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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.
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