Quality of Courses, Curriculum and Testing
- Quality of Courses
The course goals, objectives, course name and number of these distance learning courses shall be the same as traditional face-to face courses.
- Curriculum
Academic Services maintains general courses outlines for the courses offered at Palm Beach Community College. From these course outlines, faculty will create individual class syllabi. The general course outlines are continuously updated through curriculum actions, textbook adoptions, and State Course Numbering System transactions. Please notify Academic Services at 561-868-3892 if you cannot locate the general course outline. Link to Academic Services
- Testing
Each PBCC Testing Center location provides proctored testing in a secure environment. These centers in coordination with the faculty member can help establish testing sites outside of the Palm Beach County service area. Link to PBCC Testing Center
Program Design, Ownership
Program Design
- Faculty who understand the wider contexts of their distance learning courses and campus-wide programs, course sequences, regulations, and accreditation standards are better prepared to design courses that meet larger programmatic goals.
- Periodic course review helps ensure accuracy of content, appropriate use of technology, effectiveness of delivery strategies, and integration within the larger curriculum. Updating or redesigning courses as needed strengthens the entire program.
- Students who are taking multiple courses via distance learning benefit from consistency among courses with similar course design, communication, technology, and assessment. This consistency shortens the learning curve students experience at the beginning of each course, and makes it easier to provide necessary support to both students and faculty.
- An orientation to distance learning course can help students prepare for their courses providing descriptions of typical activities, tips for success, technical requirements and tutorials, and various other resources.
- Interaction and collaboration among distance learning faculty can improve the entire program by promoting a common set of curricular goals, encouraging faculty development, and allowing for more productive assessment.
- Faculty Resources Site for faculty is a password protected site for all faculty receiving training on Campus Edition 6. Anyone desiring training can self enroll or sending an email to Anne Guiler (guilera@pbcc.edu). Link to sign up for Training. Once faculty and trained and certified at the skill level their names will be posted here: Approved Faculty.
- For the development of a new or revised distance learning course or program, it must follow the established curriculum process and be approved by the Academic Deans.
Ownership of Material/ Copyright
All Palm Beach Community College employees must observe all US laws governing copyrights. Any violation of copyright or any other law is the sole responsibility of the author of that web page. Authors or originators using photos and images may need the permission of not only the person or organization that owns the photo or image, but also from any persons included within the images. Any use of other copyrighted material must have the express written permission of the person or organization that owns the copyright. PBCC reserves the right to require proof of the written permission and to remove the material if that proof cannot be produced. Link to Copyright
Advertisement of Distance Learning Courses
We use a number of marketing activities to promote the classes at PBCC.
Distance Learning web site at PBCC
Pantherweb PBCC Class Search
PBCC printed schedules and brochure
SREB Electronic Campus Listing
FCCDL Consortium Course Listing
Interaction with Students and ADA
Interaction with Students
Communication between students and faculty is vital for the success of Distance Learning. Specific requirements for frequent use of email, chat or discussion boards are made in course materials. Faculty will announce specific feedback timeframes in each course syllabus. For example: “Instructor’s course email will be checked once per day Monday – Friday” or "Email will be responded to within 24 hours."
Accessibility (ADA)
The Office of Disability Support Services is committed to providing an equal educational opportunity for all qualified students with disabilities, in compliance with federal and state statutes. We commit, as well, to ensuring that the integrity of all college standards and requirements is maintained. ADA compliance will be applied via a prudent method of providing alternate content, which meets the needs of a specifically challenged learner. PBCC Offices for Disability Services
Blackboard Guidelines and Internet Acceptable Use
Blackboard Guidelines
Blackboard is a course management system that is used for the delivery of instruction for online, hybrid and supplemental instruction in face-to-face classes and other delivery systems. Blackboard can also be used as a discussion board by departments, faculty clusters, committees and sponsored clubs. Each course using Blackboard will maintain a Welcome Page for student information. To request a course site on the PBCC Blackboard server, send a request to Blackboard Administrator. See Online section of DL Faculty Handbook for additional information about Blackboard.
Acceptable Use Policy for the Internet at PBCC
Palm Beach Community College provides access to the internet and World Wide Web for purposes directly related to education in an environment. Access to resources is shared equitably among all PBCC users to allow a learning environment. All Internet use is to be free of illegal or malicious acts and must show respect for others through proper Network Etiquette. Link to: Acceptable Use
Support Services
Admission
Candidates for admission for AA/AS/AAS degrees who have graduated with a standard high school diploma from an approved Florida high school or who have a U.S. GED diploma will be accepted. Applicants from states other than Florida, who are graduates of out-of-state schools, which are accredited by their state universities and from any regionally accredited high schools, colleges, or universities, will be considered in accordance with current state statute. Some PSAV certificate programs do not require high school graduation (see the College Catalog for more information). Admissions
College Catalog
The catalog contains all course information and pre-requisites for the variety of programs that are available at PBCC. Link to: Catalog
Registration
After students are admitted to PBCC, registration for distance learning courses is exactly the same process as for the traditional on campus course. Students can register on campus or use the online registration system (password protected). Link to: Pantherweb.
Advising
Students may contact any of the PBCC advisors for assistance with registration, admissions, transcript review as well as the selection of courses based on the selected program of study. For the link to location, phone numbers and emails, see this link Advising Services.
Financial Aid
At PBCC, the Financial Aid Office on your campus is the place to get financial aid information. The Financial Aid Office offers individual financial aid counseling to students and their parents. Link to: Financial Aid services
Student Records
The confidentiality of a student’s records will be protected, and information will be released only to legitimately authorized persons and released to other sources upon the request of the student, parent or the guardian of a dependent student. Students and the guardian(s) of dependent students have the right to inspect the student’s records upon proper notice to the custodian of the records. Students can access their personal information using a password protected site. Link to: Student Services
Student Disability Services
The Office of Disability Support Services is committed to providing an equal educational opportunity for all qualified students with disabilities, in compliance with federal and state statutes. We commit, as well, to ensuring that the integrity of all college standards and requirements is maintained. Link to: Student Disability Services
Student Activities
The Student Activities office provides students with an opportunity to enhance their education in a stimulating and enjoyable manner. A variety of clubs and organizations, intramural activities and special events are provided on the various PBCC locations. Link to: Student Activities
Career Center
Career planning and job placement assistance are available at all locations of the College. The staff can help you with career self-assessment, occupation information and exploration, employer identification and job search skill development. Wherever you are in your career planning, you are encouraged to visit the Career Center on your preferred campus and meet with a counselor or advisor who can help you achieve your career goals. Link to: Career Center
Student Complaint/Grievance Procedure
A student seeking a review of an academic course grade or an academic complaint related to derogatory behavior and/or of any other serious nature that does not involve academic dishonesty or any other disciplinary action shall: 1) attempt to resolve the situation, 2) if not resolved, present the situation to the professor’s supervisor in writing with a copy to the campus Dean of Student Services, or 3) if resolution still not achieved, the student can contact the next highest administrator within the campus to which the professor is assigned. Link to: Academic Policies
Withdrawal Process
A student can be removed from a course or courses by completion of proper forms in the admissions office or departmental office or by faculty member for excessive absences. Check the college calendar for deadlines. Link to: Academic Calendar
Testing
Our Testing Centers provide students with access to a comfortable, comprehensive, secure test environment and to maintain support services for faculty and staff. Link to: Testing Center
Library/ Learning Resources
The Library Learning Resource Centers provide resources and services for the College, including distance learning students. Students, faculty, and staff have access to the catalog, databases, library services, and other resources. Link to: LLRC
Textbook/ Bookstore
Textbook Selection Guidelines must be followed for distance learning classes. Follett’s bookstore provides all books and materials for students taking classes at PBCC. Distance learning students can order their textbook and other required materials online. Link to: Follett Bookstore
College Information Center
The College Information Center is a customer service center staffed by Palm Beach Community College students and staff members. Students and other community members seeking general information about PBCC or who would like program information sent to them can call, write, or email the Center with their requests. Link to: College Information Center
Student Handbook
A valuable resource for all students attending or planning to attend PBCC. Link to: Student Handbook
New Student Orientations
Students must complete a PBCC application (available on our WEB site) and have acceptable SAT, ACT or CPT (College Placement Test) scores before participating in orientation. The CPT is available at all PBCC Locations. For more information contact your local PBCC campus. Link to: New Student Orientation
Distance Learning Orientations
Orientation is mandatory – orientation can be presented online, in-person or by other means of interactive communication. Orientation needs to include: syllabus, instructions for a successful course completion, technical requirements, skill level needed, and any student success tips. See the specific section for details from the instructor.
Attendance Requirements
Distance learning courses do not operate in a traditional face-to-face manner. Students may be dropped or withdrawn from the course by the instructor based on participation within the course and these guidelines are published in the specific course syllabus. An example of participation may be submitting assignments, responding to a discussion forum, and/ or emailing the instructor by pre-determined deadlines. See the specific syllabus for details.
Student Learning Center
The Student Learning Center (SLC) is responsible for helping students with the necessary skills in English, math, reading, and study skills in order to be successful at Palm Beach Community College and beyond. The SLC staff is here to provide academic support to all students through our Computer Lab, English Lab, Math Lab, Reading Lab, and Vocational Preparatory (VPI) Lab. Link to: Student Learning Center
Student Referral to Programs
Programs and Courses are listed in alphabetic order with contact information with names and phone number of the individuals responsible for that particular area of study. Students are encouraged to contact the program for all information and any questions. Link to: Areas of Study
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