Part 1

Read and analyze the information below.

Nexford University offers a variety of options to learners who may need to depart from the
standard course or program timeline. They are:

 Leave of absence (LOA) – this is an option for learners who wish to pause their studies
for an extended period of time. Upon returning from an LOA, learners can pick up where
they left off.
 Course withdrawal (CW) – this is an option for learners who wish to stop taking one of
the courses they’re enrolled in but wish to continue taking the other courses they’re
enrolled in. When learners re-enroll in a course they withdrew from, they must start the
course over from the beginning.
 Program withdrawal (PW) – this is filed by learners who wish to leave the university and
have no intention of returning.
 Leave of absence (LOA) + Course withdrawal (CW) – this is filed by learners who wish
to pause their studies for an extended period of time, and who also wish to start their
most recent course over from the beginning when they return.

Based on the information above, please answer the questions below by choosing from the
following options:
a. Leave of absence (LOA)
b. Course withdrawal (CW)
c. Program withdrawal (PW)
d. Leave of absence (LOA) + Course withdrawal (CW)

1. Remus consistently earns A-grades. All Nexford courses have 6 modules. Remus is
working on the 4th module of his first course when his wife gives birth to their second child. For
lack of time, Remus is no longer able to meet weekly module deadlines. What request would be
most appropriate for Remus to file in this situation? Answer: ___

2. Your advisee, Sarah, hasn’t been attending her courses yet when she does, she rarely
completes her module assignments. She is already 2 modules behind in the required course
timeline. Upon connecting with Sarah, you learn that she is finding it difficult to manage her
time: she has been travelling a lot for work and is unsure when her schedule will stabilize. What
request would you recommend that she file? Answer: ___

3. Darla has been pursuing an accelerated program of study (taking 3 courses concurrently) for
the last 3 terms. A few days into her 4th term, she comes to you seeking advice: she says that
she’s feeling burnt out and that she isn’t performing well in one of her courses. Though she
says she badly needs a break, she also says that she doesn’t want to pause her program.
What request would you recommend that she file? Answer: ___
Part 2
Success Advisors are responsible for connecting with learners who fail courses so that they can
provide appropriate advice and guidance. They do this by conducting an individual advising
session such learners, talking about how their course went, what they could have done
differently, and discussing their academic goals. Please draft a letter (email) to an advisee of
yours who just failed a course. (Maximum of 350 words)

Email subject:
__________________________________________________________________

Body of the email:

Part 3 – Essay

1. What would you say are the top three challenges that learners face in an online environment?
Why do you think so?

2. How can an online university best assist learner in overcoming these challenges?

3. What would you personally find most challenging about advising in an online university and
how would you try to address those challenges?