FAQs
What do the terms "home institution" and "host institution" mean?
"Home institution" is used for the GCCC college a student selects as their degree granting institution. A student must complete admission at a home institution if they are degree seeking. We understand that some visitors to this website will already be admitted to a GCCC college. If you have not already been admitted as a student and you plan to pursue a degree, you will need to choose a home institution and complete their admission process.
"Host Institutions" are the GCCC college(s) from which a student takes courses in a particular semester, but are not designated as their degree seeking institution. A student must also be admitted at a host institution in order to enroll in its courses.
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Will the Gateway Community College Consortium (GCCC) offer course credit, degrees, or certificates?
No, the GCCC itself does not provide instruction. Rather, it is an initiative supported by four colleges to make a broader range of distance learning courses available to students. Each consortium college makes its list of distance learning courses available via this Web site.
A student pursuing a degree will immediately select a home institution to be their degree granter. All courses taken from host institutions will be transferred back to the home institution before the awarding of the degree. In order for the courses to be transferred back, the student will need to request an official transcript from each host institution to be sent to their home institution.
It is important for degree seeking students to select a home institution early and work with its staff to receive course advising.
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What does it cost to take a course?
The cost for distance learning courses differs between participating institutions, just as traditional on-campus courses do. Course costs are indicated in the GCCC online course listing. The costs listed do not include text books or generic per semester fees applied by the institution.
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Can I complete my entire degree program online or do I have to come to a campus for part of it?
Students should work with academic advisors at their home institution to discuss their degree plan and determine which courses to take through the GCCC colleges. A student can take most of their course work toward the Associate of Arts degree by completing courses using a combination of telecourse, tele-web, and Web-based formats. Students should view the on-line catalog of courses to determine what, if any, on-campus requirements there are for a specific course. Contact the instructor for specific course questions; their contact information is provided.
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Can I take courses from different institutions to get a degree?
Students may take courses from different institutions and transfer them back to their home institution to be counted toward a degree. However, students should check with their home institution to determine how many courses or credit hours they will need to take at their home institution in order to earn a degree. Students should speak with an advisor before taking a course from somewhere other than their home institution.
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What computer hardware and software do I need?
(see Modes of Delivery)
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How much computer and Internet experience do I need in order to learn in an online environment?
Although some knowledge of computers and the Internet is beneficial, you do not have to be an expert. Students should be comfortable with navigating the Internet and should be familiar with using e-mail.
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How do I know that the courses listed in the GCCC online catalog are quality courses?
Provider institutions in the GCCC are regionally
accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. In order to to receive accreditation, institutions must meet the
Commission's requirements and criteria. Accreditation provides public
certification of acceptable institutional quality.
To learn more about the The Higher Learning Commission, visit them online at http://www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org/
or write them at 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602-2504.
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Is there protection against students cheating on on-line tests?
Most courses use a test facility and test monitor, called a proctor, for exams. In many courses, students will need to visit the host campus for midterms and finals, or locate an approved local proctor such as a nearby library or consortium community college. See the contacts page for a list of proctors at each consortium college.
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How do I arrange for a test proctor?
Certain courses require students to take proctored tests. This information can be found by clicking course specific listings and details. If a course does require proctored tests, and the student does not not wish to travel to the host institution's campus, they may be able to arrange for a local proctor approved by the host institution. A local proctor is usually a library or college near the student's home or place of employment. See contacts page for a list of proctors at each consortium college.
Any fees assessed by the local proctor will be the student's responsibility. Upon starting the course, students who need a proctor will immediately need to notify their instructor of the location and contact point of the proctor. Test proctors should be approved well before the first test.
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What are the different modes of delivery offered in the consortium?
The consortium offers distance learning courses using the following three delivery
modes for college level credit:
Internet courses:
In
Web-based courses, students and instructors use
the World Wide Web for delivery of lesson content, communication, and
student assessment.
Technology requirements:
Access to a current, multimedia capable (DVD or CD-ROM and sound), computer connected to the WWW, and a recent version of Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer. To be sure you have the right browser version, use the Browser Tuneup
Telecourses:
With Telecourses,
students view lessons in the convenience of their own homes. Videotaped
lesson sets can be checked out for the semester by the student for most courses. Some
courses are available on KETC-TV Channel 9 (PBS). Courses consist of
televised lessons, textbook assignments, tests, and written assignments.
Technology requirements:
Access to a television set and VCR.