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Asynchronous Online Courses

The Touro College of Pharmacy offers certain courses via an online format; students should check with their advisors regarding their eligibility to take a specific online course.

Online courses are designed to foster learner engagement through course material and both individual and interactive group assignments. Courses are taught asynchronously and require a high degree of independent work, which means that online learners are expected to assume greater responsibility for their own learning than students in traditional classroom-based courses. They must understand and address their own learning needs; complete weekly assignments; take initiative in asking questions and obtaining help; and be prepared to deal with technical difficulties, independently or through the help-desk.

Recognizing this, Touro University has developed and provides the necessary information and learner support systems to assist learners in carrying out their learning activities and using the available resources. Touro University has structured the online courses so that each student will have a high level of personal accessibility to professors. Faculty members are expected to have weekly online office hours. Students may also request a cyber-chat, or a personal appointment with, or a phone call from, their instructor.

Student Identity Verification Procedures for Distance Learners

In compliance with the provisions of the United States Federal Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) of 2008, Public Law 110-315, concerning the verification of student identity in online learning, Touro University has established and will periodically evaluate its process to confirm that a person who is enrolling in the University is the person who is completing the enrollment form, that a student taking an examination is the student who registered to take the examination, and that the student who is registered for an online course is the same student who participates in, completes, and receives credit for the course. To authenticate identities, Touro University will use one or more of the following methods for verification:

  • A secure login with user name and password

  • Proctored examinations (on-site or at a distance)

  • New or emerging technologies and practices that are effective in verifying student identification

  • Comparison of student work with previously-assigned work or plagiarism databases

There are additional costs associated with taking an online proctored exam. The fees for online proctored exams are included with registration fees for each online course. Students testing  at a distance are informed in advance of these additional costs, both through the Online Student Guide,   on our website, and through the syllabi and course announcements in each Canvas course.

All methods of verifying student identity must protect the privacy of student information in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), as well as any other applicable laws or regulations regarding the confidentiality of personally identifiable information.

Personally-identifiable information collected by the University may be used as the basis for identity verification. This information may include a combination of the following:

  • Student ID number

  • Last 4 digits of the student's Social Security Number

  • At least 2 other pieces of information, such as the student's email address on file, date of birth, address, or user name

Identity Verification for New Students

  1.  All students who enroll at the University are required to create a user account in Touro’s portal (with secure student user name and password) and are authenticated through an identity management system. Students must go through this system in order to register for online courses.

  2.  Students are required to use Duo multifactor authentication to access the Touro portal and all Touro applications accessible there. Students will be asked to authenticate themselves whenever they access the Touro portal. Touro’s LMS, Canvas, also must be accessed through the Touro portal. Duo multifactor authentication adds an extra layer of authentication beyond the TouroOne username and password. It requires use of a device the student owns such as their smartphone with the Duo app installed and registered, cellphone that can receive SMS messages, or a Duo token. More information about Touro’s two step verification can be viewed at this link; https://touro-iits-dept.s3.amazonaws.com/projects/duo/two-stepverification.html

  3.  All online course work is hosted and completed on Canvas. Students can only access Canvas (see #3 below) after they are authenticated through the portal. Students can set up an avatar (a picture of the student) next to their names in each course.

Identity Verification for Exam Takers

Onsite exams

  1. Students taking examinations will be authenticated by proctors at the time of the exam at the testing center. One valid form of identification, with photo, is required for admission into the examination center. If the first ID is questioned by the test administrator, a second valid photo ID will be required. Examinations which are proctored online similarly require authentication of student identity.

  2. The professor prints out the list of the students taking the exam and their avatars so that the proctor can check against the avatars at the exam as another means of photo identification for onsite exams. Students sign in as they come to take their exams on-site, and the professor or proctor checks the student name and ID against the printed roster.

  3. Exams may be administered in a computer lab through the learning management system in place at the University. Once the student is signed into their Canvas account, the professor or proctor inputs the password that allows them to begin the exam. Students are required to show their student picture ID as they enter the building where exams are administered. Once the students are in their exam room, the professor or proctor checks the student name and ID against their own printed roster of student names, avatars and IDs.

  4. Lockdown Browser and/or Exam Password: When the professor comes to the student’s computer and inputs the password, he or she is checking the student’s identity once again by visually noting the student. The professor or proctor watches the student log into Canvas before typing in the passwords. The Lockdown browser application prohibits a student’s computer from accessing anything on the computer other than the exam page while the exam is in session.

Online exams

  1.  Getting onto Canvas: Students must be authenticated through the portal, which requires that they know the secure portal password and can complete the Duo Multifactor Authentication.

  2. Students will be proctored via an online proctoring service or via Zoom. The online proctoring service or the Zoom proctor will instruct the student to authenticate with their Touro student ID card and a government issued ID. Student proctoring remains in place for the duration of the exam and ensures that the identity of the test-taker does not change during the exam.

  3. Student privacy during a proctored exam at a distance is maintained through direct communication and the use of a secure testing service.

  4. Touro University uses an external online proctoring service which also maintains its own security and verification policies.

General Information Concerning Touro University's Online Courses

Courses Online course offerings for each semester will be available to Touro students at registration. Touro students who are interested in taking online courses should read the Online Student Guide, which is available on the Touro website here.

  • Students who have never used email or the Internet before should become familiar with them BEFORE attempting to register for an online course.

  • Almost all of interaction with classmates and the instructor will be in writing, mainly via the Internet and e-mail. Students who value face-to-face communication will be better off in a traditional classroom.

  • Online courses cover the same amount of material as their in-class counterparts. They require independent work for at least the number of hours normally spent in class PLUS the time spent doing homework for a course.

  • Homework and assignments are required to be completed on a regular basis and not left for the end of the semester. Full credit may not be given for any assignment handed in after the due date.

Student Eligibility for Taking Courses Online

You can register for an online course only if ALL of the following apply to you:

  • You are NOT on probation.

  • You have at least a 3.0 ("B") average.

  • You are not enrolled in an Associate's degree program.

If you do not meet the above eligibility criteria for registering for an online course, you will need a Dean's signature in order to register.

Registering for an Online Course

You may register online for online courses as you would for the classroom courses you are taking within your division of Touro. Use the course code listed in the course offerings online. Students registering for online courses use regular registration procedures—use the course code listed in the schedule in this catalog and online.

After completing the course registration process, students will be able to access their online class(es) via their Canvas accounts by logging onto the appropriate link on the TouroOne portal.

Technical Requirements for an Online Course

A current list of technical requirements for an online course can be found in the Online Student Guide on the Touro website here.

Getting in Touch with Your Instructor

When emailing an instructor, an online student can expect a response within 24 hours (note: this excludes weekends and vacation days). If one fails to get a response from your instructor within 24 hours, one should email info.onlineeducation@touro.edu with name, course code, and the instructor name, so that Touro can track down the problem.

Preparing for the Semester for an Online Course—Reading Course Outlines, Acquiring Textbooks, etc.

Course Outlines Course outlines are posted on the course website prior to the first week of classes. Students will be asked to read the course syllabus and confirm by e-mail when they have done so.

Announcements and Assignments

The online semesters are comprised of 15 modules. Module start and end dates and due dates of assignments in each module will be posted by the first day of class. Students should review the dates and watch for new announcements and instructions as each module becomes available.

Textbooks and Course Material A textbook will be assigned for most courses.

Students are required to obtain a copy of this textbook before the beginning of class, if possible. Do not delay purchasing a textbook—the nature of an online course requires the student to use the textbook during the first week of class. Students are encouraged to purchase the required textbooks online. Faculty members generally assign additional course material, including articles, book chapters, and related videos.

Homework and Exams

In addition to weekly learning activities, each online course includes a midterm and a final exam. Students are informed about exam dates and times in the course syllabus before the start of the semester. Exams must be taken on the scheduled date and time. Some online courses will also require a term paper.

Midterm Exams

Midterms are scheduled by faculty members and are administered either on-site by faculty member, or online through an online proctoring company. Some online courses may require an additional fee for midterm exams. Faculty members will inform students regarding the midterm in their course syllabus.

Final Exams

  • Final exam dates are announced on the first day of class and in the syllabus. Students who have extenuating circumstances that prevent them from taking the exam on the designated days may reach out to their instructor for further direction.

  • Final exams are administered online through an online proctoring company.

  • The final exam fee is included with the registration fee for each online course.

  • Final exams must be taken using a desktop or laptop computer; iPads and tablets cannot be used. A microphone, webcam, and hi-speed internet are required as well.

  • More information about online testing, including any additional technical requirements, can be found in the Canvas course once you are registered.