FAQs
The Basics
Are distance classes easier than classes offered on the college campus?
NO. These classes may in fact be harder. To be successful in Distance Education classes, you will need to have the following traits/skills:
- Self-motivated
- Time management skills
- Basic computer knowledge
- Good reading skills
- Time to devote to your classes
We recommend that you login to your class(es) at least three times a week to keep up with your course assignments and homework.
How many Distance Education courses can I take OR should I take a semester?
Students may take as few as one (1) or as many as four (4) courses at any one time.
The correct number of courses for you will depend on how much time you can devote to your college classes. If you are working full time, chances are you will not have the time to take a full academic load (12-18 credit hours). For a 3-credit hour class, an online student should plan to commit 3-6 hours a week for online activities, research, and testing.
| Credit hours | Minimum hours per class per week |
|---|---|
| 3 | 6 hours |
| 6 | 12 hours |
| 9 | 18 hours |
| 12 | 24 hours |
What are the basic requirements of all Distance Education courses?
Access to a reliable computer on a regular basis
Dependable access to the Internet
Basic computer skills:
- Familiarity with the Internet, including how to access sites and navigate online
- Experience with a word processor (i.e. Word) and common document file formats
- Experience with e-mail and an understanding of how to create and attach documents to an e-mail message
- Familiarity with discussion/messaging boards or blogs.
- Experience with Internet Explorer or Firefox.
- Able to save a URL in as a bookmark/favorite
- Understand the terms search engine and Google, and how these search online
- Can save information to the desktop or other external storage device
- Know how to cut and paste information from a search engine to the desktop or a document
- Can save in files in Rich Text Format (.rtf), and either Save As or convert other file formats (.doc, etc) to this format
- Understand at least one way to cut/copy/paste text in documents
Course Options
Internet Courses?
An internet course is a fully online course, which means that you DO NOT attend class on campus. Keep in mind that Internet courses are not "easier" than traditional classroom-based courses, they are just different. You still must attend courses online several times a week- which includes: participation in discussions, submitting assignments, taking exams, and whatever else is required by the instructor.
Please note: Your instructor may drop you if you do not "attend" the class in the first 7-10 days.
Some instructors may schedule on-campus orientation sessions or require tests be taken at one of the campus testing centers.
An additional $12 per credit hour ($36 per 3-credit course) fee is charged for Internet courses.
Hybrid Courses?
A hybrid course combines a reduced amount of time in class on campus with an emphasis on work completed online. Students need to go to the classroom and login to Blackboard at http://bboard.mcckc.edu to complete all the course requirements.
No additional fee is charged for hybrid courses.
Since this class combines campus classroom time AND Internet time your instructor will identify attendance policies and expectation.
Web Enhanced?
A web-enhanced course is a traditional classroom-based course where the instructor has decided to "enhance" the course by using Blackboard.
Cable Television Courses (ITV)?
A cable television course (also known as ITV-Interactive Television) can be viewed by Missouri residents only on either Time Warner Cable (CH 17) or Comcast (CH 20).
Students are responsible for their own cable service.
Cable Television courses always come with a course website in Blackboard (http://bboard.mcckc.edu). Blackboard is where students receive syllabus, submit assignment and take online exams.
Students must watch the Live ITV courses when it is on air. Recording the course and watching it later may result in absence in class. When the class is broadcasting, instructors may ask students to call the studio to record attendance. Students can also ask questions by calling the studio when the class is broadcasting.
If you do not know the number, please call 816.604.4490. All calls will be screened to ensure that you are enrolled in the class.
An additional $12 per credit hour ($36 per 3-credit course) fee is charged for each cable television course.
If students miss a class, they can watch the video tape at the Penn Valley Library. These tapes are not available for check out. Students must bring their class schedule to proof enrollment in the ITV class to the Penn Valley Library. Course tapes will be available the next day after broadcasting.
Televison Studio Courses?
You may choose to attend television studio courses in person in the TV studio at Penn Valley in rooms LR 304 or LR 307. Students must go to the studio classroom to participate in person, and must use Blackboard (http://bboard.mcckc.edu) to submit assignments or take exams online.
There is NO additional per credit charges for television studio classes.
Video Conference Courses?
In a video conference course, students receive the lecture via television in the TV studio at Penn Valley, while the instructor delivers the lecture from a remote site.
Students can participate in real-time with the instructor via camera, television, microphone and speaker.
After the class, students will need to go to Blackboard (http://bboard.mcckc.edu) to submit assignments, post class discussion, and possibly take online exams.
Distance Ed Course Testing
Students may be required to complete exams in a campus testing center or make arrangements to take a proctored exam (if not a MCC student or residing outside the MCC district).
Textbooks
How do I buy textbooks for a Distance Education class?
Textbooks for internet courses should be ordered online or picked up in person at the Business & Technology campus. Order textbooks here.
Options for textbook delivery:
- Books can be shipped to your home address by FedEx ground for a shipping charge of $7.00 per order when books become available.
- Books can be shipped to a MCC campus close to you. This will take a minimum of two extra working days for delivery.
- Books can be picked up at the Business & Technology Campus bookstore.
Location: BTC Bookstore, East Lobby, room 117
1775 Universal Ave. Kansas City, MO 64120
Phone: 816.604.5288 - Call for current store hours
Fax: 816.482.5256
How do I buy textbooks for other Distance Education classes (Cable TV, TV Studio, Hybrid, traditional classes)?
You can order textbooks from the bookstore where the class is held. Please visit the bookstore in person or online.
Choose the online store link from the campus where the class is held, click Textbooks, read the Internet Ordering Policy, click "Textbook Selection" button at the end, and choose the classes you are enrolled in.
Enrollment
How can I enroll?
There are two options:
- Enroll in person at any campus Records office
- Enroll online using your myMCCKC account and enter the 5-digit class number.
After the semester starts, students can only enroll in person.
I'm not a student. How can I apply?
If you have never been a student at MCC, step by step instructions can be found by clicking Get Started.
Tuition and Fees/Financial Aid/Payment Plan
How much will I pay for Distance Education courses?
Please see MCC's tuition detail page to check out the tuition and fees for in district, out of district and out of state.
An additional $12.00 per credit hour fee will be applied to all Distance Education courses taken at a facility not directly supported by MCC. Those classes are:
- All Internet classes
- TimeWarner and Comcast cable TV classes
- Some closed-circuit TV classes broadcast to remote sites
- Some videotaped telecourses
This additional $12.00 per credit hour fee will not be assigned to students attending the following courses:
- A hybrid course which requires students to attend lectures on an MCC campus and to use Blackboard
- A TV studio course which requries stduents to attend lectures in the studio on campus during the broadcast
- A TV studio course at an RTEC site
- A traditional in-person class which uses Blackboard for enhancement
Can I receive financial aid ?
Yes, students may apply for and receive financial aid when enrolled in Distance Education classes.
Students interested in financial aid should contact the financial aid office as soon as possible or apply online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. It takes 6 to 8 weeks to process financial aid applications. If you receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) in the mail, bring it to the financial aid office immediately.
You can get more information about financial aid at MCC Financial Aid.
Can I use a payment plan?
Yes. Please visit MCC Payment Service.