Communication with Online MSN Degree Faculty

Often life “happens” with a personal or work-related crisis.  When in an online MSN degree program, it is important for students to have strong communication with their online teachers. Our busy lives guarantee that a crisis will occur during school at the worst possible time.  It is not a matter of “if”, but a matter of when!  Working ahead, if possible, is the best safeguard against looming catastrophes in our lives.  More importantly, when something happens which may be an obstacle to our course work, it is imperative to contact faculty as soon as possible regarding the situation. Even if you might meet a due date, ask for the extension anyway, you can always not use the extension, but at least you are covered. 

Via Email or phone, have a friend or family members call the faculty to inform them of a “personal situation” affecting the ability to do course work for a few days.  Details are not needed if you feel you’d like to keep them to yourself.  What is needed is a definitive time frame for your absence from class and when you will resume coursework so that an appropriate extension is requested.  Remember, most MSN programs will only grant incompletes if  75% of work is completed for a course.  Keep in mind that you are then  responsible for past course work to make up PLUS current course work, which may cause undue stress-so try to avoid incompletes where possible.

Communication with faculty regarding course content or assignment questions is associated with important timing of those questions.  Be sure to ask about assignment questions at least a week in advance of an assignment due date to allow for faculty response time to incorporate the information in your assignment. Email or the Q& A discussion area are the best ways to ask your questions.  If you have a complex issue or lack understanding of a majority of an assignment, setting up a conference call with faculty is the best way to handle those types of complex questions, as email may become too cumbersome.  In addition, for those of you who might be auditory learners, one phone call can be more helpful than a dozen emails when it comes to getting the answers you need.

Dr. Maggie