Welcome

To our students:

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the UBC Real Estate Division's education programs, designed collaboratively by academic and industry experts. I hope you find the programs to be interesting, informative, and rewarding.

This handbook provides useful information about how to succeed in online learning, as well as some specific instructions on completing the course assignments, projects, and the final examination. The handbook also presents the program regulations, which detail how the different programs and courses operate. Please take time to read this information carefully so you will have a complete understanding of all course procedures.

If you are new to the Real Estate Division courses, or have been away from your program for a while, please watch the new online exam videos. These describe how to successfully get set up and write an online exam, which are now part of most program courses. You should also check out the Course Resources webpage, which is your virtual home during your course. This web page includes learning resources such as videos and webinars and also connects you with your course tutor and your fellow students. I encourage you to read more about your Course Resources webpage in the Student Support Services section of this handbook

Finally, the UBC Real Estate Division is committed to providing a high standard of excellence in education. If you have questions about your course or suggestions for improving your learning experience please email us at info@realestate.sauder.ubc.ca.

I hope that this handbook and your Course Resources webpage will be of assistance to you and I wish you every success in your program.

Sincerely,

André Gravelle
Executive Director, Real Estate Education

Introduction to Distance Education

All Real Estate Division courses are designed to be self-contained distance education offerings – you will be assigned readings and then directed to submit a series of assignments and projects based on these materials. Assignments and projects are submitted through the Real Estate Division's website. If you need help during the course, you can receive tutorial assistance by email or telephone. At the end of most courses you will write a final exam, which counts for a large portion of your final grade.

Getting Started

The first step in getting started in your course is to make sure you have everything you need. First, you should refer to the "Get Started" tab on your Course Resources webpage (www.realestate.ubc.ca/login – explained further here). There is a checklist on the Start Here page that shows what should be included in your course package. Is anything missing? If so, contact the Real Estate Division using the phone number or email address listed here so we can rectify the problem.

Most courses have four key information sources: (1) a course manual (or textbook), providing the assigned reading for the course; (2) a course workbook, providing the course's lessons and assignments; (3) this handbook, outlining the procedures and regulations for all Real Estate Division courses and programs; and (4) a course resources webpage.

Before beginning your studies in this course, read through the four sections of this handbook:

• Introduction to Distance Education – outlines expectations for your studies with the Real Estate Division, as well as prerequisites and useful tools that can help you successfully complete your studies.
• Student Support Services – outlines how to contact and find the Real Estate Division, what tutorial services are available, what the course resources webpage offers, the important information found in bulletins, and other administrative issues.
• Assignments and Examinations – outlines how to prepare and submit assignments, and describes the arrangements and requirements for your final examination; and
• Program Regulations – outlines the rules and procedures that govern your course.

The Foreword of your course workbook provides information specific to your course, such as course learning objectives, exam and tutorial information, and the course assignments.

You should now proceed to read the remainder of this student handbook. If you have any questions, please contact us by any of the means listed here or check our Frequently Asked Questions page. You may find that your question has come up before and is answered there.

Course Expectations

Our overall goal is to create an effective learning environment. Students can expect the following from the Real Estate Division: a course that is interesting, relevant, and intellectually challenging; well-planned, organized, and comprehensive course materials; clear expectations and unbiased assessment of student work; and staff who are responsive to student needs. In return, we expect the following from students: to put in the time and effort required for success in a challenging course; to complete assigned work on time and in a professional manner; and to ask for clarification when it is required and provide feedback when needed.

Code of Conduct – Respectful Environment for Students, Staff and Visitors

The Real Estate Division embraces a climate in which students, staff, and visitors are provided with the best possible conditions for learning, teaching and working, including an environment that is dedicated to excellence, equity and mutual respect. The Real Estate Division is committed to ensuring that all students, staff, and visitors are able to study and work in an environment of tolerance and mutual respect that is free from harassment and discrimination. The Real Estate Division strives to realize this vision by establishing employment and educational practices that respect the dignity of individuals and make it possible for everyone to work and study in a positive and supportive environment.

All students, staff, and visitors are expected to behave as honest and responsible members of the academic community. At all times, when communicating, it is expected that students, staff, and visitors conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with these principles and the Real Estate Division’s Course Regulations. Any conduct on the part of a student that has, or might reasonably be seen to have, an adverse effect on the integrity or the proper functioning of the Real Estate Division, or the health, safety, rights, or property of the Real Estate Division or its staff, students, and visitors is subject to non-academic discipline including, but not limited to, suspension from the Course. Please see Course Regulation 5.02 for more information.

Accommodation for Students with Disabilities

The Real Estate Division's goal is to ensure fair and consistent treatment of all students, including students with disabilities, in accordance with their distinct needs and in a manner consistent with academic principles. Services are available through UBC's Centre for Accessibility, and candidates who have physical, sensory, or specific learning disabilities are encouraged to contact the Centre for Accessibility at 604.822.5844, info.accessibility@ubc.ca, or students.ubc.ca/about-student-services/centre-for-accessibility to make appropriate arrangements. Students requiring special exam accommodation must contact the Centre for Accessibility at least two months prior to their examination date.

Study Skills

One of the greatest benefits of a course offered by distance education is the flexibility it offers. You can study at whatever place or time is most convenient for you, and more effectively balance the demands of work and home life. However, this benefit comes at a price – some students find it difficult to get motivated and maintain enthusiasm without the structure of attending regular classes. To be successful in distance education courses, you must have well-developed study skills. Discussed below are strategies that students in past courses have reported to be successful. We offer them here with the hope that they may prove helpful for you as well. For further studying tips, review the "Assignment and Examination Information" section later in this handbook. The Real Estate Division gratefully acknowledges the input of Distance Learning of UBC Continuing Studies in outlining these studying strategies.

Time Management

The Real Estate Division's distance education courses are aimed at working professionals, who lead very busy lives. When there are many immediate demands on your time, it is all too easy to let your studies be put off. However, procrastination builds upon itself and at some point you may find yourself too far behind to be able to catch up. Success in any course is more often the result of good organization than individual brilliance. To be successful, you must be diligent and self-disciplined with respect to devoting regular time to your studies.

A schedule is most effective if it is written out and posted where you do your studying. Get a calendar with large spaces for each day and write in your assignment due dates and exam date. Note on this calendar all of your planned and foreseeable personal activities for non-work times, then designate days and times for study sessions, ideally at a consistent day and time each week. A good starting point is to allocate ten hours per week to studying, and then adjust this time as needed during your course. It is important to be realistic at this point – if your calendar shows that you will not have sufficient time for your studies, you will have to review your planned activities, set some priorities for your time, and possibly put off some activities until your course is over. In setting up your schedule, it is also reasonable to expect that you will have to occasionally miss your study times. However, you will have to exercise the self-discipline necessary to schedule make-up time later.

This schedule will become your master plan for completing the course work. Plan your weekly schedule by assigning activities and goals for each session. Start with a larger task, such as completing your assignment, and break it down into smaller sub-tasks, such as reading the text, preparing the first draft, proofreading, etc. Plot each of these into your week's study sessions such that you can accomplish your goal by the due date. By scheduling these smaller tasks, you will help fight the urge to daydream or procrastinate, since you will continually be working towards achievable goals (e.g., "finish chapter by 8 pm"), with the knowledge that you have a plan to complete the overall task on time. After your week is over, review the plan to see how well it worked and where adjustment may be needed. If you can get yourself into an established studying pattern, you are well on the way to completing the course successfully. For more information on your course assignment schedule, refer to the Assignment Scheduling section.

Study Environment

Finding a consistent place to study will help reinforce your designated studying times. You need a quiet, well lit area, with a comfortable chair and temperature, and with as few distractions as possible (e.g., cellphone, TV, radio,  interruptions by family or friends). When you are studying, if you find that you are not concentrating well, you may want to try doing something else for a few minutes to invigorate yourself – get a cup of coffee, chat to your family or friends for five minutes, walk around the block, etc. When you return, you should be refreshed and able to get to it again. However, if you are still distracted, you are better off to stop studying at that point and deal with whatever issue is keeping your mind off your work – but make sure you plan for how to make up this lost time later.

Recommended Prerequisites and Useful Tools

Below is a description of the math, studying, and writing skills necessary for most Real Estate Division courses, as well as our recommendations for a financial calculator and personal computer. If you are unsure if you meet the requirements in these areas, you are strongly urged to address these issues now, so that you will be better prepared when your course work becomes intense.

Mathematics Required

Many of the Real Estate Division's courses require quite sophisticated quantitative skills, specifically those involving mortgage finance and appraisal. While students lacking basic algebra might successfully complete introductory topics, the courses progress in difficulty, and failure to understand basic algebraic formulae may affect your later performance. Because it may have been some time since you took an algebra course, we strongly recommend that you review those skills now. Most libraries and bookstores have texts which may be of assistance to you.

To handle the quantitative work properly, you must be able to structure a complex problem in terms of one unknown, simplify and solve equations with one unknown, and manipulate exponents. Where relevant, your Course Resources webpage will provide links to supplementary resources on these topics.

Financial Calculator

All of the Real Estate Division's courses have some level of mathematical calculations required. Some courses only require basic arithmetic calculations that can be solved using any arithmetic or scientific calculator (or using manual "long-hand" processes). However, many courses have detailed financial and statistical calculations that require a financial calculator.

The Hewlett Packard (HP) 10bII+ will be used in the demonstration of analytical techniques in the program of studies; however, there are a variety of pre-programmed financial calculators on the market, some of which will perform more sophisticated calculations or have greater programming capacity. You may use any financial calculator for the course and examination, providing it is silent, cordless, handheld, and not alphanumeric and programmable. Graphing calculators are also not allowed. You can find a list of prohibited calculators in the "FAQ Exams" section of your Course Resources webpage.

If you choose to use a calculator other than the 10bII+, you should be aware that the specific operational details of calculators differ, and that the onus will be on you to ensure that the alternate calculator will perform all necessary calculations. It will be your responsibility to consult the owner's manual to determine how the calculator of your choice operates.

Many office supply and electronics stores sell the HP 10bII+ and you are encouraged to "comparison shop" because discount or sales prices are often available. If you are unable to locate the HP 10bII+ calculator in your area, you can purchase one from the Real Estate Division's online bookstore. Please check the prices available in your area because no refunds are available once the calculator has been purchased from the Real Estate Division.

If you are new to the HP 10bII+, you may wish to review the HP 10bII+ document. In addition, for students using the TI BAII Plus calculator, students can refer to the financial illustrations and statistical illustrations for further information.

Personal Computer

Real Estate Division courses require access to a personal computer and some courses also require specialized software – you may wish to check in the Foreword section of your course workbook or with your Course Representative regarding your course. A computer with high-speed internet access is a necessary tool in preparing and submitting your assignments, viewing your assignment answer guides, and creating effective study notes to help you prepare for your examination. You should also have access to a high-quality printer that can provide clear printouts of information from the Real Estate Division website. In some courses, a spreadsheet or statistics program is a necessary tool for analyzing complex financial problems.

It is also required that all students have high-speed internet access. All Real Estate Division courses include online resources and require online assignment submission. It is also critical that you check your Course Resources page frequently for any bulletins that are posted for your course – these bulletins contain updates that can affect the work you do on your assignments and projects. The Real Estate Division's primary method of communicating with students is by email, and therefore it is important that emails from the Real Estate Division are not tagged as junk mail or "spam" by your email program. To ensure you receive important emails from the Real Estate Division, please follow the steps outlined on www.realestate.ubc.ca/email. Real Estate Division students can sign up for a Campus Wide Login (CWL), which allows for wireless internet access when on campus and access to the UBC Library's online collections (www.cwl.ubc.ca/signup). You can also sign up for a UBC Student & Alumni Email account, which allows for a UBC email address – visit the UBC Student Services Centre (id.ubc.ca) for more information.

If you need assistance with learning to use a computer effectively, you may wish to visit your local bookstore for a "how to" manual or investigate schools, colleges, or libraries in your area that offer introductory computer courses.

Library Resources

Students registered in Real Estate Division courses are eligible to sign up for a Campus Wide Login (CWL), which then allows access to the UBC Library. The UBC Library is a leading research library in Canada offering over six million items, including e-books, journals, microforms, maps, audio, video, and graphic materials. These resources enable you to search databases of newspapers and journals, government reports, statistical time series, and more. Many of these collections offer full-text content, meaning that the entire text of articles is available online and free for registered UBC users. You will find these library resources very helpful to you in your course, and you should visit the library's website as soon as possible to see what they have to offer.

To arrange library access, visit the UBC Library Access and Resources link on your Course Resources webpage (www.realestate.ubc.ca/library) and follow the steps outlined there. You will need your eight-digit UBC student number, which is distinct from your Real Estate Division student number and can be found under "Student Profile" on your Course Resources page, plus your Student Services Centre password, which is by default your birthdate (YYMMDD).

Please note that Real Estate Division students are not eligible for University-sponsored bus passes (U-Pass) or other on-campus benefits associated with a UBCcard, as Real Estate Division students are not assessed UBC Student Services fees.

Studying and Writing Skills

All courses offered by the Real Estate Division demand a high level of skill in studying, to complete course assignments and to successfully write the final examination. Most courses also require significant writing skills to communicate technical information in a clear and concise manner. The following books are recommended to help you develop good study habits and writing skills. Many of these books are available from the UBC bookstore (www.bookstore.ubc.ca) and most should be available at larger bookstores or libraries across North America.

• Burns, Tom & Sinfield, Sandra. 2012. Essential Study Skills, 3^rd Edition. London, England: Sage Publications Company.
• Ellis, Dave. 2018. Becoming a Master Student. (16^th Edition). Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
• Pauk, Walter & Ros, JQ Owens.  2013. How to Study in College. (11^th Edition). Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

Student Support Services

How to Contact the Real Estate Division

For assistance with administrative issues such as registration or exam information:

Customer Service

Within Greater Vancouver: 604.822.2227
Toll-free outside Greater Vancouver: 1.888.775.7733
Email: info@realestate.sauder.ubc.ca

Addresses

Mailing Address:
Real Estate Division – Credit Programs
Sauder School of Business
The University of British Columbia
247 – 2053 Main Mall
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2

Street and Courier Address:
Real Estate Division – Credit Programs
Sauder School of Business
The University of British Columbia
247 – 2053 Main Mall
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2

For help with course materials, contact a course tutor (see the Tutorial Assistance section later in this handbook for more information on this service):

Central Tutor Support Service

Law Topics:

Within Greater Vancouver: 604.822.8460
Toll-free outside Greater Vancouver: 1.888.848.8460
Email: lawtutor@realestate.sauder.ubc.ca

All Other Topics:

Within Greater Vancouver: 604.822.8523; 604.822.8543
Toll-free outside Greater Vancouver: 1.800.848.3050
Email: tutor@realestate.sauder.ubc.ca

Website

www.realestate.ubc.ca

How to Find Us

By Transit:
We highly recommend contacting Translink (www.translink.ca) or Google Maps (maps.google.ca) for current transit schedules and trip planning. Once you arrive on campus, follow the directional signs to the Central Academic Campus – Campus Core. The Sauder School of Business/Henry Angus Building is on the corner of Main Mall and University Boulevard.

By Car:
Drive westbound along either 4th Avenue, 10th Avenue, 16th Avenue, or 41st Avenue onto North/Southwest Marine Drive. To park in the most convenient parkade, turn onto University Boulevard, turn right onto Lower Mall and park in the West Parkade (visit www.parking.ubc.ca, or call 604.822.6786 for information about rates and other parking locations). Walk up University Boulevard until you reach Main Mall. The Sauder School of Business/Henry Angus Building is on your left, at 2053 Main Mall.

Tutorial Assistance

The Real Estate Division provides tutorial support to help you through your course. Tutors will give assistance with the challenging concepts and principles that must be understood in order to complete an assignment correctly. Assignments must be worked on individually, however, tutors can provide only limited assistance with specific assignment questions.

Some courses use the Real Estate Division's central tutor support service, while others have designated external tutors. To find the tutorial assistance details for your course, see "Tutorial Assistance" on your Course Resources webpage. The phone numbers and email addresses for the tutorial service vary depending on your course, your location, and on the nature of the topic you need help with.

It is preferred that you contact the tutor by email. Email helps you to organize your thoughts and allows the tutor to more effectively and efficiently answer your question. If your question is of a general nature, you may want to submit it to the course discussion forum first, to see if your fellow students can help you.

When you make a request for tutorial assistance, the tutor will attempt to contact you as soon as possible, generally before the end of the next business day. If more than two business days have passed and you have not received a response, please send an email to info@realestate.sauder.ubc.ca so we can immediately assist you.

When you are requesting tutorial assistance, please ensure that you provide:

• your name, 7-digit Real Estate Division student number, course, and assignment number if applicable.
• your phone number with area code. If you provide a toll-free number, please be aware that sometimes these numbers are not accessible from outside your province. Please indicate an approximate time that you would prefer the tutor to return your message and the tutor will try to accommodate your schedule.
• a brief description of the material you need help with.

For email questions, please ensure that your student number and course number are in the "subject" field. Please also ensure that you include your telephone number, in case the tutor would like to answer your message by telephone.

To provide tutorial services to the largest number of students possible, it is necessary to limit each tutorial call to 10 minutes. Please prioritize your questions before you call to gain the most benefit from your time with the tutor.

Finally, please note that the tutorial service will be closed during the Christmas holidays. You may still leave a voice message for or send an email to the tutor during this time, but the tutors will not be able to respond until the tutorial service reopens in early January. More details will be provided on the tutorial line recording as to the exact dates of the closure.

Course Resources Webpage

Your Course Resources webpage is found on the Real Estate Division's website at www.realestate.ubc.ca/login. You will find many useful learning management tools and learning resources on this page. For instance, you are required to periodically check and download any course bulletins and note any changes in your manual or workbook.

What's New: Announcements & Bulletins

Check here regularly for important bulletins for your course – these contain essential updates to your course materials and must be viewed by all students.

Learning Management Tools

Here you'll find the course schedule, as well as helpful tools for submitting assignments, viewing grades and answer guides, viewing or updating your student profile (e.g., changing your address), transfers, and withdrawals. There are also forms for applying for exams or graduation, transcript requests, and course evaluations.

Course Materials & Learning Resources

Find tutor contact information, frequently asked questions, library resources, online readings and files, and web links to supplement your course materials.

Examination Information

Information on exam scheduling, exam locations, and study tips.

Discussion Forums & Contact List

Discuss topics of interest with your classmates and help each other through the course on the Course Discussion Forum and visit the Student Café – an informal gathering place open to students in all Real Estate Division courses to discuss study strategies, network with other real estate practitioners, and hopefully make some new friends. The student contact list is also where you can give your permission for your contact information to be released to professional groups and potential employers.

Webinars

Online classroom workshops, or webinars are provided in select courses. They are typically 1-2 hrs long and consist of an online presentation delivered by a course instructor or industry specialist. There is a chat and Q&A function for typing in questions to the instructor. Attendance is optional, but virtually all students who participate find them very useful. If you are unable to attend a live webinar, you can still access the archived recording at your convenience. Your Course Resources webpage contains all log-in information needed to access the webinars.

Your Course Resources webpage is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! If there are any additional features you would like to see on our site, please let us know and we will do our best to provide them.

Access to the Course Resources webpage is available soon after the early registration deadline for the applicable term. Please note that your access to the Course Resources webpage is only available until the exam date. Students deferring or rewriting examinations can arrange continued access by contacting their Course Representative.

Bulletins and Announcements

Bulletins and announcements are found under "What's New: Announcements & Bulletins" on your Course Resources webpage.

Bulletins inform you of changes to the material covered in your course. For example, a bulletin may be required if an important legal case has been decided or a statute has been amended. In some cases, a bulletin may simply be a list of amendments to your course materials. Any revisions described in bulletins should be noted in your course workbook or manual where appropriate.

Announcements are used to inform you of new features and services. Announcements are only available online on your Course Resources webpage, so you should check your webpage periodically to be sure you do not miss anything. Announcements for students in all Real Estate Division courses are posted in the "What's New: Announcements & Bulletins" section of your Course Resources webpage, while announcements specific to your course will be posted in the course discussion forum. Both bulletins and announcements may also be sent directly by email.

You should carefully read and store the information contained in bulletins and announcements. We try to keep students as informed as possible and hope to eliminate any potential confusion with this system of communicating with you. Please note that you are responsible for the material contained in bulletins posted for your course and that this information could be tested in assignments or examinations. If you do not understand the information contained in a bulletin, please contact either your tutor or your Course Representative using any of the means listed in the Student Support Services, How to Contact the Real Estate Division section of this handbook.

Administrative Issues

Change of Address or Name

To change your address, phone number, or email address in the Real Estate Division's records, you must use the "Student Profile" link in the "Program Tools" section of the Course Resources webpage. It is not sufficient to note a new address on the envelope when submitting correspondence by mail.

If your name changes during the course, you must complete the "Change of Name" form found in "Program Tools" on your Course Resources webpage and submit the form together with supporting documentation (e.g., government-issued marriage certificate – church-issued is not acceptable) to our office via mail or email. Please be aware that you may be required to show your change of name documentation at the examination centre on the day of your exam.

Transfer and Withdrawal

You may be eligible to transfer to a later offering of your course. The course you wish to transfer into must start after the date our office receives your online request to transfer and must also start within one year of the transfer request. All transfer requests MUST be submitted by the "Course End Date" – see the course schedule under "Important Dates and Deadlines" on your Course Resources webpage. Requests to transfer must be submitted online using the "Transfer/Withdrawal" feature found in "Course Tools" on your Course Resources webpage. The transfer fee is $75, payable online by Visa or MasterCard. See Regulation 4.02 for other fees that may be applicable. You may only transfer a maximum of two times within one year of the start date of your original course.

If you decide to transfer to a subsequent course, and that course contains substantially revised or updated material, you may be required to redo all of the assignments for that course. If this occurs, you may wish to purchase an updated version of the course material as you will be responsible for any course material that has been changed.

Requests to withdraw from your course must be submitted online using the "Transfer/Withdrawal" feature found in "Course Tools" on your Course Resources webpage. To receive a partial refund of course fees, your request to withdraw must be received prior to the deadline stated in "Important Dates and Deadlines" on the Course Resources webpage of your original course. If you withdraw after this date, no refund is available, even if you transfer from this course to a later course. In addition, please note that it is the deadlines for your original course that determine whether your withdrawn course will be listed on your transcript as "W" (withdrawn), "F" (fail), or will not be listed at all.

Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy

Collection, use, disclosure, and retention of information must comply with the provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Collected personal information will only be used by authorized Real Estate Division staff to fulfill the purpose for which it was originally collected or for a use consistent with that purpose. We do not disclose your information to other public bodies or individuals except as authorized or required by law or as expressly permitted by the student.

Assignment/Project Information

Your course workbook provides a series of assignments and projects relating to the material in each lesson. The assignments and projects are designed to serve several purposes.

• To review the major points in the assigned readings, and to encourage further understanding through emphasis.
• To test your progress periodically, and to help identify areas where further study and review may be desirable.
• To review and prepare for the examination. The assignments do not test every area of each chapter, but you should ensure you know all of the material for the examination, which will encompass all of your course materials. The assigned readings in your course serve as the basis for the assignments and examination, but you may also find them to be a useful reference for ideas, explanations, and illustrations long after the course has ended, when the ideas, tools, and procedures need to be applied in your work.
• Projects serve as an in-depth application of concepts covered in your course. The projects tend to require you to look beyond the course materials, applying course concepts in creative and practical research exercises. Projects are designed to be comprehensive and open-ended, and usually account for a significant portion of your course grade. While they are challenging, they offer an opportunity to reflect on course concepts, critically evaluating topics covered, and hopefully fostering more meaningful learning.

Reading and Completing Assignments

Distance education courses typically require a lot of reading and a solid plan of attack will help you to use your time most effectively. You should read the assigned materials thoroughly before attempting to complete the assignment. You may find it helpful to first skim through the reading, looking only at the introduction, conclusion, headings, introductory sentences, etc. This will help you develop a basic understanding of the overall theme, which will help you later in reading for details. You should write up a brief outline of the main topics and sub-topics in the reading. Some students like to put this in a list with numerical headings that descend in level of detail – e.g., Topic 1, 1(a), 1(b)(i), etc. Others prefer a more graphic method, writing the central topic in the middle of a page with main topics flowing from this in all directions, and then sub-topics and details flowing outward. Both of these methods provide an outline or map which will be helpful to follow in your reading and also provide a useful study tool later in your exam review.

To apply your outline or map in guiding your reading, an effective technique is to use your topics and sub-topics as questions that you need to answer. If you answer these questions in writing, you will have a set of organized notes that effectively summarize the chapter or article. These notes can serve as your review of the readings, which may save you having to re-read them when you are studying for your exam. This note taking/questioning approach may help stimulate deeper understanding and long-term memory.

Some students find it helpful to highlight the readings as they go. This can be effective as long as you are only highlighting main points and not highlighting so much that you effectively have to re-read the whole text. In some cases, highlighting can lead to skimming or surface reading. However, if highlighting is an effective study tool for you, that is fine – there is no right or wrong way to study, as we all have different styles of learning.

When you are ready to start your assignment, it is preferable to read through the entire assignment once before you answer any questions. For written answers, first write a quick rough draft outlining your major points, then research the readings to provide support for each point. Try not to worry about specific wording until the final revision stage. Once you are ready for final revisions, ensure that your writing is communicating your thoughts as clearly as possible. Read your answers through from beginning to end – are they logical? Do they flow well? Reading them aloud will highlight any areas that are awkward. Have others read them for you – are the answers clear to them? Using these techniques will help to ensure that your work is the best it can be before it is submitted for marking.

Finally, when you receive your marked assignment back, check your answers with those in the online answer guide. If there are differences you do not understand, review your course materials to see where you may have gone wrong or contact your tutor for further explanation.

Assignment Scheduling

Expect to commit at least ten hours per week to your studies and up to 20 hours in some advanced courses. Your course material is not easy – diligence and organization are essential. To help keep on track, each course has a set assignment schedule found on your Course Resources webpage – see "Important Dates and Deadlines". By following this schedule, you can be assured that you are progressing through the course at a fast enough pace that you can complete the course on time and be ready to write on the final examination date. Note that these assignments and projects represent a significant portion of your final mark for your course, which is explained in more detail in the Foreword section of your Course Workbook.

Late Submission of Assignments

If you submit an assignment or project that is received by the Real Estate Division after the scheduled due date for that assignment or project, you will be assessed a late marking fee of $15. This fee covers the additional costs of processing and marking your late assignment. However, we understand that most of our students are taking continuing education part-time and that the complications inherent in combining school with work mean that you will not always be able to meet the specified assignment schedule. To recognize this, it is our policy to waive late submission fees for any four late submissions per course (up to six in BUSI 398, 497, 499). If you find that your assignments are not being received on time by the Real Estate Division, this will allow you an opportunity to correct the situation without being assessed a late submission fee. A statement of late fees owing can be viewed and paid from the “Outstanding Fee Summary” link on your Course Resources webpage. Your course grade will not be released until you have paid any late fees owing, and you may be prevented from registering in future courses.

There are also additional problems that can arise as a result of late assignments. Assignments have a dual role: in addition to their assessment role, assignments are also intended to motivate you to keep up with your readings and course work. Students who fall behind significantly on their assignments often fail to complete the course.

If you are late with your assignments or projects, you will receive them back late, delaying feedback on your work. This is of greatest concern when you are nearing the end of a course because you will want all of your assignments marked and returned to you before you write the examination. Finally, keep in mind that the Program Regulations provide for mandatory withdrawal for excessive late submission of assignments. If you are withdrawn, there is no refund of fees and a grade of "Fail" will be recorded on your permanent transcript.

Grading Policies: Assignment, Projects, and Exams

The final grade for your course will represent a combination of your performance on assignments, projects, and on the final examination. The proportion of your final grade attributed to each is specified in the Foreword section of your course workbook. An overall course grade of 60% is required to pass a course. Please note that you must also achieve a minimum examination grade of 50%, otherwise your assignment and project marks will not be considered in the determination of your final course grade. If you fail to achieve this minimum, the exam grade percentage will be the final course grade.

Written Assignments and Projects: "A How-to Guide"

How to Answer Written Assignment and Exam Questions

In assignment and exam questions requiring written responses, you must give full explanations for your answers. This does not mean that lengthy answers are required. Most questions can be answered in several sentences that are well-formulated and to-the-point. A "yes" or "no" answer without any reasons will not receive a mark.

When answering written questions, the marks awarded generally indicate the level of depth required in your answer, or in other words, the amount of writing expected. A general rule-of-thumb to follow is that one mark will be awarded per idea stated or intermediate answer in a calculation. For example, if the question is "Define value and discuss how the concept of value is important to real estate appraisal" and it is worth four marks, you will be expected to make at least four relevant points. This could likely be done in a paragraph – i.e., two sentences defining what value is and two sentences explaining how it is important to real estate appraisal. You are NOT required to write a two-page essay on the concept of value. In some cases, writing too much can cause you to lose marks, as it may indicate to the marker that you do not have a clear understanding of the concept that is being tested. At the same time, it would not be appropriate in this case to give a five-word response – i.e., this would likely receive only one mark, as the answer given probably does not discuss all of the relevant issues.

To obtain full marks, you should assume that the marker has no specific knowledge of the subject or the question, and attempt to use your answer to teach the subject to the marker. For example, in a law question, you should treat the marker as having no legal background at all. A similar assumption should be made for other subjects, such as urban land economics or statistics. For questions involving calculations, you do not need to provide every calculator step (unless the question specifically asks for them), but you should give enough explanation so that the marker can follow the progression towards your final answer. This will allow the marker to grant you partial marks for any correct intermediate steps, even if your final answer is incorrect.

The written assignments in your program are marked by specialists in the subject matter, the grades are recorded, and the assignments are returned to you with marker's comments. Once your assignment has been received by the Real Estate Division, you will be able to access the answer guides online. This is available in the "Assignment Tools" section of your Course Resources webpage.

How to Format Written Assignments and Projects

To ensure that assignments and projects are processed quickly, they should:

1. be produced on a computer, with 11 or 12 point font size and single spaced (but double spaced between questions) – click here for a list of accepted file formats
2. include page numbers (e.g., 1 of 7, 2 of 7, etc.,) in the top right-hand corner, and your name, 7-digit student number and course number in the top left-hand corner of ALL pages
3. include a cover page with your name, student number, course, and assignment or project number

When submitting your answers to written assignments it is NOT necessary to restate the assignment question.

Keep in mind that assignments and projects should be presented in a professional manner, just as you would present a report to your supervisor at work or other similar readers. A sample written assignment submission is shown below:

How to Submit Written Assignments and Projects

Written assignments and projects for all courses must be submitted to the Real Estate Division using turnitin, a web service that checks for content originality. Visit the turnitin QuickStart Guide webpage for information on how to set up your account. See the “Submit Written Assignments and Projects” link on your Course Resources webpage for detailed submission instructions for your course.

Some courses may require final projects to be printed and sent by mail, courier, or hand delivered. Our mailing and courier addresses are provided here. Please do not enclose any correspondence with projects – use a separate envelope, to ensure it will not be missed. As well, it is essential that you keep a copy of any work submitted to avoid having to redo the work if it is lost in the mail. Note that projects must be received by our office on or before the due date to be "on time".

If your projects are delivered in person, our UBC campus address is provided here. This service is only available during Real Estate Division Office hours, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. For the location of the Henry Angus Building, please refer to the UBC Campus Map.

How to Check Your Assignment Status Online

In the "Assignment History and Answer Guides" section of your Course Resources webpage, you can view each of your assignment submissions to see when the assignment was received and what your grade is. Assignment History is available to you in real time; that is, as soon as we receive the grades, they are available for you to view.

It takes approximately three weeks from the date of submission to process a written assignment or project. If over four weeks has passed since the date an assignment or project was due, and you submitted it on time, please check your Assignment History on your Course Resources webpage to confirm that it was received and is being processed (or contact your tutor or Course Representative). In addition, you are advised to retain your marked assignments in case any questions arise concerning your status. Problems arise very rarely, but they can occur.

How to View Your Answer Guides Online

As soon as an assignment or project has been received by the Real Estate Division, you will be able to access the answer guide online. This is available in the "Assignment History and Answer Guides" section of your Course Resources webpage.

How to Resubmit Your Written Projects and Assignments

If you have done poorly on a project and are concerned about your understanding of the concepts or techniques in the materials, you may wish to redo the assignment and resubmit it for a second marking (note that a $35 remarking fee applies). Your original grade will not be changed. However, you may gain a clearer understanding of where you went wrong and feel more confident as you approach your exam. Please refer to Regulation 2.06(6) and (7) for exceptions to these resubmission guidelines.

Multiple Choice Assignments: "A How-to Guide"

How to Approach Multiple Choice Assignment Questions

The multiple choice assignments are "quizzes" with three main intents: (1) to motivate you to read the course materials closely; (2) to motivate you to proceed through the course on schedule, as the established due dates minimize procrastination; and (3) to help you study for the final exam. As such, the weight assigned to the multiple choice assignments in the final grade is comparatively minimal – most weight is on the projects and final exam.

A good strategy to approach multiple choice questions is to use a process of deduction. First, narrow down your choice by ruling out any options you know are incorrect. Then evaluate the remaining options for which you feel is the best answer. In all cases there will be one dominant answer that is correct. In some cases, you may be able to make arguments why other options could conceivably be correct, but in these cases the correct answer will be the one requiring the fewest implicit assumptions.

In writing these questions, our aim is to make them challenging, but fair. You will have to read the questions closely, as the specific language can often make a real difference to the meaning of the options. However, be careful to avoid over-analyzing questions and making them harder than intended. A good rule in answering multiple choice questions (especially on exams) is to stay with your initial "gut instinct" and not change your answer unless you have a specific reason to do so: e.g., you missed something in the question, made a mistake in the calculation, or misread something obvious. If not, then you are advised to stay with your original answer.

If you find you are spending hours on individual questions, such as making all sorts of "what if" assumptions, then you are likely going well beyond what is necessary or intended. You should contact your course tutor for clarification, as they can usually work through the problem with you quite quickly. Your time is much better spent working on your projects and in studying for the exam, as these have much more impact on your final grade in the course.

How to Submit Multiple Choice Assignments

Multiple choice assignments are submitted to the Real Estate Division online: go to "Assignment Tools" on your Course Resources webpage and click on "Submit Multiple Choice Assignments". Be very careful that you select the correct assignment number, as this is a common error. For example, ensure you select the assignment number and not the chapter number.

How to Check Your Assignment Status Online

In the "Assignment History and Answer Guides" section of your Course Resources webpage you can view each of your assignment submissions to see when the assignment was received and what grade you were awarded. Assignment History is available to you in real time; that is, as soon as we receive the grades, they are available for you to view.

Multiple choice assignments are normally graded within one business day of each assignment due date. If more than two weeks has passed since the date an assignment was due, and you submitted it on time, please check your Assignment History on the Real Estate Division's website to check that it was received and is being processed (or contact your Course Representative).

How to View Your Answer Guides Online

As soon as assignments have been received by the Real Estate Division, you will be able to access the answer guides online. This is available in the "Assignment History and Answer Guides" section of your Course Resources webpage.

Examination Information

At the end of most Real Estate Division courses is a final written examination. This section explains the policies for exam administration. The flowchart below may help in understanding the timing and important deadlines regarding examinations. The following terminology is used throughout this section and in the Program Regulations governing examinations:

• Course Examination: the regularly scheduled exam for your course (December, April, or September); typically three months after the course start date. Refer to "Important Dates and Deadlines: Course Schedule" on your Course Resources webpage for your regularly scheduled course exam date.
• Supplemental Examination: a separate exam date for Rewrite Examinations and Deferred Examinations; scheduled two times per year (February and June).

Examination Eligibility

You are automatically registered for a Course Examination upon course registration. Your eligibility to write this examination requires you to submit all assignments and projects by the Course End Date (one week past the due date of the last assignment). You will not be sent any notice of eligibility, but you can use the "Assignment History" webpage to confirm all assignments and projects were received by the Course End Date.

If you are unable to submit all assignments and projects by the Course End Date, you MUST either request a Transfer to a later offering of the same course (if eligible) or Defer your exam to another examination date. Students with outstanding assignments or projects by the Course End Date, who have not requested a Transfer or Deferred Exam, will be assigned a failing grade.

You are accountable for all late assignment fees submitted beyond the due dates noted in the online "Important Dates and Deadlines: Course Schedule", whether or not you have deferred the examination or transferred the course (four late assignments per course will be accepted without incurring a late assignment fee).

Exam Dates and Deadlines Overview

Examination Fees

There is no examination fee for students writing an online Course Examination. Fees apply for all Deferred and Rewrite Examinations.

Exam Time

The exact time of the examination will be posted a minimum 10 days prior to the examination on the "Exam Management" link on your Course Resources webpage. If there are fewer than 10 days until your exam and the time and location are not posted, please contact Examination Services.

Multiple Examinations

Students registered in more than one course per term will be scheduled by Examination Services to write one exam on the Course Examination date and all additional examinations in the days following the first Course Examination, except Sunday (subject to room and invigilator availability).

Students are NOT able to select the order in which their exams are scheduled. Multiple exams for each student will be scheduled in order of course number, with lower number courses scheduled before higher number courses (e.g., BUSI 111 is scheduled before BUSI 330). A maximum of five examination dates are established during Course Examination periods.

Multiple examinations are not permitted for Supplemental Examination dates.

If you defer one of your multiple exams, your other exams will remain on the originally scheduled dates unless you are contacted by our office.

Supplemental Examinations

Deferred Examinations

If you are unable to write the Course Examination either because you were unable to complete all assignments and projects by the Course End Date, or for any other reason, you may apply for a Deferred Examination. The fee to defer an examination to any established examination date is $125.

Exams may be deferred to any established examination date within one year of your Course Examination. However, note that supplemental exam dates can only accommodate a single exam, so please plan accordingly.

Deferred Examination requests are made online via the "Register for Deferred/Rewrite Exam" link on the Course Resources webpage, and must be received by the Course End Date. If you have not applied to defer your exam by the Course End Date and you do not attend your scheduled examination, you will receive a failing grade.

To retain eligibility for a Deferred Examination, you must submit all assignments and projects by the regularly scheduled Course Examination date.

Rewrite Examinations

If you do not achieve a passing course grade after your first examination attempt, you may apply to rewrite your examination on a subsequent established examination date. The fee to rewrite an exam on another established examination date is $125.

Exams may be rewritten on any established examination date within one year of your Course Examination.

Rewrite Examination requests are made online via the "Register for Deferred/Rewrite Exam" link on the Course Resources webpage and must be received not later than one month from the established examination date you have selected.

Examination Results

Regularly scheduled examination results are posted on the Course Resources webpage, usually within six weeks of the date the examination was written.

Post Examination Review

A "Post Examination Review" is an examination remarking and a confirmation of your grade, together with a brief statement of the topic areas you had difficulty with. Students may request a Post Examination Review online through the Course Resources webpage. Please see Program Regulation 3.04 for more information and fees.

Preparing for Exams

After completing each assignment, you should review and revise your notes, putting them in a systematic and readable form. This will frequently identify areas of uncertainty that may require clarification by tutors or further reading. It is important to have such points cleared up immediately, as these courses tend to build in complexity.

When you are getting ready for your exam, you should carry out your review continually and systematically well in advance – do not wait to review until the night before! Decide how much review you think you will need and schedule your review sessions with sufficient time between them to digest the materials and refresh yourself. Some students like to review complex subject matter one step at a time, trying to completely understand each successive point and topic first and leave understanding the "big picture" until later. Others prefer to start with the "big picture" and work downwards to the details. This again reflects individual differences in learning and either method can be effective as long as it is applied systematically.

An important final point on preparing for your exam: on exam day, you will have the most probability of success if you are well-rested, calm, and poised. For most students, this means it is not a good idea to study late the night before the exam or try to "cram" information on the day of the exam. If you have prepared well in advance, the best thing you can do on the night before the exam is to put your books down early, do something you find enjoyable, and get a good night's sleep. In the morning, have a nutritious breakfast and relax – when you sit down to write your exam, you will be rested and alert.

Make sure that you print out the "Examination Day Checklist" found under “Examination Information” on your Course Resources webpage which includes important examination day information. As well, if you are struggling with examination anxiety, be sure to read the “Examination Success Tips” found in the same location.

Writing Exams

The first thing to do when you begin your exam is to quickly skim through the whole exam once before answering any questions. Exams are time constrained, so you need to budget your time well. Start with questions you find easier and work your way through the exam towards the questions that will either take you a long time or are not worth many marks. You can budget your time by figuring out how much time you should be spending on each question (i.e., if your exam has 100 marks and is 190 minutes, this roughly means 2 minutes per mark, so a 10-mark question should take you no more than 20 minutes; each multiple choice question is worth one mark). In managing your time, you need to be disciplined – if you are taking too long on a question, you are better to move on and come back to it later if you have time.

If you still have time remaining at the end of the exam, review your answers. Do not leave early unless you have completely read through your exam at least once. If you are running out of time and cannot complete your entire exam, do not panic! Use the time you have remaining to its full advantage – write down in point form the basic points for each remaining question so that the marker can see that you ran out of time and can award you partial marks where appropriate.

If you are completing a multiple choice exam, you are advised to fill in the answer as you answer questions. If you are running out of time, you must concentrate on using the time you have left efficiently. For any remaining questions, quickly eliminate any obviously incorrect options and then make an educated guess from the remainder. No marks are deducted for wrong answers, so you are better off not to leave any questions unanswered.

Exam Anxiety

Exam anxiety is a fairly common phenomenon that involves feelings of tension or uneasiness that occur before, during, or after an exam. Many people experience feelings of anxiety around exams, and some find it helpful as it can be motivating and create the pressure that is needed to stay focused on studying. However, in some cases, anxiety can become so intense that it leads to disruptive symptoms that ultimately lead to a negative impact on one's performance. In these cases, it is important for students to attend to their symptoms and find a way to cope effectively, so that their schooling does not suffer any further.

What are the Symptoms?

Although anxiety can affect each person in different ways, there are several symptoms that are quite common. Some of these are emotional, which include feelings of fear, disappointment, anger, depression, or helplessness. Other symptoms are more behavioural, ranging from fidgeting or pacing to substance abuse or other self destructive behaviours. There are also physiological symptoms, which include fast heartbeat, feelings of nausea, headaches, lightheadedness, sweating, and other disruptions in bodily functions. Finally, many people experience cognitive symptoms, such as negative thinking about oneself and racing thoughts.

Other symptoms include:

• memory blocks or "blanking out" on things that you have studied;
• fear of failing before the exam is even written;
• lower reading comprehension; and
• poor attention and inability to concentrate.

Some of the strategies for coping with exam anxiety are practical and relatively easy to implement, such as contacting a tutor to discuss course material, avoiding people who speak negatively, arriving early to the exam, and reading exam directions carefully. Also, make sure you are practicing good time management skills and managing your stress on a daily basis through exercise, good nutrition, and enjoyable activities. If you work on what you have control over, you can help minimize exam anxiety. Following are some specific tips for easing exam anxiety.

Exam Anxiety Tips¹

Tip 1: Be prepared early

The most common cause of exam anxiety is lack of preparation for the exam. Set up a study schedule at least three weeks before your exam. You may find that you actually need to start studying even earlier due to other commitments. Planning ahead also helps you to avoid cramming, which can be a major cause of exam anxiety.

Tip 2: Sleep well

Regular sleep is one of the best ways to control stress. Getting up and going to bed each day at the same time ensures that your body and brain are getting the rest they need for optimal functioning. Students who follow a regular sleeping pattern have been shown to perform 30% better than students who stay up late or get up early to study.

Tip 3: Regulate caffeine & sugar intake

Keep caffeine and sugar intake the same during exam time. Don't increase or decrease the amount of coffee, tea or cola that you normally drink, as your body and brain are accustomed to getting a certain amount. Keep things in your life as stable as possible, especially during exam time.

Tip 4: Learn relaxed breathing

When you display any symptoms of anxiety during studying or during the exam, use relaxed breathing to calm yourself. Take your attention away from the task and take a few slow breaths. Say to yourself, "calm and relaxed" as you exhale. Practice relaxed breathing before the exam.

Tip 5: Don't study the night before

Studying the night before an exam causes your anxiety level to increase. Unfortunately, it doesn't decrease when you go to sleep. Reduce anxiety by taking the evening off to relax – watch TV, see a movie, read a novel, etc.

Tip 6: Review main themes

If it causes you anxiety NOT to study the night before an exam, review the main themes of the course earlier in the day. Of course, that implies that you should have already studied well.

Tip 7: Have a plan before the exam

As part of your studying, think about how you will approach the exam, and what you will do when you run into trouble. Having a plan in place will assist you to worry less about failing, and help you to concentrate more on passing.

Tip 8: Focus on doing your best

Often, students start thinking negatively when things aren't going well on an exam. This can lead to lower self- confidence and increased self-doubt. Recognize and turn off your negative internal dialogue. Focus on the task instead of on yourself. Do not try for perfection – aim to do your very best.

¹ The Real Estate Division gratefully acknowledges the input of the University of Alberta for providing tips to reduce anxiety.

• University of Alberta, Health and Wellness Support. "Test Anxiety"
• Hanoski, Tamara D., Ph.D., University of Alberta. "Test Anxiety: What it is and how to cope with it":
w3.msi.vxu.se/users/dna/Rony/html/Managing%20Exam%20Anxiety.htm
• Glendale Community College Counseling Center. 2000. Do You Have Test Anxiety?
• University of Western Ontario. Student Development Centre. 2000. Managing Your Test Anxiety.

Concluding Successfully

You can expect your course to be challenging, but with careful planning and a systematic studying process, you will find it manageable. Effective studying is not a skill that is innate, but one that must be learned and strengthened through practice. We hope that the strategies suggested above help you in developing study techniques that are effective for you and we wish you success in this and future courses.

Acknowledgements

The UBC Real Estate Division gratefully acknowledges the generous financial support of the Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia.

The UBC Real Estate Division also gratefully acknowledges the following organizations for their ongoing support for the Real Estate Division's programs and courses:

• Real Estate Council of British Columbia
• Real Estate Institute of British Columbia (REIBC)
• Appraisal Institute of Canada (AIC)
• Real Estate Institute of Canada (REIC)
• Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM)
• International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO)
• BC Assessment
• Institute of Municipal Assessors (IMA)
• Alberta Assessors' Association
• Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency (SAMA)
• Manitoba Assessment Association
• Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC)
• Financial Institutions Commission of British Columbia (FICOM)
• Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO)
• Association of Assessing Officers of Manitoba (AAOM)