2023 - 2024 Catalog

Distance Education

Distance education is a method for delivering classes to students who are separated from an instructor by time and/or place. Distance education is a convenient option for all students and particularly benefits those whose work or life schedules prevent them from regularly attending classes on campus, who live outside commuting distance, or are home bound.

WEB-BASED CLASSES AND DEGREE PROGRAMS

Online education makes it possible to attend class at any time of day, in any place students choose, as long as students have access to the Internet. Because students communicate with their class online, they can complete most classes for an AAOT transfer degree without setting foot in a classroom, with the exception of a few on-campus science and speech lab meetings, scheduled to meet the needs of distant students.

Alternatives to the on-campus labs may be possible with instructor permission. A variety of degree and certificate programs are available or currently being developed for online delivery. Students outside the TVCC service areas need to set up proctors the first week of the quarter by calling the TVCC Testing Center at (541) 881-5799. Test center hours can be found at https://www.tvcc.cc/testingcenter/.

Students who have the best success in Web-based classes are self-regulated learners with good time management skills.

In order to provide committed online student services support for distant learners, the college provides students the opportunity to:

• Apply to TVCC and register for classes electronically, eliminating the need to take time from busy schedules to come to campus.
• Purchase textbooks and supplies via telephone at (541) 881-5509, and have them shipped directly. Shipping and a handling fee will be added to the cost of the order.
• Utilize the college's password protected electronic library services system, providing quality resources, independent of time and place.
• Speak with an admissions or student services advisor via telephone, or contact by email, to discuss educational planning and academic issues.
  • Students can schedule academic advising appointments to be conducted over the phone; and
  • Students can also schedule virtual (video) appointments with academic advisors over Zoom.
• Access limited technical assistance by calling the TVCC Helpdesk at (541) 881-5777 during regular business hours to support students who have difficulty logging into online courses.

Technical requirements for online courses include:

• A computer running a compatible Web browser
• Connection to the Internet
• Virus protection software (updated regularly)

Some online courses have additional technical or software requirements. Students should consult the class syllabus of the course they are considering. Minimum technical requirements are subject to change.

VIRTUAL COURSES

TVCC also offers many courses as virtual courses, in which instructors livestream lectures over video (primarily Zoom) during regularly-scheduled days and times, further allowing students to attend courses in real time without having to be at a physical campus to listen and participate in a live lecture. As with online courses, students taking virtual courses need access to a computer running a compatible Web browser; an Internet connection; and regularly-updated virus protection software.