Faculty Handbook 2012 - 2013
Students interested in exploring off-campus study (ocs) are required to make an appointment with the Off-Campus Study Office (OCS). These appointments are available starting in April of the first year and continuing through Thanksgiving break of the sophomore year. This allows students ample time to formulate appropriate learning outcomes for an ocs experience, to explore a range of options among the Denison-accepted programs, and to carefully consider issues such as timing of participation and integration with degree requirements.
Denison maintains a list of accepted off-campus programs that address the pedagogical and curricular concerns, as well as the academic standards, associated with a Denison liberal arts education. Since the list of accepted programs is subject to ongoing evaluation and adjustment, it is not printed in the catalog. The current list can be found at http://www.denison.edu/academics/offcampus/.
Second semester sophomores with a well-articulated academic trajectory, juniors, and first semester seniors are eligible to participate in ocs. First semester seniors, however, must also petition to have the senior residency requirements waived in order to receive final OCS approval. Students normally seek approval for one semester and/or a summer of ocs during their Denison career, though approval for an academic year of ocs is also possible.
To pursue ocs for academic credit, students must first obtain Denison approval for such study and then apply for admission by the educational partner. Denison approval is granted through the four-stage OCS Proposal process. The student is also responsible for completing an abridged application with the appropriate partner. If the student receives Denison approval, OCS forwards the proposal materials to the partner to complete the application file and allow for a final admission decision.
To promote ocs, Denison does not require students to pay its tuition or room/board fees during their term off-campus. Denison presently charges a nominal administrative fee of $220 (summer), $660 (semester), and $760 (academic year) to cover the administrative support associated with OCS.
Denison students may pursue one semester of ocs with institutional aid eligibility. While Denison does not provide institutional merit-based aid for ocs, institutional need-based aid is available for eligible students. A student’s eligibility is based on the estimated cost of participation for the proposed ocs program and the estimated family contribution from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Federal grants, state grants, and Federal loans are the initial sources for meeting financial need for eligible students. If a student’s need is not fully met by those funding sources, limited Denison grant funding is available to assist in meeting a portion of remaining need. OCS also awards a significant number of substantial grants, funded by the partners, for students who have unmet need after the Denison packaging process.
Students may also apply for an Educational Enrichment Leave of Absence (EEL) to pursue experiential learning opportunities that are not credit bearing or structured educational opportunities whose coursework is not applicable to a Denison Baccalaureate degree. In the case of an EEL for an internship opportunity, a student may opt to pursue study at a local institution as an adjunct activity. This course-load may not exceed eight credits and must be approved in advance through the normal transfer credit evaluation process.
Students wishing to pursue an EEL are required to meet with and, ultimately, to submit a written rationale to OCS. The rationale must articulate a clear connection between the student’s Denison educational trajectory, broader educational goals, and proposed enrichment program.
If you have any questions, please contact the Ocs office at x6532 or at ocs@denison.edu.