DISTANCE EDUCATION DEGREE PROGRAMS

Our Distance Education Program is growing rapidly and fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. No matter what your major program is, it is likely that you could take at least a portion of your required courses by distance delivery. At present, it is possible to obtain the
requirements for the following degrees through the distance education program:

• Associates degree in Agricultural Business
• Associates degree in General Studies
• Associates degree in Early Childhood Education
• Associates degree in Fire Science

Let us know what programs you would like to have offered here at Casper College!

The following condition may be used by a student and would result in an individual being classified or reclassified as a Wyoming resident for tuition purposes: "A legal dependent under the age 24 of a Wyoming community college graduate." For other residency requirements, please refer to the current Casper College catalog.

Distance Education Facts

• Distance Education is a major contributor to Casper College's total annual head count, FTE, and revenue.
• The distance education program is approved and accredited to offer degrees by distance education by the Higher Learning Commission and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
• Casper College began its distance education program in 1994, with the delivery of 1 telecourse to 2 students.
• In 2007, there were nearly 2, 800 students enrolled in various distance learning programs.
• The first full-time Director of Distance Education was hired in the Fall of 2000.
• The majority of distance education students, nearly 80%, come from within Natrona County.
• Casper College has been highly involved in the formation of the Wyoming Distance Education Consortium and has worked closely with the Wyoming Community College Commission.
• The Distance Education program primarily offers four different delivery styles: online internet courses, telecourses, compressed video courses, and hybrid courses.

Casper College Facts

• In 1945, as Wyoming’s first junior college, Casper College was located on the third floor of Natrona County High School.
• The first fall enrollment in 1945 was 73. Now, approximately 3,200 traditional and non-traditional students from all over Wyoming, 20-plus states and 15 foreign countries, attend Casper College.
• Through its 50 academic and transfer programs and 30 technical and career programs, Casper College has developed a national reputation for its academic standard and career programs.
• The College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and many other program-specific accrediting authorities.
• Casper College has more than 350 full-time employees and nearly 150 part-time employees that work together to carry out the College's mission.
• The men and women who work at Casper College are experienced professionals in their field. In fact, approximately 80% of faculty have their masters or doctorate degrees.

If you are having problems attaching files within WebCT, please follow the instructions below.

• Please follow these instructions only if you have Mozilla FireFox 3.0 installed:
  • Uninstall current version of Mozilla FireFox
    • click start
    • click control panel
    • click add and remove programs
    • uninstall Mozilla FireFox
      
  • To install FireFox 2.7
    • click the Mozilla FireFox program link
    • follow instruction / selecting defaults
    • Please see image
  • After Firefox is installed you need to turn off automatic updates:
    • click tools from within FireFox in the upper left hand corner
    • click options
    • click advanced
    • uncheck all (firefox, Installed add-ons, and search engines)
    • click ok
      

To Students and Instructors who are using Microsoft 2007

• In Microsoft Office 2007, Microsoft added new Open XML formats to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007. Files that are created in the Open XMLformat are not readable by earlier versions of Microsoft Office (such as Microsoft Office 2003, or Microsoft Office 2000).
  In order to view and manage files created by Microsoft Office 2007 you will need to install the following compatibility pack. This download will enable users on earlier versions of Microsoft Office to open, edit, save, and create files in the new Open XML format.
  
  
• The download is available on the Microsoft website and it can be found here.

• NEW! Distance Education Course Offerings, Spring, 2009
• Distance Education Course Offerings, Fall, 2008

Go to WebAdvisor and register online.

• Statewide Distance Education Course Offerings, Spring 2009
• Casper College Fall 2008 Credit Class Schedule

Delivery Methods

• Internet or online delivery: Courses (identified as N1 N2, etc) offered online or over the internet using either Moodle or WebCT as the learning management system.
• Telecourses delivery: Courses (identified as T1, T2, etc.) offered through television broadcast over the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) or by video tape or rental. If you do not have access to Wyoming PBS, you can lease a set of course tapes of the telecourse broadcasts from ACT, Inc.® or telephone 1-800-745-5480. Telecourse tapes can also be viewed at the Casper College Goodstein Foundation Library. In addition to general tuition, telecourse fees are generally assessed in addition to normal tuition to cover licensing costs. Please see a schedule of classes to determine the fee amount. It is recommended if you access the broadcasts from Wyoming PBS that you have a VCR to record and play back the broadcasts. Please note that telecourses also require an Internet component; check with your instructor for more information.
• Compressed video delivery: Courses (identified as C1, C2, etc.) are offered to remote sites through live video classrooms presentation over the Wyoming Equality Network (WEN).
• Hybrid delivery: Courses (usually identified as H1, H2, D1, D2, etc.) are offered through a variety of methods, such as internet, and include and on-campus participation.
  

Choosing a Course

Non-degree seeking student registration

If you have previously registered or taken classes at Casper College, go directly to WebAdvisor and register for classes.

Follow these steps to register for classes:

1. Select the classes you wish to enroll in using the Distance Learning Course Offerings Schedule.

2. Print off the registration form and return it to Admissions & Student Records
   - by Phone:  (307) 268-2207 or (800) 442-2963, ext. 2207
   - by Fax:  (307) 268-2611
   - by Mail: 
   Admissions & Student Records
   125 College Drive
   Casper, WY 82601
   - In Person:
   Administration Building 132
   
3. Make payment for classes to the Accounting and Financial Management Office by the due date. You may pay in full, or set up a payment plan. Payment can be received by credit card, cash or check.

**IMPORTANT**
Financial Assistance is not available for students registered in the Non-Degree seeking program.

Degree-seeking student registration

If you are not a current Casper College student, please click here to apply for admission.

Follow these steps to register for classes:

1. Register
   Select the courses you want in consultation with your advisor and the course instructor. Register online using WebAdvisor and the access information provided by your advisor, or by phone (307) 268-2207 or (800) 442-2963, ext. 2207.  

2. Meet the requirements
   For the Internet you will need access to a reliable, virus-protected computer with an Internet connection. For local residents there are on-campus computer labs with fast internet connections available for you to use. Some browsers supplied by service providers, such as AOL, may not work well directly with our distance learning software. Switching to a different web browser after initially accessing the Internet with your service provider generally solves the problem.

Some Important Guidelines and Procedures

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Add/Drop/Withdrawal

A full semester course may be added during the first week of a semester, or dropped without record during the first 10 days of the semester, by presenting a properly executed change form to the Office of Admissions and Student Records.

A student may withdraw from a full semester course (regardless of the grade in the course at the time of withdrawal) by presenting a properly executed change form to the Office of Admissions and Student Records until two calendar weeks after the completion of mid-term examinations. 

A student may withdraw from school with grades of "W" in all courses (regardless of the grades in the courses at the time of withdrawal) until the end of the second calendar week after completion of mid-term examinations.

Note: Should the student's schedule include a less-than-full semester course, a "W" will be recorded for such a course only if the withdrawal occurs prior to the end of the first calendar week after the middle of the course. The procedure which must be followed to withdraw from school is as follows:

1. Obtain and complete a complete withdrawal form from the Office of Admissions and Student Records.
2. Obtain clearances from the dean of students, Student Financial Assistance and the Accounting and Financial Management Offices.
3. Submit the complete form to the Office of Admissions and Student Records. The official date of a complete withdrawal is the date on which the withdrawal form is accepted by the Admissions and Student Records Office.
4. Drop or withdrawal from the course(s) must occur by Friday, April 3, 2009.

Refunds

Refund of tuition and fees for dropped course(s) is calculated according the refund policy. See semester's class schedule for details of dates and percentage of refund.

Refunds will be calculated following the end of the refund period and refund checks will be mailed to the student by the Accounting and Financial Management office. If payment was made by credit card, credit will be issued to the credit card account.

For exceptions to the refund policy, students should submit a petition to the Office of Student Services. Petition forms are available in AD 112 or call (307) 268-2201 or (800) 442-2963, ext. 2201.

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Additional Important Links

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• WebAdvisor
• Admissions and Student Records
• Placement Tests
• Paying for College
• Academic Calendar
• Testing Center
• Casper College ACT Center

Moodle Tutorials for Instructors (Coming soon!)

• How to upload documents and link to websites in Moodle
• How to customize your Moodle pages

WebCT Tutorials for Instructors (Coming soon!)

• How to back up a course and download a file.
• How to export a gradebook into a readable Excel file.
• How to copy and move content from semester to semester.

Please take into account, you must be a "Course Instructor" as defined by WebCT to complete this process.

Creating a WebCT quiz with extra time for students with disabilities.
You should have already created the original quiz. This procedure will show you how to copy the assessment, allowing extra time for the students who need it, then selectively release it to those students.

Conferences for Distance Learning Faculty

• Upcoming Conferences

More Faculty Resources for Distance Education:

• WebAdvisor for Faculty
• Faculty Office Hours
• Instructional Technology Council (ITC)
• Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration
• League for innovation
• Sloan Consortium

Course Management System (CMS) product comparisons from Edu-Tools. Please click on the link below to compare products:

• http://edutools.org/item_list.jsp?pj=4

Here are some common questions that are often asked – you will undoubtedly have more! One of the first rules to learn is to ASK QUESTIONS when you are confused or don’t fully understand something.

1. I have tried contacting (emailing, phoning, meeting, etc.) my instructor without any response. I am so frustrated that I want to drop the class. How should I contact them?

Notify (email)  the Division Chairperson of the department your enrolled in and carbon copy (cc) the Dean of Educational Resources, Lois Davis so that she can document the problem and track results.

• Academic Divisions

2. Who do I call about WebCT or Moodle?

Contact Ami Dyrek at 268-3882 or David Siemens at 268-3330, or Becky Dvorak at 268-2486.

3. I did not receive a letter about setting up my Web Account or any contact information, who do I talk to?

• If you’re a new distance learning student that has never been registered at Casper College, the Admissions Office will provide you with a WebAdvisor username and password: 1-800-442-2963 ext. 2458. This will be the same username and password you will use to log into WebCT courses.

4. What is my username and password?

There are four ways of identifying your username and password.

• Contact the Admission office at 1-800-442-2963 ext 2458.
  or
• Go to your WebAdvisor site and identify your WebAdvisor login and WebAdvisor Pin number.
  or
• Contact Ami Dyrek at 268-3882.

5. When will my courses be on the site?

Fall 2008: WebCT classes will be open on 8/20/08, and Moodle classes will be open on 8/18/08.

6. How do I log in? How do I get to my WebCT site?

Step by Step Instructions for logging into WebCT:

1. Go to the Casper College Home page
2. Click “Distance Education”
3. Click on WebCT or Moodle
4. At the Log In page, provide your username and password and press OK (This will be the same username and password you use on WebAdvisor)
5. Click on your course

7. WebCT is not accepting my login, etc. I have been into it before but am unable to get into it now and my assignment is due.

• First of all make sure you are using the correct username and password – remember your WebCT and WebAdvisor usernames and passwords are the same.
• Make sure you bookmark Add to Favorites the Casper College WebCT login, entry page.
• If you continue to experience problems contact David Siemens, Technical Coordinator, 307-268-3330.

8. My class requires an access code. Where can I find this information?

Sometimes instructors assign access codes to enter into their courses, you must contact your instructor to identify these codes which allow you to enter into their course.

9. What is the difference between WebCT and WebAdvisor?

WebCT is course management software, made to be an interface between you and the instructor. It is how you go to class over the internet. WebAdvisor is software used to register for classes and to access your grades. As of the Fall semester 2007, they now use the same username and password information .

10. How do I learn to use WebCT or Moodle?

1. Go to Casper College homepage
2. Click on Distance Education
3. Click on Student Tutorials
4. Click on tutorial of your choice

• If you're having problems you may want to download and install FIREFOX:
  http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/
  
• If you're having problems with Windows or XP operating systems, you may want to download and install updated JAVA: Version 6 Update 2
  http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp

For additional information check with the course instructor or the Additional Technical Requirements listed for each course.  

Technical Knowledge Prerequisites
Before participating in any course online, you should be comfortable performing the following tasks with your computer:

• Accessing the Internet and using a web browser.
• Creating and editing documents in a word processing program such as Microsoft Word.
• Copying and pasting text from one document to another.
• Receiving and sending emails with attachments.
• Downloading and opening attached files.
• Enable – disable popup blocker(s)
• Current Antivirus and Spyware protection.

Browser plug-ins - May vary per course instructor instructions

• Windows Media Player - Play video and audio
• RealPlayer - Play video and audio
• Apple QuickTime - Play video and audio
• Macromedia ShockWave Player - Animation and interactive content
• Adobe Flash - Animation and interactive content
• Adobe Reader - View, navigate and print Adobe PDF documents
• Java - Applications and applets that use Java technology
• Java - Mac OSx

• Wyoming resident...........$876
• WUE................................$1272
• Nonresident...................$2436

• Wyoming resident...........$73
• WUE................................$106
• Nonresident.....................$203

Course fees are in addition to tuition and per-credit fees and are indicated with the course listing.

CAUTION: Dropping courses or withdrawing from college may affect current and future financial aid rewards. It can also affect your eligibility to retain insurance coverage. Check your student status requirements to maintain your insurance policy. Students are responsible for charges incurred to the date of formal withdrawal.