Online Learning

Online Programs

Wilkes Community College students who cannot attend classes on campus can complete the following programs by enrolling in online courses:

• Associate in Arts (A.A.)
• Associate in General Education (A.G.E.)
• Accounting (certificate)
• Business Administration (A.A.S., diploma, certificate)
• Criminal Justice Technology (certificate)
• Early Childhood Education (A.A.S., diploma, certificate)

Most WCC programs have some of their coursework available online. Online courses with insufficient enrollment may be canceled.

Learning Technologies

Wilkes Community College has several learning technologies that support online learning, stimulates learning, and facilitate collaboration.

Moodle is the primary course content delivery source; students will find all their assignments posted in a user friendly, central location. Students taking an online course will find engaging activities and content as they interact with faculty and classmates.  Students and faculty can meet virtually when a face-to-face meeting is not an option. Collaborate offers a virtual classroom solution to power your online learning directly through Moodle.

Our faculty create engaging instructional videos using Echo360, bringing their voice and class content right to your computer screen with on-demand video. Students can flag specific areas of the video and make study notes. Students can create their videos for presentations or project presentations using Echo360’s software or mobile app.

Office 365 is Wilkes Community College’s engine of communication. Students can download the full Office 365 suite or use the online apps for Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more. Students have OneDrive for cloud storage and Outlook for college email.

Teams is a communication and productivity hub for Office 365. Students can collaborate and interact with Team’s social-feed style communication. Teams does it all, including video conferencing and file collaboration.

Students can access their WCC resources from the WCC Prowler Student Portal.  Students will find important information and dates and should check the page often.

Trouble with technology? Step-by-step guides for many common issues are available in the “How Do I…?” section of Prowler, along with the option to submit a Prowler Help Desk ticket. For in-person assistance, visit the Academic Support Center.

Course Types

Read the descriptions below to see which course types will fit your learning style.

Online / Internet

• 100% of instruction is delivered online.
• Courses are indicated with an “I” before the section number.
• Check the online schedule for any orientation or proctoring requirements.
• Students must log in to Moodle on the first day of class and complete the Enrollment Verification Activity or they will be dropped from the course.
• Students should log in to Moodle daily.
• Students must actively participate in the online activities including discussion forums, assignments, quizzes, and any other course work assigned or they could be dropped from the course.

Synchronous

• 100% of instruction is delivered online through synchronous sessions at set dates and times (see course schedule for details).
• Courses are indicated with an “S” before the section number.
• Students must check Moodle on the first day of class to review any course documentation or instructions.
• Students  should log into Moodle often to check course announcements, grades, view resources, or complete activities as directed by their instructor.

Hybrid

• Online instruction makes up greater than 50% of the class, with a requirement that students also meet face-to-face (see course schedule for details).
• Courses are indicated with an “H” before the section number.
• Students must log in to Moodle on the first day of class and complete the Enrollment Verification Activity or they will be dropped from the course.
• Students should log in to Moodle daily.
• Students must actively participate in the online activities including discussion forums, assignments, quizzes, and any other course work assigned or they could be dropped from the course.

Blended

• Face-to-face instruction is greater than 50% of the class, with a requirement that students have internet access as a supplemental part of the course (see course schedule for details).
• Courses are indicated with a “WB” before the section number.
• Students must log in to Moodle and complete the Enrollment Verification Activity or they will be dropped from the course.
• Students should log in to Moodle often to check course announcements, grades, view resources, or complete activities as directed by their instructor.

Traditional

• Instructor and students meet face-to-face at set dates and times (see course schedule for details).
• Courses have no indicator before the section number.
• Traditional courses may still use online technologies as a supplement to the course.
• Students should log in to Moodle often to check course announcements, grades, view resources, or complete activities as directed by their instructor.

Procedures for Protecting Student Privacy in Distance Education Courses

Wilkes Community College is committed to protecting student privacy for students enrolled in all courses regardless of the mode of instruction (on-line, hybrid, classroom).  All College policies regarding student privacy and information security apply to distance education courses.  Faculty teaching distance education courses are expected to uphold these policies and follow these procedures:

• Teach distance education courses using Moodle, the College’s learning management system, to ensure security of student work and grades.
• Use the College’s secure Self Service site to report student grades.
• Use Moodle or the College’s email system for all official, confidential communication such as providing feedback on student work, releasing grade information to students, etc.
• Keep student work, scores, or grades confidential. Students in a course should not have access to other students’ work or grades.
• Keep College user accounts (Moodle, Self Service, Office 365, Watermark Engagement) secure. Do not share login information with anyone, give anyone unauthorized access to a Moodle course, or assign a student the role of instructor in Moodle.
• Follow the College’s guidelines for sharing student educational record information with other faculty, staff, parents, or others outside the College.

Policies/Procedures Related to Student Privacy

• Student Conduct
• Student Records & FERPA
• Computer Use and File Sharing
• WCC Policy & Procedure Manual
  • Policy 5.3.2 – Student Code of Conduct
  • Policy 5.4.3 – Student Records – FERPA
  • Procedure 5.4.3.1 – Student Records – File
  • Procedure 5.4.3.2 – FERPA Annual Notice
  • Procedure 5.4.3.3 – Student Records – Confidentiality
  • Policy 7.2 – Internet and Network Acceptable Use
  • Policy 7.3.1 – Data Storage and Protection
  • Policy 7.4 – Electronic Signature

Out-of-State Students

To provide post-secondary instruction through distance learning courses to students who reside in states other than North Carolina, WCC must meet a state’s requirements to legally offer those courses in that state.  If you are located in a state other than North Carolina, contact the registrar’s office to see if you are exempt from authorization:

Michael Ward, MBA
Registrar
Phone: 336-838-6489
mrward284@wilkescc.edu

Wilkes Community College is working to achieve compliance as established in HEOA 600.9 (c).

If an institution if offering post-secondary education through distance or correspondence education to students in a State where it is not physically located or in which it is otherwise subject to State jurisdiction as determined by the State, the institution must meet any State requirements for it to be legally offering post-secondary distance or correspondence education in that State. An institution must be able to document to the Secretary [of Education] the State’s approval upon request. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1001 and 1002)

Student Grievances

Wilkes Community College strives to resolve student grievances, complaints, and concerns in a fair and just manner. Students residing outside of North Carolina while attending WCC who wish to resolve a grievance should follow WCC’s Student Grievance Process.

If the grievance cannot be resolved internally, you may file a complaint with your state. Student Grievance Contact Information for Individual States, including phone numbers, email addresses, and/or links to state education agencies, is available below:

Wilkes Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

International Access

Planning to be out of country?

The college monitors cyber security threats and reserves all rights to block access from any country, region, or specific IP address. Users attempting to access college resources while outside of the United States will see their access denied. International access must receive approval by Vice President of Information Technology/CIO.

Contact Admissions or your Academic Advisor immediately if you are, or will be, located outside of the United States.

FAQ