Independent Study Program - High School/Middle School Division
Enrollments Are Now Closed
The Independent Study Program is no longer accepting enrollments for high school- and middle school-level courses.
Established as a part of the land-grant mission of the University of Kentucky, the Independent Study Program (ISP) offers high school and middle school courses for independent study. Our purpose is to provide opportunities for individual students to learn and earn credit toward graduation or promotion apart from a classroom setting. We serve individual students in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and in all states of the US. With permission of their guidance counselor or principal and payment of the tuition, any high school student may enroll in a course offered through the ISP.
There are many reasons why individual students choose to enroll in an independent study course. In most cases, taking an independent study course is their only alternative because they cannot attend a class. Some students are not physically able to go to a class. In other cases, the class is not offered at a time when they can attend because of their school’s schedule or because of their own schedule. For example, some students take independent study courses during the summer to accelerate their completion of graduation or promotion requirements. Others make up missing courses and credits required for graduation and promotion because they moved from a school with different requirements or because they did not pass required courses. Making up a grade by taking an independent study course permits them to keep up with students in their class. The ISP aims to provide the highest quality of service to individual students regardless of their reason for enrolling.
The High School/Middle School Division of the ISP offers half unit courses that follow mandated standards that meet graduation and promotion requirements for Kentucky high schools and middle schools. Certified teachers serve as instructors in all the courses. As part of the University of Kentucky, the ISP program is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Interested students can enroll at anytime and work at their own pace. To enroll, students must submit a completed Registration Card signed by their guidance counselor or principal. Students are officially enrolled as soon as a completed card is received and the tuition is paid. The enrollment period for each course is 12 months from the official date of registration. For students who register on or after February 1, 2011, the enrollment period for each course is 6 months from the official date of registration.
Once a student is enrolled, she/he is sent a course study guide which is a combination annotated syllabus and work book prepared by a teacher for the course. It provides the information needed to do the work of the course, i.e., the reading and writing assignments. Instruction about the subject matter included in the reading and writing assignments and interaction between the student and the teacher is delivered asynchronously online and through the mail. Assignments can be submitted by email in most courses. This eliminates postage costs and speeds up the return of graded assignments. Students have the opportunity to learn in a way that accommodates their individual schedule and lifestyle.
Most courses have between 15 and 20 written assignments to be prepared and submitted. Work on the assignments is done independently at the student’s own pace. It is permissible to use a tutor. In general, the courses are heavily text book based. In other words, to master the material requires learning the assigned material in the textbook and particularly the material covered in the assignments.
Depending on the type of course, assignments are submitted by email or regular mail. The assignments are evaluated and graded by a course instructor and returned to the student. Records are kept in the ISP office and by the instructors on when assignments are received, the grade earned, and when they are graded and returned.
Textbooks used in the courses are not provided or sold by the ISP. The textbook for a particular course can be purchased anywhere as long as the specific edition of the text used in the course is bought.
Successful completion of a course includes having all the required assignments received by the ISP office and passing the proctored final exam. Students must pass the final exam with a score of at least 60% to pass the course regardless of their average on the assignments. Once a course has been completed, the student’s grade is reported to their counselor or principal for posting on their official school record.
Students eligible to take a final exam must complete the Examination Request Form in their course study guides and either send or fax the form to the ISP office or email the information to the office email address, HIGHSCHOOL-L@LISV.uky.edu. Most students make arrangements with their counselor to have the exam administered and proctored by the counselor or principal at their school. It is not necessary for students to come to the ISP to take a final exam
There is an ISP testing facility, but seating is limited. Exams are begun Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00am and 2:30pm. The day and time of the exam must be scheduled by phone or email at least a week in advance. High school and middle school students are given at least 2 hours to complete an exam, but all exams end when the office closes at 4:30pm.
Course descriptions, registration procedures, and other important information about the ISP and how it operates are included in this website. If you need additional information, please contact the ISP office.
Thank you for your interest in the High School/Middle School Division of the Independent Study Program (ISP).