General Frequently Asked Questions

Tuition

University Courses

Online Courses**

$173 per credit

Special Enrollment

$266 per credit

High School Courses

Teacher-Led Courses

$243 per half credit

Online Courses

$140 per half credit

Paper Courses

$150 per half credit

Best Value Courses

$50 per half credit

Quarter-credit Courses

$92 per half credit

University Courses

Brigham young University Students

If you are a Brigham Young University student, your BYU Independent Study course(s) are not included with your on-campus tuition and do not count toward full-time enrollment status.

Additional expenses

Textbooks and other supplemental materials are required for some courses and are not included in the course tuition. You must purchase these items separately.

Printed Course Readings

For most courses, a printed copy of the course readings is available for $10. You can, however, print these same materials yourself when you are logged into your course. Please note that the printed guide does not include textbook material, exams, quizzes, or any information found on external links within your course. Allow 7–10 business days for delivery.

Course Material Express Mail Service

• $20 per shipment

We ship all course materials through Standard United States Mail, which can take up to 7–10 business days. If you prefer, you may upgrade to Express Mail service. Express Mail shipping request deadlines and delivery days are below.

Date and time requested	Arrival day**
Monday–Thursday before noon	Next business day
Thursday after noon	Monday
Friday before noon	Monday
Friday after noon	Tuesday

  ** All times are mountain time. Excludes holidays and some remote areas.

Course Withdrawal/Refund

You may withdraw from your course at any time as long as you have not completed it or requested the final exam. If you withdraw from a course within 60 days of your registration date, you will receive a refund minus the withdrawal processing fee. After 60 days, no refunds will be granted.

Withdrawal Processing Fees:

• $20 per high school or middle school course
• $20 per university credit hour
  (i.e., a 3.0-credit course would be 3 X $20 = $60)

Assignment Resubmissions

• $10 per assignment

Most courses will allow you to resubmit an assignment once. This option is not available for all courses. Such restrictions are noted in the course syllabus.

Exam Retake

• $15 per exam

Most courses will allow you to resubmit an assignment once. This option is not available for all courses. Such restrictions are noted in the course syllabus.

Exam Express Mail Service

• $20 per shipment

We ship all exams to locations within the United States through Standard United States Mail to your designated BYU Independent Study-approved proctor or testing center. This can take up to 7–10 business days. You may upgrade to Express Mail service to available locations within the United States. See the shipping request deadlines and delivery days below.

Date and time requested	Arrival day**
Monday–Thursday before noon	Next business day
Thursday after noon	Monday
Friday before noon	Monday
Friday after noon	Tuesday

  ** All times are mountain time. Excludes holidays and some remote areas.

Exam Two-Way Express Mail Service

• $30 per shipment

We can ship your exam via Express Mail and also provide you with a prepaid Express Mail return envelope. This service is only available for exams taken in the United States.

Course Deadline Extension

• $20 per course

If you are unable to complete your course by the expiration date, you may request one three-month extension. This option is not available for all courses. No second extensions are available.

International Mail Service

• $20 per shipment

An additional $20 international mail service fee will be charged for any materials, including exams, shipped outside the United States.

Transcripts

For more information on transcripts click here.

Brigham Young University Students

You may apply your financial aid only toward university courses. If you are a full-time Brigham Young University student, you may apply for financial aid through the University’s Financial Aid Office at A-41 ASB. Contact the BYU campus Financial Aid Office at 801-422-4104 to see if you are eligible for financial aid.

Other University Students

If you are a student at another institution, you are ineligible for financial aid from Brigham Young University. You should contact your own institution for information on financial aid.

Brigham Young University Students

Brigham Young University day students can use federal aid to enroll in our university courses. They should contact the BYU Financial Aid office at 801-422-4104 for further information.

University Students Not Enrolled at Brigham Young University

High School Courses

We offer limited scholarship opportunities to students who wish to enroll in our high school courses. Please check with your high school counselor to see if scholarships are available for your school. See our High School Scholarship Program page for more information.

 

1. You must have internet access to complete our courses.
2. You don’t need to be admitted to Brigham Young University to take our courses.
3. Enrollment in our courses does not constitute admission to Brigham Young University.
4. Most of our courses are secular in nature; your religious affiliation is irrelevant to your enrollment and participation in these courses.
5. Due to the nature of distance education, we cannot provide you with an official status as either part-time or full-time student.
6. There is no minimum or maximum age requirement for enrollment; however, we recommend that you do not register for high school courses before the age of 12 due to their rigorous nature.
7. Our courses are designed for the same study time as a university, high school, or middle school semester, term, or quarter.
8. We recommend carefully considering your current workload, commitments, and other activities before registering for multiple courses.

Please review the full description and pertinent information for each course you may want to take. Carefully consider the following:

• After reviewing the course syllabus, are you comfortable that the course content will meet your needs?
• After reviewing the course notes, are there any special requirements you will need to meet to successfully complete the course?
• Are there any deadlines or assignment submission requirements unique to this course that would prevent you from completing it on time? (Speedback assignments are graded quickly, but instructor-graded assignments may take up to two weeks to be graded.)
• Are there additional materials or textbooks you will need to purchase for the course?
• If the course has unique computer requirements, are these available to you?

Confirm That Your School Will Accept Our Courses as Transfer Credit

Always confirm with your counselor or academic advisor that our course credit will be accepted by your school. Our courses are fully accredited, making them easily transferable to most educational institutions. Your counselor or academic advisor may want to review our accreditation status to be satisfied that our courses can be accepted for credit. To meet the highest standards of accreditation, we require all exams to be administered by BYU Independent Study-approved proctors and testing centers.

Your counselor or academic advisor is welcome to review any of our courses to verify that they satisfy your school’s curriculum standards. For a complete course preview, your counselor or academic advisor can contact us by calling 1-800-259-0172, e-mailing us at edsupport@byu.edu, or by filling out a course preview request.

Accreditation Facts:

• Our accreditation sources are reciprocal with all other area accreditation agencies across the country, making them generally transferable to almost all educational institutions.
• Brigham Young University has been accredited as an educational institution since 1923 by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
• BYU Independent Study high school courses have been accredited since 1966 by the Northwest Accreditation Commissions (NWAC), a division of AdvancEd, and since 2008 by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC).

Understanding Our Course Descriptions

It is important to understand all the information in the course description before you register.
Description: The brief description will give you an idea of the course subject and the kind of assignments and exams required. Computer-graded (Speedback) assignments are graded quickly, but instructor-graded assignments may take up to two weeks to be graded.
Prerequisite: Your instructor will expect you to have already mastered the subject matter listed as a prerequisite.
Note: Some courses have specific requirements or restrictions that you should understand before you enroll and keep in mind as you complete the course.
Instructor: Our courses are taught by certified instructors who love teaching and want each student to succeed.
Credits: Our course credits are comparable to those you would earn for a university, high school, or middle school semester-length course.
Tuition: The amount of course tuition is determined by the course type and number of credit hours; however, a few courses have supplementary material fees added.
Texts: Some courses require you to purchase textbook(s). It is important that you buy the specific edition of the textbook indicated. Some courses list optional texts, which are books you will find helpful but that are not required to complete the course.

Understanding What Computer Access You Need

Our Online andTeacher-Led courses require computer and Internet access. Specific computer requirements are noted in course descriptions.

System Requirements:
Our courses work best with the following browsers, which can be downloaded free of charge. If your computer system can run the latest version of these browsers, we strongly encourage you to upgrade your browser before continuing with the course.

• Firefox
• Chrome
• Safari
• Internet Explorer

Different courses may require specific software packages. The most common software you may need to have installed includes:

• Adobe Flash Player
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• QuickTime Player

Please check each individual course on its course description page in the online catalog to see if there are additional software requirements specific to that course.

Understanding What Skills Are Required

You must be able to use the computer keyboard and mouse for basic navigation and to interact with the quizzes and media in an online course. Basic familiarity with browsers, e-mail, and word processing programs may be required to successfully complete our online courses. Internet access is also required.

Some online courses may require a variety of additional skills. Some instructors require you to make and submit audio or video files. Some courses require you to take an image of a project and submit it to be graded. Many courses require you to understand how to create and upload a document such as a .doc or an .rtf file. Therefore, basic understanding of computer programs such as spreadsheets, presentation programs, audio or video creation or editing software, image editing software, and so forth, is also very helpful. Not all courses will require knowledge of all these types of programs. If you are concerned about the technical demands for a particular course, please review the syllabus for that course to determine what is required.

You may register for a course anytime during the year. Registration is available by the following methods:

Online

• Register anytime by using our Online Course Catalog

By mail

• Print off the Registration Form
• Fill out the form and send with a check payable to BYU Independent Study to the following address:
  
  BYU Independent Study
  120 Morris Center (MORC)
  Provo, UT 84602-0300

In person

• BYU Independent Study
  Brigham Young University Campus
  Morris Center (MORC) Registration Desk
  Provo, Utah
• Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  mountain time

By phone

• 1-877-221-6716
• Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  mountain time

You will need to provide the following information when you register for a course:

• Name
• Phone number
• E-mail address (if you have one)
• Complete course title(s), i.e., Modern Art – ARTHC 350
• Mailing address*
• Date of birth
• Gender
• High school’s name and/or ACT code** (for middle and high school students who want their academic records available to their school)

Payment

You may pay for a course using the following methods:

• Cash
• Debit or credit card
• Check payable to BYU Independent Study
• Money order

* Please include post office box and street addresses, apartment numbers; complete APO address and postal code if you live on a military base; and foreign postal code if you live outside the United States. **By supplying your school’s name and/or ACT code, you are giving us permission (under FERPA) to inform your school of your course activity and grades, and to send it a course completion notice

 

Know Course Policies

Every educational institution has specific policies and procedures to ensure an optimal learning experience for students. We strongly recommend that you understand all our course policies before you begin your course. Our policies and procedures are outlined on our website on the Course Policies page.

Read Course Syllabus

Each course instructor has specific requirements to ensure an optimal learning experience for students. These requirements are included in the course syllabus online or your printed course packet if you are enrolled in a Paper/Online course.

Understand How Your Course Works

Each course is divided into multiple lessons with clearly defined objectives. Many of our courses are designed with a variety of multimedia learning activities. Lessons may include reading, watching videos, playing games, experiencing simulations and interactive labs, enjoying animations, browsing designated websites, writing assignments, and completing multiple-choice and true/false quizzes. Most lessons conclude with an instructor-graded or Speedback (computer-graded) assignment. Courses may have midcourse and/or final exams that must be administered by a BYU Independent Study-approved proctor or testing center.
Each course description includes the number of lessons, assignments, and exams required.

Purchase Any Textbooks If Needed

Some courses require you to purchase a textbook. If your course requires a textbook, it is clearly identified in multiple places:

• The course description
• The course syllabus
• The online registration process

Textbook prices in the course descriptions are suggested retail prices only.

If for any reason you are dissatisfied or no longer need your course, you can withdraw at any time as long as you have not completed the course or requested the final exam.

High School and Middle School Courses

0–3 Days after registration	Tuition refund No processing fee
4–60 days after registration	Tuition refund $20 per course processing fee
61–180 days after registration	No refund Credit can be applied towards a new enrollment prior to 180 days from original enrollment date. $20 per course processing fee
181+ days after registration	No refund No credit No fee

 

University Courses

0–3 Days after registration	Tuition refund No processing fee
4–60 days after registration	Tuition refund $20 per credit hour processing fee
61–180 days after registration	No refund Credit can be applied towards a new enrollment prior to 180 days from original enrollment date. $20 per credit hour processing fee
181+ days after registration	No refund No credit No fee

Refund timeline

Tuition paid by cash, check, or money order will be refunded by check within four to six weeks after we receive and process the withdrawal request. Tuition paid by credit card will be credited to your account within five to seven business days after we receive and process the withdrawal request.
We cannot reinstate your coursework once you have withdrawn from a course.

Most courses allow you up to one year to complete them.
Exceptions:

• Your graduation deadline is sooner.
• Your course syllabus indicates a shorter deadline.
• Your school may require you to work within a semester, term, or quarter system.
• Your scholarship or financial aid source may impose other deadlines.

Our courses are comparable to a university, high school, or middle school semester-length course. They are aligned with the Carnegie Unit system. Most of the high school courses are ½ or 0.5 of a Carnegie Unit, which represents one-half (usually one semester) of a school year’s study in a particular subject. We encourage you to plan to complete your course in a realistic amount of time to get the maximum benefit without rushing through the material.
Once you have completed your coursework and exams, it may take up to three weeks before you receive a notice of course completion (due to mail and grading times).

Will My Course Appear On My Transcript If It Expires?

If you are enrolled in a university course and have not requested the final exam by the time your course expires, no indication will be made on your transcript. If you are enrolled in a high school or middle school course and the course expires without completion, the course will appear on your transcript as an expired course.

Course Extensions

One three-month course extension may be available for a $20 fee. This option is not available for all courses. If this restriction applies to your course, it will be noted in the course syllabus. No second extensions are available.

University Courses

All university course grades are posted on a Brigham Young University transcript. If you need your course grade to appear within a particular semester or term (to meet a financial aid or graduation deadline), we must receive all of your completed coursework and exams (including retakes) by the following deadlines:

BYU Semester/Term	Independent Study Deadline
Fall 2015	November 24, 2015
Winter 2016	April 1, 2016
Spring 2016	May 26, 2016
Summer 2016	July 21, 2016

There are no exceptions to these deadlines.

We do not handle the sale or shipping of textbooks. You will need to order them through the BYU Bookstore or any other bookstore you choose.
The BYU Bookstore provides textbooks quickly and at competitive prices. For current pricing, exact shipping costs, and other shipping options, please contact the BYU Bookstore.

• In-stock titles will be shipped within two business days.
• Shipping charges are additional.
• If you withdraw from your course within four weeks of receiving your textbooks, the BYU Bookstore will give you a full refund, not including any shipping and handling costs.
• If you withdraw from your course after four weeks, the BYU Bookstore may give you permission to return the books using its buyback policy.

BYU BOOKSTORE BUYBACK POLICY

• Permission must be obtained in advance.
• Buybacks are subject to current inventory levels.
• The book edition must still be required for the course.
• The book must be in good condition.
• Buyback is at 50% of current new price.

Ordering books

BYU Bookstore hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. mountain time.
Books may be ordered from the BYU Bookstore in several ways.

Online:	www.byubookstore.com
E-mail:	bkst_ind@byu.edu
Phone:	1-888-454-6884
Fax:	1-801-422-0070
Mail:	BYU Bookstore Textbook Department Brigham Young University Provo, UT 84602
In person:	BYU Bookstore Wilkinson Student Center Brigham Young University Campus Provo, Utah

If ordering books through the mail, checks should be made payable to BYU Bookstore. Include your name, address (preferably a street address), phone number, e-mail address, and course(s). If you do not wish to purchase all required textbooks for a certain course, you must indicate which ones specifically you would like to purchase.

Computer-graded assignments (Speedback)

Computer graded assignments require you to answer online a series of lesson questions, which are instantly graded. You will see feedback that identifies your correct answers and incorrect answers. For any incorrect answers, you may be given suggestions on where to look to find the correct answers in the course materials.

Instructor-graded assignments

Your instructor will grade assignments not suitable for computer grading, such as essays, portfolio assignments, and recorded oral assignments. Some instructors will not accept more than three instructor-graded assignments within one week. Your course syllabus will indicate such restrictions. It may take up to two weeks for the instructor to grade your assignment.

Most of your instructor-graded assignments can be submitted online through your course. You should always refer to your course syllabus and lesson requirements for specific instructions. You can confirm through your course gradebook that we have received and graded a submitted assignment.

If asked to mail your assignment, you must include the assignment cover sheet provided in your introductory course materials. Make sure the cover sheet includes your name, BYU Net ID, course name, lesson number, and the number of pages, and is securely attached.

Always make copies or take photos of your assignments before mailing them! If any assignments are lost or damaged in the mail, you will need to resubmit them before you can receive a grade. We are not responsible for items lost or damaged in the mail.

Resubmissions

Some courses will allow you to revise and resubmit an assignment one time. Because not all courses or assignments offer a resubmission option, please refer to your course syllabus to learn if your assignment qualifies.

• There is a $10 fee for each assignment resubmission.
• No assignment may be redone and resubmitted more than once.
• You may not resubmit any assignments or midcourse exams after you have requested the final exam.

Academic Honor Code

As with all educational programs sponsored by Brigham Young University, a high sense of personal honor and integrity is expected in the completion of BYU Independent Study courses. The assignments are intended to prepare you for the examinations and should be your own work. If evidence of cheating on assignments is established, or if submitted work is found to be profane or unduly disrespectful of others, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken, which may include the following: rescinding the grade, failing the course, prohibiting re-enrollment in the course, and prohibiting participation in any BYU Independent Study courses.

Is this plagiarism?

We check all writing assignments for plagiarism.
YES     I copied something written by someone else, but I changed some of the words.
YES     Someone else wrote the rough draft for me, but then I put it in my own words.
YES     I was just summarizing someone else’s work, so I didn’t cite that work.
NO     I used someone else’s idea but clearly cited the source in my paper.
NO     I copied something written by someone else, but I put it in quotation marks and cited the source.

Is this cheating?

We enforce our academic honor code.
YES     I got help on the assignment that I wouldn’t want the instructor to know about.
YES     I turned in a paper written by a friend or relative, but my parents said it was okay.
YES     I worked on the assignment with someone else who is taking the same course, so that’s why our paper looked the same.
YES     My tutor was more involved than I was in completing the assignment.
NO     My parent or tutor edited my paper, and I made those corrections before I submitted it.
NO     I brainstormed ideas with others before I chose my topic.
NO     I used the course discussion board to talk about the course subjects, but never the exam or Speedback questions.

Academic Honor Code

As with all educational programs sponsored by Brigham Young University, a high sense of personal honor and integrity is expected in the completion of BYU Independent Study courses. The assignments are intended to prepare you for the examinations and should be your own work. If evidence of academic dishonesty on assignments is established, or if submitted work is found to be profane or unduly disrespectful of others, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken, which may include the following: rescinding the grade, failing the course, prohibiting re-enrollment in the course, and prohibiting participation in any BYU Independent Study courses.

Grievance Policy

There may be occasions when a student believes his/her academic work or conduct has been unfairly or inadequately evaluated by an instructor. Usually such differences of opinion can be amicably resolved informally between the student and teacher. If not, the following procedures are intended to encourage satisfactory resolution of academic grievances with a minimum of formal procedure.

The student must initiate the grievance no later than three months (90 days) from the day the final grade is posted for the course in which the alleged unfair or inadequate evaluation occurred.

University Courses:

If the course is a university course, please follow the university process published in the Brigham Young University Undergraduate Catalog.

Please e-mail a copy of the written grievance to BYU Independent Study at IS_Petitions@byu.edu. 

High school and middle school Courses:

If the course is a high school course, please follow the instructions found in the Course Policies page under "Academic Grievance Policy."

Customer Support

We have a friendly, well-trained staff available to answer any questions regarding our policies and procedures. You may call or visit our office and testing center Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. mountain time.

E-Mail:	indstudy@byu.edu
Phone:	1-800-914-8931 (toll free) 801-422-2868 (local)
In Person:	BYU Independent Study 120 Morris Center (MORC) Provo, UT 84602-0300
Live chat:	Go to the home page, click on "Contact Us," find the "Customer Support" icon, and click to chat with a customer support representative during business hours.

Instructors

E-mail:	indstudy@byu.edu
	(instructor’s name in the subject line)

Your course instructor is available through e-mail at indstudy@byu.edu. Please include your instructor’s name in the subject line. You will also find quick-links within your course to use in sending requests to your instructor. Some courses provide additional options for interacting with your instructor.

Technical Support

Our technical support team is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. mountain time, to assist with any problems with downloads, error messages, audio files, supplementary CDs, etc. The team can be contacted by:

E-Mail:	istech@byu.edu
Phone:	1-877-897-8085 (toll free) 801-422-8524 (local)
Live chat:	Go to the home page, click on "Contact Us," then click to chat with a technician during business hours.

Student Accommodations

We are committed to providing a learning atmosphere that reasonably accommodates persons with disabilities who are otherwise qualified. If you enrolled in a course and have a disability, please contact our office to discuss both program requirements and available assistance. More information is available on our accessibility page.

BYU Independent Study’s tutoring program is free to all our students. Tutoring is available for most courses. Take advantage of this service and receive one-on-one assistance to help you through your course.

Tutoring is available by appointment on a first-come, first-serve basis.

To schedule an appointment, visit our tutoring page and click "Schedule" next to the subject you would like assistance with.

Phone:	1-800-914-8931
In person:	BYU Independent Study 120 Morris Center (MORC) Provo, UT 84602-0300

High School & Middle School Course Tutors Available

Subject	E-mail
English, Literature, Reading, Spelling, and Writing	isengltutor@byu.edu
History, Geography, Government, and Social Studies	ishisttutor@byu.edu
Algebra, Business Math, Calculus, Geometry, Math, and Trigonometry	ismathtutor@byu.edu
Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth and Environmental Sciences, and Physical Science	isbioltutor@byu.edu
Spanish	isspantutor@byu.edu
Business, Economics, and Computer Technology	isbusntutor@byu.edu

University Course Tutors Available:

Subject	E-mail
English, Management Communications	isengltutor@byu.edu
History, Geography, and Government	ishisttutor@byu.edu
Philosophy	isphiltutor@byu.edu
Science	isbioltutor@byu.edu
Statistics	isstattutor@byu.edu
Mathematics students may use BYU’s Math Lab.	https://math.byu.edu/home/mathlab

University Courses

You must take university course exams at an approved testing center, which can be found at most local colleges or universities. Be aware that some testing centers may charge a fee for their services or require an appointment. Please contact us if you are having difficulty locating a testing center. Find a testing center close to you with our testing center locator.

High School and Middle School Courses

You must take high school or middle school exams under the supervision of a BYU Independent Study-approved proctor. Please contact us at 1-800-914-8931 if you are having difficulty finding a proctor at your school.

• First talk to your counselor to see if your school already has an approved proctor.
• If you are not able to find a proctor at your school, you may also take your exam with any of the individuals listed under "Eligible Proctors." For more information, read the information under "Who can proctor my exam?" below.
• Eligible individuals can submit a proctor certification form.
• Remember that proctors must be approved by us before you can request to take your exam.

Exam Academic Honor Code

As with all educational programs sponsored by Brigham Young University, a high sense of personal honor and integrity is expected in the completion of BYU Independent Study courses. If you are found cheating on exams, you may be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, which may include the following: rescinding the grade, failing the course, prohibiting re-enrollment in the course, and prohibiting participation in any BYU Independent Study courses.

Final exams will be sent to your BYU Independent Study-approved proctor or testing center only after the following criteria are met:

• All course assignments and midcourse exams have been submitted.
• You have paid any outstanding fee(s).
• You have confirmed that your proctor has been approved, and asked his or her permission.
• Your course has not expired.

After you have found an approved proctor or testing center and have read the course syllabus, you may request your exam by calling our office at 1-800-914-8931 (toll free) or 801-422-2868 (local).
You may also request your exam through your course by clicking on "Preparing for the Final Exam" or "Final Exam Information."

• You will be directed to the Proctor Search page.
• Select your approved proctor or testing center and preferred shipping method.
• If applicable, pay the necessary fees and confirm the request.

Important Things to Know

• You will receive an e-mail confirmation when your exam is shipped.
• Exams may not be administered anywhere but the proctor's educational place of employment.
• Exams cannot be faxed or e-mailed.
• You should allow two weeks for your proctor or testing center to receive the exam unless Express Mail arrangements have been made.
• You are responsible to contact your proctor or testing center to find out whether your exam has arrived and to determine an appropriate time to take the exam.
• Once you request your exam, you have 30 days to take it. Proctors and testing centers are instructed to return exams after 30 days whether they have been taken or not.
• Exams must be taken without the use of books, notes, or any other outside help (unless otherwise specified in the exam instructions).
• Your proctor or testing center must return all exam materials directly to us by Standard US Mail or Express Mail.

Your courses may have midcourse exams, final exams, or both.
Final exams will be sent to your BYU Independent Study-approved proctor or testing center only after the following criteria are met:

• All course assignments and midcourse exams have been submitted.
• You have paid any outstanding fee(s).
• You have confirmed that your proctor has been approved, and asked his or her permission.
• Your course has not expired.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW

• Exams may not be administered anywhere other than the proctor’s educational place of employment.
• You should allow two weeks for your proctor to receive the exam unless Express Mail arrangements have been made.
• You are responsible to contact your proctor or testing center to find out whether your exam has arrived and to determine an appropriate time to take the exam.
• Once you request your exam, you have one month for your proctor to receive the test, for you to take it, and for your proctor to return it to us.
• Exams must be taken without the use of books, notes, or any other outside help (unless otherwise specified in the exam instructions).
• Your proctor must return all exam materials directly to us by Standard Mail or Express Mail.
• You may request an exam online through your course or by calling 1-800-914-8931 (toll free) or 801-422-2868 (local).
• You will receive an e-mail confirmation when your exam is shipped.
• Exams cannot be faxed or e-mailed.

High School and Middle School Courses

All high school and middle school exams must be proctored by individuals who have been approved by BYU Independent Study to supervise the examination process to ensure the integrity of our online program. We encourage you to find a proctor within your own high school or middle school.
The following individuals are eligible to serve as proctors for high school or middle school exams:

• A full-time high school or middle school academic or guidance counselor
• A full-time high school or middle school teacher
• A school district superintendent or associate superintendent
• A high school or middle school principal or vice principal
• A counseling or curriculum administrator
• A CES (LDS Church Educational System) full-time paid teacher or director
• A full-time high school, middle school, or public librarian
• An embassy education officer (for students living outside the United States)
• A military base/station education officer (for students living on a military base)
• A local testing center administrator

Note: Middle school educators are only eligible to proctor for middle school students.
The following individuals are not eligible to serve as proctors for high school or middle school exams:

• A student’s tutor
• An athletic coach, assistant coach, athletic administrator, athletic academic counselor, or anyone with a relationship to the students that may have the potential to appear as a conflict of interest in proctoring an exam (i.e., sports, theatre, choir, etc.)
• A relative or friend of the student
• A student’s employer
• Any university faculty or staff member or administrator who does not work in the testing center
• An elementary school educator or counselor
• An ecclesiastical leader who is not also a full-time educator in one of the eligible categories listed above

DISCLAIMER: BYU Independent Study reserves the right to deny enrollment to anyone; it also reserves the right to deny any proctor approval to supervise exams.

University Courses

Find a Testing Center in Your Area
If you are taking a university course, you can find a testing center in your area by using our testing center locator. Be aware that this search will only provide a list of eligible testing centers and will not display high school proctors. Remember that some testing centers may charge a fee for their services. Please contact us if you are having difficulty locating a testing center.

PROVO, UTAH AREA

Brigham Young University dress and grooming standards are strictly enforced at all BYU locations. For more information about the dress and grooming standards, visit www.byu.edu, Click on "About," "Honor Code," and "Honor Code Statement."

BYU Independent Study Office (120 Morris Center [MORC], Brigham Young University campus, Provo, Utah)

Office hours for testing: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. mountain time; exams will not be given out after 5:00 p.m. and will be collected at 5:50 p.m.

• Allow yourself enough time to finish the exam.
• You must request your exam at least one day in advance.
• Bring a government-issued photo ID.

BYU Testing Center (located in the Heber J. Grant Building on the Brigham Young University campus, Provo, Utah)

• You must request your exam from the BYU Independent Study office three to five days in advance.
• For Testing Services hours, call 801-422-2861 or e-mail testing@byu.edu.
• Bring a government-issued photo ID.
• Be prepared to pay a fee of $2 per exam.
• You will need to park in the BYU visitor parking area because there is no parking at the Grant Building.

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH AREA

BYU Salt Lake Center (3 Triad Center, Suite 300, 345 W. North Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah)

• You must request your exam from the BYU Independent Study Office two to three days in advance.
• Call 801-933-9401 for office hours and to set up a time to take your exam.
• Bring a government-issued photo ID and a pencil.

 

Shipping exams

We ship all exams to locations within the United States through Standard United States mail to your designated BYU Independent Study-approved proctor or testing center. Exams can take up to 7–10 business days to arrive.

Rush Delivery

You may request and pay for a $20 upgrade to Express Mail to locations within the United States. We can Express Mail your exam and provide you with a prepaid Express Mail return envelope for a total fee of $30. International mail is always sent using DHL services and cannot be sent with a prepaid Express Mail envelope. There is a $20 fee for all international mail.

Shipping schedules

To maximize your Express Mail service fee, please see the shipping request deadlines and arrival dates below.

Date and time requested	Arrival day
Monday–Thursday before noon	Next business day
Thursday after noon	Monday
Friday before noon	Monday
Friday after noon	Tuesday

 

Most courses will allow you to retake an exam once for a $15 fee. Because not all courses offer an exam retake option, please refer to your course syllabus to make sure that your course allows exam retakes.

Retakes must be requested within 30 days of the original exam grade posting, and taken and returned within 30 days of the retake exam request.

To pass the course, you must pass the final exam and achieve an overall passing grade for course assignments. Each course syllabus specifies the minimum grade requirements to receive a passing grade.

Your grades for submitted assignments, self-check quizzes, and exams can be viewed whenever you are logged into your course, through the "Assignments and Exams or Gradebook" feature.

Computer-graded (Speedback) assignments and Self-Check Quizzes

Your grade will appear instantly.

Instructor-graded Assignments

Your grade will be posted within two weeks after it is received in the BYU Independent Study office.

Computer-graded (Speedback) Exams

Your grade will be posted within 24 hours after it is received in the BYU Independent Study office

Instructor-graded Exams

Your grade will be posted within two weeks after it is received in the BYU Independent Study office.

Final Course Grade

The course grade will be posted as soon as grades are posted for all assignments and the final exam has been graded. You will receive a notice of course completion in the mail that lists your final exam grade and your final course grade. It will arrive in the mail two to three weeks after your final exam has been graded. If you provided your high school’s name and/or ACT code when you registered, a notice of course completion will be mailed to your school. It will arrive in the mail two to three weeks after your final exam has been graded.

Keep in mind that regardless of your performance on assignments, you cannot pass a course without passing the final exam.

You must successfully complete the entire course to receive credit, even if the course is worth more credit than you need.

If you are a Brigham Young University student, your final course grades automatically transfer to AIM

To order any transcript

• Fill the interactive PDF form specific to your needs. The forms require Adobe Acrobat Reader. If this free reader is not installed on your computer, please download it from www.adobe.com.
• Print and sign the form.
• Submit the form in person, through the mail, or by fax.
• Pay for each transcript requested. Required fees are indicated on the form, or see the chart below.
• Please be sure to provide complete and accurate address(es).
• Transcripts cannot be sent by Express Mail to a post office box.
• Transcripts will go to the address(es) provided by the student.

Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), you may not order transcripts by telephone or e-mail. We are required by FERPA to have a signed and dated written release from you before issuing transcripts.

Transcript Fees

If you would like a copy of your official transcript, you will need to pay the following fees for each transcript. All transcript fees include the cost of the transcript and delivery charges.

	High School and Middle School Courses	University Courses
Hard copy sent through Standard US Mail	$5	$6
Hard copy sent through Express Mail	$20	$20
Hard copy sent through International Mail	$24 (shipped through DHL or USPS International Express)	$24 (shipped through International Priority)
Electronic copy (PDF)	Not available	$5
Faxed copy	$10 (not available for international students)	Not available

SUBMITTING UNIVERSITY COURSE TRANSCRIPT REQUEST

If you have completed a university course, you may request a transcript from the BYU Records Office by filling out the university course transcript request form found online and submitting it in one of the following ways:

Fax:	801-422-0613 (include release form and payment information)
Mail or In Person:	BYU Records Office B-150 ASB Provo, UT 84602

If you submit the university transcript request form in person, please bring a government-issued photo ID.

SUBMITTING HIGH SCHOOL COURSE TRANSCRIPT REQUEST

If you have completed a high school course, you may request a transcript from our office by filling out the high school course transcript form found online and submitting it in one of the following ways:

Fax:	801-422-8501
MAIL or In Person:	BYU Independent Study 120 Morris Center (MORC) Provo, UT 84602

• If you have taken university-level courses as a high school student, you will need to fill out the university student transcript request form.
• If you submit the high school transcript request form in person, please bring a government-issued photo ID.
• To overnight a transcript, we must have the fax request in our office by noon mountain time. The fee to overnight a transcript is $20 per transcript. Call 1-800-914-8931 to pay the fee.

By an act of Congress, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of your educational record. The nature of independent study normally requires the dissemination of information by telephone, letter, fax, e-mail, or some other distance communication method. Therefore, to be in compliance with FERPA, we will need to verify the identity of the caller before releasing any personally identifiable or educational information.

If you are 18 or older and are enrolled in our high school courses/programs, or (regardless of age) are enrolled in our university courses, your academic records cannot be released to anyone but you. Parents, spouses, siblings and friends do not have access to your educational records unless you provide a signed release (a FERPA permission form). However, if a parent can provide proof that you were claimed as a dependent in the previous income tax year, the parent may have access to your educational records. Proof of dependency must be provided each time a parent requests access to the records. A printable FERPA permission form is available by typing "FERPA Form" in the Quick Search window at the top of the page.

If you are 19 years of age or older, you may apply to our Adult High School Diploma Program to earn your high school diploma; the Provo (Utah) School District issues the diploma. We do not offer diplomas, nor do we affiliate with or approve of any organizations claiming to offer diplomas on our behalf. For more information, type "Adult Diploma Program" in the Quick Search window at the top of the page.

If you are between 14 and 18 years old, you may apply to our Standard or our Advanced High School Program and receive an official transcript through us. For more information, type "Standard Program" or "Advanced Program" in the Quick Search window at the top of the page.

Current Daytime Brigham Young University Students

If you are a Brigham Young University day student, you can earn up to 36 semester hours toward your bachelor's degree through BYU Independent Study. Check with your academic advisor to be sure that a course will fulfill your graduation requirements and that your major does not have different requirements.

Former Brigham Young University Students

If you are a former Brigham Young University student who has completed 30 credit hours (exam credit excluded) as an admitted day student on the Brigham Young University Campus in Provo, Utah, and have been away for at least two years, you may complete your degree through the Bachelor of General Studies Department, earning a Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) degree with an emphasis in any one of seven areas of study:

• American Studies
• English
• Family History
• Family Life
• History
• Management
• Psychology

The BGS degree is designed to help you utilize as much of your previously earned credit as possible. It has the same general education, religious education, and campus residency requirements as those for on-campus students. Up to 90 of the required 120 credit hours may be earned through us.

For more information on how to finish at home what you started at BYU:

Online:	bgs.byu.edu
Phone:	801-422-4351 (local) 1-888-298-3137 (toll free)
Mail:	Bachelor of General Studies 315 Harman Continuing Education Building (HCEB) Provo, UT 84602-1515