Distance Education
To meet the changing educational needs of its service area, Vernon College provides distance education opportunities to students with special scheduling needs, at remote locations, and at high schools and other regional centers. Distance education courses are available through the internet (in both online and hybrid formats) or by two-way interactive video (ITV) classrooms at area high schools and other selected sites. Interactive video (ITV) courses provide real-time instruction from Vernon College to the remote site. Hybrid courses contain both a traditional face-to-face component and an online component. Internet (online) courses allow students to take courses from remote locations by accessing courses online via a personal computer. While course content may be obtained online, proctored testing may be required for both hybrid and/or online courses.
Anyone eligible to enroll in a course at Vernon College may enroll in a distance education course. However, internet (online) courses require a significant amount of self-motivation, self-discipline, excellent study habits, and commitment for success.
All distance education students are authenticated through the use of a unique username and password. Students receive their unique username and password upon completion of the registration process. The student is responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of the password and account. A student must not disclose his/her username or password to any other person. Disclosure of a username and/or password may result in administrative withdrawal from Vernon College with forfeiture of tuition and fees. Any student who is aware of a violation of username and/or password security must immediately notify either the instructor of the course or the Learning Management System Administrator.
Online, Off-site or Proctored Exams - Exams for distance education may require a proctor and/or the use of Respondus Monitor.
Off-Site Campus Testing for Proctored Exams - Exams for distance education may require a proctor. To take a proctored exam in your Vernon College distance education courses, arrangements need to be made with the instructor of the course. Students at remote sites must submit a completed Distance Education Proctor Agreement Form to the instructor. It is the responsibility of the student to locate a proctor that will offer such services and have the proctor contact the instructor for instructions. Vernon College reserves the right to select and approve or decline proctors.
The privacy of distance education students is maintained in accordance to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Communication precautions are taken to protect distance education students. Instructional and course communications between instructors and students are primarily accomplished using Vernon College issued electronic mail accounts which require authorized credentials and password securities. For more information, students may access the Vernon College Distance Education Student Manual at http://www.vernoncollege.edu/DistanceEducation/
Distance education courses not in the College catalog/schedule may be available to Vernon College students through the Virtual College of Texas (VCT), a collaborative effort among Texas community colleges. Through VCT, eligible Vernon College students may register through Vernon College to take distance education courses from other community colleges throughout Texas. Student eligibility requirements and restrictions to VCT enrollment can be viewed on page 5 of the VC Distance Education Student Manual which is available on the VC website. For additional information about the Virtual College of Texas (VCT), students may access the VCT web site at https://www.vct.org/new.php#