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Frequently
Asked Questions
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| Online learning is new to
most of our course participants. Each course contains orientation
material to ensure you are adequately familiar with the software in
order to enjoy the course. More details can be found at our Participant Guidelines page. |
| To participate in an
e-Course, you need a computer (PC or Mac), Internet access, and a
browser. For video-based courses, you need Windows Media Player (along
with speakers and a sound card) to view the video lectures. Details are
on our Computer Requirements page. |
| Approximately 85% of our
course participants identify themselves as having "beginner" or
"intermediate" skills with regard to using the Web. Technical support
help is provided, and our staff responds promptly to any questions
participants have about using the course management software. Our
courses contain online orientation and Help features to ensure you are
adequately prepared to participate in and enjoy this learning
experience. |
| Whether you've been away
from a classroom for 40 years or four months, we are convinced that you
will benefit from the course material and the opportunity for
discussion and shared inquiry with other adult learners. Course
participant education levels range from high school to postgraduate
degrees. The only prerequisite for our courses is a desire to learn and
share with other adult Catholics interested in faith seeking
understanding. |
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Most of our courses are
not for academic credit; rather they seek to serve the continuing
education needs of pastoral ministers and adult Catholics. Participants
who complete course requirements receive a Certificate of Completion.
Some of STEP's affiliated dioceses use our courses as part of their
formal ministry formation or continuing education programs. Some course
participants have been able to use our courses to satisfy requirements
for diaconate continuing education or degree programs through other
institutions. Certificates of Completion issued to those completing an
e-Course note the number of "contact hours" associated with the course.
However, through STEP
services, Notre Dame's Master of Arts Program in Theology offers online
courses for graduate level credit. For more information, please visit
the M.A. (Theology) Program Web site or contact Cheron
Price at 574-631-4254.
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| Most course readings are
provided online, although some courses require the purchase of a text
(check a specific course's syllabus on the Catalog page for details). |
| If you are using a Mac,
insert the CD-ROM, then double-click the CD icon on your desktop. A
window should appear that contains several files. Double-click the file
called "start-name of lecturer" (for example, "start-Cunningham,"
"start-Baxter," etc.) to open the welcome page.
If you are using a PC,
insert the CD-ROM, then double-click the "My Computer" icon on your
desktop. When the window containing your computer's different drives
appears, double-click the icon for your CD-ROM drive. A window should
appear that contains several files. Double-click the file called
"start-name of lecturer" (for example, "start-Cunningham,"
"start-Baxter," etc.) to open the welcome page.
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STEP Payment
Policy
Courses:
Students who enroll in a STEP course are required to pay for the course
prior to the start date of the course. In the event of a late
registration, the use of a credit card by the student is required.
CD orders:
When the order is paid with a credit card, lecture CDs will be mailed
as the orders are placed. In situations where a student wishes to pay
by invoice, the CDs will be mailed when payment is received.
Supplemental CDs
Supplemental course CDs are mailed two weeks prior to the course start
date if paid in full.
STEP
Refund Policy
Courses:
A full refund will be given to students who, for whatever reason, wish
to drop a course before it begins. No refund will be
given after a course begins. If for any reason a
student is unable to participate in a course after it begins, the
student may transfer to a future session of the same course within
twelve months of the start date. The request for a transfer
must be completed during the first two weeks of the course. If
the course is offered only once in an academic year (September to
June), then the student may transfer to the next scheduled session of
the course.
CDs:
Any defective CD can be exchanged. A new one will be mailed as soon as
the student notifies STEP of the problem. Refunds will be issued for
those who are not satisfied, for whatever reason, with the CD. In order
to receive a refund, the student will be required to mail the CD back
to STEP.
STEP Course
Cancellation Policy
For a variety of reasons
STEP may have to cancel a course. Students enrolled in the cancelled
course may receive a refund or transfer to another course. Upon
notification of the course cancellation, the students will have one
week to make a decision. If they choose to transfer, they may transfer
to any course STEP offers in the next twelve months. Any refunds or
credits associated with the transfer will be made at that time. If the
student does not indicate a choice, then STEP will refund their fee.
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| To download a STEP
announcement for your parish bulletin, click on a link for either a .pdf file or a .gif file. If you do not have
the Adobe Acrobat Reader (which is necessary to view .pdf files)
installed on your computer, please click here to download the free Reader. After
opening the .pdf file, you may be prompted to save it to your computer
automatically, or you can click on the "save" icon on the Adobe
toolbar. To save the .gif file after opening it, right-click on the
image and choose "Save picture as..." |
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Yes, STEP uses VeriSign
Payment Services to process all transactions securely. The page
where you enter your credit card information is a secure order form
provided by VeriSign that uses SSL (secure socket layer) encryption.
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Some Windows Media files
(such as the streaming video in the courses) may not play correctly on
Mac OS X computers without downloading the Flip4Mac player (free) from the Microsoft web
site. After downloading the free player, the course streaming video plays
correctly in the Safari browser.
Some video files may not
play correctly on Mac OS X computers without downloading the free DivX
codec from the QuickTime Components page or the DivX web site.
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For assistance with
technical questions, course login, or questions concerning STEP
programming and course content, please call STEP toll-free at
1-866-425-7837(STEP), e-mail us at stepnd
AT(@) nd.edu, or submit an
online STEP Problem Report (copy and paste this URL into your browser:
www.nd.edu/~stepnd/e-courses/step-problem.html). STEP's normal
operating hours
are from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday.
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