FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

About SFA

What is Starfleet Academy?
Fictionally, the Academy is the training ground for Starfleet cadets, where the next generation of officers develop their skills and knowledge. In the real world (you know, the "big blue room with the white puffy things on the ceiling"), SFA is also the training grounds for the Starfleet International's brightest and most productive officers.
The Academy programs are taught by and directed by dedicated individuals who are here to answer your questions, provide advice and oversee your development as a member of the premiere group in fandom. Each course provides valuable insight into either Starfleet, Trek trivia, and/or real life activities.

How do I apply to the Academy?
You can find application forms for SFA in your membership packet, in the Communications Quarterly, or on this web site, in our Applications section. Complete the form, and mail it to the director of the course you wish to take, along with the required payment and any additional materials (SASE's, postage, etc.) You can make payment using checks, money orders (NO CASH) or SFA Vouchers. Click here for voucher information.
You can also apply online using the Online Academy.

What's new at the Academy?
We've got a new Commandant and many new staff members; click here to view our staff listings. We've also got a brand-new site, as you can see, and a lot of expanded services with more on the way in the months to come.

To check out more SFA News and announcements, click here

SFA Vouchers

What are SFA online vouchers?
Online vouchers are receipts for payment to Starfleet Academy, and can be used in lieu of check or money orders for course payments. Since they can be bought in bulk, they are more convenient and cheaper than checks or money orders, making them the preferred method of payment for SFA courses. They come in units of $1.00 and $5.00 and are good for any SFA courses.

Online vouchers are distributed as codes that can be entered into application forms for payment for SFA courses, rather than in print form. They are available by snail-mail or online through PayPal services at no charge to you. Electronic Checks can also be used under certain circumstances, see below for more information. To use on snail-mail courses, simply write in the correct number of codes (one code = one U.S. dollar) when sending in your application!

How do I purchase Online vouchers?
They can be purchased from:
Carol Thompson
C/O Academy Vouchers
PO Box 135
Ester, AK 99725

or you can order electronically by credit card through PayPal. Paypal Link located on this page

Online Voucher Codes will be e-mailed to you (or sent by mail, if you include a self addressed stamped envelope if you do not have e-mail access.)

If you choose to pay by CHECK or MONEY ORDER, all checks or money orders for United States courses must be made out to: "STARFLEET - ACADEMY FUND"

Online Academy

What is the Online Academy?
The Online Academy is the most dynamic aspect of SFA - our ever-increasing number of courses available via email request. Some courses even have online testing available, using your Web browser!
The Online Academy not only offers faster and more convenient delivery, grading and certification of courses, but also offers them free of charge. International course applicants can bypass the hurdles of postage, delivery time and currency conversion when a student has to request a course from another campus.

How do I apply to the Online Academy?
Select a course you're interested in taking, and click on the course title to go to the Course Request Form. Complete the form, and the request will be automatically sent to the school director. Your course materials will be sent to you via email.
For certain courses, you can also request to take a course online. This option takes you to an online test, which is automatically tested and delivered to the school director. Results will be emailed to you from the director.

How are courses graded?
For email courses, simply email the completed test to the school director. The director will grade the course and will reply with your results via email.
For courses with online testing (such as OTS, OCC, and SAS) the test is automatically sent to the director upon completion of the test. The director will grade the test and reply with your results via email.

How are diplomas awarded?
Diplomas for email & online courses are send in digital format (either in PDF or other image format) to the student via email. Record of graduation is also kept in the SFA database, and in the months to come, we'll have online lookup of course records on the SFA site.
If you would prefer a traditional print diploma, you can still receive one when you request a form via the regular application process (postal mail), or by reuqesting one when you fill out the Email Course Request Form (you must include 1 online voucher code to cover the cost of printing & mailing the diploma).

Can I still apply for courses by mail?
Absolutely, the traditional system of requesting, receiving and grading courses via postal mail is not going anywhere... we're just developing a unified system for using the Internet to speed up the application and testing process. It's a mode of communication that a great many of our students already use regularly (many of our courses have been available via email or online for some time), we're just making the online applilcation process open to as many schools as possible, and with the same clear, universal application.