eLearning ServicesOnline and Distance Education Disclosures

Lawrence Technological University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all people and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, height, weight, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. The University’s full nondiscrimination policy as well as contact information for submitting inquiries and complaints concerning discrimination can be obtained from LTUs Non-Discriminatory Policy webpage.

Students pursuing online degrees should note that some countries may not formally recognize foreign online degrees, which can have implications for students who later seek to enroll in other educational programs, or for those who seek employment with their home country’s government or other employers requiring specific credentials. Additionally, some countries may or may not require foreign higher education institutions to comply with distance education regulations. Lawrence Technological does not represent or guarantee that its online degree programs are recognized in or meet requirements to comply with distance education regulations in the student’s country of residence, if it is outside the United States. It is therefore the student’s responsibility to understand current circumstances or special requirements surrounding whether this online degree will be recognized in the student’s country of residence, how the collection of student data may be used in said country, and whether the student will be subject to additional withholding taxes in addition to the price of tuition.

Certain foreign governments use firewalls to block or limit access to Internet content, which can impact a student’s ability to access course materials and supporting tools and technologies, including those provided by the University, its partners, and third parties. When available to students, the use of a virtual private network (VPN) may enhance a student’s access. Export controls can further limit LTU’s ability to provide students in foreign jurisdictions with certain downloadable content and programs. The University is committed to working with students who experience access limitations, but as these international restrictions may be beyond LTU’s and the student’s control, the University cannot guarantee full and uninterrupted access to its online educational content, technologies, tools, and services in all international jurisdictions. Please review any notices published by the program you are interested in to learn more.

Background Screening for Export Control and Sanctions Compliance

Qualified international applicants who do not currently hold a valid U.S. visa will be subjected to additional background checks through international databases prior to receiving an offer of admission. These screening procedures support the University’s efforts to avoid transacting with persons designated under U.S. sanctions programs.  

Data Privacy and Protection

Personal information—whether volunteered, collected through automated processes (e.g., cookies operating on LTU websites), or retrieved from third-parties—will be processed in the United States. Because of the GDPR regulation in the EU, to meet the regulations we are now blocking EU traffic without a consent form.  To have access to LTU systems while in Europe, students/Faculty/Staff will need to complete a consent form and they will be given an exception and instructions. 

Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Taxes

U.S. Citizenship or legal permanent residency is a requirement for federal financial aid and FAFSA eligibility. University and advertised external scholarships may not be available to all international students. Students and prospective students are advised to review all eligibility criteria listed for such scholarships carefully. Depending on your location or country of citizenship, you may be required to pay taxes in your location or country of citizenship, in addition to the tuition and fees you will pay to LTU. These taxes may result from “purchasing” educational content, receiving scholarships, or from other triggering events relating to your participation in this online program.

The United States Federal Higher Education Opportunity Act requires that all institutions offering distance or correspondence courses or programs certify that the student registering for a course is the same student who participates in the course or receives course credit. The FHEO requires that one or more of the following mechanisms be employed:

• A secure login and passcode;
• Proctored examinations; and
• New or other technologies and practices that are effective in verifying student identification. 

In compliance with these federal requirements, Lawrence Technological University has adopted the following procedures:

1. Use of student photo .  Students seeking admission to an online degree program will be required to prove their identify upon admission.  Students able to come to campus can bring their passport, state issued identification and/or birth certificate to the One Stop Center.  Their documents will be verified and LTU will issue a student ID card at no cost to the student. Students not able to come to campus must submit their passport, state issued identification with picture and one additional form of identification as well as a picture to be used as their LTU student profile picture in LTU systems. LTU may require these documents to be taken to a notary and notarized to ensure the identity of the applying student.  Costs for notary are the responsibility of the student.

   LTU student ID photos are loaded in LTU systems (Banner, Canvas, etc.) and available for viewing by faculty and staff. Instructors will emphasize the academic integrity policy in their syllabus and use normal pedagogical practices (reviewing student writing samples, conferencing with students in person or through Internet technology, etc.) to verify student identity including comparing the system profile photo with the person interacting.  Concerns about identify will be forwarded to the University Registrar’s office for further exploration including, but not limited to IP address monitoring, requiring additional documentation and/or repeated notarization of documents.  

2. Secure email & communication : All students will be issued a unique e-mail account with a secure logon and passcode upon being accepted to the University or admitted to an online program. All email communication between the University and the student will be through this e-mail account.
3. Secure login to LMS : All electronic courses at the University will be offered through Canvas, which students will access with their secure LTU logon and passcode.
4. Proctored exams:   LTU online courses have varied assessments and faculty may, at their discretion, require proctored examinations or use other technologies that are effective in verifying students’ identities. Students have a choice to come to LTU’s campus and have their exam proctored by LTU faculty, eLearning Services or the Academic Achievement Center. If students cannot come to campus for proctoring, LTU uses a third-party proctoring platform (HonorLock) to ensure academic integrity.  Costs for online proctoring are currently paid for eLearning services.  If deemed necessary, these costs will become the responsibility of online students and notice of the additional course fee for proctoring will be listed in the course registration site and charged upon registration.  
5. Plagiarism Detection:   LTU courses often require students to produce written work and faculty may, at their discretion, summit papers to go through a plagiarism detection application (currently SimCheck). LTU reserves to right to add student papers to its plagiarism detection database for future comparisons.
6. LTU Honor Code : All online students must comply with LTU’s Academic Honor Code. Any student found to have permitted another student to represent them for any portion of an online course will be dismissed from the course and will not be permitted to take any other online courses at LTU.

As part of participation in online courses or programs at LTU, the University will make and use photographic, audio, video, or other recordings (the “Recordings”) of you, your voice, and your likeness. This also may include your personally identifiable information, education records, and use of the online interface. Recordings may include work product and other materials, whether or not copyrighted by you or others, that you make available as part of your participation in online courses or programs at or through the University (the “Materials”).

The Recordings are necessary for your participation in University online degree-granting courses and will be used internally and externally during and after your enrollment for purposes related to instruction, evaluation, classroom participation, conflict resolution and academic integrity, among others. Recordings and Materials may also be shared with University officials and third parties acting on behalf of the University in connection with administration of online courses and programs. Recordings and Materials may also be used for program and University accreditation processes and assessment reporting. 

Recordings and Materials that amount to education records protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) are subject to LTU’s FERPA policies.

Lawrence Technology University is an accredited public institution that participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) . This combination of factors allows LTU to enroll online students from all states and territories in the United States. This also means that otherwise eligible and qualifying students, whether participating in-state or out-of-state, can use federal financial aid to support tuition and fees associated with LTU online degrees and certificates.

Many professions in the United States are regulated by state agencies which require individuals to obtain a license or certification as a condition of employment. States differ as to which professions are regulated in this manner. Common categories include but are not limited to legal services, social services, architecture, engineering, education, accounting, and healthcare. 

While programs that lead to professional licensure may be “authorized” in your home state, this does not guarantee that the program will also satisfy prerequisites for becoming licensed in the profession as defined by the applicable state licensing body in your state.  Please contact your department or school directly to request information about whether a specific state’s professional licensure requirements can be satisfied by completing the program you are interested or enrolled in and whether there may be additional requirements or costs involved. You are also encouraged to contact the appropriate licensing body in your state with any questions relating to professional licensure. CareerOneStop , sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, provides a survey tool for locating regulatory bodies associated with licensed professions in each state. In addition, the Council on Licensure, Enforcement, and Regulation (CLEAR) hosts contact information for many licensing boards categorized both by jurisdiction and by profession.

Lawrence Technological University is committed to serving all students, whether participating on campus or online. A student has the right to lodge a complaint or grievance. LTU will ensure that all concerns and complaints of students are addressed fairly and are resolved promptly. LTU’s student complaint process begins with the  Dean of Student Affairs Office. 

Student complaints relating to consumer protection laws offered under the terms and conditions of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), must first be filed with LTU first to seek resolution. The Office of Student Affairs is resource for those seeking consultation and mediation support as well as more formal resolution options when experiencing conflict including complaints relating to harassment or discrimination.  Complaints relating to the institution’s policies and consumer protection issues, the University encourages students and prospective students to first contact personnel in the office, department, school, or college where the complaint originated.  

If your complaint is not resolved to your satisfaction after exhausting LTU’s internal review processes, your complaint may be eligible for external review by one or more agencies. These processes are detailed below. 

Michigan Residents and SARA-Eligible, Out-of-State Complaints

Both Michigan residents and students located in a state or territory that has joined the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA), may submit a complaint to Michigan’s Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau (CSCL) , which operates within Michigan’s SARA portal entity, the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). Additional information regarding complaint eligibility can be found in the CSCL complaint form linked above and in the Consumer Protection section of the  SARA Manual . 

Additional Information for Out-of-State Students

If you do not live in Michigan or in another SARA state, or if the nature of the complaint does not fall within the scope of SARA, you may instead contact the relevant agency in your home state for additional support. 

Military

Active military service members, veterans, and family members of military service members or veterans may be eligible to submit a complaint for review to the Department of Defense (DoD).

Accreditation

LTU is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Complaints concerning broad institutional academic practices, such as those that raise issues regarding ability to meet accreditation standards, may be filed with the Higher Learning Commission Complaint Form.