynchronous online course?
Their instructor should provide them with contact information and preferred methods of communication. During the fall or spring term, in-person office hours may also be offered.
Whom do I call if I can’t access my online materials?
Students should reach out to their instructor if they don’t see the materials they are looking for. If they have technical issues accessing the materials, they should contact the Bentley Help Desk.
Whom do I call if I’m having a personal emergency?
If students are unable to complete work due to a personal emergency, they should always contact their instructor to let them know. Instructors can provide guidance on how to manage the coursework needs considering the emergency, as well as help direct students to available support resources.
What kind of technology do I need to complete an asynchronous online course at Bentley?
Students must have an internet-connected desktop or laptop computer (PC or Mac). Mobile devices, including tablets (i.e. Surface or iPad) and smartphones, may be used for some course activity, including attending Zoom events, but they are not guaranteed to work for everything. Individual courses may have additional software requirements.
Will my transcript say which courses I took online?
No. Bentley transcripts do not differentiate between online or in-person courses.
How often will I be expected to check in each week?
Instructors will post weekly deliverables. Typically, students should expect to have one or two deliverables each week in a 12-week course. However, this can vary by course.