Frequently Asked Questions about ITM

What is Cohort? A cohort is a group of students who begin taking courses at the same time, and finish at about the same time. Ferris is almost required to offer off-campus programs in this way because there is not a large population of students to offer any-old-course at any time to keep it economically viable. Back to top.

What does 3+1 mean exactly? This refers to the full-time-equivalent years it requires to complete a degree program. Using four years as a full-time-student reference, this would mean a student will take about three years’ worth of courses with a community college, and one full year of courses with Ferris State University. Keep in mind, that these numbers will refer to taking 17-18 credit hours per semester, and most of our students do not take that many while holding a full time job.Back to top.

How do I enroll or apply to the ITM program? What are the next steps that I need to take in order to join the ITM program? Follow one of the below links to obtain specific instructions on how to apply and enroll in the program. Back to top.

What are some requirements for being admitted to the ITM program? The ITM program is designed for students who have an Associate’s degree in a technical or business related field. While students are not required to have completed their Associate’s degree, they should have a substantial number of credit hours toward this goal. The stated requirements are as follows: 1. A completed associate’s degree or 48 transferable credit hours 2. A 2.5 overall GPA in their previous coursework 3. A 2.5 GPA in previous mathematics courses 4. A completed admissions application 5. Official transcripts from all previous institutions forwarded to Ferris Back to top.

Is there a list of the classes (or a check sheet of courses) that I will need to take to graduate with a BAS in ITM? Depending on your location, some courses may be slightly different, but the link below provides specific information on this. Get More information here. Back to top.

Are there course descriptions available? Follow this link.Back to top.

What if I miss a course in the sequence at my original location? It is important that students make every effort to keep pace with their cohort. Occasionally, circumstances dictate that a course is missed – while this is not a total disaster, it puts a damper on finishing the sequence with the rest of your cohort classmates. If this does happen, there are a few options; one is to wait for the course to be offered again at your preferred location – but this could require waiting a few years for another cohort to begin. Another option is to see if there is another location nearby (or a reasonable distance) that offers the same course in a different semester. While this is not optimum, it does provide the opportunity to complete the course sequence. There are other options, especially if the course is offered in an on-line format, but in any case, you should contact your advisor if these circumstances arise. Back to top.

How long does the sequence take to complete? Typically, Ferris offers about six credit hours per semester at any given location. Occasionally, this will be slightly higher or lower, depending on the preferences of the cohort. With this pace, the sequence of Ferris courses generally requires 2.5 years to complete. Beyond this time, students will typically need to complete additional courses from the community college to fill gaps in their degree plans, but this varies widely between the many students in the program. Back to top.

Who will teach the courses? The ITM program has two full-time faculty members state-wide. While there are many more courses than this offered, we rely on adjunct faculty (part-time) to deliver courses. These adjunct faculty members typically work full-time in industry closely related to their particular course. In the vast majority of cases, these people have advanced degrees and offer real-world, unique perspectives on the course material. Back to top.

When should I register for courses? Schedules for courses typically become available about mid-way through the previous semester, except for the fall, when schedules are finalized in about March. While many students prefer to register until the semester is nearly started because they are uncertain of their own schedules, this makes for a difficult administrative situation for Ferris. Our administration would prefer students to register as soon as the schedule becomes finalized, so that adequate plans can be made to arrange for instructors, room assignments, and whether additional sections of the same course are required. Keep in mind that without an adequate population of students, Ferris may need to cancel or postpone a course, and at the last minute this creates difficulty for the instructors, the room assignments and other issues. Having students register in a timely manner will eliminate most of these concerns for all involved. Back to top.

How do I register? In the MyFSU system, there are links to register via the Internet. Once students become familiar with this system, it is generally very easy to register for the courses when they become available Back to top.

I had applied and was admitted to the program several months ago but was not able to take classes. Can I be readmitted? Can I or will I have to re-apply? Students in this situation should contact their advisor contact or the appropriate regional office of UCEL to address this concern. In many cases, there may be no additional steps to take. However, depending on the status of the course sequence, students may need to wait or another cohort to begin, or enroll in courses in another location. Back to top.

I already took plenty of math courses? (or science) Why can’t Ferris recognize these as prerequisites? Do I really need to take them again? This is a sensitive issue, especially when students want to complete their degrees quickly. At the main campus of Ferris State University, articulation officers are continuously working with community colleges to evaluate courses to determine how similar they might be to a course offered by Ferris. In more than half the cases, community college courses match up directly with Ferris courses. In the other cases, however, the evaluators have determined there are sufficient differences in the courses that they are not the same. If this is the case, then the student will need to take the course listed in their degree plan. If the student feels comfortable in the subject matter, there is the option of passing a CLEP examination, which is standardized nationwide for a variety of math and science subjects. Back to top.

Can I receive life-experience credit? Do I really need to sit through some of these courses if I do this everyday in my job? Unfortunately, there is not an easy answer to this question. In short – no, students do not receive life-experience credit, because it violates many of the policies for program accreditation. There are options, however, to short-cut the number of courses required if you have substantial experience in any given field. What is required is to formalize the knowledge any student has in a process that can be documented and tracked. This can be in the form of a standardized examination, or the equivalent of a final examination by the instructor to measure the student’s knowledge. Occasionally, there are specific policies in place for certain courses that require submission of a substantial portfolio to represent the body of knowledge in the subject. In any case, students are required to pay a fee for this service when they wish to investigate and take a proficiency examination. You should contact your advisor to explore options about this. Back to top.

My advisor told me about a “CLEP” test. What is this and why should I care about it? CLEP stands for College Level Examination Proficiency and it represents a series of standardized tests in a number of subjects. These tests are developed and administered by the same organization that gives the SAT tests to high school students. Passing an examination of this nature is the same as passing certain courses in your degree plan. There are common subjects offered as a CLEP exam, such as English composition, and mathematics, as well as other topics like business management, psychology, and some sciences. These tests are offered on a regular basis at community college sites for 2-3 hours, depending on the subject, and the fee is generally less than $100. Taking an exam of this nature will allow you to bypass taking certain courses where you have expertise in a topic, but not the specific course required in your degree plan. Back to top.

I already took a course at the community college with the same title as the one offered by Ferris. Do I need to take the Ferris version of this course? This is another sensitive issue, especially when students want to complete their degrees quickly. At the main campus of Ferris State University, articulation officers are continuously working with community colleges to evaluate courses to determine how similar they might be to a course offered by Ferris. In more than half the cases, community college courses match up directly with Ferris courses. In the other cases, however, the evaluators have determined there are sufficient differences in the courses that they are not the same. If this is the case, then the student will need to take the Ferris version of the course with the same title, but they can rest assured that the coverage will not be the same and their Ferris course will go deeper into a topic, which is necessary for full proficiency in any given topic. Students should also be aware there are requirements for a Bachelor’s degree in any subject that state a minimum number of 300-400 level credit hours need to be completed. Our degree programs fall within these limits, but with this in mind, options for substitutions become limited. Back to top.

Is there a residency requirement with Ferris? How many Ferris classes must I take in order to graduate with a Bachelors Degree from the University? The residency requirement states that students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of Ferris courses to receive a Bachelor’s degree. Our programs are within these limits, but if students have taken courses at other 4-year institutions that fill certain degree requirements, there may be a danger of not having sufficient Ferris credit hours to make this limit. In any case, students are notified of these situations by their advisors and given options to fulfill the residency requirements. Back to top.

What are some typical general education courses that I can take here at my CC that meet Ferris' requirements? This link provides courses that fit into the general education requirements for Ferris at various community college locations. Get more information here. Back to top.

How many classes will I have to take each semester? You should make every effort to take all Ferris courses offered at your location in any given semester. This generally about two courses (6 credit hours), but occasionally will be higher or lower than this. You are free to register for additional classes at your community college as your schedule allows, but unless a prerequisite course is required, this is generally not an urgent matter. Back to top.

Can I dual enroll, that is, can I take classes at Ferris and at my CC at the same time? Yes – this is expected of most students. Keep in mind that the more courses you take with your community college while enrolled in Ferris courses, the faster you will complete your degree requirements. Back to top.

What if I need to drop a course? How do I go about doing this? Schedule adjustments involving the adding of a class are only allowed during the first four days of a semester. During the first four days of a semester, students may drop and add on computer through the Ferris Web page using MyFSU. Beyond the first four days of the semester, students may withdraw from a course through the last date for a "W" grade for the semester as indicated in the "Registration and Academic Guide" for the semester located on the main MyFSU Page. Students must complete the appropriate form at their dean's office or UCEL regional office. You should consult your instructor and faculty advisor to determine the appropriateness of this action. Back to top.

Occasionally, my employer will require me to travel to one of their other plants out of state and I know I will miss a few course meetings. How do I handle this? Students in this situation should contact their instructor as soon as they are aware of any difficulties in their schedule. Instructors are generally very accommodating to students – provided they are meeting the requirements of the course in terms of assignments and examinations. Students in this situation may be asked to complete and submit assignments earlier than their classmates, but in most cases, these circumstances can be accommodated. Students expecting to miss a substantial number of course meetings need to meet with the instructor and/or advisor to determine if their schedule can align with the requirements of the course. Back to top.

How can the regional office help me? Visit the UCEL webpage for a number of options where they can be of assistance. For students in Grand Rapids or Muskegon, the Grand Rapids office can assist with the same items. Back to top.

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