VCT Course Schedule
1. When are
courses listed in the schedule for Fall? Spring? Summer?
Each college is
responsible for listing their courses in the schedule, and there is
no specific deadline for entering them, so colleges could theoretically
add them right up until registration. Check the schedule every other
day or so during the reservation period to see if the particular class
you are looking for has been posted. Here are some rough guidelines
as to when VCT colleges typically list courses in the schedule:
Fall
Semester: April through early Aug.
Spring Semester: Oct. through Nov.
Summer Semester: Feb. through early July
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2. What is
the difference between the Standard and Variable Schedules?
Courses in the Standard Schedule follow the standard 16-week semester,
starting and ending at the same time as all other standard-semester
courses. Courses in the Variable Schedule that have a variety of start
and end dates. Summer courses do not fit the standard sixteen-week
semester and they have a variety of start and end dates. So all summer
courses are listed in a single schedule. Check the start/end dates
carefully for each course on the Course Listing Form in the VCT online
schedule. To see the Listing Form, click the course title in the online
schedule.
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3. I am looking
for a class over Winter Break. Where should I look?
A few courses
are occasionally available over Winter Break. They might show up in
either the Fall or Spring Variable Schedules. Start checking VCT's
Fall Variable Schedule as early as July and the Spring Variable Schedule
around the first of October.
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4. If the class
I am looking for is not offered in the current semester, can I find
out if it will be offered next semester?
There is no way
of knowing in advance what will be listed in the schedule. Each college
is responsible for listing its courses in the schedule, and there
is no specific deadline. Theoretically, colleges may add them right
up until registration. Check the schedule every few days for the course
you're looking for.
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Registering for a Course
1. How do I
register for a course?
To take courses
provided through VCT, students enroll at their local community colleges,
not the Provider College. The first step is to contact the distance
learning office at your local college. This office will reserve the
space with the provider college for you. You may contact the distance
learning office by calling the number included on the list of colleges
accessed by clicking contact
your local community college. After a space is reserved you must
still register at your local college, following it's normal procedures.
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2. When is
the best time to register for a VCT course?
The best time
to register for a course is as early as possible. Getting into a VCT
course can take more time than getting into a locally-offered distance
learning course. Your local college (the host college) must first
reserve space in a provider colleges' course, and they can do that
as soon as it shows up in the online schedule. After you have a space
reserved in the course, you still must go through your local college's
registration process. The process of registering for a VCT course
can take a little more time than registering for a locally provided
course because it requires time for communication between the Host
and Provider colleges.
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3. If a course
is listed as "full" at the website, can the Host College
enroll me anyway?
No. Additional
enrollments after a class is full require the permission of the providing
college. Such permission is rarely given except in very dire situations,
such as when a student must have a specific course to graduate in
the current semester. And even then permission to enroll may not be
given.
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4. How do I
know if I have registered for the course? What if I haven't heard
from the instructor?
VCT member colleges
do not have uniform procedures for confirming that VCT students are
enrolled in a class. But here are some guidelines on how you should
respond if you have concerns about that issue.
5. How much
do classes cost?
If you live in
the taxing district of the local college that serves your area, you
pay the college's in-district tuition. If you live outside the district,
you pay out-of-district tuition, which is somewhat higher than in-district
tuition typically. Some colleges also may charge an additional VCT
or distance learning fee. Financial assistance from your local college
(such as Pell Grants, student loans, or scholarships) may be applied
to VCT course tuition and materials.
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6. What do
the starting dates mean?
"Starting
date" means the date that a course officially begins. Course
start and end dates vary from college to college based on their respective
academic calendars. The schedule of coursework, assignments, and due
dates are determined by individual instructors at the Provider Colleges.
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After Your Class Begins
1. What typical
resources are available at the VCT Host College?
VCT host colleges
are responsible for providing student support services to you as a
VCT student. These services might include: learning resources (library),
tutorial, counseling, financial aid, computer lab access, testing
and any other similar service provided by the college. Students should
visit their local college's website or contact their VCT coordinator
for information regarding hours of operation and availability of various
services.
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2. How do I
get textbooks for my courses?
Ask your college's
VCT Coordinator how you should acquire your books: from the local
college's bookstore, from the provider college's bookstore, or from
some other source, such as an online bookstore. However you purchase
your textbooks, make sure that you have the correct ISBN number(s)
for the book(s). Each book's ISBN number is included with the textbook
information on the Course Listing Form associated with each course
in the VCT online schedule. (Click the course title in the schedule
to see the Listing Form.) You may find the email address and phone
number for your local college's VCT Coordinator by clicking "View
VCT Contacts" on the VCT student area page.
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3. Where and
how do I take tests for my course(s)?
Testing for VCT
courses typically takes place at the host college in a proctored environment,
usually a testing center. Procedures for taking exams vary from college
to college. Contact your local college's VCT Coordinator for testing
instructions, allowing comfortable lead time before you are supposed
to show up somewhere for a test. You may find the email address and
phone number for your local college's VCT Coordinator by clicking
View
VCT Contacts.
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Grades
1. How do grades
work with VCT?
Toward the end
of a semester, your local college sends a grade roster with your name
on it to the college that is providing the course you enrolled in
through VCT. The provider college's instructor records the grade you
earned on the roster and returns it to your local college's VCT Coordinator.
Your local college, then, adds that course and grade to your transcript.
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2. Why did
I receive a grade of incomplete when I finished my course(s) by the
end of the semester?
The start and
end dates of a semester are not the same at all colleges. If a provider
college's course ends later than the semester of your local college
(the host college), your local college will give you a grade of Incomplete
because it did not receive a grade from the provider college before
its semester ended. When the provider college sends the grade, however,
it will replace the Incomplete initially given by your local
college.
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3. If I graduate
at the end of a semester in which I want to enroll in a VCT course,
do I need to take any special actions?
Yes. Before enrolling
in the VCT course you need, check the start and end dates of the course
on the Course Listing Form (open it by clicking the course title in
the VCT online schedule). If the VCT course you select ends after
the semester of the local/host college where you are enrolled, check
the online schedule to see if the same course is provided by another
college with a course ending date that is compatible with your local
college's academic calendar. If no other college provides the course
through VCT and the course is required for you to graduate that semester,
consult with your local college's VCT Coordinator. He/she may be able
to make arrangements with the provider college with the late ending
date so you can take the course with an understanding that the grade
will be sent to your local college in time for you to graduate.
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