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Your application to attend Fort Hays State University can begin now.

Start your application process to Fort Hays.

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Is the Virtual College Right for Me?

Are You Virtual College Material?

Fort Hays State Virtual College is committed to bringing you a high quality educational experience that is convenient, flexible, and affordable. There is no question that people who previously would not have considered distance learning are finding that it adapts to their needs. They are surprised how convenient and flexible the degree programs are. Part time or full time. Take classes every semester or take a break when other demands require too much time. Study in the morning, over lunch, in the evening, late at night. It's entirely up to you.

But real courses require real work. The online classroom requires a new and different approach to studying and learning. Some students are surprised by what it takes to complete an online degree, but all the effort pays off in the end. Is distance learning for you?

Go to online quiz to find out.

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Demo Course

Demonstration Course
For New Students--Freshman and Transfer

This online demonstration course is designed to help students adjust to their new environment and cope with the changes that they will experience their first semester at Fort Hays State University. This course gives new students a preview of the university experience, helps students understand university policies and procedures, and provides students opportunities that familiarize them with the university resources and services.

Your TigerTracks ID and password for this course is "demo".

Go to Demo

Helpful Links for New Students

Academic Life
Campus Resources
Checklist of Things To Do
New Student Handbook (PDF)
Questions and Answers (PDF)
Technology Services and Resources
University Policies and Procedures

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Tuition and Fees

Get the Virtual College Value.

The Fort Hays State Virtual College value starts where it should--with quality, career-relevant programs taught by committed faculty. But there's real dollars and cents value, too. Fort Hays State University believes a college education should be accessible to every one. We keep our promise of Affordable Success to students by offering one of the most reasonable tuition and fee structures in the country.

Tuition

Admission Fees

Making affordable even more affordable.
We understand that many of our students have other financial obligations that make affording any tuition a challenge. That's why we offer a wide variety of financial aid resources. The FHSU Financial Assistance Office will help you apply for all forms of financial aid, including:

• Scholarships are cash awards for academic or other merit and potential. They don't have to be repaid and Fort Hays State offers several options. You can even apply for all of them at the same time using our online scholarship application. Other scholarship opportunities are available from various ethnic, service and community organizations. Our Financial Assistance office can help you find them.
• Grants are cash awards for financial need and do not have to be repaid. They include Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, and Kansas Comprehensive Grants. To be considered, you must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Our Financial Assistance office can help.
• Loans are not gifts or awards. You must pay them back. But you can defer payment and interest accrual until you finish your degree. Alternative Loans--a competitive lending alternative to the federal loan process--are a particularly good option for online learners. Federal Stafford Loans and Perkins Loans are also available. You can find out more about the different types of loans at www.fhsu.edu/finaid/staffordloans.shtml.
• Benefits for Veterans. Veterans may qualify for special tuition benefits. Find out more at Veteran's Benefits.

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Financial Aid

Financial Assistance Office
Fort Hays State's Title IV Code is 001915

*Making Sense of Financial Aid*

2005-2006 (PDF)
(Fall 2005, Spring 2006, Summer 2006)

2006-2007 (PDF)
(Fall 2006, Spring 2007, Summer 2007)

These forms open in PDF format, which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Check Out What's New!

2006 Summer Financial Aid Application (PDF)

2005-2006 Federal Aid Application Information

2006-2007 Federal Aid Application Information

2006-2007 Scholarship Application

Frequently used contacts

New Federal Loan interest rates effective July 1, 2005-June 30, 2006*
4.70% Federal Stafford Loans
During in-school, grace, or deferment
Based on the 91-day T-bill plus 1.7%, not to exceed 8.25%

5.30% Federal Stafford Loans
During repayment
Based on the 91-day T-bill plus 2.3%, not to exceed 8.25%

6.10% Federal PLUS Loans
Based on the 91-day T-bill plus 3.1%, not to exceed 9.00%

*Even with the slight increase in interest rates, Federal Student Loans are still the best value for students and parents!

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Transfer Students

Finish what you Started.

Many students use the Virtual College to complete degrees they started at another institution. Fort Hays State Virtual College welcomes transfer credits from all regionally accredited institutions. We also offer credit for military experience or credit-by-exam.

To apply for admissions and transfer credit to Fort Hays State University:

• Go to the Office of the Registrar, or call the office at (785) 628-4222 to ask a degree analyst if the credits you wish to transfer are acceptable at FHSU.
• Have all official transcripts sent directly from the institution you previously attended to: FHSU Office of the Registrar, 600 Park Street, Hays, KS 67601.
• If you have graduated or are planning to graduate from an accredited Kansas community college, you can find transferable courses at the Course Equivalencies website.

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Graduate Students

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International Students

Welcome to our World.

Every year, Fort Hays State University welcomes thousands of international students. We love the unique perspective and energy a diverse class creates, whether it's on campus or online. International students benefit from the same affordable tuition and fully-accredited courses as our students from the United States. International students also enjoy the competitive edge an American degree may bring in their home country.

Check English Requirements.

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Information for Counselors

We can help you help your students.

As a community or technical college counselor, you play a critical role in helping your advisees transition to a four-year institution. We know that there is a lot of information out there, and it’s hard to keep track of it all. 

That’s why we’ve put together a list of helpful information about applying to and enrolling in Fort Hays State University’s Virtual College.  You may find additional assistance closer to home through our staff of community college liaisons, who help provide information to students and others interested in transferring to FHSU. 

If you are a military education counselor, please visit Information for Military Counselors.   

If the information you seek is not offered below, please contact the Virtual College staff for assistance. 

General Transfer Student Information:

• Transfer and articulation information, housing, financial aid and other great information (relevant for both on campus and online students) can be found here.

Applying for Admission:

• Admission information can be found here.
• Click on Apply now

Getting Started:

• “Is the Virtual College Right for Me?” quiz, a online course demo, and other features are available to help students get started.

Course Schedule:

• Go to Tigertracks.fhsu.edu
• Click on the Course Schedule tab at the top of the page.
• Select Virtual College only (top of page)

Enrolling in a Course:

• As easy as clicking the Enroll Now above!

Applying for Financial Aid:

• Review information and deadlines provided by FHSU’s Financial Assistant Office
• If you have questions call 1 800-628-3478 option # 4
• You may also visit http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

Transfer Student Course Equivalencies:

• Transfer equivalencies can be found on the Registrar’s website.  
• Click on the community college of your choice

University Catalog:

• Policies, general information and degree programs can be found online in the University Catalog.

Graduate School application online: 

• Visit the Graduate School’s homepage.
• Click on Admission Process (left side of page)
• Choose classification (degree seeking or non-degree seeking) and then click on ONLINE.
• Follow the brief instructions.

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VC Liaisons

Dana Nelson

CLOUD COUNTY CC LIAISON
307 W. 9th St.
Concordia, KS 66901
785-243-7153
dnelson@usd333.com

Leonard Bunselmeyer

BARTON COUNTY CC LIAISION
245 NE 30 Road
Great Bend, KS 67530
800.748.7594
bunselmeyerl@bartonccc.edu

Phyllis Stuart

HUTCHINSON CC LIAISION
AND BUTLER CC LIAISION
9717 Chartwell Street
Wichita, Kansas 67205
316-729-6269
Tstuee@aol.com

Joyce Swinehart

KANSAS CITY METRO LIAISION
12923 Mackey
Overland Park, Kanas 66213
913-685-4725
jeswinehart@everestkc.net

Heather Stapp

GARDEN CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
2101 Indigo
Garden City, KS 67846
620-276-8890
hstapp@cox.net
hstapp@gckschools.com

Julie Worley

LAJUNTA CC LIAISON
27245 Highway 50
La Junta, Co 81050
719-384-7656
FAX 719-384-7798
jaworley@rural-com.com

Luke Dowell

SEWARD COUNTY CC LIAISON
1801 N. Kansas
Liberal, KS 67901
620-629-2642
ldowell@sccc.edu

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Information for Military Counselors

Quick reference G2.

Hundreds of military personnel attend FHSU each year through the Virtual College.  We are proud to help the brave men and women serving our country reach their educational goals from wherever they are.  Please visit our military programs page for information specific to military members.  If you can not find the information you seek, please contact the Virtual College staff for assistance. 

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FAQs

Listed below are some of the most frequently asked questions and answers. Questions can also be answered by emailing virtualcollege@fhsu.edu or by calling (785) 628-FHSU (3478) or toll free at 800-628-FHSU (3478).

• How do I start?
• How can I register/enroll for my Virtual
  College course?
• Do I need to be admitted to FHSU to take courses
  offered through the Virtual College?
• What is the cost of a Virtual College course?
• What is the application fee?
• Do I need to be admitted to the Graduate School to
  take graduate-level courses?
• How are the courses delivered?
• Are textbooks and materials included in the
  tuition and fees?
• Can I purchase or keep my tapes?
• How do I take exams?  Do I need to find a test
  proctor?
• How can I find out who is assigned as my advisor?
• How will I know what classes to take?
• How do I find my syllabus?
• Will the credit I earn apply toward my degree for
  teacher certification?
• Will the Virtual College issue my degree and what
  will be on my diploma?
• How do I log in to Blackboard?
• What if I have technical problems with my
  CD-ROM, DVD or Online course?
• Is Fort Hays State University accredited?
• What if I don’t have all the software required to
  view the material for my online course?
• When will I receive my grades?
• What are the system requirements for courses
  offered on Blackboard or CD-ROM?
• Can I call someone to withdraw from a Virtual
  College course?
• How do I find out what classes are offered next
  semester?
• I am in the Navy and would like to attend FHSU, what
  should I do first?
  
  

Q. How do I start?
A. You will find information about where and how
to begin your college career with FHSU at the Virtual
College website at www.fhsu.edu/virtualcollege. This
site offers a self-assessment quiz to see if you are ready
for distance learning, a list of program offerings, a link to
the up-to-date schedule of classes and every other step
of the process right down to ordering your books and
course materials.

Q. How can I register/enroll for my Virtual
College course?
A. There are 3 ways to register for Virtual College courses:
• Early Registration with advisor (preferred)
• Online Registration
• On-Site Registration
Registrations/enrollments should be completed prior
to the official semester/term start date. Select courses,
workshops and seminars may have alternative enrollment
dates. Check the course schedule online at
tigertracks.fhsu.edu for exact enrollment information.

Q. Do I need to be admitted to FHSU to take courses
offered through the Virtual College?
A. Yes. Students enrolling at FHSU for the first time must
submit an application for admission/registration form
available online at www.fhsu.edu/admissions.

Q. What is the cost of a Virtual College course?
A. Tuition and fees are posted online at the Student
Fiscal Services website at www.fhsu.edu/sfs.

Q. What is the application fee?
A. Students enrolling for the first time at FHSU must pay
a one-time, nonrefundable application fee of $30
for undergraduates and degree seeking graduates.
International student fees are $35 (U.S. funds). No action
will be taken pertaining to enrollment until this application
fee is paid.

Q. Do I need to be admitted to the Graduate School to
take graduate-level courses?
A. Yes. The application form is available online at
www.fhsu.edu/gradschl/forms.shtml. Non-degree seeking
students will not be assessed a graduate application
fee, but students must complete the application for
admission and supply evidence of the bachelor’s degree
(transcript) with at least a 2.50 GPA for the last 60 credit
hours from a regionally accredited educational institution.
Inquiries should be made to the Graduate School at
(785) 628-4236 or gradschool@fhsu.edu prior to registration/
enrollment.

Q. How are the courses delivered?
A. The Virtual College delivers distance learning coursework
through asynchronous and synchronous modes.
Asynchronous delivery (anytime/any place) includes:
CD-ROMs, DVDs, the Internet, videotapes and guided
study. Synchronous delivery (same time/different locations)
includes: face-to-face and internet protocol television
(IPTV).

Q. Are textbooks and materials included in the
tuition and fees?
A. No. Textbooks and course material costs are not included
in the tuition cost. To order textbooks and materials,
visit the University Bookstore online at
fhsu.bkstore.com or call 877-387-7448.

Q. Can I purchase or keep my tapes?
A. No. CD-ROMs, DVDs and videotapes are property of
Fort Hays State University and are not available for resale.
CD-ROMs, DVDs and videotapes must be received by
the University Bookstore no later than 10 days after the
completion of the semester/term in order for you to
receive your deposit refund.

Q. How do I take exams? Do I need to find a test
proctor?
A. Information on exams will be found in the course
syllabus (www.fhsu.edu/syllabus) or provided by the
instructor. Some instructors request students to secure
a test proctor during exams. Proctor information can be
found online at www.fhsu.edu/proctorform.

Q. How can I find out who is assigned as my advisor?
A. Advisor information is provided to each student by
the Registrar’s Office when the student is admitted to the
University. To find out who your advisor is, refer to the
Registrar’s letter, visit TigerTracks at tigertracks.fhsu.edu,
or contact the Academic Advising and Career Exploration
Center, Fort Hays State University, Picken Hall 100,
600 Park Street, Hays, KS 67601-4099; (785) 628-5577;
advising@fhsu.edu.

Q. How will I know what classes to take?
A. Contact your advisor to discuss the courses necessary
to obtain a degree.

Q. How do I find my syllabus?
A. Tentative syllabi for courses offered through the Virtual
College are listed online at www.fhsu.edu/syllabus.

Q. Will the credit I earn apply toward my degree for
teacher certification?
A. Contact your advisor or the Licensure Office at (785)
628-4542 before you register to ensure credit will apply
toward degree requirements or certification.

Q. Will the Virtual College issue my degree and what
will be on my diploma?
A. The student’s FHSU degree will be awarded through
one of four colleges: College of Arts and Sciences, College
of Business and Leadership, College of Education
and Technology, or College of Health and Life Sciences at
Fort Hays State University. The words Virtual College will
not appear on the diploma.

Q. How do I log in to Blackboard?
A. Go to blackboard.fhsu.edu and read the information
provided. Click on the log in button. You will then be
prompted to enter your “Username” and “Password”.
The username is normally your first and middle initials
followed by your last name. If you do not have a middle
initial then use an “_” in its place. There are no spaces
and the username is in lowercase. If you have a common
name (i.e. John Smith) check with your instructor to see
if they made special amends to your username (jsmith2).
Your password is often the last four digits of your social
security number.

Q. What if I have technical problems with my
CD-ROM, DVD or Online course?
A. For technical assistance with CD-ROM, DVD, or online
courses that are offered through the Virtual College, call
(785) 628-FHSU(3478) or toll-free at 800-628-FHSU (3478).

Q. Is Fort Hays State University accredited?
A. Fort Hays State University is accredited by the Higher
Learning Commission of the North Central Association
of Colleges and Schools, 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite
2400, Chicago, IL 60602-2504, USA, 800-621-7440; or
(312) 263-0456.

Q. What if I don’t have all the software required to
view the material for my online course?
A. A list of free software downloads is available at
http://www.fhsu.edu/virtualcollege/plugins.shtml.

Q. When will I receive my grades?
A. Final grades from instructors are due in the Registrar’s
Office on the first work day after the semester/term ends.
Students may view their grades at tigertracks.fhsu.edu.
Grades will only be mailed to the student if the student
sends a written request to the Registrar’s Office, Fort
Hays State University, Sheridan Hall 106, 600 Park Street,
Hays, KS 67601-4099.

Q. What are the system requirements for courses
offered on Blackboard or CD-ROM?
A. The minimum technical requirements to take
CD-ROM, DVD and Online courses are:
500 MHz Pentium Processor or faster
128 MB of RAM
150 MB of free hard drive space
Sound card and speakers
CD-ROM/DVD drive
56 K modem (or faster)
800x600 Resolution
Internet access
E-mail account (FHSU provides a free lifetime account)
Web browser and certain plug-ins (depending on
the course)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP or Mac OS X
(or higher)
(Note: Courseware cannot be accessed using Web TV)
For additional information, please visit the Virtual
College website at www.fhsu.edu/virtualcollege/techsupport.
shtml.

Q. Can I call someone to withdraw from a Virtual
College course?
A. No, although the Virtual College staff will assist offcampus
students with this procedure. To withdraw from
a course offered through the Virtual College a written
withdrawal request must be submitted to the Virtual
College. Students may submit a withdrawal request
online at www.fhsu.edu/add-drop or by fax at (785)
628-4037. The withdrawal request should include the
following: student name, social security number and
course information. On-campus students can add/drop
a Virtual College class by obtaining the proper signatures
on the add/drop form. The Virtual College can
assist students in obtaining permission from off-campus
instructors. After the proper signatures are obtained,
please take the add/drop form to the Registrar’s Office
for processing.

Q. How do I find out what classes are offered next
semester?
A. For an up-to-date list of course offerings for current
and upcoming semesters visit tigertracks.fhsu.edu.

Q. I am in the Navy and would like to attend FHSU, what
should I do first?
A. Contact your local Navy Education Office. Education
Counselors will explain the Navy College Partnership
Distance Learning Program and assist you in getting your
SMART transcript. You can learn more about the
program online at www.fhsu.edu/navy, or by calling
(785) 628-FHSU (3478) or 800-628-FHSU (3478).

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Request VC Information

To contact our staff of Virtual College professionals who can answer your questions:

Toll Free: 1 (800) 628-FHSU
Fax: (785) 628-4037
E-Mail: virtualcollege@fhsu.edu

For Technical Support:
Toll Free: 1 (800) 628-FHSU
E-Mail: support@fhsu.edu

Do you live in Kansas? You may wish to talk to one of our Community College Liaisons

If you are ever in Hays, visit us at the Fort Hays State University campus!

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