VCT Host-Provider Model
Governance
Organization and Management
VCT Website; Historical Screenshots

Background

The Virtual College of Texas was created as an initiative of the Texas Association of Community Colleges. CEO's of VCT member colleges developed the host-provider model upon which VCT operations rest and defined the principles of VCT's organization and management. The formal planning of VCT began in February 1997, and a three-year pilot project was launched in the fall semester of 1998. Concluding a successful pilot, VCT was established as an ongoing service beginning with the 2001 fall semester.

VCT Host-Provider Model

Member institutions of the Virtual College of Texas share distance learning courses under the terms of a statewide VCT Memorandum of Understanding, which is based upon an operational model referred to as the Host-Provider Model.

The host (local) college:

• Enrolls students locally to take courses from remote (provider) colleges
• Provides VCT-enrolled students with the same slate of student services it provides its other students
• Administers tests as directed by provider colleges' instructors
• Awards course credit
• Includes the courses on its own transcripts

The provider (remote) college:

• Provides instructors who define course content and instructional methodologies; directs all class activities, including assignments and tests, and awards final grades
• Establishes the academic calendar for courses it offers through VCT

For the provider's instructional service, the host college pays the provider a per-student instructional fee, which typically does not exceed the contact-hour reimbursement it receives from the state. The instructional fee is paid by the institution, not the student.

The Host-Provider Model, created by CEO's of VCT member colleges, makes it possible for VCT member colleges to leverage their distance learning resources--including faculty, courses, support services, and technology--to benefit student students throughout Texas.

Benefits to students:

• They have access to a statewide online distance learning course schedule created by VCT's member colleges, making it less likely that they will not be able to take a critical course at a critical point.
• They are supported with quality, locally-delivered student services.
• They pay in-district tuition if they are in-district students, irrespective of which colleges provide courses taken through VCT.
• While courses from multiple colleges throughout Texas may be taken through VCT, all courses are maintained on a single transcript at the host college.

The Virtual College of Texas' Host-Provider Model of operations has been approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the accrediting agency for higher education institutions in the southern region of the United States.

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VCT Governance

VCT governance authority is held by The Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC), which is comprised of each two-year college in Texas, represented by its CEO. The TACC Telecommunications Committee provides executive oversight and guidance to VCT, with the consent and approval of the general membership. Immediate supervision is provided by TACC's Executive Director. TACC provides overall direction to VCT, makes final decisions regarding major new VCT initiatives, assesses its performance, and determines how it develops in the future.

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VCT Organization and Management

VCT functions as a collaborative of all public two-year colleges in Texas. Its day-to-day operations are accomplished by college personnel and VCT staff, with the counsel of a statewide advisory committee.

TACC Distance Learning Advisory Committee: VCT operates with the counsel of a statewide Texas Association of Community Colleges Distance Learning Advisory Committee. It is comprised of distance-learning, instructional, and technical administrators from colleges of all sizes and regions throughout Texas. It makes recommendations regarding new initiatives, policies and procedures and counsels VCT on emerging issues. This committee played a critical role in establishing the fundamental guidelines for the web of inter-institutional relations that form the foundation of VCT.

College Personnel: Day-to-day VCT operations at member colleges are accomplished by VCT Coordinators and Course Contacts. Coordinators hold responsibility for general oversight of VCT affairs at their respective colleges, and Course Contacts are responsible for the actual process of enrolling students in courses through VCT. At some colleges, the same individual fills both Coordinator and Contact positions. College personnel have direct contact with students served through VCT and ensure that their needs are met.

VCT Staff: VCT operations are facilitated by a small staff: a Director and a Web Manager, supplemented with contract services and temporary assistance as needed. The staff maintains communications with member colleges regarding policies, procedures, and activities; maintains the VCT website; produces reports and newsletters; writes and assists with proposals; undertakes new initiatives as directed; and organizes and conducts statewide meetings and retreats. The VCT Director represents VCT operational affairs to the Texas Association of Community Colleges.

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VCT Website: Historical Screenshots

VCT has had a working website since 1999. While those very earlier pages were not available in the archive, we were able to recover two screenshots.

VCT screenshot year 2000

VCT screenshot year 2002

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