Academic Advising
		Description of Distance Learning Courses
		Computer Requirements
		Courses Offered
		Admission and Registration
		Contacting the Distance Learning Office
		Online Orientation
		Textbooks/Course Requirements

• Academic Advising
   

  • Are you ready to take an online course?
    The decision to take a Distance Learning course should not be taken lightly. Many students make the mistaken assumption that online courses are easier than traditional ones. On the contrary, distance learning courses require more personal motivation and dedication on the part of the student in order to keep up with course materials without weekly class meetings. You should, therefore, only choose an online course if you know that you will be able to work online at least two hours per week for each credit the course awards. In addition, you should be comfortable with computer applications and the Internet to a degree that the technology will enhance, rather than interfere with, your learning.

    • Click here for more information about Distance Learning courses and if they are the right choice for you. ¹
       

  • For academic advising related to Distance Learning, contact the Distance Learning Office or:
    Professor Rafael Rodriguez
    Student Center, Room 213
    (914) 606-6904
    Rafael.Rodriguez@sunywcc.edu
     

• Description of Distance Learning Courses
  Online courses at Westchester Community College use the college's Blackboard server.² You can access WebCT from any computer with Internet access, provided that the computer meets the computer requirements listed in the next section of this manual. Blackboard provides a login page for each enrolled student and course "shells" for each online course in which you are enrolled. In the course shell, materials for the course are presented, and Blackboard tools are used for communicating with your instructor and classmates, submitting assignments, taking quizzes, and managing your learning. The tools used in each course vary by instructor and course, but may include electronic mail, chat rooms, bulletin boards, course content notes, online quizzes, and electronically submitted assignments, among others. Online courses are asynchronous; in  other words, although there are deadlines for assignments and quizzes, you do not have any specific meeting time online.
   

  • Fully Online Courses
    A fully online course takes place completely on the Internet via the college's Blackboard server. There are no scheduled  class meetings on campus although some instructors have required students to come to campus once or twice during the semester for proctored exams. An online course uses the Blackboard tools listed above to support the learning process. An online course is equivalent in content to a traditional on-campus section of the same course. Students should understand that taking an online course generally requires two or more hours of study per week for each credit hour (i.e. the regular "in-class" time plus homework).
     

  • Hybrid Courses
    A hybrid course takes advantage of the same features of a fully online course, but there are scheduled on campus meeting times. These weekly on campus hours are no more than 50% of the time an equivalent face-to-face course would meet. For example, a three credit course might be scheduled for one hour per week on campus and the remaining coursework would be completed online using Blackboard.
     

  • Blackboard Supplements
    As more and more faculty use Blackboard course supplements, you will encounter their use in on campus or extension site sections of courses. An online Blackboard supplement is used to support a traditional on campus course. Many of the tools provided by Blackboard that are used in online courses may be used in these supplements as well, so if you have taken a course that uses an online supplement, you are familiar with the Blackboard interface.
     

• Computer Requirements
  Visit the Distance Learning hardware requirements page³ to make sure that you have the necessary computer hardware and software. Contact the Distance Learning Office if you have questions.
   

• Courses Offered
  Distance Learning courses are offered each semester. An updated schedule of Distance Learning courses for upcoming semesters is available on the Distance Learning website.⁴
   

• Admission and Registration
   

  • If you are a new student and are planning to take only Distance Learning courses:

    • Submit your documents to the Distance Learning Office, not the Admissions Office. (FAX: (914) 606-8550)
      Complete the normal college admissions application. ⁵

    • Follow the instructions at the link below  very carefully.⁶
       

  • If you are planning to take Distance Learning courses in addition to on campus or extension site courses:

    • Follow the normal college admissions instructions on the admissions website. ⁷ Send your completed forms to the Admissions Office.

    • Follow the registration instructions available on the admissions website. ⁸
       

  • Returning students
    Students who attended the previous Fall or Spring semester should register using Webreg⁸, the college's online registration system, or in-person at the Registrar's office.
     

• Contacting the Distance Learning Office
  Contact the Distance Learning Office as soon as possible before the semester starts to get ready to start your course. Follow the 5 Easy Steps Quick Start Guide.⁹
  Distance Learning Office
  Room: LIB 300
  Phone: 914-606-6827
  Fax: 914-606-8550
  E-mail: distance.learning@sunywcc.edu
   

• Online Orientation
  Completion of the Online Orientation is a requirement for all Distance Learning students. The Online Orientation will introduce you to the Blackboard interface and the tools that will likely be used in your online course, as well as make sure that your computer is properly configured to access your course and complete online quizzes, discussions, etc. Complete the Online Orientation before the semester begins, so you can get started in your course on time.¹⁰  Part one of the Online Orientation begins on the Distance Learning website. You will complete part two of the orientation in the Online Orientation course shell in Blackboard.
   

• Textbooks/Course Requirements
  Check the Distance Learning course information page for information about textbook(s) and other course requirements.¹¹ You should purchase your textbook(s) before the class begins to avoid falling behind. You may purchase your textbook(s) at the Westchester Community College bookstore on campus or online. Visit the Distance Learning book information page for more information.¹²  If information for your course is not available, please contact the Distance Learning Office.

Links (numbered above):

1. http://www.sunywcc.edu/programs/distance_learning/prospectives/
   learn_more.htm
   On the Distance Learning page, click Prospective Students in the left navigation bar then more info at the bottom of the page. [back]

2. http://sunywcc.blackboard.com
   On the Distance Learning page, click Log-in to Blackboard. [back]

3. http://www.sunywcc.edu/programs/distance_learning/prospectives/
   requirements.htm
   On the Distance Learning page, click PC Requirements in the left navigation bar [back]

4. http://www.sunywcc.edu/programs/distance_learning/prospectives/courses.htm
   On the Distance Learning page, click Course Offerings. [back]

5. http://www.sunywcc.edu/admissions/admissions_app/admissions_app.htm
   On the college homepage, click Admissions -- Admissions Application. [back]

6. http://www.sunywcc.edu/programs/distance_learning/prospectives/regist_inst.htm
   On the Distance Learning page, click on Registration in the left navigation bar, and then click on the Instructions link. [back]

7. http://www.sunywcc.edu/admissions/admissions_index.htm
   On the college homepage, click Admissions. [back]

8. http://www.sunywcc.edu/registration
   On the college homepage, click Courses and Schedules -- Registering for Classes. [back]

9. http://www.sunywcc.edu/programs/distance_learning/enrolled/quickguide.htm
   On the Distance Learning page, click Five Easy Steps to Starting your Online Class.

10. http://www.sunywcc.edu/programs/distance_learning/enrolled/orientation.htm
    On the Distance Learning page, click on Online Orientation in the left navigation bar. [back]

11. http://www.sunywcc.edu/programs/distance_learning/prospectives/courses.htm
    On the Distance Learning site, click Course Offerings. [back]
12. http://www.sunywcc.edu/programs/distance_learning/enrolled/books.htm
    On the Distance Learning site, click Textbooks in the navigation bar at left. [back]