Get ready for your online courses
You will need the following hardware and software in order to access your courses online, work on and submit assignments, communicate with professors and peers, and successfully complete your courses and your degree program. If you have technical questions, contact the UofL IT HelpDesk at 502.852.7997.
| |
Windows |
Mac |
| Personal computer |
With administrative rights (the ability to download software and change security settings) |
With administrative rights (the ability to download software and change security settings) |
| Broadband Internet connection |
Speed of 512 kb/s or higher for DSL or 1 Mbps or higher for (upload) cable connection |
Speed of 512 kb/s or higher for DSL or 1 Mbps or higher for (upload) cable connection |
| Operating system |
Windows 8 and 10 |
Mac OS 10.12, 10.13, 10.14 |
| Microsoft Office |
2013 or higher (see details below about Office 365) |
iWork or Microsoft Office 2011 (see details below about Office 365) |
| Browsers |
Firefox 57+, Chrome 63+ |
Safari 12+; however Firefox 57+ and Chrome 63+ are recommended |
| Hardware |
Desktop or Laptop |
Desktop or Laptop |
| Webcam |
Internal or external with microphone |
Internal or external with microphone |
Tablet and Mobile Support
| Device |
Operating System |
Browser |
Supported Browser Version(s) |
| Android™ |
Android 5.0+ |
Chrome |
Latest |
| Apple |
iOS® |
Safari, Chrome |
The latest minor or point release of the most recent two major versions of iOS. Examples: iOS 10.3.2 is supported but not 10.2.1. iOS 9.3.5 is also supported but not 9.0.2. |
| Windows |
Windows 10 |
Chrome, Firefox, Edge |
Latest of all browsers, except for Microsoft Internet Explorer (not supported) and Firefox ESR |
Office Productivity Software
While the software you will need will vary by course, it is likely that you will need office productivity software such as the Microsoft Office Suite. UofL and Microsoft have added a new program that provides a free version of Office for enrolled students. Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus includes applications like Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote and more, including 50GB of cloud storage in OneDrive. The program allows currently enrolled students to install Microsoft Office 365 on up to five devices including PCs, Macs, phones or tablets. Additional software can be purchased through the information technology store, iTech Xpress. You must be an enrolled student to access the store.
You can test whether you have recommended and necessary components by performing the following steps:
- Login to the UofL Blackboard home page
- Scroll to the General Resources module
- Click on the Browser Checker
Last Updated: August 27, 2019
Students enrolled in online programs who have complaints, grievances, or concerns regarding courses taken at the University of Louisville (UofL) should contact UofL's Student Advocate in the Dean of Students office to have the issues resolved in an expeditious, fair, and amicable manner.
The University’s Student Complaint Procedure is outlined in detail on the Dean of Students website. Students should first seek to resolve their complaints through informal discussion and administrative channels. This is the same process for all students enrolled at University of Louisville.
In the unlikely event that the issue is not resolved internally at the University of Louisville, students enrolled in online programs may file complaints with other agencies. The process will depend upon where a student resides:
- Current Residents of Kentucky
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Out-of-State Students residing in a "SARA" state* – see map
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Out-of-State Students residing in a non-"SARA" state* – see map
*The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) is a voluntary agreement that allows states and institutions to offer distance education in other participating states so long as the institution adheres to certain quality and consumer protection standards. More information on SARA can be found here. Kentucky is a member of SARA and UofL is an approved SARA institution.
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Complaint Process for Current Residents of Kentucky
The Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) is the agency in Kentucky that handles complaints about the University of Louisville and has the ability to act on those complaints from students residing in Kentucky. Students should attempt to resolve the complaint through the established protocol at the University of Louisville before contacting CPE.
Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education
1024 Capital Center Dr. #320
Frankfort, KY 40601-7512
Telephone: (502) 573-1555
Fax: (502) 573-1535
Email: cpeconsumercomplaint@ky.gov
http://cpe.ky.gov/campuses/consumer_complaint.html
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Complaint Process for Out-of-State Students Residing in SARA States and Territories
As the designated portal agency under SARA, the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) is the agency that handles complaints about the University of Louisville and has the ability to act on those complaints from students enrolled in online programs residing in SARA-member states. Though the final resolution of complaints will be through the CPE, the student’s home state portal agency may also work with the CPE to resolve the complaint. To view a list of SARA portal agencies, please view the NC-SARA States page.
Students who live in a state that has joined SARA (see map for participating states) should follow the procedures listed here to initiate complaints pursuant to SARA policy.
- Follow the University’s complaint procedure
- If the complaint cannot be resolved at the University, file a complaint with the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, the state SARA portal agency:
Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education
1024 Capital Center Dr. #320
Frankfort, KY 40601-7512
Telephone: (502) 573-1555
Fax: (502) 573-1535
Email: cpeconsumercomplaint@ky.gov
http://cpe.ky.gov/campuses/consumer_complaint.html
Note: In accordance with 13 KAR 4:010, a non-resident student attending a Kentucky college or university operating through the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) must first exhaust all internal procedures for complaint resolution offered by the college or university before filing a complaint. In addition, the incident giving rise to the complaint must have occurred within two years of filing.
Per the NC-SARA manual, while final resolution of Complaints (for purposes of adjudication of the Complaint and enforcement of any resultant remedies or redress) resides in certain cases with institutions (Complaints about grades or student conduct violations), or more generally with the relevant Institution’s Home State SARA Portal Entity (all other Complaints), the Regional Compact(s) administering SARA may consider a disputed Complaint as a “case file” if concerns are raised against a SARA member State with regard to whether that State is abiding by SARA policies, as promulgated in the SARA Manual. The Regional Compact may review such institutional concerns in determining whether a State under its SARA purview is abiding by SARA policies. Similarly, a Complaint “case file” may also be reviewed by NC-SARA in considering whether a Regional Compact is ensuring that its SARA member States are abiding by the SARA policies required for their membership in SARA. See Section 4.5, Process for Resolving Complaints, in the NC-SARA Manual (page 33).
Therefore, if there are concerns that Kentucky is not abiding by SARA policies, a complaint may be made to the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB):
Southern Regional Education Board
592 10th St. N.W.
Atlanta, GA 30318-5776
Telephone: (404) 875-9211
Website: https://www.sreb.org/contact
Similarly, if there are concerns that the SREB is not ensuring that Kentucky is abiding by SARA standards, a complaint may be made to NC-SARA:
National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements
3005 Center Green Drive, Suite 130
Boulder, Colorado 80301
Telephone: 303.848.3275
Email: info@nc-sara.org
Website: https://www.nc-sara.org/
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Complaint Process for Out-of-State Students Residing in Non-SARA States and Territories
Students who live in a non-SARA state (currently just California a few of the U.S. Territories) may file a complaint with an agency in the student’s state of residence. Below is a list of agencies where complaints for non-SARA states or territories may be filed. Please note: University of Louisville does not maintain these agency websites, and information may change without UofL's knowledge. Students should attempt to resolve the complaint through the established protocol at the University of Louisville before contacting their home state/territory agency.
State
U.S. Territories
Other Possible Complaint Options
In addition to the possibilities listed above, online students have the option to file complaints with other agencies when appropriate based on the student’s particular situation. See below for more options.
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Complaints to Accreditation Agencies
To file a complaint with University of Louisville’s accrediting agency – the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) – review the Commission’s complaint policy, procedures, and complaint form. The SACSCOC contact information is below.
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
1866 Southern Lane
Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097
Phone: (404) 679-4500
Fax: (404) 679-4558
http://www.sacscoc.org
Additionally, students enrolled in a program that has specialized programmatic accreditation may be able to file academic complaints to that program’s specialized accreditor. To see a list of the University of Louisville’s programmatic accreditors, please visit UofL’s Office of Academic Planning & Accountability Accreditation page.
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Military, Veterans, and Military Family
Active duty military receiving Tuition Assistance or spousal assistance may be eligible to file complaints through the Department of Defense Postsecondary Education Complaint System.
Veterans using the Montgomery or the Post 9/11 GI Bill may be eligible to file a complaint through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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Consumer Complaints
For other types of consumer complaint process options, please visit the University of Louisville’s Consumer Information page.
