Frequently Asked Questions

If your question is not answered below you can contact the NCSL Customer Service Department at 800-206-4805 ext. 1 or by email at support@ncslcollege.com.

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General FAQ
Spring Conference FAQ
Fall Conference FAQ
Training CD FAQ
Online Course FAQ

General FAQ

To whom do I make the check payable?

The National Center for Student Leadership

What is NCSL's federal tax ID number?

It is 39-1286980

Where do I send my payment?

National Center for Student Leadership
2718 Dryden Drive
Madison, WI 53704

Can I order online with a PO?

Yes, please complete the order as a "Bill Me" and include your PO# in the space provided.

Can you send me a receipt?

Absolutely, just request a receipt when you remit and we’ll send it by whatever means you request: email, regular mail, fax.

Can I return my purchase for a refund?

If you are not completely satisfied with any purchase from NCSL, you may return it for a full refund. All requests must be received within 30 days of receiving the product. Please note, the conferences have their own cancellation policy which you can find by clicking on the conference FAQ of your choice above.

Training CD FAQ

What is on an NCSL training CD?

An NCSL training CD includes a recorded video presentation that is approximately 30 minutes long. It is presented by an expert trainer on the specific topic you choose to purchase. There are also processing questions and extra activities included on the CD.

What do I need to view the training CD?

  1. Either Internet Explorer or Firefox. (the CD runs through your browser, however you do not need to be connected to the Internet.)
  2. Windows Media Player 9.
  3. Microsoft Silverlight 3.0 plug-in, free to download from Microsoft (http://www.microsoft.com/silverlight/get-started/install/default.aspx)
  4. Sound card with speakers.
  5. Projector if you will be viewing the program as a group.

Specific Requirements:

Operating System Browser Media Player
Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 • Internet Explorer 6.0 SP1 or later
• Mozilla Firefox 2.0 or later
• Google Chrome 1.0		 Windows Media Player 9 or later and Microsoft Silverlight 3.0 plug-in
Mac OSX 10.4.8 or later • Safari 2.0.4 or later
• Mozilla Firefox 2.0 or later
 Microsoft Silverlight 3.0 plug-in (NOTE: The Silverlight plug-in is not compatible with PowerPC-based Macs. You will not be able to view a Magna Online Seminar using Mediasite on a PowerPC Mac.)

How do I play the training CD?

After you have loaded the CD into your drive, the program should automatically start. If for any reason the program fails to launch, navigate to the drive the CD is located in, select the file start-presentation.html, and open the file by double clicking it. This will launch a Start page in your browser that contains a link to the presentation itself.

How do I advance the slides?

The slides are presented one at a time as the presenter goes through them. They will advance automatically whenever the presenter moves on to the next slide. You have the ability to skip ahead in the program, or go back to previously covered material, and the appropriate slides will be in sync with the video being shown. Copies of the slides are also included in the printable handouts that are offered with each training CD.

I am using a Mac, and I meet the requirements for playing the CD, but it still does not work. What else can I do?

It is likely that your computer has the Flip4Mac Windows Media component for QuickTime installed. This interferes with the Media Player plug-in that is required to play the training CDs. To disable the Flip4Mac plug-in:

  1. Click your desktop, and select Apple > System Preferences to open the Mac System Preferences.
  2. Under Other, click Flip4Mac WMV.
  3. On the Plug-in tab, clear the "Use Flip4Mac WMV Internet Plug-in" checkbox.
  4. Exit the dialog to save your changes.
  5. Try to play a presentation. You may have to re-launch your browser for the change to take effect.

Can I make copies of the training CD?

Copyright laws prohibit the creating and distribution of copies of CDs. This includes internal use. If you need additional copies of a specific title, or would like to purchase a Campus Access License which allows you to place the presentation on your intranet, contact support@ncslcollege.com.

Can I place the training CD on reserve in our library or media center?

Yes, it would be within copyright guidelines to have the CD on reserve in your library. The CD can be routed or placed in a central location for others to use. Duplication is not permitted. As the purchaser of the CD, you may want to add a note to the jacket to make it known that others cannot duplicate it.

Do you have transcripts of the training CD presentations?

At this time, we do not offer transcripts for our training CDs.

Does NCSL offer a satisfaction guarantee for the training CDs?

If you are not completely satisfied with your training CD, you may return it for a full refund. All requests must be received within 30 days of receiving the product.

Do you offer Continuing Education Credits for watching training CDs?

We do not offer continuing education credits for any of our products.

Online Course FAQs

How does an NCSL online course work?

An NCSL online course is very easy to use. Once you register and log-in to the course website, you’ll be able to access all of the course documents. You’ll watch the course welcome video, review the user guide, print your course materials, and then you’re ready to begin. For each module, you’ll watch the 40 minute presentation on the topic, then you’ll take time to work through the activity or case study. After that, we encourage you to review the processing questions to deepen your understanding of the module material and pause for consideration of how you’ll implement the strategies you’ve learned from the module.

Next, you can complete the Check on Learning, a quick, five question quiz at the end of each module, to gauge your understanding of the module content. After you complete the Check on Learning, you’re ready to move on to the next module. Your scores on the Checks on Learning do not affect your final assessment score to receive the Certified Student Leader designation.

After you’ve completed all eight modules, you’ll want to review your handouts and notes before proceeding to the final assessment. After passing the final assessment with an 80% or better score, you’ll be able to print out your certificate, supporting your new designation as a Certified Student Leader®.

Are the course modules available at specific times (date and time) or available at any time?

The course modules and the entire course site are available any time of the day and any day of the week. The whole course is available on-demand, so you can work in the course whenever it’s convenient for you!

How many times can a participant access each course module?

Course modules can be accessed as many times as participants would like. This can be beneficial for reviewing the course material prior to completing the final assessment.

How long is the certification valid?

Your designation as a Certified Student Leader® is a life-long certification. You’ll never need to renew your certification.

I want the best per person price available, but my student organization only has so many members. What can I do?

Be resourceful! You can invite other campus organizations to certify their student leaders as well, thereby increasing the number of participants on campus and bumping you up to the next registration level (with better per person pricing).

When will I receive the instructions for accessing the online course?

You will receive registration instructions via email from our Customer Service Department within five business days of receipt of your order.

When will I receive the handouts for the online course?

Once you receive your course registration instructions from our Customer Service Department, you’ll be able to create your account on our course website and begin the course. Once you enter the course, you will be able to access the course supplemental materials packet and print the packet for your use during the course.

What is the final assessment?

The final assessment tests your knowledge of the course material to ensure you meet the requirements for certification as a Certified Student Leader®. It consists of 50 multiple choice, true/false, and matching questions. To pass the final assessment, you must receive a score of 80% or better. You’ll have one attempt to complete the final assessment.

How do I advance the slides in each course module?

The slides are presented one at a time as the presenter goes through them. They will advance automatically whenever the presenter moves on to the next slide. When viewing the course modules, you have the ability to skip ahead in the program, or go back to previously covered material, and the appropriate slides will be in sync with the video being shown. Copies of the slides are also included in the printable handouts that are offered with the online course.

I will have a group of participants viewing the course together. Can I make copies of the handouts for the participants?

Yes. You are allowed to make as many copies of the course handouts as you need for course participants.

Do you have transcripts of the online course modules?

Yes, transcripts of each module are available within the course website.

Do you offer continuing education credits for online courses?

We do not offer continuing education credits for any of our courses.

Does NCSL offer a satisfaction guarantee for online courses?

Your satisfaction with this course is important to us. If you are not completely satisfied with the online course, let us know within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.

What technology do I need to view an online course?

• Broadband Internet connection, at least 256 Kbps.
• Sound card with speakers.
• Cookies enabled in your web browser.
• Projector if you will be viewing the program as a group.

Operating System Browser Media Player
Windows 2000 or later • Internet Explorer 6.0 with Service Pack 1 or later
• Mozilla Firefox 2.0 or later
 Windows Media Player 9.0 or later
Mac OSX 10.4.8 or later • Safari 2.0.4 or later
• Firefox 2.0 or later		 Microsoft Silverlight 1.0 or later (You should be prompted to download/install upon first attempt to play a presentation. If not, you can download it here: http://silverlight.net/.)

Why is the audio and/or video choppy when I try to view the course modules?

If the audio and/or video appear choppy, it might be because of the network used to connect to the online course modules. We recommend viewing the presentation from a computer that can independently access the Internet.

What should I do if my computer won't access the course modules?

If you have trouble accessing the course modules, try disabling your pop-up blocker. You should also check your firewalls to make sure they are not blocking the presentation.

I am having audio and/or video playback issues. What can I do to resolve this?

Please check that you meet the minimum requirements, including having bandwidth speed of at least 256 Kbps.

If you can't hear the audio, make sure your computer's speakers are properly connected, turned on, and not muted. Also verify that your computer’s volume control is turned up (on a PC, this is typically found in the system tray in the bottom right corner of the Windows task bar or under Control Panel > Sound).

If you are still having playback issues, you can also try adjusting the streaming protocol settings in Windows Media Player:

  1. Open Windows Media Player and click Tools/Options.
  2. Go to the Player tab and be sure "Connect to Internet" is marked with a check.
  3. Go to Network tab, and under the heading "Streaming Protocols", be sure all of the boxes except the box that says UDP are marked with a check.
  4. Close out of Media Player and re-connect to the presentation link (you may have to exit your browser first before the changes take effect).

Please note: If you are uncomfortable making these changes, or are not authorized or able to do so, please consult with your IT staff before attempting to change these settings.

For IT staff: Please ensure the following ports are open for the Windows Media stream:
UDP: 554, 5005
TCP: 554
HTTP: 80

I am using a Mac, and I meet the requirements for playing the online course modules, but it still does not work. What else can I do?

It is likely that your computer has the Flip4Mac Windows Media component for QuickTime installed. This interferes with the Media Player plug-in that is required to play the course modules. To disable the Flip4Mac plug-in:

  1. Click your desktop, and select Apple > System Preferences to open the Mac System Preferences.
  2. Under Other, click Flip4Mac WMV.
  3. On the Plug-in tab, clear the "Use Flip4Mac WMV Internet Plug-in" checkbox.
  4. Exit the dialog to save your changes.
  5. Try to play a presentation. You may have to re-launch your browser for the change to take effect.
National Center for Student Leadership