From the Center for Distance Education (CDE) in Fairbanks
Correspondence study offers an opportunity to further your education without the
constraints of class attendance or the traditional semester time period. It differs from the
traditional classroom because you will be responsible for planning and completing your own
course work. In the traditional classroom, the teacher directs the learning process, but in
correspondence study, you must be self-directed, and you must plan your time wisely to
get the most out of your study activities.
A Personal Study Schedule is enclosed with each course to aid you in completing the
course within the parameters of your personal goals and time restraints. Although a unique
advantage of correspondence study is its flexibility, it is not a shortcut to receiving college
credit, and it demands hard work.
When you submit your lessons for grading, you must attach a Lesson Cover Sheet. It
should be completed as neatly as possible, printed in ink, as it will become your return
mailing label. Even if you are e-mailing or faxing in your lessons, you should include a
lesson cover sheet and its pertinent information including a return mailing label
appropriately placed, the complete course number, instructor’s name, and the appropriate
lesson number, as this will aid in the timeliness of returning your lessons. In your packet of
course materials, you will find prepaid envelopes for mailing each assignment.