FAQS

Here are the top reasons students tell us they choose an online course:

• Online courses provide students and faculty with an innovative way to learn and teach asynchronously (i.e., from anywhere, 100% online).
• Online courses provide you with flexible options for achieving your academic goals.
• The online classroom is typically a more active learning environment. Students must work proactively to acquire information. Through interaction and participation, you will take an active role in course material and delivery.

We use Brightspace for our learning management system. This is where you can log into your classroom. There you can get assignments, interact with faculty and peers, reply to message boards, and more.

Our courses are created in partnership with our faculty and our instructional designers to ensure a learning experience that is tailored to the subject matter and the expected learning outcomes. We approach the development of our online courses seriously so that they mirror the exact same quality content as you would expect on campus.

We strive to provide a variety of mainstream technology tools so that you can interact easily with other students and your instructor and continue to use these same tools in your workplace. These include Brightspace Collaborate, Microsoft Teams, email, and discussion forums.

We offer a variety of courses online. In addition to individual course offerings, SUNY Brockport offers many online programs. 

Yes! We offer online courses in the traditional fall and spring terms as well as online courses during the winter session (Dec-Jan) and in the summer session (May-Aug). Course dates vary and are listed in the course schedule. Taking courses in the winter and summer sessions is a great way to catch up or get ahead in your degree program!

Credit loads vary by class status and term. Determine your credit load.

Typically, students should plan on 3-4 hours of work per week per credit hour. For a 3-credit course, you should set aside 9-12 hours per week. While course requirements vary, you should also plan on interacting in your course several times during the week. Many students find that scheduling times during the week to focus on coursework helps them to manage the workload and be successful in their studies.

In general, you can access your course seven days a week. There may be times when the system cannot be accessed due to maintenance; notice of these service interruption periods is posted on the Brightspace access page.

Your instructor will provide a course schedule for you to follow along with dates and deadlines for assignments. You will want to follow this closely to allow yourself ample time to complete assignments.

If your course has an assigned time for meeting online, this will be indicated by the type of course (Combined or Hybrid). Check your syllabus for specific dates. If you are still unsure, contact your professor.

Depending on the type of online course, you may have an assigned time to be logged in to the Brightspace Learning Management system. You should review your syllabus for details on attendance for your course. If you have questions, contact your professor.

We recommend these helpful online resources. In addition, STAR-NY offers remote writing assistance for online and off-campus students.

You can access the course schedule through Banner. Select the term for which you want to register first. Select the type of instructional method you prefer for online learning.

• 100% Online (ASY): Asynchronous learning activities(completed independently)
• Combined Online (ASY/SYN): Course combines asynchronous (completed independently) and synchronous (scheduled online activities) learning activities
• Hybrid (HYB): course activities include online and face-to-face meetings
• Synchronous (SYN): face-to-face courses that offer streaming online attendance

You can find step-by-step instructions to register or add a course online here.

To drop a course online, follow the instructions here.

When looking at the course schedule, take note of the columns labeled Cap, Act, and Rem. These represent the total number of spots in the class (Cap), the number of students currently registered (Act), and the number of open spots in the class (Rem). If the Rem is more than 0, the course has seats available. If you are interested in registering for a class that has special restrictions or it is after the registration deadlines, contact the Office of Registration and Records.

Complete the Information Request form and submit it to the Registration and Records office. Due to FERPA regulations, verifications can only be mailed. For more information, contact the Office of Registration and Records.

The Office of Student Accounts maintains the current schedule of tuition and fees. You can view the full schedule here.

You may qualify for financial aid. To learn more about financing your education, visit the Financial Aid Office website.

You should submit a form to request to certify for VA Educational Benefits (form T13). Access the form and read more from the Veteran Affairs Office.

Your student ID is also referred to as your Banner ID. You should have received this number during the application process. However, you can easily locate it again by following these simple steps:

1. Go to brockport.edu
2. Click on “Information For” in the top right-hand corner
3. Click on “Students”
4. Click on “the Brockportal”
5. Enter your social security number as your user ID
6. Enter your 6-digit birth date as your PIN in MMDDYY format (i.e. July 6, 1987 = 070687)
7. Click Login. (You will be directed to create a new PIN)
8. Once you are logged in, click on “Personal Information” and then click on “Get Your Banner System ID”. Your nine-digit Banner ’800’ ID number will show. Note: Once you have obtained your Banner ID number, you should use it instead of your Social Security Number for security purposes when accessing the Brockportal.

You can see who your advisor is in Degree Works. For more information, visit Academic Advisement.

Requests for official transcripts must be ordered online. Visit the Office of Registration and Records for instructions.

SUNY Brockport awards transfer credit for coursework completed at institutions accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and other such regional accrediting bodies. Evaluation of transfer credits can be finalized and transfer credits awarded only after final and official transcripts from each credit source (such as college transcripts, test scores, or military documents) have been received by the University. We suggest you review the Transfer Credit Policies and Regulations for detailed information. Or you can contact Academic Advisement for specific questions.

To take online courses at Brockport, you should have access to a computer with a high-speed, broadband, or DSL internet connection. Dial-up connections are not recommended due to the nature of downloading and viewing rich media. You should also be using an internet browser that is supported by the Brightspace Learning Management System.

You should have some computer experience to help you succeed in an online class. You can assess your current skill level and get experience to help you improve through the Open SUNY Readiness Guide

You will access your course through Brightspace, our learning management system. You will need your Net ID and password to log in.

Brightspace support is being provided by the Open SUNY Help Desk. If you encounter any issues with your course on Brightspace, you can contact the Help Desk at: (585) 395-5151, option #6, or by visiting their webpage.

Visit SUNY Brockport Service Desk for more tech support options.

First, you should contact the Help Desk for assistance in resetting your login. You can contact the Help Desk 24/7 at 585-395-5151 option 1.

If you cannot resolve your issue immediately, you should contact your professor to inform him of your difficulty and when you expect to receive a response from the Help Desk. Your professor can provide further instructions on completing coursework until you can access the system.

Yes, we do! We offer online orientation to help students get familiar with using the Brightspace Learning Management System. Click the link below to learn how to use various features and what to expect when taking an online course:

Open SUNY Student Orientation