Step 1: Select Course and Register

Please visit the registrar's page on distance education courses. You will find information there on how to register and how to select your course 

After submitting your registration you will receive a registration confirmation e-mail with steps and information regarding your course.  Please be sure to read the information included in the e-mail as it will help with your online education experience and answer many questions.

If you are a new student to Iowa State, CDOL will e-mail you your ISU Card Number after your registration has been processed (3-7 days).  This assigned random university identification number will be used for different services at Iowa State as well as for obtaining your Net ID.   Your actual ISU Card will be mailed to you later in the semester. 

Once you receive your ISU Card Number you will be able to set up your Net ID.  Your Net ID will be used to log into our online course portal system, WebCT.  To setup your Net ID you will need to visit the Acropolis Website and follow the instructions there.  Once you have registered your Net ID please e-mail it to us so we can add it to your record.  For more information regarding your Net ID and Acropolois Registration, please visit our technical support page.

An ISU e-mail account is automatically set up when you establish your Net ID.  Your e-mail address will be your Net ID followed by @iastate.edu.  To check your ISU e-mail account you will need to log into the university's WebMail System . 

Since all official notices from the university (this includes information on billing and grades) will go to your newly created ISU e-mail account, you may wish to forward your ISU e-mail to an account you already use on a regular basis.  Instructions for ISU e-mail forwarding can be found on the ISU Information Technology web site.  You can use the ISU WebMail System if you have no other e-mail or do not wish to forward your ISU account to another e-mail address.

AccessPlus is your secure and personalized online resource for accessing your important and confidential university information such as university bills, grade reports, and transcripts. Iowa State no longer mails paper bills or grade reports, so students are required to log into AccessPlus to view this information.  The first time you log into AccessPlus your password will be set, initially, to your month and date of birth (ex. August 12 = 0812).  After successfully logging into AccessPlus you will be prompted to change your password and log in again.  

At this point you will need to order your textbooks. You may not know what book you need until the week before class. Please contact your instructor for the book you require, then you may order the books from our sources.

Please make sure your computer meets our requirements for distance education courses. You can visit our technology requirements page for more information.

Access WebCT.  You will receive an e-mail notification when your course is available in WebCT , usually the week before classes start.  WebCT is the online education tool used for our courses.  It is imperative that you have access to this site and be able to use it fully.  If you are having troubles accessing or using WebCT please visit the WebCT support site , or contact CDOL directly.