College Credit

Academic credit is measured by units called semester hours.  One semester hour is defined by attending a class one hour per week for a full semester.  Typical face-to-face classes meet three hours per week for 16 weeks; therefore, you would earn three semester hours at the end of a course.  Lab and clinical hours add to the semester hour value of a course.

Distance education courses are not based on "seat time" or "contact hours."  The course syllabus lists learning outcomes from the standard departmental syllabus and to be successful in the course, you must be able to demonstrate mastery of these outcomes. Although your distance education course may range in length from 8 to 16 weeks, you will be held to the same expectations as if you were in a face-to-face course.

Course Load

A full-time course load is described as 12 or more semester hours during the Spring or Fall semester and 8 or more semester hours during the ten-week Summer session.  If you have questions about what constitutes a full-time course load for distance education courses, you may contact the online mentors.  See the Points of Contact list for email and phone information.

Prerequisites

A prerequisite is a course that must be completed satisfactorily, usually with a grade of "C" or above, before you can enroll in another course.  Prerequisites indicate what skills and knowledge you must have to succeed in the course.  As a distant learner, you must still satisfy any course prerequisites. NOTE: Prerequisites are particularly important in the English and mathematics classes. It is in your best interests to be sure you are prepared for the challenges.

Class Attendance

Obviously, the traditional idea of class attendance doesn't apply to distance education courses.  Still, you are expected to participate regularly and consistently in your distance education course, and your instructor can withdraw you for nonparticipation.

Communication is important in all courses, but it is essential in a distance learning environment.  You must maintain constant communication with your instructor and notify him/her if you are going TDY, have a family emergency, or encounter any other event that affects your ability to complete your coursework as scheduled. 

Distance education courses require a time commitment.  If you know you will be going to the field for three weeks and will not have access to your course, you probably want to consider postponing enrolling in a course until you will have the time to devote to it.

Textbooks

See Instructional Materials at the CTC website at http://www.ctcd.edu/im/im_main.asp for course textbook and other required resources. You may order through MBS at http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/ctc.htm or a provider/vendor of your choice, such as Amazon or Barnes and Noble. However, be sure you have ordered ALL required items per the Instructional Materials site.

Textbooks are sent to eArmyU students based on course registration. The shipments are timed to arrive just before class begins. If you do not receive your course materials, create a case at the eArmyU/GoArmyEd portal at http://www.goarmyed.com.

GoArmyEd and most other students are responsible for ordering their own materials.

Pacific Far East Campus (PFEC) and NCPACE students may receive their books at their registration site. Check with your local representative for details.

Final Exams

You will be required to take your final exam per the schedule in your course syllabus.  All exams and coursework must be completed no later than the last day of class.  Many courses require, as a minimum, one proctored exam.

It is your responsibility as a distant learner to

• Identify a test proctor. (If you have no contact with your instructor during the course and an ESO or learning coordinator maintains your coursework to be submitted to your instructor after the course ends, he/she may also serve as your test proctor.)
• Provide contact information to the CTC Testing Office using the Test Proctor Submission Form.
• Notify the CTC Testing Office if your test proctor or testing location must change.

You are responsible for scheduling your tests as required by your instructor.  If you know that you will not be able to take a scheduled exam, you must notify your instructor to determine whether or not a make-up test can be administered.  This decision is up to your instructor and his/her approval must be in writing (email is acceptable).  It may not be made by the test proctor, the CTC Distance Education staff, or any other individual.

Go to Testing at the CTC Distance Education website at http:online.ctcd.edu or email online.testing@ctcd.edu for further information.

Withdrawals

You are responsible for officially dropping a class if circumstances prevent participation.  If you desire to, or must, officially withdraw from a course after the first scheduled class meeting, go to the CTC website at http://www.ctcd.edu/student/forms_student.htm to download the appropriate form. Remember, withdrawals must be initiated using the same process as registrations. Students enrolled in eArmyU and GoArmyEd must follow the eArmyU/GoArmyEd procedures for withdrawal.  Go to the GoArmyEd portal at http://www.goarmyed.com for more information. Students in NCPACE or who registered at a CTC site/office must withdraw in accordance with the appropriate procedures. Check with your representative for details.

Application for withdrawal will be accepted at any time before the completion of the 12^th week of a 16-week course, the sixth week of an 8-week course, or the fourth week of a 6-week course.  You may not withdraw from a class for which the instructor has previously issued a grade of "F" or "FN" for nonattendance/nonparticipation. 

If you are using financial aid, Military Tuition Assistance, VA benefits, or something other than personal funds, you may be required to repay tuition and fees to the funding agency.  For specific repayment requirements, contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance, the Veteran Services Office or your military Education Counselor or Navy Campus representative.