Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance

Colorado State University, Iowa State University, Kansas State University, Texas Tech University Michigan State University, University of Missouri, Montana State University, University of Nebraska North Dakota State University, Oklahoma State University, South Dakota State University

General Program Information

Cost - Admissions - Financial Assistance - Grade Translation
Computer System Recommendations - Frequently Asked Questions

The Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (Great Plains IDEA) is a consortium of eleven universities that can help you reach your goals. Each university brings a unique strength to the multi-institution academic programs:

Tuition is a fixed amount for all students at all institutions. Cost per credit hour is $415 for the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 academic years.

You may apply for admission at the university of your choice. You will be admitted to your "home" university, which is the university from which you will receive your degree or certificate. Admissions requirements vary among the universities. The specific admissions requirements for each university are available on the university web pages linked below.

Colorado State University, Iowa State University, Kansas State University,
Texas Tech University, Michigan State University, University of Missouri,
Montana State University, University of Nebraska, North Dakota State University,
Oklahoma State University, South Dakota State University

In most cases, students must be enrolled in at least 4 credits to be eligible for a partial scholarship, although some institutions are piloting projects aimed at providing financial aid for distance education students. Graduate assistantships are usually awarded to on-campus students, because such assistantships require involvement in teaching on-campus class or assisting a professor with on-campus research.

You will be taking courses from institutions with different grading systems. The "teaching" university (where your course is taught) will provide your grade to your "home" university (where you have been admitted) according to the matrix. Your university will also translate the grade according to the matrix.

Requirements are similar among the institutions. Since different platforms are used for course delivery, compatibility with the web browser is most important, although if you are using an older computer with limited memory, or a slow dial-up modem, you may wish to upgrade your equipment. Courses do require the use of the computer, the internet and e-mail. Most systems will have a web browser tune-up. Two of these are linked below for students to run a diagnostic on their computer system. Free downloads of necessary software are available from these sites.

• http://www.webct.com/tuneup
• https://online.ksu.edu/support/KSOL/support.shtml (click on set-up wizard)

Buying a New Computer?

If you are going to purchase a new computer in preparation for taking courses from alliance institutions, the following features are recommended:

• Pentium® 4 at 2.0 GHz or higher, or laptop with Dual-core processor
• 512 Megabytes of RAM or higher (1 Gig recommended)
• 40 GB hard drive or larger
• Video card with 800x600 resolution at minimum (LCD 1024x768 resolution or higher, with 128 MB video RAM or more is recommended)
• Windows® XP or higher
• Broadband internet connection (DSL or cable modem), 56k modem at a minimum
• Sound card and speakers
• CD-RW, Zip, DVD-RW or USB mass-storage device

How does an inter-institutional program work?

Students select a ‘home’ institution to apply to. They will enroll in all courses through that university, though the course may be taught at a participating university. Students log into the course at the ‘teaching’ institution. At the end of the semester, grades are reported on the transcript at the ‘home’ institution. There is no need to request a transcript from the teaching institution.

Do I have to be admitted to all the graduate programs at the participating universities?

You only need to be admitted to the university you select as your ‘home’ university, which is the university from which you will receive your degree or certificate. You will register for the appropriate classes at your ‘home’ university. The admission fee will be waived at all but the ‘home’ university.

How do I choose a home university?

There are several things to consider when deciding which university you wish to apply to. We suggest students look at the faculty research interests at each university. Also, the admission and graduation requirements may also vary from institution, to institution. There are certain courses that are required within each degree program regardless of which institution is the student’s home university. Students will take these courses from the same instructor and with the same students no matter where they are enrolled. It is the elective courses and graduation requirements that might differ between institutions.

What is required for admission?

Students must apply for entry into the program at the university they have selected as their ‘home’ institution. Admission requirements vary. Please check with the university to which you are applying for specific requirements at that institution. Requirements might include GRE scores, a resume, statement of objectives, and letters of recommendation, in addition to an application, fee and transcripts from previous college work.

Who do I contact for information at each of the universities?

Each university has a Great Plains IDEA campus coordinator who coordinates the admission and enrollment process, and student services on their campus. Follow the links on the left under Alliance Universities to the particular university you are interested in, then click on the link to the campus coordinator.

Are all universities accredited?

Yes, all Great Plains IDEA members are accredited universities. Accreditation is granted through the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) or the Northwestern Association of Colleges and Schools (NACS), depending on what area of the country the universities are located.

What are the credentials of your faculty?

All the faculty members have been certified as Graduate Faculty members at their respective universities. The faculty members were chosen because of their expertise in the area related to the course they are teaching.

How much does the program cost?

Does that amount include books, tests and other fees?
By agreement among the Great Plains IDEA institutions, a common tuition fee is charged for all courses. This eliminates the question of in-state and out-of-state tuition depending on where the student is located and/or which university they are enrolled in. The tuition for the 2007-2008 academic year (fall, spring and summer) is $415 per credit hour. This includes all instruction and examinations. Books and other course materials are not included. No other fees are assessed. Note: College tuition typically increases each fall semester for the following year.

Is financial aid available?

It depends. Students need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA ) form to determine their eligibility for federal financial aid. This form is located online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. To qualify for federal financial aid at the graduate level, students must be degree-seeking and generally must enroll in 5 credit hours for the fall and spring semesters, and 3 hours in the summer. Please contact your ‘home’ institution for availability, deadlines and specific regulations at your university. Most scholarships and assistantships require full-time study on-campus. Your campus coordinator can direct you to the proper office on your campus for assistance with financial aid questions.

Can VA benefits be used on these programs?

If you are registered as a student, and still have active VA or other military benefits available, then the classes you take will likely be covered by these benefits. Benefit program requirements vary as to what they will cover and the number of hours student must be enrolled in. Your education counselor, or the university financial or military aid office should be able to assist you with the paperwork and process.

How are courses delivered?

The courses are taught entirely online, making Great Plains IDEA master’s degree programs ideal for busy professionals. The only requirement is that you have a computer, an e-mail account and access to the internet.

Do I have to be online with the courses during a particular time of day or week?

No, these degree programs are asynchronous. Most instructors will have specific due dates during the week for assignments and class discussion, but work can be completed and submitted any time prior to the deadline. Students do not have to be online at a particular time. Some instructors will hold online chats, but while attendance is recommended if possible, it is not required for a grade.

Can I get credit for courses previously taken?

Credit for previous graduate work will depend on the Graduate School requirements at your home university. Some institutions allow a certain number of hours to be transferred in upon the recommendation of your major professor. The courses must have been taken for graduate credit at an accredited university to be considered. Students will need to discuss this possibility with their advisor at their home institution to determine if any courses can be substituted for required courses, or used as electives in their graduate program.

What are the computer requirements?