TESU Cornerstone Deadline

[allvia]

My class was waved, and I should be finished by June but waiting on the degree. I wonder if this will impact some of us? I'm going to ask about this during my next appt with TESU.

If you're TESU evaluation shows that the Cornerstone is waived, then it is waived.  And this change will not impact you.

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Thanks for the feedback. I'm going to start my cornerstone ASAP then. But I do need to find 2 UL classes to test out of for BA in social science.

Again, if you're one of us who had the Cornerstone waived when that was still an option and TESU is showing that in your enrolled evaluation, then you will not be required to complete it.

[jsd]

then you will not be required to complete it.

allvia is correct with one caveat: if you let your enrollment lapse then you are not locked in to your current catalog and all bets are off at that point.

[Supermind]

Can you help me understand what are the grounds on which they choose to waive the cornerstone? I would be happy if it is waived for me as well.

[MNomadic]

Can you help me understand what are the grounds on which they choose to waive the cornerstone? I would be happy if it is waived for me as well.

As far as I know, they will no longer waive the cornerstone for anyone unless they got in on the SDC affiliation and had it applied by July 31st(I think that was the date).

[Merlin]

Can you help me understand what are the grounds on which they choose to waive the cornerstone? I would be happy if it is waived for me as well.

As far as I know, they will no longer waive the cornerstone for anyone unless they got in on the SDC affiliation and had it applied by July 31st(I think that was the date).

Yep, there are no more waivers. Taking the cornerstone takes an hour and is a good way to gain enrolled status. Worst case you can wait to do it until you're ready to take the capstone as well. Assuming you do so before July 1st.

[VanillaBean]

Want to make sure I understand this.

Example: Student has completed 45 hours towards degree. (Still hasn't decided on BALS or BSBA GM; leaning towards BALS)

Does the student have to complete all 117 hours before enrolling at TESU and being able to take the cornerstone?

Or can the student, for example, have completed 72 hours and then apply to TESU in May 2019. Take the cornerstone in June 2019. Then spend the next 6 to 9 months finishing up the remaining 45 credits. Register to take the capstone in Jan 2020.

Does that sound correct?

Do I understand correctly that the capstone is a semester long course?

[Merlin]

Want to make sure I understand this.

Example:  Student has completed 45 hours towards degree.  (Still hasn't decided on BALS or BSBA GM; leaning towards BALS)

Does the student have to complete all 117 hours before enrolling at TESU and being able to take the cornerstone?

Or can the student, for example, have completed 72 hours and then apply to TESU in May 2019.  Take the cornerstone in June 2019.  Then spend the next 6 to 9 months finishing up the remaining 45 credits.  Register to take the capstone in Jan 2020.

Does that sound correct?

Do I understand correctly that the capstone is a semester long course?

You can take the cornerstone and capstone at any time you feel ready to do so. Many people take the capstone before they get to 117 credits. However, it is often good to wait until you've completed the prerequisite courses that your capstone expects. This helps to ensure you're prepared for the course, but it is up to you.

So yes you could apply at 72 credits, take the cornerstone, and then take the rest of the credits you need before coming back to TESU to take the capstone.

Or you could take both the cornerstone and capstone at 72 credits and then complete all the other courses you want. You'd then apply for graduation with TESU once you hit 120 credits and/or met the degree requirements.

The cornerstone is a quick 1-2 hour course which can be taken at any time once registered. It can also be used to officially enroll you in the school.

Yes, the capstone is a full 12-week (semester-long) course.

[davewill]

Want to make sure I understand this.

Example:  Student has completed 45 hours towards degree.  (Still hasn't decided on BALS or BSBA GM; leaning towards BALS)

Does the student have to complete all 117 hours before enrolling at TESU and being able to take the cornerstone?

Or can the student, for example, have completed 72 hours and then apply to TESU in May 2019.  Take the cornerstone in June 2019.  Then spend the next 6 to 9 months finishing up the remaining 45 credits.  Register to take the capstone in Jan 2020.

Does that sound correct?

Do I understand correctly that the capstone is a semester long course?

That scenario would work fine. One could also apply and take the cornerstone without having a single credit, then start collecting other credits. The main reason for taking the cornerstone would be to become "enrolled".  Here's the low-down on enrollment status:

• Admitted: You become "admitted" by filling out the application, paying the fee, and being accepted. This gives you an student account at TESU. You get limited access to advising and two "evaluations." An evaluation consists of a "batch" of transcripts they process into your academic evaluation. It also locks in the catalog for a year so that degree requirements can't change on you. If you don't become enrolled before the year is up, the status lapses, and you have to reapply and move to the latest catalog.
  
• Enrolled: You become enrolled by registering for and starting a course (GS, ePack, Online, or TECEP). Now that the cornerstone is required for all students, that will likely be the first course. You get full access to advising and can send in as many transcripts as you like. You are now a student and get other perks like membership at the NJ State Library. Your enrollment is good for a year, by which time you either need to graduate, do another course or TECEP to extend your enrollment another year, or request a catalog extension. If you don't, then your enrollment lapses and you have to reapply and move to the latest catalog.
  

I usually recommend that folks apply as soon as they are ready to commit to the process, and maintain enrollment until they graduate. There are plenty of cheap TECEPs that will fit into any degree plan, so there's no reason not to. Sooner or later we all have a question to ask advising, and it's a big help to be able to send in transcripts whenever you feel the need to see that they have actually transferred into your degree plan successfully. Also, it's a bit of a lift to have a student ID in your pocket and know the process is a little more real.

It's also important to know that although the university recommends you take the capstone last, it's not any sort of actual requirement. If it suits your schedule to take it earlier (vacation, summer break, avoiding busy time at work) by all means do so. You should definitely have your writing courses under your belt, and it wouldn't hurt to have most of your AOS completed, but you can take it any time you feel ready to tackle it.

[Muldoon]

Shoot, I missed the news about the Study.com waiver ending for the cornerstone.

Thanks for the warning about the change coming next year.