Getting Started with OnCourse
Getting Started with OnCourse
Staff, faculty, and student workers can get access to use OnCourse after completing a few quick BuckeyeLearn Trainings. Users and their managers have some responsibilities to use OnCourse responsibly and in alignment with university policy.
Expectations for OnCourse Users
Expectations for OnCourse Users
Staff, faculty, and student workers have a responsibility to maintain accurate and appropriate data, to keep updated on new policies, and to use the system to support student success.
Training Requirements
All users must maintain current Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Institutional Data Policy (IDP) training. FERPA is updated as per University Registrar needs and requirements, while IDP is updated and must be completed annually. Check BuckeyeLearn every spring for new versions of these trainings. Users who do not keep up to date on training may have access to OnCourse removed, per institutional and federal policy around student data.
Appropriate Data Maintenance and Usage
In compliance with university legal, compliance, and integrity policy, the OnCourse team and delegates may check click data, staff notes, and reports usage for compliance with institutional, state, and federal guidelines. We may review and redact notes, require renewal of training, and in some cases remove access if policy is not being followed.
Expectations for System Use
In light of OnCourse’s role in supporting a community of practice centered around student success, units that choose to use OnCourse are depended on to contribute to that community:
- Staff and faculty who meet with students to support their academic goals are expected to add appointment summaries and notes on academic goals, recommendations, and future planning as appropriate, student privacy permitting
- Notes and appointment summaries should be useful to students and staff to review advisement given to students. For more examples of beneficial notes, see Documenting Academic Support Interactions in BuckeyeLearn
- GLBA and HIPAA-protected data should not be added and will be redacted during routine audits of the system- staff can notify OnCourse of data that should be removed by submitting a tech ticket here: advising.osu.edu/oncourse-help
Student-facing units that do not add notes and appointment summaries may have their access to the system suspended, per governance policy
Help and Support
Want to learn more about OnCourse and documenting student interactions?
- In BuckeyeLearn take Documenting Academic Support Interactions
- Review training and how-tos in this staff handbook
- Keep an eye on emails from our listserv for additional training opportunities
- Contact us via email at oncourse@osu.edu
- Request technical support
- Request access
Getting Staff Access
Getting Staff Access
Training
All staff, faculty, and student workers who use OnCourse are required to keep up to date on the Institutional Data Policy (IDP) and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) university-wide training. These trainings are provided through BuckeyeLearn. IDP is updated every year and FERPA is updated as new information or improved training methods become available. Staff should check their BuckeyeLearn transcript to see if they have completed the most recent versions of IDP and FERPA.
Additionally, staff and student workers are required to complete OnCourse: Learning the Basics (Staff) in BuckeyeLearn. There is an accessible version if needed.
Requesting Access
After completing these training programs, staff can request access by filling out an access request form. If there are any issues submitting the form, please email oncourse@osu.edu.