MJI FAQ Page | Michigan Jewish Institute

MJI FAQ Page

This MJI page helps you find instant answers to many of your MJI related questions. Please bookmark this page as we are constantly updating it in response to the higher education environment and the needs of the MJI community.

Important: If you have visited this FAQ page before, you may have to refresh your screen in order to see the most recent changes and updates. Also, as the library of FAQs grows, so does this page. Be sure to scroll down to the end before concluding that it does not contain an answer to your question.

Note from the Dean's Office:

When the MJI community of students, faculty, parents and others numbered less than a couple hundred people the Dean was happy to accommodate and respond personally to the myriad communications received from all. Now that our community has grown to thousands of members, the Dean can no longer personally respond to routine matters. These must be handled by more appropriate departments and staff at MJI.

Routine matters received by the Dean's office will be rerouted to the appropriate department, as time permits. This will assuredly slow down your receiving a proper response to your communication.

If you are unsure who at MJI is responsible for your current matter, Please check FAQ item 101 immediately below. If you tend to be impatient, please also read item 1001 further down on this FAQ page.

Finally, all communications with MJI must be in English. Although we have a very diverse staff with a broad array of skills, messages sent to us in a foreign language will not be responded to unless previous arrangements have been made with MJI.

General MJI Information:

101. Who do I contact at MJI if I want to....? Click here (Updated April 2010).

a. If you are a MJI student you are reminded to use your MJI provided email account when sending email messages to MJI. If you have not yet received your MJI email address, you must immediately request one from the MJI IT Department. Please contact them at ksanders@mji.edu or 248-414-6900 ext. 104. See also next paragraph.

b. MJI communicates with all its students solely via their MJI provided email addresses. If you wish to stay current with all MJI matters, you must frequently check your MJI email in-box. Failure to check your MJI email could result in your missing vital information such as your log-in information for any new on-line course you have registered for.

105. Could I please have a copy of the current MJI Academic Catalog and Student Handbook? (Prepublication version of 2010-11 catalog now available and updated July 9, 2010) Click here

110. Could I please have a copy of the MJI calendar of important dates? (Updated July 9, 2010) Click here. NB: recent changes to the published calendar, if any, follow

133. MJI has asked that I forward transcripts to MJI from previous schools I have attended. Where can I get the appropriate form for requesting that my transcripts be sent from my previous schools directly to MJI? Click here

150. What do I need to know about Study Abroad opportunities at MJI? Click here (Updated April 2010 for academic year 2010-11)

155. How can my school become a Host School for MJI's Study Abroad programs or where can I obtain the most recent version of Host School Technical Guidelines? Click here (Updated April 2010 for academic year 2010-11)

156. How does MJI determine which applicant Host Schools are approved for inclusion in the MJI study abroad program? Click here to see a copy of MJI's final review check list. (Updated June 2010 for academic year 2010-11)

183. What does MJI do to protect my financial aid information from identity theft? MJI is required by the federal "Red Flag Rule" to have a policy in place to protect students from this form of identity theft. Click here to view MJI's Red Flag Rule policy in its entirety. If you believe that your (financial aid based) identity at MJI has been compromised immediately contact the MJI Financial Aid Office at 1-888-463-6654, ext. 102 or via email: fherman@mji.edu

184. Does MJI have a code of conduct regarding student loans? Click here

190. What is MJI's policy regarding...? MJI Staff and Faculty may access all MJI policies and procedures on the MJI LAN at S:\Faculty and Staff Only\Copy of Policies and Procedures\*.*. Faculty can also access these materials remotely via item 501 below. Students may request a student copy of policies and procedures on CD-ROM by contacting the MJI Registrar at 248-414-6900 ext. 105 or via email at krhenry@mji.edu.

198. Voter Registration: The right to vote is basic and a foundation of the American way of life. Students who have not yet registered to vote are urged to do so. The Office of Academic Administration can provide Michigan Voter Registration Applications to all Michigan Resident students who request them. If you have not registered to vote, pick up an application at MJI, today! Or, for direct internet access to the application form, log onto www.michigan.gov/documents/voterreg-app_16084_7.pdf

Students who are resident in other states of the USA should contact their own local or state governments to learn how to register to vote at their location.

199. Do I have to be Jewish to be a MJI student? Absolutely not! MJI is open to anyone who meets our "academic" entrance requirements. Indeed, MJI has always had active students who are not of the Jewish faith.

Advice and Counsel:

210. What are the real costs of going to MJI? There is much information about this item that is frequently updated. Please see item number 105 above regarding downloading the academic catalog which includes a current section regarding this important matter.

215. How do credits transfer between colleges? Click here

216. I am interested in receiving credit for life and/or work experience. What do I need to do? Please read the first paragraph in the academic catalog (see item 105 above) in the section titled, OTHER CREDITS AND REQUIREMENTS. If you think you may have appropriate experience, please send documentation of this experience (e.g., letters fully describing the experience from employers, mentors, supervisors, etc.) to the Registrar's Office (see item 101 above) for evaluation. You will be advised of any credits awarded.

220. What is MJI's policy regarding plagiarism (submitting material as your own, when it is not)? Click here

222. How should I reference the work of others that I use or otherwise copy when completing written class assignments? Click here

240. How can I prepare for applying to professional schools after graduating from MJI? Click here

246. Where can I find information about internship and externship opportunities at MJI? Click here for an interactive PDF file that includes a section on current opportunities for MJI students.

Financial Aid:

301. Who do I contact at MJI for information on Financial Aid? For immediate information you can click on the "student services" tab at the top of this screen and then click on the "Financial Aid Office" option. Or, just click here.

You may also call our financial aid office at 248-414-6900 ext. 102 or contact us via email at fherman@mji.edu for all financial aid information and/or help with applying for aid.

Academic Resources for Students:

401. I am getting ready to take my first course via distance learning. What should I know about taking such courses? With many thanks to AACRAO click here for some answers to basic questions about distance learning.

a. Where can I go to see a demonstration of and orientation to MJI SAKAI online? Click here

b. Where can I go to see a demonstration of and orientation to MJI E-College online? Click here

404. I am ready to register for the upcoming semester. Is there a schedule of: classes being offered; who is teaching them; class location; and, day and time offered? Click here for this coming semester's schedule of classes. NB: the schedule is updated frequently until the first day of classes. Changes are due to the pattern of student registrations and needs. If you have registered for a class that is cancelled, you will receive notification and recommendations from the Registrar's office. In the meantime, you may wish to check back here or on this site's on-line registration page and review any schedule updates. (This item last updated 4/30/10.)

405. I have registered for the upcoming semester and would like to purchase my text books. Where can I go to find out about listed text books and to purchase them? Click here for the MJI Amazon virtual bookstore. You may purchase MJI text books and everything else at Amazon from our virtual bookstore. Please note: there may be several pages of text book listings. Be sure to check all the pages before contacting your professors or MJI regarding any missing information.

407. I would like to plan which courses I will register for during the next several semesters. Is there a schedule of courses anticipated to be offered during the next few semesters? Click here (This item last updated 11/12/2009.)

411. Is there a generic tool that will help me determine how many credits I may have available for transfer to MJI or that I have already earned at MJI?

Students seeking CIS or BIS degrees: Click here

Students seeking JS degrees: Click here

Students seeking JS one or two year certificates: Click here

430. How do I apply for a directed study and what forms do I need? Click here. NOTE WELL: If you skip any step or take any step out of order as clearly explained in the procedure you download here you will have major problems with your directed study!

431. How do I apply for the Student Teaching assignment required of all Judaic Studies, Judaic Education majors and what are the course requirements?

a. Student Teaching application: Click here

b. Student Teaching requirements: Click here

432. How do I apply for an MJI internship or an externship and what forms do I need? Click here

a. Can I get a listing of companies that have previously offered externships to MJI students? Click here (Listing last updated Oct. 2009)

435. I will not be able to complete all my class assignments on time. What do I need to know and do about receiving a mark of Incomplete rather than the grade I would otherwise receive? Click here, read the entire MJI policy, print pages 6-7 and complete both sides of the Incomplete Mark Contract. Submit the completed contract to the Registrar for processing.

436. I must request a Leave of Absence from MJI. What do I need to know and do about Leave of Absence requests? Click here, read the entire MJI policy, print the last page, complete the form and submit it to the Registrar.

440. Does MJI permit the taking of CLEP exams in lieu of required or elective courses? MJI does permit the transfer of passing CLEP scores in lieu of certain courses. There is a full discussion regarding CLEP exams in the academic catalog (item 105 above). Students are warned here as well to check with their academic advisor before taking any CLEP tests for MJI credit. This will insure that the CLEP credits earned will be useful in completing the student's academic program at MJI. It is also important to remember that CLEP credits transferred to MJI will not count toward meeting any residency requirements the student must meet.

For more information about CLEP exams and to review samples, please go to:
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html

445. How can I transfer TTI credits to MJI? Click here

456. I am ready to take my required COMPASS assessments. How do I request and schedule COMPASS assessments? Click here

458. I am ready to take my required CAAP proficiency tests. How do I request and schedule CAAP testing? Click here

459. I am located at a distance from any MJI campus. How do I arrange for testing to take place at my geographic location? For example, I have applied to take my required CAAP proficiency test. How do I take it where I live? Click here to review the MJI policy on arranging for a proctored test at your location. (Policy updated July 2010.)

460. I am ready to graduate. How do I request graduation? Click here

461. How do I request that MJI send my MJI transcript to another institution?

a. For MJI policy regarding outbound transcripts click here

b. For Outbound MJI transcript request form click here

462. I would like MJI to release certain of my academic information to a third party. How do I do this? You can send us a letter with your signature indicating the information you want released and to whom or you can use the generic MJI Student Confidential Release form by clicking here, printing the form, completing it and sending it to MJI.

Academic Resources for Faculty:

501. I cannot locate the Faculty Orientation CD-ROM I received that contains all the files and documents I may need as a member of the MJI Academic Faculty. Is there a way that I can access these files and documents via the internet? Click here

504. How can I determine of I am scheduled to teach next semester? Please refer to item 404 above.

507. How can I find out when I am scheduled to teach during the next couple of years? Please refer to item 407 above. Also note, the further out in time the more likely will there be changes to the schedule. Please check back frequently to insure that you have the most current information.

520. Where can I go to see a demonstration of and orientation to MJI SAKAI online? Click here

570. I understand that as a member of MJI's faculty I may apply to the Fulbright Scholars Program for a Fulbright Grant. How can I learn more about this opportunity? Click here

Employment at MJI:

901. Please click here for an interactive PDF file providing basic information about employment opportunities at MJI and what you must do to apply. Information is also provided about how employers may seek student interns.This file was last updated May 2009.

910. I have been accepted for a position at MJI. What forms must I complete to begin employment? Click on the appropriate selections below; print the downloaded forms; complete the forms; and, mail them to MJI, Human Resources Department (address is on forms). You will not be officially employed until MJI receives all required forms.

a. For staff positions click here. For a final check list click here

b. For faculty positions click here. Please be sure to complete separate "Transcript Request forms" for each degree you have. Also, for any degrees received from non-USA schools please be sure to complete the "Request Form for Foreign Education Credentials Service". For a final check list click here

c. For ALL positions also click here

If you are submitting your employment materials via facsimilie please be sure to read the MJI Quick FAQ number 1004 below.

911. How can I be sure I have submitted all required MJI employment documents? Click here

a. I am sorry but I still do not understand how to complete my employment papers for a staff position. Do you have any additional instructions and help? Click here.

MJI QUICK FAQs!

1001. I keep calling and/or emailing messages to MJI personnel and I receive no replies. Can you please help?

Answer: Please remember that MJI has many students, parents, faculty and others who also require attention from MJI staff members (see our Directory at item 101 above. It will assist you in contacting the correct person at MJI, right away and reduce any unnecessary delays).

It is our goal that everyone receives a call back or reply within three (3) business days. Please do be patient with us and keep in mind that if you leave us several messages, all on the same business day or two, it is unfair to claim that you have tried to reach us multiple times and we have not responded. On the other hand, if you have not received a reply from us after five business days, please send an email message with all the pertinent details to Dr. Lori Stanley at lstanley@mji.edu.

1002. I have tried to reach my directed studies instructor to no avail. What should I do next?

Answer: Step 1: Please give your instructor 3 business days to reply to you. Step 2: Review Item 430 in the main FAQ section above, especially the brief summary of actions you must take found on pages 15-16 of the policy statement. If you have correctly completed all the appropriate actions, then go on to Step 3. Otherwise, please do complete your directed study requirements. Step 3. If you have properly followed all directed studies procedures and still have not heard from your instructor, please send an email message with all the pertinent details to Dr. Lori Stanley, lstanley@mji.edu

1003. I am having trouble with my on-line class materials, working with the MJI website and/or otherwise communicating via the Internet. What am I doing wrong?

Answer: Perhaps you are not following instructions exactly as they are indicated on your computer screen or in your text. Keep in mind, that while computers and software are extremely useful they are also extremely dumb. For example, if an equal sign has to precede a Microsoft Excel function, the computer and Excel (unlike your teachers or parents) just can't figure out that you "meant" to put in an equal sign. The software has got to see it or it simply will not go further.

Actually, this is probably why computers make such good teachers. They do not argue or capitulate or run out of patience. They just will not move forward until the user actually pays attention to the instructions (unless there is a software bug or typo in the instructions). If you have followed instructions precisely and exactly and your problem continues, then it is time to seek further help from the relevant parties. See item 101 above for information on who you should contact regarding your particular issue.

If you would like to see an orientation on MJI SAKAI online Click here.

1004. May I submit required documents by facsimilie?

Answer: Many documents required by MJI may be sent via facsimilie to 248-414-6907. If you are not sure whether or not you can fax a particular document to us, please check with your contact at MJI.

It is also very important to know that both outbound and inbound facsimile machines often degrade the quality of the sent document. This is particularly true If you are sending handwritten material. You must make sure that any hand prepared material is prepared in clear, blocked and printed lettering (excluding your signature). Experience has taught us that hastily written then fax'd material is often received by us totally unreadable and must therefore be resubmitted in a legible format.Save yourself trouble and do it correctly, the first time.

Finally, MJI receives numerous facsimilies every day. If you do not include a cover sheet indicating to whom your facsimile is to be delivered, a response to it could be significantly delayed as we try to determine the appropriate addressee.

1005. I have had some difficulty completing a semester's academic workload. Can I get an exception to MJI's policies regarding incomplete marks, dropping courses, attendance, probationary status or similar issues?

Answer: Exceptions to MJI policies regarding such matters may be possible if you provide the Registrar's Office (see item 101 for the MJI Directory) with a cover letter of explanation AND third party documentation and proof that the circumstances were beyond your control. Such proofs could be: letters from physicians, employment termination letters, eviction notices, court orders or other notifications exhibiting why you are unable to adhere to MJI policies at this time.

Once all required information has been received and evaluated by the Registrar, you will receive notification of the Registrar's decision. Should you think that the Registrar's determination is unfairly adverse to your particular situation, you may provide the Dean's Office with a complete and written accounting of why you think the decision is unfair. Only then will the matter be reviewed by the Dean's Office. You will be notified of the Dean's determination and additional appeals steps you may take, should you wish to do so. You can also find a complete description of the MJI appeals process in the catalog (item 105, above).