Distance Education - Online Classes
The purpose of distance education at Coastal Pines Technical College (CPTC) is to provide our students the opportunity to access quality instruction anytime, anywhere. Distance education is defined as providing access to learning when students are not physically present in a traditional classroom setting. CPTC desires to create and provide access to learning when the source of information and the learners are separated by time and/or distance.
Distance Education Attendance
Coastal Pines Technical College (CPTC) is committed to providing students the opportunity to access quality instruction anytime, anywhere. Establishing a consistent and acceptable pattern of attendance is considered an integral part of the total educational process. Employers who hire Technical College System of Georgia graduates consistently stress the importance of good work ethics such as attendance and punctuality. Students are receiving an education for direct entry into the workforce. CPTC has the responsibility of attempting to instill in each student the importance of a good attendance and punctuality record. Because of this importance, an evaluation of attendance is done in each course.
Students in distance education classes must contact the course instructor via CPTC email within the first three (3) calendar days of the academic term. Students who fail to contact their instructor within three days will be considered a "No Show". Students enrolled in distance education classes should actively participate in class assignments. Students who fail to participate in a distance education course any seven (7) consecutive calendar days of the academic term, would violate the College’s Attendance Procedure and will be withdrawn for the course. Participation includes the submission of academic assignments as prescribed by the course syllabus and/or instructor.
Attendance Records
The instructor’s class grade book or distance education learning management system (LMS) platform or the Banner Attendance module maintained by the instructor is the College’s official student record for all matters pertaining to attendance and course completion.
Proctoring of Distance Education Credit Courses
In order to comply with accreditation requirements for the validation of student identity for all online courses, all students enrolled in online courses are required to have at least one proctored event (a major exam or assignment).
The Coastal Pines Technical College (CPTC) Office of Distance Education will provide end of term exam proctoring services for students who are taking online courses during the examination period. Also, CPTC will proctor exams or other assignments for any student of any Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) college at the end of each term during the examination period.
Students choosing to utilize an alternative proctoring solution are responsible for finding a qualified proctor to administer each event, and for submitting the required approval form for each event. Qualified proctors must meet with the requirements of Coastal Pines Technical College.
Students must complete the proctoring event no later than the date specified by the instructor in the course syllabus or provided by the instructor in a subsequent communication. Students who do not complete the proctored event as scheduled must comply with the specifications as explained in the course syllabus.
Fee
CPTC does not charge a fee to proctor examinations to students. Also, Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) colleges do not charge a proctoring fee to administer examinations to students of other TCSG colleges. However, students who choose to have an examination proctored outside of the TCSG system are responsible for any fees that could be incurred by the proctoring institution.
Proctoring Methods
On Campus
Students who live within reasonable commute distance (50 miles) of a CPTC campus where the exam or assignment is scheduled must attend the scheduled event as announced in the course syllabus.
Off Campus
Students who live outside of reasonable commute distance (more than 50 miles) from the CPTC campus where the exam or assignment is scheduled and cannot attend the on-campus proctored event must submit a Proctored Examination Request Form to schedule an end of term proctored event with a qualified proctor. The Director of Distance Education will contact the identified proctor as well as the course instructor. The instructor in turn will supply the required detailed instructions via college e-mail to the e-mail address on file for the facility per the proctored event communication below.
The Director of Distance Education will verify the validity of the proctor as well as the requested location. Notification will be forwarded via e-mail to the instructor and the student regarding the validity of the proctor. If the proctor is not a valid proctor, the student will be asked to select a proctor. Once the proctor is approved, the course instructor is required to send proctored event communication via e-mail to the address provided on the approval form for the proctor.
Proctoring Approval Form Submission
It is the student’s responsibility to find a qualified proctor with whom they can arrange a date, time, and location to complete their proctored event requirement. Once a proctor is selected, the student must complete and submit a Proctored Examination Request Form for each event.
Completed forms must be submitted via email to the Director of Distance Education. Forms must be submitted no later than 14 days prior to the requested event date. Students who do not submit the required forms within the time period will be subject to the Instructor’s make-up examination policy as described in the course syllabus. Students, instructors, and proctors will receive an e-mail confirmation upon receipt of the form. If confirmation is not received within two business days of the scheduled exam, students should send e-mail to the Director of Distance Education for assistance.
Qualified Proctors
Qualified proctors will meet the following criteria:
Be employed full-time as a:
- Teacher
- Professor
- Librarian
- Administrator at a public secondary school, university, library or testing center
- Military active duty commissioned officer whose rank is higher than the student’s own. (Approved for students in the military only)
Proctored Event Communication
The course instructor is required to provide the following information to the event proctor:
- CPTC Proctor Event Information Sheet
- Student name
- Student ID number
- Course Reference Number (CRN)
- Instructor’s name
- Requested event date and time
- Student CPTC (college) e-mail address
- Student’s primary phone number
- Detailed Proctor Instructions will include the following:
- a link to the online materials
- login instructions
- whether or not the event is to be timed, and if so, the amount of time to be allotted
- whether or not the student is allowed to use any notes or other reference materials during the event, and if so, a list of what materials are allowed
- any additional detailed instructions the instructor deems appropriate for the event