A $12.00 proctoring fee will be attached to all online courses during registration. OCtech’s Policy 3.012: Distance Education and Procedure 3.012.01: Distance Education require that each distance education course include at least one proctored assignment/examination per semester to verify student identity. Students may use either the online proctoring product (ProctorU) provided by the College, or they may use the Satellite Testing Center (in Building K) for face-to-face classroom testing.
There is no additional fee for proctoring, but students must have access to a computer which meets the technology requirements found on the ProctorU website.
Enrollment
Students can be enrolled in online courses, as well as traditional on-campus courses in the same semester.
GPA
To ensure a successful online experience, OCtech students should maintain a 2.0 GPA to continue taking online courses. Please see your advisor if you have questions or contact the Assistant Dean of the Online College at 803.535.1275 or mallnercj@octech.edu.
Online Course Attendance Policy
An electronic email to the instructor is required from each student by the end of the first week of
class. At this time, the instructor will drop the student from the course if the communication is not received. Attendance in an online course is defined by correspondence as required by the
instructor. After the drop/add period, each student will be expected to communicate with the
instructor via email, phone, or appointment at least once per week and/or access the web class at
least once per week. After one week of no communication or no access, the student may be
dropped from the class. The instructor will award a grade of “W” or “WF” based upon the
student’s academic standing at the last date of attendance, which is the date of the last login.
Enrollment in a course at OCtech obligates the student for prompt completion of all work
assigned, for punctual attendance and for participation in whatever class discussion may occur. It
is the student’s responsibility to stay informed of all assignments made and stand tests and
examinations which are assigned by the instructor.
1. By the act of enrollment:
A. The student is responsible for all course work.
B. The student is obligated to punctually attend all classes and laboratory sessions.
2. Any student who abuses attendance or is remiss in academic performance may
be withdrawn.
Testing
In most cases, course assessments – including quizzes and tests – are done online. Should an instructor feel the need to use a proctor, he or she may use the OCtech Testing Center or ProctorU. The instructor will provide students with directions on how to access the center. The following policy applies to online quizzes and tests:
- All academic honesty/dishonesty policies published in the college catalog apply to online coursework.
- Quizzes/tests are hosted through the college’s learning management system, which students may access only through their unique passwords.
- Quizzes/tests are password protected. The instructor will set the password prior to opening the quiz/test. The instructor will share this password with students through the LMS email just prior to opening the quiz/test.
- Quizzes/tests will have a set time limit.
- When possible, questions on the quizzes/test will appear one at a time.
- Each distance education course is required to include at least one proctored assignment/examination/project per semester to verify student identity. Students may use either the Testing Center or ProctorU.
Privacy Notice
The students’ right to privacy and confidentiality of student academic records is based on the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations. These regulations ensure students’ rights to review their academic records, limitations of their rights and release of information to third parties. Specific measures to ensure student privacy in online courses include the following:
- Student access to courses in the learning management system (D2L) is password protected. All students are issued unique, secure logins and passwords at the time of their admission. At first use, issued passwords must be reset. Passwords must be reset by the student every 180 days to ensure continued integrity.
- Faculty use their secure CONNECT account to submit grades and students use it to view their grades. Security features linked to the password provide protection – faculty can only submit grades for their courses and students can only view their personal grades.
Disability Services
Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College complies fully with section 504 of the 1973 Vocational Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disability Act. Students who have a documented learning disability or a documented disability that interferes with cognitive performance and who require special accommodations should also contact the Coordinator for Students with Disabilities. Students must reveal their documented disability and the need for special accommodations. For more information, contact Tracy Dibble, Director of Counseling, the Counseling Center and Services for Students with Disabilities, at 803.535.1225 or dibblet@octech.edu.
Students need to have access to a properly functioning computer throughout the semester.
Software
Student computers need to be capable of running the latest versions of browsers, recent software, and have the necessary tools to be kept free of viruses and spyware. Also, some courses may require special software that students have to purchase. In some courses (i.e. speech, foreign languages, etc.), a webcam and microphone may be required.
Browsers
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 and up
- Mozilla Firefox
- Apple Safari 5.1 and up
- Google Chrome (latest two public releases)
Browser Features
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Java
- Cookies enabled
- Pop-up windows (pop-up blocker) turned off
Internet Service
Students are responsible to have Internet service. High-speed Internet access is recommended, as dial-up may be slow and limited in downloading information and completing online tests. Some courses may contain streaming audio and/or video content.
Use of Public Computers
If using a public library or other public access computer, students should check to ensure they will have access for the length of time required to complete their tasks and tests.
OCtech is an approved NC-SARA member.
NC-SARA was established to develop and implement an effective and efficient reciprocal state-level authorization process for post-secondary distance education. Its mission is to provide broad access to post-secondary education opportunities to students across the country, to increase the quality and value of higher learning credentials earned via distance education, and to assure students are well served in a rapidly changing education landscape.
Click here for more information about NC-SARA.
