Distance Education

Randolph Community College offers distance education courses as an option and convenience to students. Self-motivated students who require flexible scheduling or are unable to travel to and from campus often discover that distance education courses are a good choice. Distance education courses may be offered in hybrid, online, and videoconferencing formats.

Registration & Fees:
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 full academic credit.

Course Requirements:
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. Likewise, students can expect to spend the same amount of time in an online class as its traditional counterpart. Courses offered through distance education do require textbook purchase. The primary difference between a distance education course and an on-campus course is the mode of delivery.

Technical Requirements & Knowledge:
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, and locating and attaching files. Equally important is student access to a computer with necessary hardware, software, and a reliable Internet connection. Many courses contain audio and video files that require access to high-speed Internet in order to listen to 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.

Technical assistance is available in a variety of methods including online, e-mail, 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 on the college Web site at http://www.randolph.edu/academics/online/contactus.php.

■ Student Wireless Internet Access

Beginning Thursday, July 1, 2010, students at the Asheboro Campus will no longer be required to complete a paper student wireless agreement. Instead, students will be able to log on to the wireless network by simply opening an Internet browser, reading the terms and conditions, and logging in. Students at the Archdale Center will need to continue to complete the student wireless agreement forms.

Wireless access is available for student use in the Student Lounge, Armadillo Café, the M.H. Branson Business Education Center, the Photography Imaging Center, the Design Center, the Health and Science Center, the Cosmetology Center, and the Library.