Introduction
What is Distance Learning?

Are you ready?

• Is distance learning for you?
• Take a quiz
• Technical requirements
• Student success workshop

Introduction

The Virtual College of Texas, or VCT, is a consortium of community and technical colleges across the state of Texas. The consortium includes all 50 community college districts and the Texas State Technical College system. The VCT provides access to college courses using distance learning delivery methods to all Texans wherever they may live. Distance delivery methods opens up higher education to everyone, regardless of geographic, distance, or time constraints.

How it works

The Virtual College of Texas began in 1997 as an initiative of the Texas Association of Community Colleges. Colleges participating in VCT share distance learning courses using the VCT Memorandum of Understanding, which is based on a Host-Provider Model.

The VCT strategy shares distance learning courses and academic resources among all member colleges. This allows students to enroll in a college convenient to where they live (host) and take courses provided by other colleges (provider) throughout Texas. All support services, such as library, testing, student services, and others, are provided by their local school. This host-provider model leverages distance learning resources (including faculty, courses, support services, professional development, and technology) to the benefit of all students throughout Texas irregardless of where they live by:

• Allowing access to a statewide online distance learning course schedule comprised of all member colleges, making it less likely that critical courses will not be available when needed;
• Having locally-delivered student support services;
• Paying in-district tuition if residing within the district, regardless of which colleges provide the courses;
• Having courses remain on a single transcript regardless of where taken.

Administration

The Virtual College of Texas is a service of the Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC). Governance authority over VCT rests with TACC, operating through a Telecommunications Committee composed of college presidents and a Distance Learning Advisory Committee that consists of administrators of instruction and instructional technology.

Getting started with VCT at Del Mar College

1. First, check the VCT online course schedule to see what courses are available.
2. The next step is to contact the Del Mar College VCT coordinator at 361-698-1937 or e-mail the VCT Coordinator. The registration process begins at Del Mar College even though the courses are provided by another colleges.

From here the process is the same as if enrolling for a locally provided course. The VCT Coordinator will guide you through the registration process and provide information for getting started with your course. Again, the provider college will provide the actual course instruction and materials, while Del Mar College (host) will provide all student services.

It is important to understand that VCT is not a separate educational entity that offers courses and enrolls students. Only VCT member colleges do that. "Virtual College of Texas" is the name given to the collaboration that takes place among Texas two-year colleges for the purpose of sharing distance learning courses with each other. By the terms of the formal VCT collaborative agreement signed by Texas two-year colleges, students may enroll at their local colleges to access courses provided by other colleges that participate in VCT. Each college participates in VCT as it chooses.

For additional information on how the Virtual College of Texas can assist you with your studies, go to their Web site at www.vct.org.