UNITE Steps to Success
New to UNITE?  Returning to UNITE?  Follow these Steps to Success! 


(This information is for students who enroll in courses through UNITE Distributed Learning. If you are enrolled in an on-campus section of a course that UNITE is streaming, please refer to UNITE Streaming Access for On-Campus Students information)

UNITE Distributed Learning is dedicated to providing continuing educational opportunities for engineering and science professionals, utilizing streaming video and web-based technologies for local and distant students.  

Step One: Know Your Program of Study 

UNITE is not an academic program, rather UNITE is a way for students to take courses. Essentially, UNITE sections "piggyback" on the on-campus section of a course.

Most of there are courses from the College of Science and Engineering (CSE) at the University of Minnesota and may be combined with on-campus courses toward a degree (though many of our students complete all program coursework without taking on-campus courses). 

If you are taking courses toward a degree, know your program policies and procedures. To best place for you to get the most complete and up-to-date information about your program is at the Graduate Program pages of the departmental web site.

Step Two: Know How UNITE Works (an overview) 

UNITE enrollment is limited to students who are located in the United States during the semester for which they are registering. Short-term travel during the semester will require instructor and UNITE approval in the event of exams.  

Coursework and Exam Policy: Coursework deadlines and exams are due at the same-day/same-time as the students in the on-campus section of the course. See UNITE Exams and Quizzes for more information.

  • UNITE offers enrollment in a variety of graduate and undergraduate University of Minnesota CSE courses using the Internet for streaming video and recordings.
  • UNITE creates separate sections which "piggyback" on existing on-campus sections of courses.
  • UNITE-enrolled students typically never need to visit campus. When exceptions do exist - such as for course with a required on-campus lab - these exceptions are noted in the course descriptions on the UNITE Course Offerings page (click on the specific semester schedule). Check the course descriptions on the UNITE public site for these on-campus requirements.
     

For greater detail, visit our How UNITE Works pages. 

Step Three: Check the UNITE Course Schedule

Check our Course Schedule for course offerings (click on the specific semester schedule).  Please check course descriptions carefully as some courses require on-campus meetings or software not available to off-campus students from the College or University.  The course schedule is always subject to change, so check back for new course offerings.  

Step Four: Register for Courses 

Academic departments handle all registrations for the UNITE sections of courses. UNITE no longer handles registration for courses with the UNITE overlay.

See Enroll through UNITE.

Step Five: Test Your Computer and Know the UNITE Policies 

You will access UNITE streaming video with a computer, Internet connection and appropriate free software.  You may test your computer, connection and software with our course demonstrations anytime so that you know everything works before the first day of the semester. 

For system requirements, links to free, safe software downloads and UNITE demonstrations, check out our UNITE Streaming Video and Podcasts information.

The UNITE Student Guide (available only to UMN-TC internet IDs - this link opens in a new window) This handbook covers the policy and guideline materials you need to be familiar with as a UNITE student. 

If the course requires paper-based exams, students are responsible for designating a qualified proctor at the beginning of the semester. Detailed information about completing coursework remotely can be found in the Homework, Examinations and Quizzes section.

Step Six: Start the Semester

On the first day of courses, log in to the UNITE Media Portal (this link opens in a new window) with your University Internet ID and password for UNITE live streaming video and streaming video archives.  The Canvas course web site (this link opens in a new window) contains all course materials provided by the instructor and TAs, including the UNITE streaming video archives (but no UNITE live streaming video access).

Attendance: The University of Minnesota's First Day Attendance Policy (this link opens in a new window) does NOT apply to students enrolled through UNITE (except in some situations - such as ME 5286, which includes other required on-campus obligations during the semester. Contact your instructor directly in these instances).

Reminders:

  • Complete the Exam Planning form at the beginning of the semester and determine if a proctor is required for exams.
  • Be aware of same day/same time expectation for any potential exams and/or quizzes.
  • Be aware of on-campus requirements if your course has any on-campus obligations (these will be listed on the Course Schedule for the semester in which you are enrolling although most UNITE courses have no on-campus obligations).
  • Take advantage of free and discounted resources available to you as a University of Minnesota student which are covered through your University and College fees.  

Step Seven: Pay Your Bill 

You may pay your bill through the OneStop online electronic billing and payment (this link opens in a new window) option.  

  • Non-degree students are required to pay tuition and other charges in full by the first due date.
  • Degree-seeking students are eligible for the University's installment plan.
     

Be aware of University payment deadlines (this link opens in a new window) to avoid registration cancellation or additional fees