Virtual College of Texas (VCT)

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VCT-What Is It?

Overview

The Virtual College of Texas is a collaboration of all Texas public two-year colleges. It was created by the Texas Association of Community Colleges to facilitate sharing of distance learning courses among member colleges. CEOs of VCT member colleges developed the host-provider model upon which VCT operations rest and defined the principles of VCT's organization and management.

Host-Provider Model

Member institutions of the Virtual College of Texas share distance learning courses under the terms of a statewide VCT Memorandum of Understanding, which is based upon an operational model referred to as the host-provider model.

The host (local) college:

• Enrolls students locally to take courses from other (provider) colleges
• Provides VCT-enrolled students with the same slate of student services it provides its other students
• Administers tests as directed by provider colleges' instructors
• Awards course credit
• Includes the courses on official transcripts

 The provider (remote) college:

• Provides instructors who define course content and instructional methodologies; directs all class activities, including assignments and tests, and awards final grades
• Sets the academic calendar for courses it offers through VCT
• The host college pays the provider college a per-student instructional fee, in according with guidelines stated in the VCT Memorandum of Understanding. This fee is paid by the host college, not by students.

VCT Benefits to Students

• Students throughout Texas have access to a statewide, online distance learning course schedule. This means that students will have access to critical courses at the time they need them.
• Students are supported with quality, locally-delivered student services.
• They pay in-district tuition if they are in-district students, irrespective of which colleges provide courses taken through VCT.
• Courses provided by multiple colleges throughout Texas are maintained on a single transcript at the host college.

Colleges' Participation in VCT

Colleges decide for themselves whether or not they  want to participate in VCT and, if they do, how and to what extent. Some colleges only provide courses because they locally offer large numbers of distance learning courses that usually meet their students' needs. Other colleges, with fewer locally offered distance learning courses, may serve mostly as host colleges, meaning they enroll students in courses provided by other colleges. Still other colleges offer both host and provider services.

The following colleges currently participate as host colleges in VCT. That means that they selectively offer courses that are available through VCT. Each college decides for itself which courses in the VCT State Course Schedule to make available to its students.

Testing

Testing for VCT courses typically takes place at WCJC campuses (Wharton, Richmond, or Sugar Land), in a proctored environment, usually the Testing Center. Contact the Testing Center for testing instructions, in advance, to ensure that your exam from the provider college has been received before your scheduled exam day.

Grades

Toward the end of a semester, the provider college’s instructor records the final grade you have earned on a roster and forwards it to the WCJC VCT Coordinator. WCJC, then, adds the course and grade to your transcript.  At the end of the semester you may check your grades on the web. WCJC will not mail grades. To access your grades, follow the instructions in the following tutorial: How to Check Your Grades (.PDF).

Student Services

WCJC as a host college is responsible for providing support services that you may need as a student. These services may include: learning resources (library), counseling, financial aid, computer lab access, testing, tutoring, and other services. Contact Student Services to assist you in obtaining all available services that you may need.

Additional, for students use is the WCJC Student Handbook, Online Orientation, which addresses student rights and responsibilities and the College's Regulation.

About VCT

Frequently Asked Questions