Distance Learning

Through the use of existing and emerging technologies, the college offers a variety of distance learning opportunities to students who need, or want, an alternative to the traditional classroom experience. For more information, or to determine if distance learning is for you, visit our Distance Learning website.

Online Courses

Online courses are offered in two formats:

  1. Online with no required campus class sessions
  2. Online with some required campus class sessions

To determine the attendance requirements for an online class, please see the course notes listed immediately beneath the course section in the current Schedule of Classes.

OCC currently uses two course management systems: Blackboard and UCompass Educator. Students are required to e-mail their faculty members upon registration for any online course to obtain course information. Faculty e-mail addresses are included in the course notes for each online course.

Your online course username will be the same as your Online Services username. To verify your username, visit Online Services and click "What’s My User Name?"

For students who have never been enrolled in an online course, your initial password will be in the format: fLMMDDYY
f = first letter of the person’s first name in lower case
L = first letter of the person’s last name in upper case
MMDDYY = birth date

You may access your online course(s) while on campus from any ASC, or open computer lab. To access your course(s) from outside the campus, the computer you use must meet specific technical requirements. At a minimum you will need:

  • Pentium processor or Power Mac
  • Microsoft Windows 98, 2000, XP, NT, Vista or Mac OSX
  • 128 MB of RAM, 5 GB of free disk space
  • 16-bit audio card with speakers
  • Monitor with a display of at least 800 x 600 pixels
  • Quad speed (4x) CD-ROM drive
  • 56K modem
  • Microsoft Word and PowerPoint Viewers, Adobe Acrobat Reader
  • Reliable access to the internet
  • Firefox 2.x or higher or MS Internet Explorer 6.x or higher with cookies and JavaScript and Java Virtual Machine (JVM) enabled.
    AOL , Comcast, or other ISP browsers may not be compatible.

Recommended browsers may be downloaded from Download Central.

MCCVLC (Michigan Community College Virtual Learning Collaborative)

Selected online courses are also offered through the MCCVLC. Students must be admitted to one of the Michigan community colleges to participate in these courses. Anyone residing within any of the twenty-eight public community college districts in Michigan will be charged the MCCVLC in-district tuition rate listed below. All other Michigan residents will qualify for the out-of-district tuition rate.

MCCVLC Tuition Rates: (Registration and Technology fees will NOT be assessed.)
In-District . .......................................$140/credit hour
Out-of-District .................................$205/credit hour
Out-of-State ....................................$270/credit hour
Course fees. ...................................Varies by course
Visit the MCCVLC website for more information.

Classroom/Online Courses (Traditional courses with an online component)

Classroom/online courses are not online courses but traditional courses that incorporate the mandatory use of the College’s online course management system. Please note that classroom/online courses still meet in person in a classroom according to the times and locations listed for the course in the current Schedule of Classes. See Online Courses section above for username and password standards.

Telecourses

Telecourses are video-based courses that include periodic on-campus sessions and the use of a text and study guide. Videotapes are available for check-out at the assigned campus library by enrolled students. Please see the coursenotes immediately beneath each course section to determine on-campus class dates, times, and locations.

For more detailed information about specific distance learning courses, please contact the faculty member directly at the e-mail address listed in that course’s coursenotes.

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