WELCOME KIT
ACADEMIC YEAR 2023-2024
Welcome Kit
TABLE OF CONTENTS
WELCOME TO UNIVERSITY OF THE PEOPLE
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1.1 OUR STUDENTS
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YOUR FIRST TERM
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2.1 STUDY PREPARATION
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2.2 COURSE REGISTRATION
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2.3 UOPEOPLE ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORM
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2.4 FOUNDATION EVALUATION
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2.5 PAYMENTS
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2.6 RESOURCES AND SERVICE
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LIFE AT UOPEOPLE
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3.1 STUDY PREPARATION
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3.2 LEARNING METHODS
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TO-DO LIST
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STUDENT SUCCESS STORIES
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5.1 EMPLOYED AT TOP COMPANIES
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5.2 WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
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ACADEMIC CALENDAR
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The world’s greatest small liberal arts college, that
happens to be online, tuition-free, and global.
Dr. Dalton Conley
Dean of Health Science UoPeople
Henry Putnam University Professor in Sociology, Princeton University
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Welcome Kit
1 WELCOME TO UNIVERSITY OF THE PEOPLE
In becoming a member of the UoPeople community, you are embarking on
an educational journey with peers from over 200 countries and territories.
Our students are incredibly diverse, and we know that each one of you
deserves personalized attention and support. Studying online is not easy;
it takes an incredible amount of dedication, focus, and hard work. Your
success is our priority, and we are here to guide and support you in your
educational journey.
Shai Reshef
UoPeople President
1.1 Our Students
Students at University of the People come from all walks of life, many have families, and some
are also working while they complete their studies. With so many students leading busy lives
it’s important that our classes fit any schedule. One of the most unique aspects of learning at
UoPeople is the ability to network with over 139,000 other students from all over the globe! You’re
part of an impressive global student body - explore the facts below to learn more!
Student Demographics
200+
64%
77%
Countries and
Territories
work while earning
their degree
have dependents
88%
90%
90%
feel instructors are
helpful and supportive
believe they are taught
career centric skills
and knowledge
are proud to study at
UoPeople and enjoy
their experience
What Our Students Say
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2 YOUR FIRST TERM
2.1 Study Preparation
For a successful academic journey at UoPeople all you need is a reliable internet connection.
Online learning comes with big benefits like 100% online flexibility. Since there are no live lectures
and all coursework is completed online you have the ability to complete coursework when it best
fits your schedule. Study from anywhere, anytime.
Here at UoPeople we require all students to take a mandatory New Student Orientation before
they can register for any other courses. This will ensure you know what to expect and how
you can best prepare for future courses. If you’d like to learn more about our New Student
Orientation, click here.
Student Study Spaces
Sumesh S.
Computer Science
Nepal
Tita Y.
M.Ed.
Indonesia
Noberto A.
Health Science
Belize
Andrea S.
MBA
United States
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2.2 Course Registration
One of the most exciting times in your academic career is getting ready for your very first term!
Don’t be nervous, we’ve made it simple – for your first term we will take care of your course
registration for you. All you need to do is complete the UoPeople Orientation. This is a mandatory
and vital first step in your academic journey. Once orientation is completed, you’ll receive info
about your first set of courses. An email with all the details should arrive about a week before the
term is scheduled to begin.
You can expect to be registered for 1 - 2 courses based on availability and the required
prerequisites for your program of choice.
We’ve taken care of registration for you for this first term, but afterwards you’ll need to register
for courses on your own for subsequent terms. We’ve got a step-by-step video that makes it
simple to learn how to register—click here to watch.
2.3 UoPeople Online Learning Platform
To prepare for a successful academic career at UoPeople we recommend that you familiarize
yourself with resources that will be available to you.
Online Campus (Moodle)
Moodle, our Online Campus, is where you’ll find all course-related materials and resources.
This includes your assignments, calendar, and materials that you can use to help you ace your
coursework.
You will receive your own login details (username and password) in an email from the Office of
Student Services.
If you encounter any technical issues and need support, please contact your program advisor.
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Student Portal
The Student Portal is your hub for making a variety of important requests. It’s here so that you can
manage all your courses, make payments, even contact your Program Advisor. You'll also be able
to take care of important actions, like submitting transcripts and registering for future terms.
Here’s a quick rundown of the main elements:
New student view:
Student view after orientation and registration is complete:
Personal Message: Displays a weekly message to keep you up to date on various topics like
upcoming registration and pending payments
Enrollment Progress: Keeps you informed on your enrollment progress, providing essential
details to help you stay on track.
Checklist: Keeps you organized with a checklist of important tasks and activities, including
updates on pending tasks, documents, and payments. Completed tasks move to the
"Completed" tab, while the "Current" tab shows pending items.
Academic Progress: Keeps you informed on your academic progress, providing essential details
to help you stay on track.
Your Courses: Stores information about your current and completed courses.
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2.4 Foundation Evaluation
Part of your admissions process at UoPeople is our Foundation Evaluation. During this evaluation
you’ll submit documentation that will show us that you’ve completed a high school level
education.
What documentation is required?
Diploma or transcript
Please be aware other specific documentation may be needed depending on your program of
study. For more information on the required documents, go to the ‘Foundation Evaluation’ space
which can be found on the left-hand side menu, under Admissions.
How to Submit Your Documents
You can submit your documentation in the UoPeople Portal by using the ‘Foundation Evaluation’
space.
Click here to read our Foundation Evaluation Manual for further instructions on submitting your
documents.
Need help? Email your Program Advisor with any questions you might have and they can assist
you through the process.
2.5 Payments
As you know, UoPeople is tuition-free – this means there are no fees for instruction, course
materials, or campus costs. However, to keep our mission of making higher education affordable
and accessible for all, we do ask for minimal Course Assessment Fees to be paid at the end of each
course. For a quick estimate of how much your degree will cost, use our Cost Calculator.
If you have trouble affording our minimal assessment fees, please contact your Program Advisor.
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Submitting Payment
Submitting payment is simple! You can access the UoPeople Student Portal and go to the
‘Payments’ section to pay any balances, view upcoming payments and take a look at your
payment history.
We have several payment options for you to choose from. Online options include: debit/credit
cards, or PayPal. We also have an offline Western Union option if needed.
2.6 Resources and Services
Attending university is extremely fulfilling, but coursework can sometimes be challenging. We
have a variety of resources readily available to help provide the support and assistance you need
to tackle your studies with confidence.
Program Advisors (PA)
Every student at UoPeople is assigned a Program Advisor. Once you are assigned you will be
notified through your email. A Program Advisor will be with you every step of the way from your
first day at UoPeople up until graduation. They will be happy to answer any of your questions,
discuss course selection and offer any administrative support that you may need. You can chat
with your Program Advisor by email or sending a message by using our chatbot, “Michelle".
In all emails you receive from UoPeople, including from your Program Advisor you will never be
asked for sensitive information. Please report any suspicious emails to your Program Advisor.
Chatbot “Michelle”
Have you met our UoPeople chatbot “Michelle”? You can find our chatbot on our website just
waiting for you to ask any questions that you may have so it can provide support. You can also
use “Michelle” on the Student Portal, UoPeople Online Campus (Moodle), and to connect with
your Program Advisor. You can access “Michelle” through our WhatsApp bot (+1 (626) 264-8880),
Facebook and the official UoPeople website.
Self-Service Forms
Need transcripts, disability accommodation requests, or confirmation of enrolment? Head on over
to the ‘Self-Service Form’ section in the UoPeople Student Portal. It’s here that you will find any
essential documents you may need.
Viva Engage
Viva Engage is a social network just for the UoPeople community to collaborate and
communicate. It is a social platform, which invites all university members to take an active part in
listening and contributing to our online global village.
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Library and Information Resource Network (LIRN)
Our LIRN is located inside the ‘UoPeople Library’ under the ‘Resources’ section in UoPeople Online
Campus (Moodle). In the LIRN you will discover a wide range of academic journals and other open
education resources through JSTOR.
Learning Resource Center (LRC)
The Learning Resource Center is located under the ‘Resources’ section in UoPeople Online Campus
(Moodle).
3 LIFE AT UOPEOPLE
3.1 Learning Methods
Each course at UoPeople is accompanied by a Learning Guide in UoPeople Online Campus
(Moodle). that will help you to better understand your weekly assignments and stay on track by
completing coursework on time. Your participation for these weekly assignments are taken in
consideration when measuring course attendance.
Each Learning Week begins on a Thursday and ends on Wednesday. So, make sure you look at your
weekly tasks and plan them accordingly. We recommend you spend about 15 hours per week on
each course for study time and to complete your assignments.
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These are a few of the course requirements you can look forward to completing:
Learning Journal
Reading/ Written
Assignments
Quizzes
Discussion Forum
final Exams
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3.2 UoPeople Ambassador Program
Are you ready to tell the world about UoPeople? Join the UoPeople Ambassador Program! We’re
always looking for students like you to help us get the word out about our mission to make
education affordable and accessible for all. Ambassadors earn points by completing challenges,
posting about their experiences with the university, or helping prospective students learn about
our programs.
Each challenge you complete scores you points that go toward earning exciting rewards. Apply to
be an Ambassador, click here today. You might even be featured on the UoPeople homepage!
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4 TO-DO LIST
New Student To-Do List:
Verify your login details for the UoPeople Online Campus
Verify your login details for the UoPeople Student Portal
Read the ‘welcome’ email sent to your inbox, it has the subject line: “Welcome to UoPeople!
Important information about Orientation”
Attend and complete New Student Orientation on the Online Campus (Moodle)
Complete any open items on the Student Portal Home Page Checklist
Familiarize yourself with how to contact your Program Advisor
Explore the Student Portal and locate forms, courses, and other vital information
Prepare a study space and check your internet connection
Connect with your peers on Viva Engage, find out who is in your area or share the same
interests as you
Get ready for an amazing academic adventure!
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5 STUDENT SUCCESS STORIES
5.1 Employed at Top Companies
We are so proud of our UoPeople graduates! They are proof that UoPeople prepares students with
the tools needed to be successful upon graduation. UoPeople grads report working at leading
companies worldwide. Including:
5.2 Where Are They now?
Meet Mieko
As a hardworking mom in Japan, she ran her own business
with an ambition to expand to the global market. After
moving to the United States, she decided to pursue
an associate’s degree at UoPeople. Because UoPeople
offers a flexible online schedule she was able to run her
business, and take care of her son – all while earning her
associate’s degree in Business Administration. Mieko then
leveraged the valuable partnerships UoPeople has with
top universities. She transferred to our then partner, the
University of California at Berkeley where she graduated
with a 4.0 GPA!
Mieko M.
Business Administration Graduate
United States
Her story doesn’t end there – Mieko is currently pursuing
her master’s degree at MIT. In 2020, she founded a shop
called Crane and Turtle in Boston, to introduce sustainable
and practical Japan-made household items to Americans.
Mieko is a wonderful example of what you can accomplish
with hard work and ambition, and the support of
UoPeople!
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Greetings from Abdullah
This is Abdullah O., life was difficult for him growing up
in war torn Syria. He had lost hope for the future and
recognized that he was at a disadvantage without an
education. He knew that in order to make his dreams come
true he would need a degree. Then, he happened to see an
ad on social media for University of the People. It seemed
too good to be true, but Abdullah applied anyway.
Abdullah O.
Computer Science
Syria
Abdullah was accepted into the Computer Science
Bachelor’s degree program with a full scholarship. Living
in Syria he still had issues with losing power or elements
beyond his control, but supportive instructors worked
with him to help him overcome these challenges. But
Abdullah wasn’t content, he pushed himself to achieve
one of his greatest dreams- attending prestigious
Columbia University and pursuing a career as a theoretical
physicist.
This year Abdullah was accepted to Columbia University
and continues building the future of his dreams.
Say Hello to Sarah
By the age of 13, Sarah and her family were homeless.
She eventually dropped out of high school and had two
children. Life was extremely difficult for her. Sarah earned
an undergraduate degree at another online university, but
knew she wanted an advanced degree. Sarah then made a
decision that would forever change her life.
She completed her application and was accepted into
University of the People! Sarah loved learning about other
cultures and gaining the specialized skills that employers
were looking for. She completed her MBA and quickly
found a job at Amazon.
Sarah M.
MBA Graduate
United States
Sarah loves her job at Amazon where she can fully utilize
her skillset to make a change in the world. She now owns
her own home and has her own car. Life has completely
changed for Sarah who had to overcome so much.
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6 ACADEMIC CALENDAR
Academic Calendar 2023 – 2024
You can also refer to the calendar on our website.
1. University of the People reserves the right to make changes to this calendar at any time.
2. Exact registration dates are set according to class standing group and program. Class standing
is determined by the number of credits earned.
3. Course availability during late registration is limited. For proctored courses, students must
complete all required steps to arrange for a proctor during the registration period.
4. Grades may be published earlier; students are advised to check for updates in the Student
Portal.
We wish you all the best on your UoPeople journey!
disclaimer
In the event of any conflict between the terms of this manual and the UoPeople Catalog , then the language
of the UoPeople Catalog shall take precedence and be the guiding document.
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