Start Where You Are FAQ's

We have compiled a list of frequently asked questions to help you in the decision process. If you have questions that are not addressed on this page, please contact your advisor or send an email to the Office of Advising & Academic Services.

FAQ Overview

General

What is the Start Where You Are initiative?

Start Where You Are is an initiative enabling first-year students to enroll in entirely online courses for fall. This provides students greater flexibility to determine how they want to engage with their courses for the semester. Students from within the U.S./Ohio may choose to take part in Start Where You Are based on the financial flexibility it provides, scheduling flexibility for other commitments, or if they want to stay in a specific location for fall. International students may take part in Start Where You Are if they are not able to travel to the US by the beginning of fall semester due to travel restrictions, availability of visas or other travel documentation, or availability of transportation.

I’m a sophomore/junior/senior, can I opt for taking classes remotely this fall, too?

Yes. Continuing students schedule their classes through the online registration process and in most programs always have the opportunity to build an entirely online schedule. Some programs, based on instructional formats, have greater flexibility to offer online courses. Some programs will have greater availability of online courses than others.

Is it possible to start remotely and transition to campus in the middle of the semester, if the COVID-19 situation gets better?

Beyond the first week of the semester, students are not able to adjust their schedule or shift to alternative classes. Students can engage in on-campus activities while enrolling in all online classes.

Can I stay at home Spring 2021 too, or will I be expected to come to campus?

Course schedules have not yet been developed for Spring 2021, but we anticipate offering a large number of online courses to continue to offer students flexibility.

Why isn’t my college/program participating?

Some colleges or programs are not able to offer their courses online at the same level as other programs. Some course materials can be conveyed more appropriately in person than online. Additionally, some courses require facilities or materials that are best available on-campus. Some courses have experiential activities that are best performed or assessed in person.

Financial matters

Will tuition be different if I decide to stay at home versus start on campus?

At the University of Cincinnati, the quality of instruction, learning outcomes, and course content is the same whether a course is offered online or on-campus. Similar to other universities, UC charges the same or similar tuition rates for online and on-campus courses.

Will taking all online classes impact my scholarships?

No. Scholarships will not be impacted by choosing to take all online courses.

Does taking classes remotely impact my financial aid?

No. Financial Aid will not be impacted by choosing to take all online courses.

I’m a veteran, how will taking all my classes this fall remotely impact my financial aid (G.I. Benefits)?

Students receiving G.I. Benefits should work with the Veterans Programs & Services to discuss their financial aid and any implications based on their schedule.

Class registration and attendance

How do I choose the option to take classes remotely this fall?

As part of Bearcat Bound Orientation, a student’s academic advisor will work with them over the summer to schedule classes. During this process, the student should work with their advisor to schedule all online classes and opt-in to the Start Where You Are program.

Will the option of receiving a Pass grade instead of a letter grade still be available to students taking all their classes remotely this fall?

The University anticipates returning to normal grading outlines for fall 2020.

Will I be allowed to complete courses on my own time or will I be expected to log-in at a certain day/time for classes?

Online courses can be offered both synchronously, where students and the instructor gather at the same time for instruction while still at a distance and asynchronously where the material is available for the student to consume the instruction with more time flexibility. Synchronous courses will be labelled in Catalyst with a specific meeting pattern and time.

If I choose to take all online courses, do I still have to go through the orientation?

Yes. Bearcat Bound Orientation is required for all new students.

Is there a deadline to opt in (or out)? Can I change my mind closer to the start of the semester?

Students can change their schedule through the end of the first week of the semester.

Will opting for all online courses be reflected on my transcript?

No. The delivery format of courses is not reflected on UC’s transcripts.

If I am in a different time zone than the University of Cincinnati, how will that impact class times and attendance expectations?

If I choose all online courses, am I guaranteed to graduate on time or to be on track to graduate on time?

Academic progress towards the student’s degree is dependent on their academic performance and choice of courses. Advisors can assist students in choosing courses that best move them towards their degree and academic success.

If I start online, will I be delayed from starting cooperative education (co-op) or other experience-based learning opportunities?

As the student works with their advisor on course selection, they can also discuss future academic plans and any scheduling impacts.

What if my program is going online, but I want to stay on campus - is this possible?

Yes. Students with all online classes are still welcome on campus for other campus and student life activities (including housing). In addition, while the courses required for the program will be online, the student could choose additional coursework (electives for example) that is being delivered on-campus.

A course or program I was going to take on campus has now been moved online. UC Online is offering an equivalent program, so does that mean I will be enrolling in UC Online and would have my tuition and fees adjusted?

No. When students apply to the University of Cincinnati, they apply to a specific program including choosing to enroll in either an online program or on campus program (if both delivery formats are offered for a given program). Individual course selection, availability, or format does not adjust a student’s program of enrollment. A student could choose to apply to change programs. If admitted to the online version of the program, the decision would be permanent and not just apply to fall semester.

International students

I’m an international first-year student residing outside the U.S., how will taking remote classes affect my visa status?

International students residing outside the U.S. do not need an I-20 or a student visa to take online classes this Fall semester. However, students will need an I-20 to begin their courses in-person in Spring 2021. Therefore, students taking online courses this fall should work with UC International Services to receive their I-20 for Spring 2021 as quickly as possible so they can schedule their visa interview and come to campus in January 2021.

I’m an international student residing inside the U.S., how will taking all online courses affect my visa eligibility/status?

F-1 students can remain present in the US (or return to the U.S. from abroad) and enroll in all online courses this Fall. Students can enroll in a full course of study while abroad and keep their F-1 student status active. This also applies to F-1 students who were present in the US at the time the pandemic started, were enrolled in a high school, another college, or another university, and will now be attending UC (i.e. SEVIS transfers).

Will this count as my first semester on scholarship?

Yes. All scholarships will be applied towards the student's Fall 2020 bill, so this will count as their first (of eight) scholarship terms. However, costs for Fall 2020 will be significantly reduced since the student will not be paying for things like residence hall fees and UC health insurance.

I’m an international student, will this impact my eligibility for OPT (Optional Practical Training) or CPT (Curricular Practical Training)?

International students must complete one academic year (two semesters) of study in the U.S. before becoming eligible for CPT or OPT. A semester of online study will not count towards fulfilling that requirement. However, students who take in-person courses beginning Spring 2021, will be able to complete the two required semesters of in-person coursework and be able to start Co-Op without delay. As long as the student arrives in the U.S. for in-person classes beginning Spring 2021, taking online courses in Fall 2020 will not impact their CPT or OPT eligibility.

If I am in a different time zone than the University of Cincinnati, how will that impact class times and attendance expectations?

Student support

Will I be able to participate in a Learning Community for my program, if I choose all online courses?

Yes. Learning Communities will be available for students who choose online courses. These Learning Communities will meet remotely.

Will offices like the Learning Commons and the Bearcat Studio still offer assistance online?

Yes. University offices and services, including Learning Commons and Bearcat Studio, will be available to students remotely.

Will students have access to academic support if online instruction is not going well?

Yes. All academic support services will be available to students, whether they take classes online or on-campus. These services will be accessible remotely.

If I take all my classes remotely this fall, will I still be required to come to campus for things such as advising appointments?

No. Academic advisors will continue to offer online and remote advising into fall semester.

If going remote, will I still be able to receive assistance from Accessibility Services?

Yes. Accessibility Services will be available remotely.

Housing/campus life

Will new first-year students with all online courses be required to live on campus?

No. Students in the Start Where You Are program will not be required to live on campus.

If I have applied for housing and decide to go online, will I get my deposit back?

Yes. Once enrolled in the Start Where You Are program, University Housing will reach out to students to make any adjustments to their housing application.

If I would take classes remotely this fall, would I still be able to get involved in campus life and activities, such as student organizations and campus events?

Yes. Many campus activities will be available remotely for students during fall 2020.

For Advisors/staff

Are there best practice resources available for advisors on how to manage dual caseloads?

The Office of Advising & Academic Services has compiled a SharePoint page with resources on online advising.

How can I track which students decide to stay at home?

When first-year students are enrolling in all online courses as part of the Start Where You Are program, advisors should add the Start Where You Are student group to their Catalyst record.

What happens if a student tells me they want to participate in this program?

If the program is participating, the advisor should work with the student to develop and schedule an all online course schedule for fall.

What classes do I advise a student to take if they are participating in this program?

Courses will vary based on the needs for each individual program. Courses should apply to the student’s degree program and advance them towards their degree.

Who I do I refer students to if they have non-advising questions?

Students may be referred to the appropriate office for general questions (Housing, One-Stop, etc.).

For admissions staff, how do we direct a student whose college participates and one whose college does not?

Students should contact their academic program and academic advisor for more information.