Foothill Global Access
Online Students
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How is online learning different? For a thorough overview of what online learning is all about, please visit our Online Learning Tour section and go through the online orientation. Most of your questions will be answered there. 2. Can anyone sign up for an online course at Foothill Global Access? The online courses offered through Foothill Global Access are open to anyone. Individual courses may have unique requirements, prerequisites, or required meetings. Review the Course Information closely before you enroll. Be sure to complete the Online Learning Tour to ensure that online learning is appropriate for you. 3. Are there required meetings for your online classes? Although there are no scheduled class meetings for most online classes (see individual course descriptions; links are available from our home page), you must log on to the course a few times a week. Your instructors expect you to log on to the course site weekly, participate in discussions, turn in assignments, and take exams. 4. What kind of internet connection is needed? You must have regular, reliable internet access if you are to succeed in your course. A 56K modem is the minimum acceptable speed, and cable or DSL are strongly recommended for all courses and required for some, particularly those making extensive use of multimedia like video and PowerPoint files. Satellite Internet connections often experience problems with Etudes courses and are not recommended. Current, detailed system requirements for Etudes courses can be obtained through the System Requirements link on the Etudes gateway/portal page. Make sure you have a back-up plan (use of a campus, library, work, or a friend's system) in case you experience problems with your own computer or your Internet Service Provider. 5. Are the online courses self-paced? No. Our online courses have set schedules, weekly deadlines, and beginning and ending dates. They are instructor-led. You will not be left alone. If you have special needs and must follow a slower (or faster) pace, please discuss your situation with the course instructor. He/She may be able to alter course deadlines to accommodate your needs. Our online instructors are dedicated professionals who are very interested in your success. They are the heart of our online courses. 6. Are online courses transferable? Yes. Many of our online classes are transferable. Check with your academic advisor for details. 7. Can I complete a course earlier or later than the specified time? No. Our online courses are not self-paced. Due dates for coursework and assignments are set by each instructor. Some instructors may allow students to complete and submit work earlier. Please contact your instructor for more information on schedule variations. 8. What if I need to have adaptive software or equipment to access the Internet? Students with disabilities often require adaptive software and hardware to access the Internet or to use with word processing programs. If you have special needs, you are welcome to use the computers in the Computer Access Center, as needed to complete assignments for your online courses. Getting access to adaptive tools OUTSIDE the Foothill Campus is the responsibility of each student. Your local agency may be able to assist you in identifying and/or acquiring such tools. Note: For accommodations due to a disability, please inform your online instructor within the first week of the quarter so that he/she can work out any special arrangements needed. 9. What if I start a class and decide it is just not appropriate for me? Please feel free to drop an online class if you feel it is not appropriate for you. As a courtesy to the instructor, notify him/her via email that you will drop his/her course. For more information, please refer to How to Drop a Course. 10. Do I need to apply to the college before I can register for an online class? Yes. To Apply & Register, follow the steps outlined by Foothill College Admissions & Records. If you plan on taking an English or Math class, you will need to make arrangements to take the assessment test (at Foothill College or another institution) prior to registering. All this information is explained at Apply & Register. 11. Do I need to buy a textbook for my online class? Most of our classes (online or traditional) require textbooks. Please refer to the course descriptions for information on materials and textbooks for your course. You may purchase the textbooks on campus or online from the Foothill College Bookstore. 12. How do I know if I am the "right" type for this mode of learning? People learn in different ways and at different rates. Some students enjoy listening to lectures, others draw concepts in their notebooks, yet others enjoy working in small groups. Visual learners tend to do best in online courses. Others learn to adapt. Find out about your learning preference by taking the following questionnaire.
Be sure to also review the information provided in the Online Learning Tour. 13. How about fees and residency requirements? Are fees the same as in-class courses? Are CA residency requirements (for fee purposes) same as with regular classes? There is no difference between the tuition and fees for online and traditional classes. These are mandated by the State. For information on tuition and fees, please see the page set up by Admissions: http://www.foothill.edu/reg/fees.php For other Admissions & Records or registration questions, please see: http://www.foothill.edu/admissions.php. 14. What is academic dishonesty? Foothill College has an Academic Honor Code that addresses academic dishonesty, especially cheating and plagiarism. It is every student’s responsibility to know what constitutes academic dishonesty. If you have any questions, ask your instructor, division dean or the Dean of Student Affairs & Activities, Pat Hyland, Room 2002 in the Campus Center; or call (650) 949-7241. 15. What is my Collegewide ID? Collegewide ID is your student identification number. Look Up Collegewide ID Effective June 1, all students will use MyPortal (myportal.fhda.edu) to register for classes. All you need to know is your Collegewide ID. You'll use a temporary password to login the first time. To be prepared, see the First-time Login Guide for more information. 16. How can I clear a prerequisite hold? You can take the placement test for chemistry, English, ESL, or math. If you have coursework from another college, bring your transcript (unofficial is acceptable) to Counseling Drop-in in Room 8305A. You will need to complete the Prerequisite Clearance Form (PDF), which is available in the Counseling Center as well as online. See Prerequisite Clearance Form 17. What should I do if I have a concern about my instructor? At Foothill, we honor a mutual respect of students and staff, and that means that the students may have one side of the story and the staff member may have her side of the story. Both are heard and respected. If you experience problems during the course of your learning process, you should talk to people in THIS order:
Note: You might want to review your student rights and responsibilities and related college policies. 18. What if my instructor wants me to take a proctored test but I don't live near Foothill College? If you do not in the Bay Area and need proctored testing, check the following site for the location of an assessment center nearby: http://www.ncta-testing.org/cctc/ 19. How can I login to an online course if I am on the Wait List? Students on waiting lists will NOT be able to login to online courses until about one day AFTER they are officially enrolled. See Wait-List Process for details. Some information on this webpage was adapted from Maricopa Center for Learning & Instruction, Illinois Online Network, Rio Hondo CC, and the California Community College Distance Learning Consortium. |
