1. Overview
2. Distance Learning Delivery Formats
3. Dallas TeleCollege - The Virtual Campus of the DCCCD
   1. Overview
   2. Admissions
   3. Registration
   4. Advising
   5. Financial Aid
   6. Learning Resources
   7. Distance Learning Credit Courses
4. Campus-Based Distance Learning

5. Dallas County Community College District Catalog

1. Overview
   
   Distance learning courses and programs of the Dallas County Community College District have many learning options available to DCCCD students since 1972. The courses have evolved and expanded over the past three decades to embrace emerging technologies and student demand. Approximately 15,000 DCCCD students currently enroll in distance learning courses each year.
   
   Making distance learning options convenient and accessible to students furthers the mission and purpose of the Dallas County Community College District. Distance learning increases access to educational opportunities for a growing segment of the student population. Making learning options available to the service area ensures that in a rapidly changing local, national and world community, the Dallas County Community College District is delivering flexible, accessible, affordable and quality-driven education.
   
   Distance learning is a collaborative effort of all seven colleges; each accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The program draws its strength from its faculty and the breadth of courses, from technical to baccalaureate-transfer courses, offered by the colleges. Faculty teaching distance learning courses also teach campus-based courses at one of the seven colleges. Faculty ensure the continued success of distance learning courses by facilitating vigorous student interaction via multiple technologies.
   
   Many aspects of the district-wide distance learning administration, technology infrastructure, instructional support service functions are housed at the R. Jan LeCroy Center for Educational Telecommunications. In addition to Dallas TeleCollege, the LeCroy Center houses: DALLAS TeleLearning, one of the nation's premier producers of educational telecommunications and distance learning products; DALLAS Teleconferences, awarding-winning producer of international teleconferences on topics supporting education and training for educational institutions, businesses and government agencies; and STARLINK, a Texas-statewide videoconference network that produces and distributes staff development programming primarily for 90-two year colleges, technical institutes, state agencies and other public entities.

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2. Distance Learning Delivery Formats
   
   DCCCD distance learning courses are offered in four formats. Each format requires a unique set of technologies essential to successful course completion.
    
   1. Telecourse
      The Telecourse allows the student to work and learn independently, with campus-based requirements including orientations, testing, and review sessions. The course includes a pre-produced video series with print materials. Class interaction is offered through the telephone, fax and mail. Students are required to have access to local cable, KDTN public television, or a VHS format videocassette player.
       
   2. Online Course
      Online courses are delivered using only computers and computer peripherals. Students are required to have reliable Internet access and the latest version of an Internet browser software. The online classroom is used to deliver instruction, facilitate interactions between faculty and students, and more. The course may include campus-based requirements including orientations, testing and review sessions.
       
   Telecourse PLUS Course
   The Telecourse Plus incorporates the use of video and the online classroom. The course includes a pre-produced video series with print materials. Students are required to have access to local cable, KDTN public television, or a VHS format videocassette player. Students are also required to have reliable Internet access and the latest version of an Internet browser software. The online classroom is used to deliver instruction, facilitate interactions between faculty and students, and more. The course may include campus-based requirements including orientations, testing and review sessions.
    
   4. Live-Interactive Television Courses
   
   A Live-Interactive Television Course utilizes one-way video, and two-way audio. Students must have access to a participating cable television system. Students may interact with the faculty by telephone, placing a call to a voice bridge system. The course may include campus-based requirements including orientations, testing and review sessions. Call the Distance Learning Hotline for more information about participating cable systems, 972-669-6400 or if outside Dallas, toll-free at 1-888-4684268.
    
   5. Individualized Distance Learning Course (IDL)
   
   IDL courses are individual study courses that use print materials and required activities related to course topics. This self-paced course requires a faculty-to-student agreement contract for specific work assignments and/or projects. Additional requirements include a study-faculty orientation, written assignments, and tests. Contact your faculty member for more information.
    
   6. Multimedia (CD-ROM Format) Course
   
   The CD course is a student-centered instructional design using fully integrated multimedia course delivery along with supported print materials. This format brings video programs, interactive computer-based activities, and Internet resources to the student’s desktop. The course includes a pre-produced video series along with print materials.
    
   7. Multimedia (Video Streaming Format) Course
   
   Multimedia format courses allow students to view video lesson programs simultaneously with multiple streams in a "learn anywhere, anytime" environment. This course is available to students enrolled in a TeleCollege, Telecourse PLUS course with broadband connectivity such as DSL, cable modems, or wireless connections. The course includes a pre-produced video series along with print materials.

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3. Dallas TeleCollege
   The Virtual Campus of the DCCCD

   a. Overview
   Technology is revolutionizing almost every aspect of students' lives. Society communicates, works and travels with greater speed and precision. The Internet is used for everything from trading stocks to grocery shopping. As a direct result of these advances and growth, there are more options, especially when it comes to a college education. The Dallas County Community College District is creating more options and making them available to students, without having to leave the comforts of their homes. Through the use of technology, the world of learning is at their fingertips.

   Dallas TeleCollege is the 'Virtual Campus' of the Dallas County Community College District. This 'Virtual Campus' allows students access to college courses without coming to the traditional 'bricks and mortar' campus. The Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees are available at a distance through the virtual campus. Dallas TeleCollege increases access to DCCCD programs and courses offered via distance learning by coupling instruction that can be offered at a true-distance, without campus-based requirements, with an array of student services accessible to students anywhere, anyplace.

   Courses offered through Dallas TeleCollege are defined as Virtual Classes. A Dallas TeleCollege Virtual Class requires that all instruction is delivered at a distance with no on-campus requirements, and student services delivered at a distance. Dallas TeleCollege Virtual Class sections are numbered 9000-level. Virtual Class sections may be offered utilizing the Online Course or Telecourse Plus distance learning delivery formats. A course offered through Dallas TeleCollege is the equivalent of the same course offered by DCCCD colleges.

   b. Admissions
   Dallas TeleCollege Admissions is housed at the R. Jan LeCroy Center for Educational Telecommunications. The admissions policies of Dallas TeleCollege are those of the DCCCD. See the Admissions section of this catalog for more information about the admissions policies of the Dallas Community College District. Dallas TeleCollege is a collaborative effort of all seven DCCCD colleges.

   Dallas TeleCollege Admissions may be accessed online at the DALLAS TeleCollege homepage, http://telecollege.dcccd.edu. Students may apply for admission to the DCCCD online. For more information about Dallas TeleCollege Admissions, contact the office directly at:

   Dallas TeleCollege Admissions
   9596 Walnut St.
   Dallas, TX 75243-2112
   Phone: 972-860-7828

   If out of Dallas, 1-888-468-4268
   http://telecollege.dcccd.edu
   

   c. Registration
   Dallas TeleCollege Online Registration is housed at the R. Jan LeCroy Center for Educational Telecommunications. All district policies and requirements apply to Dallas TeleCollege registrations. For more information regarding course prerequisites, assessment prerequisites, and course description information see the Registration section of this catalog.

   Dallas TeleCollege class schedules are available online at the DALLAS TeleCollege homepage at http://telecollege.dcccd.edu. Dallas TeleCollege offers regular semester (fall, spring and summer) courses, following the academic calendar of the DCCCD. In addition, the Dallas TeleCollege offers many courses Open Enrollment. Open Enrollment sections are 16-week sections, beginning every two weeks in some courses. See Dallas TeleCollege Open Enrollment class schedule information at the Dallas TeleCollege home page at http://telecollege.dcccd.edu

   Students registering in Dallas TeleCollege sections (9000-level), may access online registration at the Dallas TeleCollege homepage at http://telecollege.dcccd.edu . For more information about Dallas TeleCollege Registration, contact the office directly at:

   Dallas TeleCollege Registration
   9596 Walnut St.
   Dallas, TX 75243-2112
   Phone: 972-860-7828

   If out of Dallas, 1-888-468-4268
   http://telecollege.dcccd.edu

   d. Advising
   Dallas TeleCollege makes academic advising accessible and convenient to students needing the flexibility of campus-free education and services. Distance learners in need of assistance with a variety of advising issues including degree planning, schedule building, determining TASP and course prerequisites may contact a Dallas TeleCollege Academic Advisor. The Dallas TeleCollege self assessment tool, "Is Distance Learning Right For Me", allows students to self-access whether they possess characteristics that would best position them for success in a distance learning environment. The tool is available on the Dallas TeleCollege website at http://telecollege.dcccd.edu.

   Dallas TeleCollege Academic Advising is available online at the DALLAS TeleCollege homepage at http://telecollege.dcccd.edu, by Email at dtcadvisor@dcccd.edu, by phone at 972-669-6400, or if outside Dallas at 1-888-468-4268.

   Dallas TeleCollege Advising
   9596 Walnut St.
   Dallas, TX 75243-2112
   Phone: 972-669-6400

   E-Mail: dtcadvisor@dcccd.edu

   If out of Dallas, 1-888-468-4268
   http://telecollege.dcccd.edu

   e. Financial Aid
   Financial aid is available for courses offered through Dallas TeleCollege, as it would be for the same courses offered through DCCCD colleges. All district and federal financial aid policies and requirements apply to Dallas TeleCollege students and courses. For more information regarding financial aid see the Financial Aid section of this catalog.

   A Dallas TeleCollege Financial Aid Advisor is available to all DALLAS TeleCollege students at the Dallas TeleCollege homepage, http://telecollege.dcccd.edu. Students utilizing financial aid interested in Dallas TeleCollege sections are encouraged to contact the Dallas TeleCollege Financial Aid Advisor. The site also a rich resource of web-based information regarding financial aid, including links to the online FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and other web-based resources.

   f. Learning Resources
   Dallas TeleCollege makes available and maintains various learning resources. The Dallas TeleCollege library is made possible through a partnership with Richland College. The online library makes available the latest in web-based library and reference tools including online databases, the DCCCD library catalog, online research assistance, an online "Ask a Librarian" feature, and an online FAQ for the distance learner providing in-depth assistance with citations, bibliographies, quotations and more. The Dallas TeleCollege Library may be accessed through the Dallas TeleCollege homepage at http://telecollege.dcccd.edu

   Dallas TeleCollege also supports a variety of learning resources in the areas of study skills and writing skills. The Dallas TeleCollege Online Writing Lab allows students to submit short questions about grammar, punctuation, and spelling. The Online Writing Lab will read and comment on short essays sent via e-mail.

   For more information about these and other learning resources available through Dallas TeleCollege, visit the homepage, at http://telecollege.dcccd.edu.

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4. Campus-Based Distance Learning
   
   DCCCD colleges offer a growing number of distance learning courses and programs each year. As DCCCD colleges identify student demand for distance learning instruction in specific programs and courses, the college, through its appropriate instructional division, begins the process of adding the distance delivery option for a specific program or course.
   
   A campus-based distance learning course has more than 50 percent of the instructional contact hours delivered at a distance, with occasional on campus instructional requirements. Most student services are delivered on campus.
   
   Campus-based distance learning courses are offered using one or more of the distance learning delivery formats detailed above. For a complete listing of campus-based distance learning courses offered district-wide, by all of the DCCCD colleges, reference the distance learning pages printed in your college's schedule of classes. A campus-based distance learning class schedule is also available on the web at http://telecollege.dcccd.edu.

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