Assignments  

Assignment Submission Policy
You may generally submit up to two assignments at a time. In order that you may benefit from your course instructor’s comments on each assignment, we strongly recommend that you submit only one assignment at a time throughout a course.

In some courses, you are required to submit one assignment at a time. Assignments submitted beyond the number permitted (either one or two) will be returned to you for resubmission at the proper time.

Please note the following:

• All previous assignments must be graded and posted to your record before additional assignments will be accepted. If received before then, the additional assignments will be returned to you.
• No assignments will be accepted beyond the midterm or other exam until you have taken the midterm or other exam.

Lost Assignments
Unfortunately, assignments can get lost. The Independent Study Program does not take responsibility for lost assignments. If one of your assignments is lost, you may need to resubmit it. It is highly recommended, therefore, that you always make copies of assignments before you submit them and keep the copies on file.

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How to Submit Assignments

Online If you are registered for an online course, you will submit your assignments by uploading them directly to our server. Since the nature of assignments varies by course, be sure to carefully follow the individualized instructions for Saving and Submitting Your Assignment described in each course.

By Email (correspondence course)

1. Contact the Independent Study Program first to find out if your instructor accepts email assignments. (If your instructor does not accept them and you email your assignment, it will be returned to you ungraded.)
2. Send all email assignments to istudy@indiana.edu .
3. List your course and lesson number in the subject area like this: Math X101, Lesson 1
4. Type your full name, followed by your UID number, on the first line of your message like this: John Smith, 999999.
5. Skip two lines, then start your assignment. We recommend that you check with your instructor before including attachments. Even if your instructor allows attachments, your course, lesson number, and name, as well as your UID number, must appear in the main message, or we will be unable to process your assignment. Also include your name and UID number on all attachments.
6. Never send your assignments directly to your instructor or “cc” your instructor on your submissions. Always use the istudy@indiana.edu address.
7. Always keep a copy of your assignment. Computers crash and even email gets lost sometimes.
8. Please do not submit more than one assignment per email message. Even if you are eligible to submit two assignments at the same time, each must be submitted in a separate email.

By Mail (correspondence course)
To submit assignments by mail, follow these four steps:

1. Tear out an assignment cover sheet from the course learning guide. Fill out the information requested on the cover sheet. Be sure to include your questions or comments for your instructor.
2. Attach to the assignment cover sheet a lesson label with the same lesson number as the assignment.
3. Put the assignment cover sheet on top of the assignment and fold the cover sheet and assignment so that your address and the lesson label show. If you’re submitting more than one assignment at a time (see Assignment Submission Policy), each assignment must have a separate cover sheet. Do not fold two lessons’ assignments together.
4. Place the assignment in the lesson envelope so that the assignment cover sheet shows. Affix the correct postage and mail your assignment right away.

By Fax (correspondence course)
If your assignment does not include CDs, you can fax the assignment to us.

1. Faxed assignments must be typed or neatly written in black ink with a medium-point pen. Colored pages must be copied onto white paper before they are faxed.
2. Tear out an assignment cover sheet from the course learning guide. Fill out the information requested on the cover sheet. Be sure to include questions or comments you have for your instructor.
3. Attach to the assignment cover sheet a lesson label with the same lesson number as the assignment.
   Important: If you are submitting more than one assignment at a time (see Assignment Submission Policy), each assignment must have a separate cover sheet.
4. Include a fax cover sheet with the following information: your name and phone number, your UID number, the course number, the lesson number(s), and the number of pages being faxed.
5. Fax your assignment to 812.855.8680.

Do not mail us the assignment after faxing it to us. Please wait at least 24 hours if you wish to call and verify that we have received the assignment. If we are unable to read your faxed assignment or do not receive it in full, we’ll contact you and request that you resubmit the assignment.

In Person (correspondence course)
If you live near the Indiana University Bloomington campus, you may place your assignments in the lesson drop box located outside Owen Hall 001. Assignments deposited in the drop box are picked up daily and require no postage.

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What Happens after You Submit an Assignment?

 An assignment makes a few stops from the time you submit it to the time it is returned to you.

1. You upload, mail, fax, email, or drop off your assignment to us.
2. We record the assignment’s receipt and forward it to your course instructor. In online courses, it is sent to us and your instructor simultaneously.
3. Your instructor grades the assignment.
4. Your instructor posts your grade, along with general comments about your assignment, to your Course in Progress screen in Dragon. In online courses, your instructor uploads your graded assignment, along with detailed comments, back to the server. In correspondence courses, we mail your assignment, along with detailed comments, back to you.

When Will You Receive Your Assignment Grade?  

Generally, the grade for a correspondence assignment sent by postal mail will be posted to your Course in Progress screen within 14 calendar days of our receiving the assignment in our office.

Your grade for an assignment sent via the Internet (for Web courses) will usually be posted to your Course in Progress screen within seven calendar days of when it is submitted to your instructor.

If you have not received your grade within these allotted times, first contact your instructor to make sure he or she received and graded the assignment. Then you may submit up to two additional assignments (see Assignment Submission Policy).

Please contact us at 800.334.1011 if there is a consistent and considerable delay in the return of your assignments.

Important: Our peak grading periods are the weeks directly preceding graduations (May, August, and December). During these periods, please allow additional time for us to grade and process your assignments.

Important: Your assignments must be processed through the Independent Study Program office to be entered into your student record. Never send your assignments directly to your instructor.

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