Online Curriculum Classes

Randolph Community College offers online courses as an option and convenience to students. Students who require flexible scheduling, who are unable to travel to and from campus, or who cannot fit a course into their schedule, often discover that courses provided through the Virtual Campus are a good choice. Courses are offered in three formats varying from completely online to 50 percent online and 50 percent on campus.

Course requirements are comparable to traditional courses in content, assignments, and examinations. Each course has an assigned instructor from the appropriate department and adjunct instructors teaching online courses are assigned a full-time instructor as a liaison. Courses require that students meet deadlines for assignments, examinations, and other course work just as in traditional courses. Online courses carry the same number of credit hours as the equivalent courses offered through traditional methods. The main difference between an online course and an on-campus course is the delivery method.

Students must complete a mandatory online learning account at www.virtualrandolph.org to obtain access to courses and other online services offered by the Virtual Campus. In addition to providing access to courses and services, the account creation process also provides a brief tutorial that introduces students to the requirements of online learning. A valid e-mail address is required to create an online learning account.

Students considering online courses should have adequate computer skills prior to enrolling in a course. A basic understanding of the computer should be coupled with skills in using the Internet, sending and receiving e-mail, and attaching files to e-mail. Students needing assistance with these skills may attend on-campus help sessions offered at the beginning of each semester. Alternately, the student may use the technical support resources available online.The help session schedule and online resources are available at the Virtual Campus Web site: www.virtualrandolph.org. Equally important is student access to a computer with the necessary hardware and software. All online students must have ongoing access to the needed tools whether it is at home, at the library, at work, or on campus.

Courses offered in the Virtual Campus represent many curriculum areas and allow for the completion of several associate degree programs completely online. Courses schedules for the fall, spring, and summer sessions, on-campus meeting dates, technical support and other necessary information are posted on the Virtual Campus Web site: www.virtualrandolph.org. Registration is the same as for local and degree seeking students as for all other College courses. Visiting students at a distance may register by following the Curriculum Admission Guidelines posted on the Virtual Campus Web site. Once enrolled at RCC, students pay regular tuition and fees, have access to all student services, study under the College’s rules and regulations, and receive academic credit.

■ Veterans Enrolling in Online Courses

In order to maintain a high quality of educational and academic excellence, all students receiving educational benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs will meet the following criteria before enrolling in an online course:

• the student must first meet with the DVA certifying official before registration, so that proper information and procedures can be discussed;

• the student must have completed 12 hours of course work in the current major with a grade point average of 2.0 or better;

• the student must have completed any remedial work needed as determined by the Randolph Community College placement test;

• the online course must be an integral part of the student’s current program;

• the student must pass each online course attempted in order to use his/her DVA benefits for a subsequent online course;

• no additional charge is required for enrolling in an online course.