Report:
VCT Coordinators Meeting
March 3, 2003 – Renaissance Hotel - Austin
Colleges represented at the meeting, in person or via audioconference, are shown below. Those
participating via audioconference are shaded. It was difficult to keep track of colleges dialing in,
so this list may not be complete.
Alamo Comm. Col. District
-Northwest Vista College
-Palo Alto College
-San Antonio College
-St. Philip’s College
Amarillo College
Austin Comm. College
Blinn College
Central Texas College
Coastal Bend College
College of the Mainland
Collin County Comm. College
Dallas Comm. Col. District
Del Mar College
El Paso Comm. College
Galveston College
Hill College
Kilgore College
Laredo Comm. College
Lee College
McClennan Comm. College
Midland College
Navarro College
N. Harris Montgomery Comm. Col.
Odessa College
Panola College
San Jacinto College
South Texas Comm. College
St. Philip’s College
Tarrant County College
Temple College
Texas Southmost College
Trinity Valley Comm. College
TSTC-Harlingen
TSTC-Marshall
Tyler Jr. College
Victoria College
Weatherford College
Internet Teachers
Internet Teachers. As of the meeting date, there had been approximately 300 enrollments in the
three courses (Parts I, II, and III) of the Internet Teachers curriculum in FY 03. About 140
enrollments have taken place this spring semester. Enrollments in all three courses were still
being accepted at the time of the meeting. Part III has had a large enrollment this year, with over
40 teachers signing up, requiring the addition of a second teacher. Since the courses first began
to be offered, enrollments in the classes have totaled 1400. For FY 04, Internet Teachers funding
will probably be sought for Part III only. All colleges, however, will have the option of offering
Parts I and II locally, offering them through CE by listing them at the VCT website, if they
choose.
WebCT Licenses and Other Software Licenses
Mickey Slimp and Ron Thomson have talked with WebCT about license renewals, and neither
have found WebCT to be amenable to negotiating for consortium pricing. The Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board has been looking at collaborative purchases in a variety of areas.
TIF money is not completely out, but the legislation needs to be pushed to keep TIF from being
abandoned. The issue of software licenses was identified by the Coordinating Board as one of
several critical issues. The Coordinating Board’s Critical Issues survey results may be viewed at:
http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/DistanceEd/CriticalIssues/SoftwareSurveyResults2.cfm
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As an alternative to each college’s purchasing its own individual WebCT site license, Mickey
proposed that colleges might team up to buy only one server license for one server, which would
serve two or more colleges. This arrangement could cost $1500-2000 per college. The college
hosting the server could have additional bandwidth. Tyler might consider hosting three or four
colleges on their server. Interest has also been expressed in collaboratively purchasing other
software licenses, including Adobe, Tutor’s Edge, Smarthinking, and virus protection. Mickey
will conduct a follow-up survey to the Coordinating Board’s critical issues survey.
VCT Status Report
Ron Thomson reported on the current status of VCT operations and new initiatives.
FY 03 Enrollments: As of the meeting date, enrollments in provider college classes totaled
approximately 4,300. FY 03 VCT enrollments are up approximately 72% over FY 02.
Spring 03 enrollments are 10% higher than Fall ’02 enrollments, and they are approximately
66% higher than last spring’s.
College Participation: While enrollments have increased this spring over the fall ’02 semester,
the number of participating colleges has decreased slightly, from 46 colleges in the fall to 44
colleges in the spring.
VCT FY 02 Evaluation: VCT scored higher in its evaluation for FY 02 than it did in FY 03.
Overall satisfaction with VCT increased from 5.35 in FY 01 to 5.44 in FY 02, and ratings for
effectiveness of the administrative went from 5.5 to 5.73. Lowest ratings continue to be areas
that were rated lowest in FY 01: (scale: 1 (very low) to 6 (very high)
 Timeliness of getting textbooks to students (host’s perspective):
3.71
 Timeliness of hosts receiving grade rosters from providers
3.78
 Timeliness of getting textbooks to students (provider’s perspective)
4.05
 College effectiveness in promoting/publicizing VCT to students
4.05
Ron reported that he is working on an evaluation for the Instructional Administrators to get their
perspectives on VCT.
Student Issues
Textbooks. Getting textbooks to students in a timely manner continues to be a problem.
Cooperation among bookstores is needed, and managers are not always willing to help during
their busiest periods. Students on financial aid have a particularly difficult time. Del Mar uses a
voucher system that helps. Another college allows students to request financial aid money in
advance, but the student must know that an advance request is possible. One coordinator reported
that only students who sign up for VCT classes at the last minute present problems. It was
suggested that teachers not give an assignment out of the book for the first week.
It was proposed that bookstore managers and financial aid personnel meet via audioconference to
consider ways to resolve the textbook problem. Ron T. will survey the coordinators to get
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recommendations for bookstore managers and financial aid officers who would be willing to
participate in such an audioconference.
Action (Ron): Identify bookstore managers and financial aid officers to participate in an
audioconference that addresses textbook issues.
Other Student Issues. The point was made that syllabi are written to accommodate on-campus
students, and they are not adapted for VCT students. This sometimes causes confusion for VCT
students. One VCT student, for example, thought she had to go to the provider’s campus to take
tests. A quick poll of Coordinators present indicated that about one-half of the faculty would
modify their syllabi and one-half would not. Several suggestions were offered for addressing the
need to get accurate information to VCT students in ways that do not involve adapting syllabi.
Karen Anderson, ACC, said she sends a welcome letter by email and U.S. Postal to her VCT
students that explains testing, orientation, and Blackboard. With these letters, it is not necessary
to ask instructors to modify their syllabi for VCT students. The group asked if she could share
these letters with the coordinators, and Karen agreed to do it. The ACC Welcome Letter and the
ACC Midterm Memo are included at the end of this document. Michelle Shoemaker, Blinn
College, reported that VCT students are required to check in with her, and she sends an
introductory email plus follow-up emails. Terry Spurlock, Trinity suggested that the “Other
Information” box on the course listing form also could be used to communicate with students.
Ron reported that the presidents have agreed to a students’ area being included at the VCT
website. This area, too, will be useful in helping to orient students to VCT-related issues.
Action: Discuss further in summer meetings ways to use the VCT website student area to
address student issues.
Continuing Education
There is a substantial market for courses that are required by a large professional workforce. The
TACE advisory committee met on Jan. 21 to discuss how to get CE to take off with VCT. A new
MOU specific to CE has been developed, and about three-fifths of the colleges had signed it at
the time of the meeting. A couple of Coordinators reported that their colleges had listed CE
courses at the VCT website, but no students have enrolled. Marketing seems to be the missing
element, and sending letters to professional organizations was suggested as a possible strategy.
Some concern was registered by Coordinators that the terms “standard” and “variable” may be
confusing when applied to the VCT online catalog. Coordinators suggested: communicating
more closely with CE staff and conducting a market analysis. It was pointed out that there is a
substantial need for real estate courses. Pat Smith reported that the Texas Commission on
Alcohol and Drug Abuse is developing a course for which they will do the marketing, and it may
be delivered as CE by colleges.
VCT and Degrees/Certificates
To date, VCT has dealt only with individual courses. The TACC Telecommunications
Committee, however has given permission for colleges to start considering ways that VCT could
help make their distance learning degrees and certificates accessible statewide. A task force of
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the TACC Distance Learning Advisory Committee has been appointed to begin identifying and
discussing issues related to VCT’s role related to degrees and certificates. Terry Spurlock
suggested that offering a common certificate for the core component of degree programs is a way
to start. Issues related to degrees/certificates and VCT will be discussed by the entire TACC
Distance Learning Advisory Committee in its summer meeting.
VCT Website
Coordinators offered highly positive feedback regarding changes to the VCT website that were
implemented last fall. It was pointed out that ensuring complete and accurate information for the
newly added invoice/payment contact at the VCT website would keep colleges from wasting a
lot of time trying to figure out where to send checks.
Action (Coordinators): Ensure that correct information for the invoice/payment contact is
correct.
Effect of Budget Cuts on VCT
As a result of budget cutbacks, colleges are responding in varying ways regarding their future
use of VCT. Some, such as Panola, Midland, Howard, and Trinity Valley, are moving forward
per usual. San Antonio College is trying to provide more courses through VCT since others are
cutting back. A few, such as Coastal Bend, will not use VCT at all through the summer and
possibly the fall.
Electronic Grade Rosters
It was suggested that managing VCT grade rosters would be easier and more efficient if the VCT
website rosters could be used as official rosters. Coordinators advised that Registrars should be
brought into this discussion to get their perspectives and build their support. Ron T. said he
would work on getting registrars involved.
Action (Ron): Work with registrars regarding use of electronic grade rosters.
Summer VCT Coordinators’ Meeting
Given the current state of travel budgets, it is improbable that a majority of Coordinators would
be able to travel to a summer meeting as they have in the past. Ron emphasized the importance
of the meeting and stated that he would hate to lose it. Several options were presented: hold a
meeting for whomever could travel and then conduct a post-conference statewide
audioconference for everyone else; use interactive video; hold a series of regional meetings to
which Ron and Aleta would travel. The best option, it was agreed, is to hold regional meetings
that participants can drive to and from in one day. It was pointed out that such meetings might
even have some special advantages. For example, Coordinators might invite administrators or
faculty who would not consider traveling out of town to an overnight meeting. It was pointed out
that many Coordinators do not know which regions their respective colleges actually belong to.
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Other Business/Issues
Several other items were addressed:


VCT Hosting Fee: Some colleges are going to start charging a fee to host a VCT course.
A few colleges, such as Weatherford, have been doing this for quite some time. One
college is going to add a fee of about $20 to host or provide a VCT course.
Smarthinking: Becky Stinson said that TCET was going to investigate consortium
licensing for Smarthinking.
Colleges and Regions
Central Texas Region
Austin Community College
Blinn College
Central Texas College
Hill College
McLennan Community College
Navarro College
Temple College
TSTC-Waco
South Texas Region
Alamo Community College
Coastal Bend
Del Mar College
Laredo Community College
South Texas Community College
Southwest Texas Junior College
Texas Southmost College
The Victoria College
TSTC-Harlingen
East Texas Region
Angelina College
Kilgore College
Northeast Texas Community College
Panola College
Paris Junior College
Texarkana College
Trinity Valley Community College
TSTC-Marshall
Tyler Junior College
Southeast Texas Region
Alvin Community College
Brazosport College
College of the Mainland
Galveston College
Houston Community College
Lee College
North Harris Montgomery Community College
San Jacinto College
Wharton County Junior College
North Texas Region
Cisco Junior College
Collin County Community College
Dallas County Community College
Grayson County College
North Central Texas College
Ranger College
Tarrant County College
Vernon Regional Junior College
Weatherford College
West Texas Region
Amarillo College
Clarendon College
El Paso Community College
Frank Phillips College
Howard College
Midland College
Odessa College
South Plains College
TSTC-Sweetwater
Western Texas College
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DISTANCE LEARNING
AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Virtual College of Texas Students
FROM:
Karen J. Anderson
Support Services Specialist
DATE:
Spring 2003 Semester
RE:
WELCOME TO VIRTUAL COLLEGE OF TEXAS
Thanks for choosing Virtual College of Texas (VCT) and Austin Community College. We want your distance
learning experience to be a successful one. Please review the following information to make the most of your
time and efforts.
1.
For an online course, you need to go the Internet and enter the following:
http://dl.austincc.edu/pcm.html.
Once you get there, scan the page to find your course. Then simply use your password and user ID to
access the course site. Passwords/User IDs for Blackboard courses will be assigned by Distance
Learning approximately a week prior to the beginning of the session. If you have not been contacted
for your Blackboard Student Password/User ID once the session begins, please contact
Distance Learning at 1-888-223-8026 and one will be assigned.
2.
Check the VCT Catalog at www.vct.org for your course orientation and instructor contact
information. Orientation information is critical for a good start on your VCT course and a successful
completion. Be sure to email your instructor or call for detailed orientation information! Most course
syllabi are included in the online orientation materials. If the syllabus for your course is not online,
check with your ACC instructor or call the Distance Learning Help Line at 1-888-223-8026. The course
syllabus is your road map for your Distance Learning course and will have all the assignments, test
deadlines, etc.
You will also find text book information listed with the course information in the VCT catalog at
www.vct.org. Your may order your text books by phone (credit card or personal check) from MBS Direct
at 1-800-325-3252 or online (credit card only) at www.mbsdirect.net . We recommend purchasing your
text books as soon as possible to allow adequate time for shipping.
3.
Testing for your VCT class is handled either online by your ACC instructor or through your local college.
If testing is to be done at your college, the VCT contact will let you know the procedure for completing
the tests. Normally, tests required for your course are mailed to the Testing Center at your college for
administration. Once the tests are completed, they will be returned directly to your instructor for grading.
Be sure to allow ample time for returning the test to ACC through the mail to avoid missing a test
deadline. If you do miss a testing deadline, contact your instructor as soon as possible.
4.
If you encounter any student services problems during the time you are taking this course, notify the
VCT contact at your college for assistance. If you have problems contacting your instructor, you
should feel free to contact ACC Distance Learning at our toll free Help Line at 1-888-223-8026.
The Help Line services are available from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. You may also
reach us by email at dl@austin.cc.tx.us.
Once again, Austin Community College and Distance Learning welcome you and wish you the best of luck in
your VCT courses and academic goals.
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DISTANCE LEARNING
VIRTUAL COLLEGE OF TEXAS
AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
TO:
Virtual College of Texas Students
FROM:
Karen J. Anderson
DATE:
March 17, 2003
RE:
SPRING 2003 ACC/VCT PROJECT UPDATE
For many of you this may be your first experience with distance learning, VCT or both. It’s almost certainly your
first experience with Austin Community College’s Distance Learning program. We want it to be a positive
experience.
Student/Faculty Communication: Good communication with your instructor is absolutely critical in any
classroom, but especially for distance learning courses. Don’t hesitate to call or email your instructor when you
have questions or need clarification on course information. If you have questions, chances are your classmates
do too. Let the technology raise your hand! If you are having trouble contacting your ACC instructor, please let
us know. Call our toll-free Help Line at 888-223-8026 or email us at dl@austincc.edu. Occasionally there
may be technical problems (servers down, internet provider servicing, etc.) or the instructor may have a
business or family emergency. We’ll make every effort to relay your information needs. Take advantage of
student-to-student communication options provided or required for your course work with ACC! Just like a
traditional classroom course—it helps to compare notes and commiserate. Remember, you’re not “out there”
alone!
Distance Testing: Follow the testing schedule for your course and make an appointment with yourself for quiet
study time in preparation. All test materials are forwarded to your home college for completion if your
instructor does not use online testing options or class projects in lieu of written exams. Check with your
VCT contact there for specific testing facility hours of operation. Accordingly, allow yourself ample time to
complete the exam and get it back to the ACC instructor for grading and feedback. If you should need a test due
date extension, contact your ACC instructor directly to see what options you may have. Your instructor can’t
help you if she/he doesn’t know you have a problem! Amy Setter coordinates distance testing for ACC. You
may reach her at 888-223-8026 or by email at dl@austincc.edu if you have additional questions.
Smarthinking: Online Tutoring: Don’t forget, as an ACC VCT Distance Learning student you have access to
Smarthinking, the free online tutoring service provided by ACC to all distance education students. That includes
you! Smarthinking can help you when you need it, on your schedule! I’ve enclosed a fact sheet that should get
you started. Distance education students have special needs and expectations and we hope Smarthinking
meets some of those needs.
Final Grade Reports: Your home college will provide the ACC instructor with an official grade report form for
your course. Because session start and end dates at ACC and the home college may not coincide, you may
receive an incomplete or “I” grade or an “x” on your grade report based on your home college’s procedure. Just
as soon as the ACC instructor completes the grade report, we Airborne Express mail the document to the home
college for appropriate posting.
We hope the remainder of the VCT/ACC Spring semester is successful for you and you meet your academic
goals. Please let us know if there is any part of the VCT/ACC experience that we could improve upon. You can
reach us at our toll-free Help Line (888-223-8026) or by email at dl@austincc.edu. Once again, thanks for
considering Austin Community College and Virtual College of Texas. When you succeed, so do we!
cc: Robert Bermea, Interim Director/Distance Learning
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