Want to know what online learning is like at Johnson & Wales? You’ve come to the right place!

First, let us take you on a tour of ulearn, your online classroom.

How Online Learning at JWU Works

Below, you’ll find a few common questions about online learning. Don’t see your question? Contact us, and we’ll be happy to give you an answer.

What online learning platform will I be using?

We call it ulearn, and it connects you to your instructors, classmates, assignments, course documents and other helpful resources. It’s intuitive, easy to use and runs off the popular Blackboard learning platform.

If you ever run into a problem, self-help resources are provided throughout the site so you can learn how to use the required tools. Technical support is also available via phone and email.

How does ulearn work?

Each course has its own course site in ulearn. Course sites are organized by week, allowing you to easily see what assignments and activities you need to complete each week.

Tools for accessing content, submitting assignments, taking tests or quizzes, and interacting with instructors and students are built into ulearn.

Although you can participate in courses on your own time, you’ll need to stick to a course schedule and complete activities, assignments, exams and participation requirements according to their deadlines. We recommend accessing each course site at least four times a week to make sure you’re keeping up. Online courses are equivalent in content and rigor to JWU’s traditional face-to-face courses.

How will I turn in assignments?

Written assignments are turned in using an Assignment tool that allows you to upload your files to each course site. Assignment submission areas are well-labeled and located in the weekly area that corresponds with the due date.

How does lecturing work online?

Each online lecture is recorded specifically for the online environment. We do not record traditional in-class lectures and put them online.

Lectures are generally very short in length or cut into easily digestible segments so you can pause or go back easily for reference. They are often recorded as voice-overs to presentations or other visual materials. Not all courses include video lectures—some instructors use other ways to share course content.

Instructors will also use articles, Web links, and other video and audio resources to give you additional content to work from.

How will I access project guidelines and study resources?

Project guidelines are built into the course materials and are available through each ulearn course site. Typically guidelines are described in the syllabus and/or other project-related documents as they would be in any college-level class.

We’ve also built study resources into the ulearn interface for easy access to things like recorded lectures, articles, documents, Web links, and video and audio files.

How will I receive my grades?

All grades are provided through the “my grades” link in each course site. In my grades, you’ll be able to quickly see your grades for the overall course and individual assignments.

Faculty feedback and comments, including marked-up assignments, are also available through the “my grades” link.

Is tutoring available?

Yes, tutoring is available. CPS provides student writing support via self-help resources and support from tutors via email, phone, and Zoom. Tutoring for certain other subjects is available 24/7 through Smarthinking, which can also be accessed through jwuLink and uLearn. There, you'll be able to schedule tutoring appointments or pop-in for immediate help on certain subjects.

Your instructors will also be available for questions through email or ulearn.

Is JWU an accredited online university?

Yes. Our online programs meet stringent accreditation requirements by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), one of the nation’s leading accrediting bodies.