Sinte Gleska University (SGU) recognizes the value of Distance Education as a means of furthering its educational mission and reaching a diverse population of learners from the Rosebud Indian Reservation and other associated areas. To maintain the highest quality of Distance Education consistent with that mission and with institutional and accreditation standards, all Distance Education programs and classes offered by SGU must comply with any relevant accreditation standards specific to their academic disciplines regarding Distance Education.

To learn more about SGU’s distance learning follow the links below:

Academic Quality

All Distance Education programs or classes must provide academic rigor, quality, and assessment of student learning objectives consistent with face-to-face programs or classes offered by SGU. Accordingly, instructors must hold Distance Education students to academic standards consistent with those to which students participating in face-to-face instruction are held. Therefore, to maintain consistent academic quality across the institution, course syllabi, scheduled learning outcomes, and evaluations of course effectiveness for Distance Education classes will be evaluated by the University according to standards consistent with face-to-face classes.

State Authorization means adherence to state requirements to offer Distance Education in a specific state. If an institution of higher education offers postsecondary education through Distance Education to students in a state in which it is not physically located or in which it is otherwise subject to state jurisdiction as determined by that state, then the institution must meet any state requirements for it to legally offer Distance Education in that state.

Generally, state Distance Education regulations apply only to degree programs that are fully online. However, some states regulate non- credit courses and certificate programs. There are two types of state authorization that may have to be obtained: 1) "institutional authorization" for all educational activities undertaken by the institution in-state, and 2) "licensure authorization" for any professional programs that need approval from a state licensing board. Distance Education programs or classes may not be offered in states where the University has not obtained State Authorization to provide such programs or classes.

Distance Education Maintenance System

To enroll in online learning courses at SGU you must have a computer with a microphone and a camera along with a reliable internet connection. SGU uses Google Classroom along with Google Meet as the Learning Management system. Other external websites and tools may be employed for a given class at the instructor's discretion, but the foundation of the class must be accessible (or linked) through the University's online Learning Management system. Regardless of the modality used, a reasonable effort must be made to assure that all class content is accessible to persons with disabilities. Instructors and staff must take the same care with Distance Education students' education records as they do with students in face-to-face settings. All Distance Education instructors must comply with federal law and the University's Copyright Policy in the preparation and delivery of Distance Education course material.

Student Identity Verification

The University must authenticate the identity of all online students. At a minimum, all Distance Education students must be required to use a unique user name and password, obtained through the University, to access Distance Education class materials. User names and passwords are obtained through the normal course of the registration process. For new students of SGU, you are provided a user name and a temporary password. This password will need to be reset for security reasons. Failure to do so may disallow you to enter online courses. Furthermore, sharing user names and passwords is a violation of policy and the Information Security and Assurance Policy, and also may constitute a violation of the Student Academic Dishonesty Policy.

Institutional Support

To promote consistency in academic and learning objectives and support, Distance Education students are eligible for University resources appropriate to the type of delivery, including but not limited to services provided by the following offices:

Technology Assistance (MIE)
Classroom Management System (Google Classroom)

For assistance with any of these offices, you will need to fill out a Tech Request by following this link: SGU Help Desk For your benefit is a series of literature and assistive videos beginning below based on Google Classroom, SGU’s distance learning maintenance system.

Getting Started with Google Classroom

Welcome and Introduction to Online Learning

Welcome new students and returning students to Sinte Gleska University. Here at SGU Google Classroom has been chosen as the teacher and student maintenance system for online learning. Google Classroom is the central place where teaching and learning come together. To experience the full benefits of Google Classroom, you must have Google Chrome uploaded to your computer, and your computer needs to be equipped with a microphone, speakers, and video capability.

To assist you with understanding how Google Classroom in tandem with Google Meet for virtual classroom operates, a series of learning videos have been developed for you. As a follow-up of each video is a short quiz to assure you understand the operations of Google Classroom and Google Meet. Our goal at SGU is for you to be successful with online learning.

As newly enrolled online learning students, you have received a username and a temporary password allowing for you to sign in a Google Browser. Typically your username includes your first name followed by a period and then your last name, the commercial at symbol (@), ending with sintegleska.edu. Example, Art.Fisher@sintegleska.edu. Your initial step is to sign in at your Google Chrome Browser using your username and temporary password. To secure your account you will be asked to create a new password and add a phone number should you need to recover your account. Should you forget your password you need to Submit a Tech Request. You must use your SGU account to join your online classes. Once logged in at Google you will be able to join your teacher’s Google Classroom.

Click button below to view the welcome video.

Welcome Video

Signing into an SGU account as a 1st time user of a Google account

Signing Into SGU Account

After registering for an SGU class for the first time you will need to activate your Google Account to gain access to the classes you’ve enrolled in. There are two ways to enter your account both include entering your username and the temporary password provided to you to access your Google account. This online student support will include the two ways to activate your SGU Google Account. Also, you may choose to view the assistive video found at the end of this document.