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Click here to see the Notice to Online Students, which provides information regarding this quarter's schedule of online and hybrid courses, instructor information, software requirements, and more!
Make sure that your e-mail address is correct in the VTC database, Banner! Online students should access the VTC database by going to https://banweb.valdostatech.edu. Enter the secure area by using your user ID (your SS#) and your password (your birth date unless you have previously changed it). Select the Personal Information link and verify that your e-mail address is correctly entered in the database. Make any changes necessary.
Since e-mail is our primary form of communication for online courses, you must have an email address prior to taking an online course. Generally, your ISP will give you an email account. Please contact your ISP if you are unsure of your email address. Free email accounts are readily available on the Internet. Some free e-mail services are:
E-mail your instructor. Any student taking an online class must e-mail his/her instructor prior to the first day of class. Failure to do so will result in the student's dismissal (drop) from the class.
The e-mail should be addressed to the instructor and should be sent from the e-mail address that the student plans to use for the class. The e-mail should also indicate the course in which the student has enrolled. Use the following subject line for this and all e-mail correspondence with your instructor:
"Student Name – Class" Example: Cindy Jones – SCT 100x
It is each student's responsibility to ensure that he/she has access to a computer that meets the minimum hardware and software requirements to participate in an online course. Keep in mind that the minimum system may be slow and cause some frustration.
Blackboard developers recommend the following hardware specifications:
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PC Configuration: 400 Megahertz Intel Pentium III Processor (933 preferred) |
Mac Configuration: 400 Megahertz iMac (933 preferred) |
Note: Some courses may have additional hardware/software requirements. Please review each course listing for special requirements. Go to http://www.gvtc.org to see GVTC's course listings. Select the appropriate quarter, then use the drop-down arrow to select Valdosta Tech to find all of VTC's listings. Click on the "Full Info" link to the left of the course number to see complete course requirements including software and face-to-face meetings.
An ISP is a company that can provide you with the software necessary for getting onto the Internet. Contact your local ISP to set up your personal account. Without an ISP, it is impossible to take GVTC Online Courses. Students have reported numerous problems when using AOL to access online courses. If you use AOL, you must be able to access Netscape or Internet Explorer. Do not use the AOL browser!
You will need a Java™ compliant Browser. For the Java™ capable browser we recommend Microsoft® Internet Explorer 4.0 (or higher) or Netscape® Communicator 4.0 (or higher). To test which browser you are currently running, click here. If your browser is older than IE 4.0 or Netscape 4.0, you may download a current version for free by clicking on the icons below.
For more information on technical equipment requirements, visit the GVTC website at http://www.gvtc.org/tech.asp.
The following computer skills are needed prior to taking online courses through Valdosta Technical College. Students are responsible for assessing their own skill levels. If you do not possess these skills, you might want to take SCT 100 in a face-to-face format before you take an online course. Your instructor will not be teaching these skills as part of the course.
Minimum skills that you will need are:
If you feel you need additional information, you can review these competencies in Computer Literacy 101 by clicking on this link: http://www.jegsworks.com/Lessons/lessonintro.htm.
If you feel you are not ready for this online course, contact your advisor or instructor to drop this course.
You are required to log into your course in Blackboard (directions follow) within the first three days of the quarter. If you do not log in by midnight of the third day, you will be considered a "No Show" and will be dropped from the course.
If a student wants to continue the class after he/she has been dropped for non-attendance, he/she must pay a $10 drop/add fee to be re-instated into the course. The student will be re-instated only if there is still an opening in the class.
After the quarter begins, online instructors will check course statistics each Monday to ensure that each student has logged into the course at least one time during the preceding week. If a student has not logged in at least one time during the preceding week, the student shall be dropped for non-attendance.
For complete information on Attendance Procedures, click here.
The drop/add period ends one day prior to the first day of class. Fee adjustments will be made within the guidelines of the refund policy. Courses which are dropped after the drop/add period ends (noted on the VTC Calendar: "Drop/add deadline") will have a notation of (W) for Withdrawal or (WF) for Withdrawal Failing on the quarterly grade report and student transcript and will affect the student's Satisfactory Academic Progress. Class changes after the drop/add period must be accompanied by a $10 fee.
If a student decides to drop a class at any time during the quarter, he/she should contact the instructor and the advisor. Online instructors will initiate the drop/add form and contact the records office, the financial aid office, the advisor, and the online coordinator.
Students are considered "withdrawing" if all classes are dropped. Students should contact their instructor/s and advisor to drop or add a course or withdraw from school.
The Valdosta Technical College Handbook may be accessed online by going to http://www.valdostatech.edu/docs/studentHandbook-10-06.pdf.
The calendar can be accessed at http://www.valdostatech.edu/calendar/academic-06-07.asp.
As an online student, you have access to the Valdosta Technical College Library and other on-campus resources. Visit the Valdosta Technical College web site (http://www.valdostatech.edu/library/index.asp).
Students can use resources at VTC campus—library, open lab in Business Department (Room 334), as well as the public library and Valdosta State University library to complete assignments in online courses.
GALILEO: Georgia Library Learning Online is also available to online students. If you want access to Galileo, contact personnel in the VTC Library by calling 229.259.5178 or by e-mailing Kathryn Tomlinson, Library/Media Services Specialist (ktomlinson@valdostatech.edu) for the current password.
Click on the Learner Support Center tab once you log into Blackboard to get other information regarding library resources.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act protects the privacy of student education records. By the nature of the medium, online students' participation in online courses, as well as e-mail addresses will be disclosed to other students in the online class. Students needing special consideration regarding privacy should notify their online instructors immediately.
Students receiving Title IV aid (Pell, FSEOG, FWS) who are enrolled in a diploma or certificate program are only allowed to take up to 50% of their program online and receive Title IV aid. Once a student exceeds 50% of their program in on-line classes, the student becomes ineligible to receive Title IV aid.
For more information regarding financial aid, call 229.333.2105 or e-mail Valdosta Tech's financial aid personnel (financialaid@valdostatech.edu).
There are three levels of support for technical issues relating to online courses. They are as follows:
For more information on GVTC's three levels of technical support, go to http://www.gvtc.org/faconline/poc/LevelTechSupport.pdf.
Based on Department of Labor surveys, employers say that more employees lose their jobs because of poor work ethics than because they lack job-related skills. We at Valdosta Technical College believe that work ethics are important to vocational success.
In addition to your academic/skills grade for this class, you will receive a grade in work ethics. The ten work ethics traits evaluated at technical colleges in Georgia are: Attendance, Character, Teamwork, Appearance, Attitude, Productivity, Organizational Skills, Communication, Cooperation, and Respect. Keep these traits in mind as you work through this class and pursue your other endeavors in every aspect of your life.
In accordance with DTAE policy, your work ethics will be evaluated in this online class. This process is designed to promote positive work behaviors and to prepare students to be better, more productive workers.
Evaluation is based on ten work ethics traits. These traits are described on the Work Ethics Evaluation Form.
Points are assigned to evaluate each of the ten work ethics traits as follows:
3 - Exceeds Expectations (Total: 24-30)
2 - Meets Expectations (Total: 20-23)
1 - Needs Improvement (Total: 17-19)
0 - Unacceptable (Total: 0-16)
The points in each of the areas are totaled and assigned a grade based on the total points. At the beginning of the quarter, every student's work ethics grade in each of the ten areas is assumed to be "2 - Meets Expectations." Note that a rating of 2 in each of the 10 areas would give a total of 20, which is in the "Meets Expectations" range. If this were the case at the end of the quarter, the student would receive a grade of "2" for a work ethics grade in that class.
When a student's behavior exceeds or falls short of the "Meets Expectations" range, the instructor will send the student an Exception Form, describing the behavior and noting the increase or decrease in points for each affected area. For example, if a student attends and actively participates in the online classroom activities more than required and treats other students and the instructor with respect and courtesy, that student could receive an exception form noting a rating of "3 - Exceeds Expectations" in the "Productivity" and "Respect" areas. On the other hand, if a student falls behind in classwork and does not communicate with the instructor, the student could receive an exception form noting a rating of "1 - Needs Improvement" or "0 - Unacceptable" in the "Productivity" and "Communication" areas.
Your current work ethics grade can be found in the gradebook. Access the gradebook by clicking on the Tools button at the left, then selecting the "My Grades" link.
More information on the DTAE Online Work Ethics Program can be found at the VTC website. Ask your instructor if you would like more information on this topic.
Complete information regarding conduct rules and regulations can be found in the Student Handbook.
Any student found to have committed the following misconduct is subject to the disciplinary sanctions outlined in Article IV of the Student Handbook. Acts of dishonesty, including but not limited to the following:
Click here to access the Academic Dishonesty form.
For more information regarding online and hybrid courses at Valdosta Technical College,
please e-mail Sally Dorminey (sdorminey@valdostatech.edu) or call 229.245.2462.
Content ©2007. All rights reserved.
Date last modified: July 11, 2007.
Call VTC Online 229.245.2462 for more information.