Frequently
Asked Questions
Welcome
to the West Georgia Technical College Distance Education FAQ
page.
Here you can find answers to some of the most common questions
people ask about online education including:
 Online
Programs/Courses at West Georgia Technical College
Questions
about admissions and registration
Technical
support questions
Questions
about the Georgia Virtual Technical College (GVTC)
Click
on any of the following links to find answers to your distance
education questions.
What
is GVTC ? [Back]
The
Georgia Virtual Technical College brings together the resources
of numerous technical colleges to expand program offerings
giving you more technical educational options than ever before.
You get the same high quality instruction and course content
that these technical colleges and provide to traditional students,
minus the barriers of time and place that prevent so many from
pursuing educational opportunities.
How
does this work? [Back]
GVTC
allows you to register at one of our colleges while taking
courses online. In most cases, you never have to go to the
campus, however, please check the course details to check for
proctored exams or other possible campus, or software requirements.
First, a student submits a GVTC Application. Then you will
be emailed details on how to complete the application process.
GVTC will assist you with any questions you might have along
the way. The home college will provide assistance with the
admissions process as well. After acceptance to a participating
college, you can register to take courses online. After you
have finished your course(s), your grades will be transcripted
by the college you enrolled with for the course., not by GVTC.
Where
is my home college? [Back]
Students
select their home college from among GVTC's participating colleges.
If you are already a student at one of the participating colleges,
then you can take courses through GVTC as a transient student.
If you are not a student at one of the participating colleges,
you will need to complete a GVTC Application for the participating
college of your choice.
How
much does it cost? [Back]
The cost for online courses is the same as for traditional course
offerings. Books and materials are additional and there may be
additional fees for some courses. Tuition rates are double for
non-Georgia residents.
Can
I take courses while I'm still in high school? [Back]
Anyone
16 years of age or older can take courses through West Georgia
Tech and other GVTC institutions. However, if you are a current
high school student, you should check with your parents and/or
high school counselor before taking any college level course.
Students under 16 years of age are generally not allowed to
take GVTC courses.
Do
I have to live in Georgia? [Back]
No.
You can live anywhere and take courses through GVTC. As long
as you have access to the Internet, you can participate in
our courses. Out of State students will pay twice the In State
tuition. Out of state students are not eligible for the Georgia
HOPE grant or HOPE scholarship program.
What
if I have AOL or CompuServe as my Internet Service Provider? [Back]
First
you must download either Netscape or Internet Explorer. You
can add the Netscape Navigator or the Microsoft Internet Explorer
browser to your AOL software and use it for your browser while
online with AOL. Once you have installed either Netscape's
Navigator or Microsoft's Internet Explorer, the following procedure
should be used:
-
Run
the AOL software which dials up the AOL service and establishes
the connection in the usual manner.
-
Once
the AOL connection has been established, click on the "INTERNET" button
to start the Internet Services. Once the Internet Service
has been started you can minimize the AOL program to
an icon.
-
Invoke
Navigator or Internet Explorer. It will use the Internet
Connection you have established via AOL.
NOTE:
Some students still have difficulty with AOL even after following
the above instructions. Please be advised that if AOL is your
Internet service provider, it is strongly urged that you consider
changing to another service in order to avoid interruption
in online delivery of your Internet course.
How
do I know if my computer will work for online courses? [Back]
Review
and compare your computer with listed Technical
Requirements to make sure your computer and web browser
are compatible for online courses. Also download any plugins
you may not have installed by checking the download section
on the GVTC website.
In
addition to the requirements listed above, West Georgia Technical
College requires Windows 98 or higher and Microsoft Office
2000. Some courses may require additional software. Please
check the course page for additional requirements.
What
programs may I apply for? [Back]
West
Georgia Tech offers over thirty courses on line from many different
programs of study. Please check the online course offerings
for specific general education and program courses offered
during a given quarter.
A
number of general education courses are also offered each quarter.
Please check the online calendar for specific general education
and program courses offered during a given quarter.
Online
program available at other GVTC institutions may be found at
the GVTC website www.gvtc.org.
How
do I apply? [Back]
Students
may apply to West Georgia Technical College online through
the Georgia Virtual Technical College web site. To apply through
GVTC, click on the GVTC link at www.gvtc.org.
Go to the Admissions Page, click on the Online Application
link and follow the on-screen instructions.
What
are the admissions requirements? [Back]
Anyone,
16 years of age or older, can take courses through West Georgia
Tech and other participating GVTC institutions. Some program
may have specific program requirements for admission. Please
check the West Georgia Tech Online Catalog or West Georgia
Tech Online Program Offering page for specific program requirements.
Transient
students are advised that some online courses have prerequisites
that must be met in order to register for the desired course.
Please check with your program advisor to ensure that you are
eligible to take the online class for which you are applying.
Is
West Georgia Technical College accredited? [Back]
West
Georgia Technical College is accredited by the Council on Occupational
Education (41 Perimeter Center East, NE, Suite 640, Atlanta,
Georgia 30346, Telephone Number 770-396-3898) to award the
Associate of Applied Technology Degree, the Diploma, and the
Technical Certificate.
Can
I use financial aid with these courses? [Back]
Online
courses are eligible for a number of financial aid programs
including the Georgia HOPE grant and HOPE scholarship programs.
For an overview of financial aid programs available and links
to apply online, please visit the financial
aid website at GVTC.
Can
I start a course at any time? [Back]
Online
courses begin at the same time as those on campus. The Academic
Calendar in the West Georgia Technical College catalog lists
the start and end dates for each quarter. You may access the
online calendar at www.westgatech.edu/calendar.htm
How
do I know what courses to take? [Back]
You
can find a listing of required courses for your online program
on the West Georgia Tech Online Program Offerings link. You
may also find them listed on the GVTC web site at www.gvtc.org.
The GVTC web site will also program offerings at all the participating
colleges in the Georgia Virtual Technical College. For a list
of individual courses available go to the Course Schedule page.
Every
online student at West Georgia Tech is assigned a program advisor.
The name of the program advisor and contact information will
be provided in the acceptance letter you receive from the college.
Contact your program advisor before registering for any online
course.
Transient
students taking online classes at West Georgia Tech should
contact the advisor at their home institution to register in
appropriate program classes.
When
do courses start? [Back]
Courses
start in the Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. Please check
the Academic Calendar at www.westgatech.edu/calendar.htm for
a full listing of dates or contact the point of contact (Dave
Marler) at 706-756-4614.
How
do I register for courses? [Back]
You
must apply to West Georgia Technical College and be accepted
in order to register for classes. Your acceptance letter will
provide you with the name and contact information of a program
advisor who will assist you in the registration process. Please
remember that admission and registration are not the same things!
After admission, you must contact the program advisor in order
to register for a class.
Will
I pay in-state or out-of-state tuition? [Back]
West
Georgia Technical College in-state students pay tuition of
$25.00(US) per credit hour. Out-of-state students taking courses
through West Georgia Tech pay $50.00(US) per credit hour.
Can
I take courses while I'm still in high school? [Back]
Anyone
16 years of age or older can take courses through West Georgia
Tech and other GVTC institutions. However, if you are a current
high school student, you should check with your parents and/or
high school counselor before taking any college level course.
Students under 16 years of age are generally not allowed to
take GVTC courses.
How
do I go to my course? [Back]
After
you have registered for your course, you will receive a Username,
Password, and a web address from your instructor. Courses are
accessible at the web address (URL) on the first day of that
course's session. You will need your Username and your Password
to get access to your course. It is recommended that you access
your course within the first couple of days of the start of
quarter.
How
do I get my Username and Password? [Back]
After
you are registered for a course, you will receive an e-mailed
from your instructor including your Username and Password,
as well as the web address (URL) where you will begin your
course.
How
do the courses work? [Back]
Students
must apply and be accepted to West Georgia Technical College.
After acceptance, you will be provided the name and contact
information for a program advisor. You must contact your advisor
to register for a class.
After
registration, students are asked to email their online instructor(s)
to provide them with a correct email address and establish
attendance in the online course. During the first week of
the quarter, your instructor will provide you with an Internet
address for the course and an individual user ID and password.
As
you logon to the BlackBoard software (the software used to
create and manage online courses), you will see a link to
all the online courses for which you are registered. Click
the link for the course you wish to work in. As you enter
the course, you will see a menu that will allow you navigate
around your course. You will be able to communicate with
your instructor through e-mail and a course discussion page.
You will also be able to post questions and comments to other
students through the discussion page. This forum allows you
to hold virtual conversations with other classmates and your
instructor, without having to be online at the same. You
will also be able to post assignments through your a special
feature called the Digital Drop Box. You may have to visit
other web sites and even participate in online labs! Finally,
you will be able to take exams online and get feedback from
your instructor through your course's grade book.
I'm
having trouble in my course, how do I contact the instructor?
[Back]
Instructors
can be contacted by phone, e-mail, or through the course
discussion page. Online instructors have developed a great
reputation for being responsive to student questions and
they will usually get back to you as quickly as possible.
However, if you are having trouble contacting your instructor
please contact the Distance Education point of contact, Dave
Marler at 706-756-4614 or mmarler@westgatech.edu.
How
much work is there in a typical course? [Back]
Online
courses are held to the same academic standards as on-campus
courses. Course competencies and requirement for successful
completion are the same for online courses as they are for
traditional course sections. An online student should expect
to spend as much time on an online course as a student on
campus. This includes time spent accessing online materials
(lectures, labs, learning activities, etc.), completing assignments,
engaging in online class discussion postings, preparing for
and taking exams, and other course activities.
How
do I take tests? [Back]
Tests
are done online in most cases. Once you are in your course,
you will be able to look at the syllabus to find the method
of testing used for your particular course. Instructors post
announcements on the availability of scheduled exams. The
tests can be multiple choice, short essay, or long essay
in format. Some computer courses may include production components
in course exams. Tests may also be timed and graded automatically.
Some instructors deduct points for exceeding time limits
or failing to take exams within the scheduled time period.
Consult your online course syllabus for specific policies
regarding testing. Each course will be different in the type
of tests required with some courses not requiring tests at
all. Once completed, your instructor may provide feedback
on your test through the course's grade book.
Do
I have to be online at a specific time? [Back]
No,
you will not have to be online at a specific time. You may
access your course when convenient and from a place that's
convenient as long as you have access to a computer with
Internet connectivity. You choose the hour of the day (or
night) to attend classes. Except for turning in assignments
when they are due and taking scheduled tests within the set
time frame your schedule is totally up to you. You can review
lectures, ask questions, and participate in discussion groups
at a time and from a place that's convenient to you.
Students
in online classes are advised to set a scheduled time to
work on course materials to avoid getting behind in course
work. Procrastination, rather than inability to do the work,
is what sidetracks most students.
How
long do courses last? [Back]
Online
courses at West Georgia Tech are one quarter in length (ten
weeks long). The course schedule has been created in order
to allow for successful completion of the course within the
required time.
Where
do I get a list of courses? [Back]
A
list of current course offerings may be found on the Quarterly
Online Learning Guide, the West Georgia Tech Online Schedule,
and on the GVTC
web page under West Georgia Technical College. Courses
available through other GVTC institutions may be found on the GVTC
website.
How
do I get books? [Back]
Textbooks
may be ordered by calling Tony Pike at Interstate Textbooks
(1-800-824-0698). Textbooks are also available at the campus
bookstore. Students are urged to contact instructors for required
textbooks in each course.
Are
courses ever cancelled? [Back]
West
Georgia Tech reserves the right to cancel an online class with
insufficient enrollment.
Can
I take more than one course at a time? [Back]
You
can take up to the maximum number of courses allowed by West
Georgia Technical College. West Georgia Tech online students
and transient online students are urged to contact their program
advisor concerning the appropriate number of hours for which
to register. Students should expect online courses to be as
rigorous as on-campus courses and plan their schedule accordingly.
Can
I take courses on-campus and online at the same time? [Back]
Yes,
you may take on-campus and online courses at the same time.
Will
I have to go to campus? [Back]
Few
online courses require a trip to the campus. In some occasions,
the instructor may require a proctored test at the nearest
technical college to you. Consult the syllabus for the online
course or contact the online instructor for any on-campus requirements
for a particular online course.
How
do I withdraw from a course? [Back]
Please
contact the Registrar to request an official drop from. The
student must complete the form and return to the Registrar's
office. Students may not withdraw after the end of the fifth
week of class. Please see the academic calendar for drop and
drop/add deadlines.
How
do I transfer credits to my college? [Back]
Transient
students may transfer credits back to their home college by
requesting a Transcript Request Form from the Registrar. The
student must complete the form and return to the Registrar's
office. An official transcript of grades will be sent to the
student's home institution. There is a two dollar fee for each
transcript requested.
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