Policies for Distance Learning Courses -- Distance Learning -- Piedmont Technical College

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Policies for Distance Learning Courses

The policies explained on this page apply to students enrolled in distance learning course. Distance Learning students are also responsible for knowing the general policies of the college that apply to all students.

Topics:

Course Cancellation Policy

Distance learning courses listed for a term are not normally cancelled and Internet (or TeleWeb) courses are rarely cancelled. If enrollment falls below the number required to economically operate the course, the division dean may recommend to the Vice President, Chief Educational Officer, the course be cancelled. If the cancellation is approved, the involved department head, off-campus coordinator, or distance learning manager will directly contact each enrolled student via telephone, e-mail or mail as quickly as possible and prior to the first class meeting. The department head, off-campus coordinator, or distance learning manager will also meet the first class at the assigned time and place to assist students adjust schedules or advise students into other appropriate courses meeting their academic needs.

Student Instructional Complaint Process

Students are responsible for initiating complaints concerning instruction, instructors, or grades. The routing process of complaints for each involved party is as follows:

The student: first, communicates with the instructor; only if this is unfruitful or impossible does the student, second, communicates with the instructor’s supervisor (dean/department head). College departments.

The instructor: first, tries to resolve the problem; if this does not work, second, refer the problem to his or her supervisor.

The instructor’s supervisor: first, meets with student and instructor to resolve the problem. The student’s curriculum department head or off-campus coordinator/dean may become involved in an advisory capacity at this stage.

Any other Piedmont employee to whom an instructional complaint is brought refers the student to the proper process and appropriate people; these employees do not get personally involved. The appropriate supervisor will make a firm decision at this point.

The decision of the supervisor may be appealed using the appeal process outlined in the college catalog and Institutional Directives 8-15 and 8-29.

Course Preview Opportunities

Students taking distance learning courses may preview Online Courses prior to enrollment. E-mail Dr. Koenig to request previews of Online courses.

Attendance Policy for Online Courses

Students are expected to logon to the course at the WebCT site and interact with the instructor at least once during the first five days after registering for the course or the first five days after the start date of the course, whichever comes later. Students are required to interact with faculty and students within the WebCT course management system at regular intervals during the term of the course. Any student who fails to interact with an instructor via telephone, email, WebCT, or in person during any two-week period of the term may be subject to administrative withdrawal from the course by the instructor.

Students withdrawn from courses are automatically provided a "W" grade prior to the midterm and a "W" or "WF" grade after the midterm, depending upon their standing in the class at the time of withdrawal.

Attendance Policy for PEN Courses

Students are expected to attend all classes. Recognizing that situations may arise to prevent such attendance, however, the following policy is set forth to address these situations.

Students may be absent for five percent of class meetings for avoidable absences, and no more than an additional ten percent of class meetings for unavoidable absences. In extreme circumstances, students may be absent for a length of time mutually agreed upon between the instructor and the student that exceeds this percentage of class meetings.

Attendance for less than a full class period may be counted as one-third of an absence.

Definitions Related to Attendance

Avoidable absence:
An absence where a student voluntarily misses class for non-emergency reason (i.e., sleep late, go hunting, shopping, etc.).
Unavoidable absence:
Absences caused by a situation or set of circumstances which were unforeseen and over which the student has no control (i.e., automobile accident, death in immediate family, child ill, or work schedule change, etc.).
Extreme circumstance:
Absences which are unforeseen and of which the student has no control that occur in extended intervals of time to a student who has the potential to pass the course through make-up.

Student Responsibilities

Understand the college’s attendance policy and the make-up procedures followed in each class.
Understand the rationale for class participation being necessary to accomplish the learning outcomes of the course.
Understand the importance of attending the class and being prompt to class.
Communicate to the course instructor promptly any problems affecting his or her attendance to class or change in enrollment status.
Provide verification of reason for class absences if requested by an instructor.
Attend class on a regular, consistent basis unless there are unavoidable circumstances preventing attendance.
Be committed to completing class work and fulfilling class obligations to other students in the class.
Show respect for the instructor and other students, communicate concerns clearly, and use appropriate grievous complaint channels, if needed, should misunderstandings occur.

Refund Information

Students enrolled in Internet (or TeleWeb) courses (section numbers 80-89) follow the same refund policy as other traditional courses. See college refund policy.

Taking Tests

In Online and TeleWeb Courses, most of your graded work will be projects, not tests. To make sure that students are mastering material, however, Piedmont requires that instructors give at least one proctored exam or other evaluation each term.

Your instructors will give you instructions prior to your tests. Generally, students are give a set time period to complete a test on the Internet. Most tests allow only one entry and are scored immediately. Essay exams will be sent to the instructor for grading.

If a test session is to be monitored or "proctored," your instructor will help you locate a nearby testing location. Please complete the Proctor Request Form if you need to use a location other than Piedmont Technical College sites. You should always make an appointment with a testing location before arriving to take your test.

Students are always on their honor to complete exams as instructed with no unauthorized assistance.

Honor Code

College Online Honor Policy: I pledge to strictly adhere to the following conditions:

I will not divulge my username or password to anyone.

I, and only I, will post answers to course assignments using my username and password.

I, and only I, will take the on-line exams using my username and password.

I understand that the on-line exams are closed book and I will not refer to my textbook while taking the exams (unless explicitly told otherwise by my instructor).

I will not divulge the content of the on-line exams to any other student, whether enrolled in the course or not.

I will report any violations of this honor code to the instructor.

I understand the violation of this honor code will constitute a violation of the South Carolina TECH Student Code and Grievance Procedure and I will be subject to the appropriate sanctions as described on pager 53 in the Piedmont Technical College Catalog