Online Course Information

About eLearning

MSVCC Overview

The Mississippi Virtual Community College (MSVCC) is a consortium of Mississippi’s 15 community colleges that makes it possible for these colleges to leverage their distance learning resources – including faculty, courses, support services, and technology. Through the MSVCC, students may take courses from community colleges anywhere in Mississippi while getting support services from a local college. To take a course from a remote (provider) college, a student enrolls at a local (host) community college. The host college supports the student with a full slate of student services, including advisement and counseling, financial aid, and learning resources. The host college awards credit for the course. The remote (provider) college provides the course instruction.

MSVCC Mission

The mission of the Mississippi Virtual Community College is to provide educational opportunities to constituencies who live within the various community and junior college districts in Mississippi and to others beyond those boundaries. The mission includes providing access to instructional offerings through advanced technologies for those individuals who currently cannot take advantage of the offerings of the community and junior college through traditional means and to those individuals who are seeking alternative educational delivery systems.

MSVCC Rationale

College instruction has traditionally been offered to those individuals who appear at the door of an institution of higher learning, present some evidence of having met certain criteria for admission, complete the necessary forms, pay their money, meet classes at prescribed times, places, etc. There are many people in Mississippi who cannot attend college for various reasons of finance, travel, family constraints, work schedules, etc. In a number of cases these individuals are capable of improving their capability to earn a livelihood if provided access to higher education opportunities. There is a need to provide educational opportunities for individuals who cannot physically attend classes in accordance with time and place constraints as traditionally applied to the typical institution of higher learning. This need can be met to some level of satisfaction by offering courses and services by various means of distance learning.

MGCCC eLearning

For the most recent information about eLearning at MGCCC, please visit our website at http://www.mgccc.edu/elearning/

What is eLearning?

eLearning is defined, for the purposes of accreditation review, as a formal educational process in which the majority of the instruction occurs when student and instructor are not in the same place. eLearning affords learners the opportunity to take a course anytime and anywhere. Instruction may be synchronous or asynchronous. Distance education may employ correspondence study, audio, video, or computer technologies.

Goals and Objectives

The MGCCC eLearning department helps fulfill the college’s vision of delivering world-class education by:

• Providing accessible, convenient, affordable, and flexible education to fit the busy lifestyles of learners and their families
• Providing learning opportunities for learners unable to attend traditional on-campus courses
• Utilizing appropriate technologies to meet the needs of a diverse community

Delivery Methods

Online
Online courses are courses that are offered through the Mississippi Virtual Community College (MSVCC) consortium. These courses are offered entirely online, usually with no campus component, using the Canvas platform. All online courses require at least one proctored exam that will require the learner to go to the campus or to a college approved location that can provide a proctor to take an exam.

Hybrid
Hybrid courses are a blending of the traditional face-to-face courses with an online component. In this format, learners complete a portion of the course online using the Canvas platform and then only meet on campus as outlined in the college tabloid.

Web Enhanced
Web enhanced classes are classes that meet regularly on campus, like the traditional face-to-face classes, but contain an online component as an additional classroom resource.

Contacting MGCCC eLearning

General Information about Online Courses

Availability of Online Courses

A complete list of online courses offered through the MSVCC can be found at www.sbcjcweb.sbcjc.cc.ms.us/msvccvisitor/ under the “Course Offerings” link. MGCCC students may only enroll in online courses that have counterparts in the MGCCC catalog. All MSVCC courses are not offered by MGCCC, because some courses do not have counterparts in the MGCCC catalog and/or not equivalent to MGCCC courses.
 

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College reserves the right to change instructors, change class schedules, and cancel courses due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen circumstances.

Student Email Addresses

All MGCCC students will be provided an OFFICIAL email address that is required to be used for online classes. Please note that all college correspondence will be sent to students’ official email accounts. 

Registration Confirmation

The eLearning department will send all MGCCC students registered for online classes an email, to their official college email account, confirming registration after the student has been successfully registered in the Mississippi Virtual Community College. Completion of college registration through web services or in the Banner administrative system does not confirm registration in online courses. Students should receive email confirmation of registration within three days of completing MGCCC registration. If a student does not receive confirmation, the student should call eLearning at 228-897-3863.

Online Course Start Date

Students will not be able to access their courses until the first day of online classes. Courses will be taught in Canvas. Students should check their MSVCC student profile prior to the start of class. The student profile can be accessed by visiting the eLearning website at www.mgccc.edu/elearning/. Use of username and password by anyone other than the registered student may be cause for dismissal from the course.

Textbooks

Many textbooks for MGCCC students, who are enrolled in MGCCC provided online courses, are on MGCCC book service. The cost per book is $30. Additional MGCCC course materials such as CDs and lab manuals may be purchase items available in campus bookstores or online. To determine which textbooks are purchase items, go to http://www.mgccc.edu/elearning/, select the “MSVCC Course Offerings” link, and then select the course number link for the desired course.

MGCCC students enrolling in online courses provided by other colleges should go to http://sbcjcweb.sbcjc.cc.ms.us/msvcc.visitor/studentlogin.asp and check the student’s profile for textbook information for the course. Textbooks for courses offered by other colleges are purchase items. Please go to http://www.mgccc.edu/elearning/ and click on the Textbook Information link for information on how to obtain purchase item textbooks.

Fees

There is a non-refundable online course fee of $10 per credit hour for online courses in addition to tuition costs. For example, the fee for a three-hour online course is $10 x 3 hours or $30.

Technical Assistance

Students and Faculty have access to 24/7/365 Canvas technical support.

Questions dealing with course content or course assignments will be referred to the course instructor. Questions dealing with other aspects of college life will be referred to the appropriate offices.

To provide the best service possible and quicker resolution to your problem, please provide the information outlined below when contacting your instructor and/or technical support:

• Your first and last name
• Your student ID number (M#)
• The course name and number for which you require assistance
• A detailed description of the problem for which you require assistance

Pre-requisites for Courses

All students must meet pre-requisite requirements as outlined in the college catalog.

Computers for Online Courses

MGCCC does not provide dedicated computers for students to use to access online courses. The college recommends that students provide their own computers. Please go to http://www.mgccc.edu/elearning/ and click on the “Frequently Asked Questions” link to view the computer hardware/software requirements for taking online courses. The college is not responsible for technical problems that students may have with computers used to access their online courses.

Internet Access

Students will need to have their own Internet Service Provider to access their course site. The College is not responsible for technical problems that students may experience with their Internet Service provider.

Attendance

The attendance policy for each online course is determined by the course instructor and/or the college hosting the course. To access a course you must login to Canvas and click the name of the course in which you are enrolled. If you access any of your online courses for any reason, you have attended class and will not be eligible for a refund of tuition and fees.

Students are required to email their course instructor a request to withdraw.

Outline of Online Key Semester Tasks

Prior to Semester Tasks:

1. Complete Smarter measure Assessment
2. Review student support courses
3. Check official MGCCC student email account
4. Check MSVCC Student Profile
5. Obtain your textbooks
6. Email course instructor
7. Explore the eLearning web site
8. Contact Business Office/Financial to make payment arrangements for current term (payment plans/fee deferments are not provided during the summer term)

Beginning of Semester Tasks:

1. Login to your online course
2. Read course announcements
3. Familiarize yourself with the course outline/organization
4. Locate course syllabus and become familiar with course policies
5. Locate course calendar and make note of due dates
6. Complete tasks outlined by the course instructor

Mid-Semester Tasks:

1. Verify what quiz/test will be proctored
2. Schedule proctored exam via AppointmentQuest

End of Semester Tasks:

1. Complete MSVCC Evaluation for course/instructor
2. Return book service textbooks to the campus book store

Guide to Completing Key Semester Tasks

Smarter Measure Assessment

Smarter Measure is an assessment tool that is used to determine a student’s readiness for online course work. The survey asks questions on topics in the areas of how well you can use a computer; how motivated, organized, and self-directed you are; and how you prefer to learn new information. In addition, your typing and on-screen reading speed and comprehension will be measured.

MGCCC Students are encouraged to complete this assessment prior to registering for an online course; however, the assessment can be completed at any time. Your scores on this assessment will not prevent you from being able to take online courses; nor will your scores impact your grades in courses you may already be taking. Smarter Measure is just being provided to help you understand your strengths and weaknesses better as you prepare to learn online. Smarter Measure is a tool to help you succeed!

The first time you enter Smarter Measure use mgcccstudent as the username and online as the password. After that you will use your email address and a special code that has been emailed to you as your login.

This assessment takes about 30 minutes to complete. You can stop in the middle and resume it later. After completing Smarter Measure you will view a webpage which will show you your scores in easy to interpret graphs and text. You may want to print these results and take them with you to register for classes.

How to get started with Smarter Measure:

1. Go to www.mgccc.edu
2. Click on the link for eLearning
3. Under the “About eLearning” section, click Smarter measure Assessment
4. Click the “Smarter Measure Learning Readiness Indicator” icon
5. Look for the First Time Users login area
6. Username: mgcccstudent
7. Password: online
8. Click login

Student Support Course

MGCCC’s Department of eLearning has developed an entire course devoted to Student Support!

The Canvas Support Course Includes:

•  Policies & Procedures related to eLearning
•  Guides for using Canvas
•  Video Tutorials
•  Contact information for student service groups

It’s a great way to familiarize yourself with Canvas!

To access the Student Support Course, go to www.mgccc.edu/eLearning, click the Student Resources link. 

MGCCC Student Email

All MGCCC students will be provided an OFFICIAL email address that is required to be used for online classes. Please note that all college correspondence will be sent to your official email account. New Users: Retrieve Username and Password

New Users: Retrieve Username and Password

New students and employees should follow the steps below to retrieve their login information:

1. Go to www.mgccc.edu
2. Click the Web Services link which is located in the top of the web page
3. Click the I don’t know my PIN link which is located in the blue box on the left under the Password box. 
4. Enter your SSN and Birthdate
5. Click Submit
   *Students: If the M# and PIN provided here do not work, please contact Admissions at the campus where you registered for assistance.
    

Login:

1.  Open your web browser
2.  Go to http://mail.bulldogs.mgccc.edu/
3.  Enter your login credentials
          GCID: M# (Capital M followed by eight numbers)
               *Ex: M12345678
               *Also called student ID or employee ID number
          Password: Your Current Web Services PIN (Primary Pin)
4.  Click Login

MSVCC Student Profile

The MSVCC Student Profile will be available 24 hours after registering for an online course. Student’s should check their MSVCC Student Profile to ensure that their contact information is correct, retrieve your instructor’s contact information, locate in which platform (Desire2Learn or Blackboard) that your course is being offered, and obtain textbook information.

To Access the MSVCC Student Profile:

1. Go to www.mgccc.edu
2. Click on the link for eLearning
3. Under Current Students, click Check Student Profile
4. Type First Name, Last Name, Last four digits of your GCID (M#), select MGCCC from the drop down menu, select Fall/Spring/Summer semester
   (Contact the eLearning Office if your information is not correct)

Textbook Information

Obtain your textbooks using the information provided on your MSVCC Student Profile as early as possible after registering for your courses.

Many textbooks for MGCCC students, who are enrolled in MGCCC provided online courses, are on MGCCC book service. The cost per book is $30. Additional MGCCC course materials such as CDs and lab manuals may be purchase items available in campus bookstores or online. To determine which textbooks are purchase items, go to http://www.mgccc.edu/elearning/, select the “MSVCC Course Offerings” link, and then select the course number link for the desired course.

MGCCC students enrolling in online courses provided by other colleges should go tohttp://sbcjcweb.sbcjc.cc.ms.us/msvccvisitor/studentlogin/ and check the student’s profile for textbook information for the course. Textbooks for courses offered by other colleges are purchase items. Please go to http://www.mgccc.edu/elearning/ and click on the Textbook Information link for information on how to obtain purchase item textbooks.

Email Course Instructor

Students are encouraged to email course instructors prior to the semester start date. Instructor contact information is listed on the MSVCC Student Profile. Emailing the instructor helps ensure that you have all the necessary materials needed for the course (textbooks, lab manuals, etc).

eLearning Web Site

Students should familiarize themselves with the e learning website. The eLearning website provides students with a list of frequently asked questions, links to student resources, and other tools for online learning. Access the website at www.mgccc.edu/elearning/.

Login to Online Courses

STUDENTS MAY BE ABLE TO LOGIN TO CANVAS WITHIN 24 HOURS OF REGISTERING FOR COURSES, BUT YOU WILL NOT SEE YOUR COURSES UNTIL THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS.

New Users: Retrieve Username and Password

New Students and employees should follow the steps below to retrieve their login information:
 

1. Go to www.mgccc.edu
2. Click the Web Services link which is located on the top of the web page
3. Click the I don’t know my PIN link which is located in the blue box on the left under the password box User name and Password
4. Enter your SSN and Birthdate
5. Click Submit
   *Students: If the M# and PIN provided here do not work, please contact Admissions at the campus where you registered for assistance.

Login:

1. Open your web browser
2. Go to https://mgccc.instructure.com/
3. Enter your login credentials
   GCID: M# (Capital M followed by eight numbers)
             *Ex: M12345678
   *Also called student ID or employee ID number 
4. Click Login

Proctored Exams

MSVCC policy states that all MSVCC courses must require at least one (1) proctored exam and no more than three (3) proctored exams per course. A maximum of four (4) proctored exams may be required in four credit hour courses. Proctored exams are exams in which students have to come to campus to complete. MGCCC offers assessment centers at the three main campuses (Jackson County, Jefferson Davis, and Perkinston) and the George County and Keesler Centers. Instructors will provide students with a list of what tests are proctored and deadlines for completing those tests. As soon as you are notified of what test(s) are proctored, you should schedule an exam through one of MGCCC’s Assessment Centers. All exams are scheduled through the AppointmentQuest software. The Assessment Centers are unable to schedule appointments via email or phone.

STEP 1: Go to the MGCCC Online Appointment Software by clicking on this link: http://www.mgccc.edu/assessment_centers/. 

STEP 2: If you have not created an account, do so now by clicking on the ENROLLMENT tab and entering the required information. Please use your student email address and at least one VALID phone number in your new customer’s profile.  Click ENROLL.

STEP 3: You may now schedule your desired proctored exam at any of the MGCCC campuses by clicking on the appropriate service.

STEP 4: Once you have chosen your desired campus and exam you will see a calendar with our available dates and times. Please choose your preferred test appointment by clicking on the appropriate date and time you wish to take your exam. Click PROCEED. (steps continued on next page)

STEP 5: Enter your course information in the required fields and read the policies provided. Once you have done this, click MAKE APPOINTMENT. From here, you can check “My Calendar” and “My Appointments” to see your upcoming appointments. REMEMBER: The Assessment Center requires advance notice of two working days. Your instructor may require that you have an appointment well before then. Please check your syllabus and/or course site to be aware of the class requirements.

STEP 6: LOG OUT. Congratulations! You have finished the scheduling process. Please check your email for your appointment confirmation. Please print the email and bring it with you to your appointment. REMEMBER: You can always reschedule or cancel your own appointment by simply login in to AppointmentQuest.

STEP 7: Consult the Assessment Center Web Site for contact numbers, policies, etc. @ http://www.mgccc.edu/assessment_centers/. This is also where we will post any unexpected closures. We look forward to seeing you on the day of your appointment. Please arrive a few minutes early.

 Some common mistakes students make when using AppointmentQuest:

• Typos in the email address (“student” misspelled, missing “c” in mgccc, wrong domain, etc.);
• Failure to include a valid phone number (this is how a proctor can contact you if there is a problem with your appointment or with questions about the test you need to take);
• Clicking on the wrong test or campus.  

 MSVCC Student Survey

At the end of each semester, MSVCC will post a survey for all students taking online courses. The survey allows students to evaluate each course being taken online and your experiences with eLearning. An announcement will be placed in Canvas notifying students when the survey is available. The survey is available for approximately the last four weeks of the semester.