Online learning is breaking down barriers of time and space, and providing students with flexible learning opportunities to access the education offered at Illinois Tech, Chicago's only tech-focused university. However, flexibility does not mean less rigorous or less demanding. Coursework is still expected to be completed in accordance with faculty deadlines and the university’s academic calendar. In many ways, online college courses can be more difficult than their traditional counterparts. The online environment is not for everyone. Several online-learning advocacy groups have developed a list of questions to consider when choosing an online program that is right for you.
While many of the skills demanded by online or other distance-education courses are the same as those for live, face-to-face courses, certain skills seem to improve online students' success and overall satisfaction with an online course or program, including:
- Self-Discipline: The academic calendar is the same—and it moves quickly. We encourage students to keep up with lectures and required readings, per the course syllabus. However, without that live lecture to attend each week, online students can easily forget to “attend class” or put it off for later.
- Time Management: Online students can be distracted by many other things going on in their busy lives; study time should be scheduled, just like any other important activity.
- Communication: Sometimes it can seem like an online student is all alone; use the communication tools available to contact faculty and other students. Reach out and contact support staff when you need additional assistance.
- Initiative: Being an online student is not a passive exercise. To be successful, online students must take a proactive approach to their learning and support. Faculty and staff are often available to assist.
If online learning meets your needs and suits your style, consider enrolling at Illinois Tech. Visit our admission site for details.
The Center for Learning Innovation provides assistance with the delivery of course material and exams, exam/proctor coordination, delivering incoming material to instructors, and returning graded course material to students.
| Technical Issues with Blackboard | Exams and Exam Proctors |
| Admission, Registration, and Enrollment | Student Relations and University Services |
| Courses and Participation | Commencement |
| Tuition and Costs | Alumni |
Technical Issues with Blackboard
Support Desk
Phone: 312.567.3375
On Campus: x7Desk
Email: supportdesk@iit.edu
Admission, Registration, and Enrollment
How do I apply for admission?
For information, visit the graduate admission site.
If I am not interested in a degree but want to take individual courses, do I have to apply for admission?
Graduate students may apply for admission as non-degree seeking and take any number of courses—but no more than 6 credit hours obtained in this status may be applied to a graduate degree or certificate program. Professional learning students do not have to be admitted to the university. Degree-seeking online learning students must apply for admission before they can register for a course.
What are the requirements for international students applying to Illinois Tech for distance education programs?
International students should consult the graduate admission page for international students for complete details.
As a distance education student, will I work with an adviser?
In many cases an academic adviser is assigned and noted in the admissions letter to the student. If not, contact the academic department and ask to speak to an adviser. All students are assigned academic advisers. Policies of academic departments may differ. Students should contact the academic department of interest and ask to speak to an academic adviser.
How much are tuition and fees?
Information about tuition and fees can be located on the Office of Financial Aid website.
What is a Program of Study Form, and where do I get one?
All graduate degree-seeking students must complete a Program of Study Form. Contact your graduate academic adviser for instructions on submitting your program of study.
How do I determine which courses to take?
Contact the academic department of interest and ask to speak to an academic adviser for assistance selecting appropriate courses. If you are admitted, you can find advising information and next steps on your admission letter.
How do I register for courses?
Course registration can be completed only after official admission is confirmed. Registration can be completed in the Illinois Tech Portal, click here. In many cases, the academic adviser approves registration for graduate students to ensure that prerequisites have been met for specific courses.
Courses and Participation
Can I take online courses anywhere in the world?
Online courses are available to any Illinois Tech student anywhere in the world. International students may be admitted to online programs contingent upon admission rules as administered by the Office of Graduate Admission. There are international locations where students may participate in internet courses and receive local support.
Can I take online courses at my own pace?
No. All online courses are paced on a semester or quarter basis. Internet lectures can be viewed 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the term.
How do I obtain course materials?
Many instructors will post course materials on Blackboard, or the instructor will provide a website from which course material can be downloaded. Assigned textbooks may be ordered through the Illinois Tech's Virtual Bookstore.
How will I interact with the instructor and/or other students?
Course instructors will provide their contact information and email address. Interaction with other online learning students takes place over Blackboard, including chat rooms and other interactive resources. Faculty may also use other online tools.
If I am an online student, will I ever have to travel to campus?
Most online courses do not require travel to campus. Illinois Tech students are located all over the world. Local students enrolled in internet sections may be required to travel to campus for labs on-campus, or for exams, if required by the instructor.
Some programs may require a physical presence at an Illinois Tech campus or another specific location, such as an offsite laboratory or facility. Please consult the individual program description for any special requirements regarding mandatory physical presence for participation.
May I attend campus for live courses?
Students are expected to participate in the course via the manner in which they officially registered, unless otherwise instructed by the instructor. If a student wants to attend a specific live section of the course, they should request permission from the instructor in advance to insure that space is available.
Can I download lecture videos?
At this time Illinois Tech offers lectures as streamed content and does not support downloading.
Tuition and Costs
Are there extra costs associated with online courses?
There are no additional fees for online courses. If third party testing centers or online proctors such as Proctor U are used to proctor exams, there may be additional fees associated with proctoring exams that are paid directly to the provider. For detailed information on tuition and fees, visit the Office of Financial Aid website.
Can I apply for financial aid?
Students associated with Illinois Tech's online offerings are considered Illinois Tech students, so interested candidates should follow regular procedures and apply through the Office of Financial Aid.
Exams and Exam Proctors
Do I need to contact anyone to arrange for a proctor?
Students need to contact the Center for Learning Innovation to confirm a testing location or proctor availability. Exams outside of the Chicago area are typically administered at community college testing centers. Exams within the Chicago area are typically administered on Mies Campus, Rice Campus, or Moffett Campus. At locations outside of the United States, the online staff will work with the student to identify an acceptable testing location. Note: There may be additional fees associated with proctoring exams that are paid directly to third-party testing locations or online proctors.
Student Relations and University Services
Who provides support services to online learning students?
The Center for Learning Innovation provides assistance with delivery of course material and exams, exam/proctor coordination, delivering incoming material to instructors, and returning graded course material to students.
How do I get a student ID?
All officially enrolled online learning students may request an ID card. Send an email to hawkcard@iit.edu to request an ID card, and one will be mailed to you.
How do I get an email address?
Email account information is located in the new student computing guide.
Are library resources available to online learning students?
Absolutely. Visit the Paul V. Galvin Library website for information about electronic resources and library policies. Illinois Tech has a distance learning librarian and services, which can be found on the Galvin Library website.
Are computing resources available to online learning students?
Online students have access to the following computing resources: computer classrooms, computer hardware, and computer software. For more information on computing services, visit the Office of Technology Services. Access to online courses is provided through the Blackboard course management system, which is available via the Illinois Tech Portal. The course instructor identifies the specific resources required for each course in the syllabus.
As a student with a disability who is taking online learning courses, am I eligible for accommodations?
Students with disabilities enrolled in online courses are eligible for accommodations. In order to receive accommodations for a disability, please contact the Center for Disability Resources at disabilities@iit.edu or at 312.567.5744. You will need to submit documentation of your disability and speak with a staff member in the Center for Disability Resources to determine what accommodations are appropriate. Advance planning is critical to ensuring that accommodations are provided in a timely manner.
Commencement
Where can I get more information about commencement requirements?
Learn more about the requirements for graduation on the Undergraduate Academic Affairs website and the Graduate Academic Affairs website.
Alumni
Are there any benefits for alumni?
Yes! Graduates of programs offered through the Center for Learning Innovation belong to the larger network of Illinois Tech alumni worldwide. Connect through the Illinois Tech Alumni Association website.
Requirements for taking an Illinois Tech course online include:
- HTML5 Compatible Browser. Recommended browsers: latest Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer, Edge, and Safari. If you want to use other browsers, be sure it is HTML5 compliant and test it
- Javascript enabled
- Verify that browser plug-ins, add-ons, and extensions—in particular those designed to block scripts and ads—do not interfere with Center for Learning Innovation pages.
Please Note: Actual lectures are longer than the test clips, so your actual viewing experience may vary, depending on additional factors like buffering times.
Still, having trouble?
If you are unable to resolve your issues, and you are doing all of the above, contact the Support Desk. The Support Desk will work with you to troubleshoot any technical problems you may experience. You can contact that at supportdesk@iit.edu; at 312.567.3375; or by visiting the Office of Technology Services portal site or by submitting a ticket through the Illinois Tech Portal.