Frequently Asked Questions
Pursuing your degree is a big step. Asking questions is part of the learning process. This list of questions is just some of the frequent inquiries from prospective and current online students. Don’t see your question? Contact us and we will be happy to answer.
Getting Started
Visit Become a Student for step-by-step instructions to online education at SDSU. You have the opportunity to explore online learning, SDSU online programs, costs and financial resources and apply for SDSU admission.
Student ID’s or the Application ID’s are included in the e-mail you receive from SDSU indicating your application for admission has been received. You will also find your student ID on your official letter of acceptance from SDSU. If you are unable to locate this information, please contact the Registrar's office at 605-688-6195 for assistance.
New students may not have an assigned adviser yet. If you are returning student, your adviser contact information should be available via Self Service. Select Students; Under Academic Profile, select My Profile. If you have any questions, please contact your department to speak with an advisor or visit First Stop for important SDSU information and resources.
Technology
As with any web related site, it is always advisable to have a fast, secure connection. A cable connection is better than DSL, DSL is better than Dial-up. A Dial-up connection will be slow and you should be prepared for that; some documents will just take time to fully download. Some multi-media will not open at all (i.e. video files). The instructor determines what file types will be used in any given course, it is always a good idea to know where you could access a computer with faster connection if needed. This could be a local library, school or other public facility. If you do have problems with your connection speed accessing materials for your course, e-mail your instructor as soon as possible.
Set your firewall settings to medium and disable any pop-up blockers. If you do not know how to do this, contact the SDSU Support Desk for assistance at 605-688-6776. You may also complete a system check from the D2L homepage.
All courses are different. Most do not require any special software. However, you may be taking a course which requires you to view PowerPoint presentations or possibly short videos. The instructor will list any software requirements in the course syllabus.
Visit Login Help and choose the account password you would like to reset.
Registration Process and Financial Consideration
If you are a current South Dakota Board of Regents student, you can register for online courses through Self Service. Select Students; Under Registration, select Search and Register for Sections. If you are a prospective student, you must first apply for admission to enroll in online courses. Visit Become a Student for step-by-step instructions.
You can check your course schedule through Self Service which will show any courses in which you are enrolled for a particular semester. Select Students; Under Academic Profile, select My Class Schedule and then the semester you wish to view.
Please discuss with your advisor before you drop a course that may potentially affect your financial aid. You can drop a course in Self Service. Select Students; Under Registration, select Register and Drop Class Sections.
If you wish to receive a refund, you must do so prior to the add/drop date for that semester/course. If you try to drop a course after this date, you will need to complete a petition form to receive a refund. If you are only registered for one course and wish to drop, you must contact the Registrar's Office at 605-688-6195 for assistance.
Please visit Online Tuition and Fees.
Bills should be paid by the semester due date (See Academic Calendar). You can make payment via Self Service. Select Students; Under Financial Information, select SDePay/View Account/Pay Here. If you have questions regarding payment and/or billing, you should contact the Cashier's office at 605-688-6116.
Online Learning Experience
D2L is the online portal for your classes, where instructors will post announcements, course content and grades throughout the semester. Please log in using your Self Service username and password. If you do not know your username and password, click on "I’m new to D2L".
Contact the SDSU Support Desk via email or at 605-688-6776 and they can provide assistance.
Classes will not be available via D2L until 30 days before the first day of class. If they are still not available, please contact the instructor.
Instructor information is available via Self Service. Select Students; Under Academic Profile, select My Class Schedule. Click the course title and an additional information page will come up that includes the faculty name and contact information.
This will vary with the individual course. You should spend as much time in your online course as you would in an on-campus course. A good rule of thumb is to login to your course every other day, at a minimum twice a week.
Textbooks for SDSU courses can be purchased through the SDSU Bookstore. Some courses will use the new First Day Access program, which allows students to view books through D2L on the first day of class. If your course is using First Day Access, the bookstore website will indicate your textbook is digital and you will be billed directly through SDSU billing. If your course requires an Access code, you will receive an email with this information – Do not delete the email. Textbook information should be available within 30 days of the start of the semester. Contact the bookstore via email or at 605-688-4163/4164.
Yes, once you are logged into D2L, you will see the SDSU Orientation for Online Learners under your list of courses that will introduce you to navigating your digital classroom.
The program (D2L) utilizes a Dropbox tool used to upload files (your homework) to the instructor. Get familiar with this tool early on in the course. You can view Student D2L 101 within D2L for tutorials. Your instructor may provide further instructions regarding the submission of homework assignments.
The program (D2L) has a quiz/exam tool which will allow you to take your exams online. Read the instructions carefully, as most exams and quizzes are timed. If you run out of time, you may not answer the questions you have not finished and they will count against you. Some instructors require you to have the exam proctored.
Visit our Proctor page to review the policy and download the proctor form.
This is up to the instructor and if required, dates and times will be listed in the syllabus.
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