Information for Enrolled Online Students

Consciousness-Based^SM education was developed by the University’s founder, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, so that students not only gain professional skills and knowledge in different fields of life but also develop themselves from within to unfold their full potential. Self-exploration is at the heart of an MIU education. By directly experiencing your innermost nature through the Transcendental Meditation^® technique, you can easily connect each discipline to your own life, and see the underlying unity of all knowledge. In every course at MIU, in addition to learning the knowledge of the subject, you will explore the connection of that knowledge with consciousness – your innermost Self.

Transcendental Meditation is a simple, natural, effortless procedure to develop students’ full creative potential from within and to improve the overall quality of life. Extensive published research has found that regular TM practice reduces stress, promotes integrated brain functioning, increases creativity and intelligence, and enhances learning ability and academic performance. For these reasons, all students are required to practice the TM technique each day for about 20 minutes in the morning and afternoon. Online students are required to learn Transcendental Meditation before their academic program begins. For those without a local TM center, students can learn TM during the orientation session.

You’ll also learn two simple and effective methods for creating and maintaining a balanced state of health and gaining maximum benefit from your TM practice:

• simple yoga postures (called Maharishi Yoga Asanas) for flexibility and mind-body integration
• a simple breathing exercise (called pranayama) for enlivening your mind and body

Accepted US applicants can learn TM for $190. International applicants should consult with their nearest TM center.

To find a teacher of the Transcendental Meditation technique, visit www.tm.org

Online students will be automatically withdrawn from a for-credit course if the student does not log on to the online course by Day 7 (11:59 pm Central time) after the course begin date that is published in the schedule. During the length of the course, a student must participate according to the course syllabus on a weekly basis. Students who fail to participate within a 14-day period will be automatically withdrawn.

Students who fail to maintain active participation in an online course as defined in the course syllabus will be withdrawn from the course unless their instructor has given prior approval and the instructor has notified the MIU Registrar and de@miu.edu.

Student attendance in online courses will be defined as active participation in the course as described in the course syllabus. Online courses have weekly mechanisms for student participation, which can be documented by any or all of the following methods: submission/completion of assignments, posting to discussion forums, and quizzes. Logging into Canvas, watching videos, chat in Slack, and email communication with faculty do not count as course participation.

Students may not hand in work after the last class session of a course unless they have made prior arrangements with the course instructor, and all students are given a grade at that time based on completed work, in-class performance, and work not yet completed. A zero (0) for the uncompleted work is figured into the interim grade. Students who are not able to complete all major assignments of a course, typically in the final week, due to illness, family emergency, or other compelling circumstances beyond their control, may petition the professor in writing before the end of the course to be granted more time. If the petition for additional time is granted by the professor, the professor will form a contract with the student, specifying the assignments that need to be completed and their due date(s). If the required work is submitted as specified in the contract before the professor turns in grades (generally 10 days after the end of the course), the student will receive the grade earned through in-course work and work done during the extended time.In the event the student is sick or otherwise incapacitated during the time the professor is completing the grading process, the student may petition the professor for additional time — up to 42 days from the final day of the course — to submit late work. The faculty may also request documentation of the illness or other emergencies.

Students who do not meet the Online For-Credit Attendance, Participation and Expectations Policy stipulated above are likely to receive a No Credit for the course and are not eligible to apply for this petition. This petition cannot be used when the student would like to re-do work for a better grade. The petition is only to cover work that cannot be submitted on time by the end of the course due to illness, family emergency, or other compelling circumstances.

If the required work is submitted after the end of the grading period, but within 42 days of the end of the class, in keeping with the contract, the student’s grade will be amended by the professor from what it had been at the end of the grading period to what was earned by the end of the time agreed upon in the contract. After the 42 days from the end of the course, no grade can be altered in the Registrar’s database, except through written appeal to the Dean of Academic Programs.

To maintain satisfactory academic progress and eligibility to attend the University, students must meet three standards listed below. These standards are evaluated at the end of each semester. If a student is not meeting any one of these standards, the student is placed on “Academic Warning” for that standard for the following semester. A student not meeting that standard by the end of the “Academic Warning” semester will no longer be eligible to attend the University. Students on academic warning are not eligible for Rotating University courses, directed studies, or internships (except when required by the department for graduation).

Grade Point Average

Undergraduate students are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. Those whose average drops below 2.0 are placed on Academic Warning status and have one more semester to bring their average back to the minimum 2.0. At the end of the second semester, if the average is not at the required level, students will be allowed to petition for a probationary semester. Probation is not automatically granted. If the student does not petition, or the student’s petition for a probationary semester is denied, the student will be asked to leave the University, with return conditions determined by the program faculty on a case-by-case basis. Some departments also have additional GPA requirements.

Completion Rate

Undergraduate students must complete two-thirds of instructional credits attempted, within the current degree (excluding RC and REC courses, but including DC courses). Unattended courses are removed from the student’s record and are therefore excluded. Grades of “W,” “NC,” “NCR,” “NP,” “I,” and “AU” are counted as credits attempted but not completed. Transfer credits are not counted as attempted or completed.

Maximum Time Frame

Undergraduate students may attempt a maximum of 150% of the number of credits normally required to complete their program. For example, an undergraduate degree requires 128 credits so undergraduates may attempt a maximum of 192 credits to complete their program, including transfer credits, double majors, and switching majors. A student who has 174 credits is placed on “Warning” status the following semester.

At MIU Student success is our top priority! Below are some vital resources that can help to ensure your learning experience with us is a positive and fulfilling one.

• Disability Services: Students with Special Needs
  Contact: Paula Armstrong, Disabilities Officer
  Email: parmstrong@miu.edu
  Tel: (641) 470-1384
• Transcendental Meditation Support
  Contact: Julie Beaufort, Director of Development of Consciousness for Online Students
  Email: tmsupport@miu.edu
• University Library
  Tel: (641) 472-1154
  Email: library@miu.edu
• Writing Center
  Online Students can receive help at any stage of the writing process.
  Email: writingcenter@miu.edu

Students needing to withdraw from an online credit course must inform their instructor and the MIU Online department at de@miu.edu of their intent to withdraw. Refunds for online degree-seeking withdrawals are on a per semester % attended basis. See Reductions in Charges and Financial AidStudents who have not applied to a degree program and are taking one course at a time will be charged a minimum 50% of the course fee, and after 25% of the course, there is no refund.