Distance Education

All distance education courses (credit and noncredit) are coordinated though the deans of each respective area and the director of distance education. Randolph Community College offers distance education courses as an option and convenience to students. Students who require flexible scheduling, who are unable to travel to and from campus, who cannot fit a course into their schedule, or who learn better in an online environment, often discover that distance education courses are a good choice. Distance education courses may be offered in hybrid, online, and videoconferencing formats.

Courses offered through distance education represent many areas in both Curriculum and Continuing Education. Registration for distance education courses is the same as for all other College courses. 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.

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 distance education courses are assigned a full-time instructor as a liaison. Courses require that students meet deadlines for assignments, examinations, and other coursework just as in traditional courses. Online courses carry the same number of credit hours as the equivalent courses offered through traditional methods. Courses offered through distance education do require textbook purchase. The main difference
between a distance education course and an on-campus course is the mode of delivery.

Students considering distance education courses should have adequate computer skills prior to enrolling in a distance education course. A basic understanding of the computer should be coupled with keyboarding skills and skills in using the Internet, downloading and installing software, sending and receiving e-mail, locating and attaching files. Equally important is student access to a computer with necessary hardware, software, and reliable Internet connection. Many courses contain audio and video
files that require access to high-speed Internet in order to listen or view the files. All distance education students must have ongoing access to the needed tools whether at home, at the library, at work, or on campus.

RCC is in the process of migrating from the Educator to Moodle Learning Management System (LMS), therefore students may have courses in Educator or Moodle or both LMS’s. The following Web site provides directions for students on the appropriate login procedure(s) depending on the distance education course(s) for which they have registered. Go to www.virtualrandolph.org. Click on “Login to Your Current Courses” (located under HOTLINKS).

Technical assistance is available online, via e-mail, via phone, and in person. Additional drop-in assistance is available at an on-campus Help Center at the beginning of each semester. The Help Center schedule and other online resources are available at the Virtual Campus Web site, www.virtualrandolph.org.

■ Student Wireless Internet Access

To sign up for wireless access, simply go by the Student Information Center and ask for a Student Wireless Agreement. Complete the Student Wireless Agreement and bring it, along with your student photo I.D. and your laptop with current Anti-Virus software, to Computer Services, located in the CTC building.

Wireless access is available for student use in the Student Lounge, Armadillo Café, and the Library.