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Online Learning Frequently Asked Questions

How do online courses work?

Online courses are structured so that a majority of the course content traditionally delivered in the classroom is delivered online. Course materials may be accessed through the World Wide Web, e-mail and discussion boards; CD's provided with textbooks; video and audio lessons delivered over the Internet; and through many other online means. Some classes may require a few on-campus meetings or scheduled online group discussion sessions. The course syllabus will show the schedule and requirements of the course.

It is essential that students have an RCC student e-mail account and are able to access it.

This is the method the instructor will use to communicate with students; it will also be used to send other college-related information to students. For information on accessing your e-mail account, see the "How do I access my student e-mail?" section.

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Should I take an online course?

Your answers to the following questions will help you to decide:

  • Am I a self-starter, able to motivate myself to work?
  • Do I enjoy working and learning on my own?
  • Can I budget my time and set schedules for myself, to get work completed on time?
  • Do I have basic computer skills: word processing, Internet browsing, e-mail (including sending and receiving attachments)?
  • Do I know how to work my computer's operating system? Can I connect to my Internet Service Provider?
  • Am I comfortable installing or upgrading computer software with little or no assistance?
  • Do I have the ability to learn new software without classroom instruction?
  • Can I communicate adequately in writing? Can I understand and follow instructions given in writing?
  • Am I comfortable participating in a class where I am not physically present and may not know the instructor or the other students?

If you answered "yes" to most of these questions, chances are you are a good candidate for success in an online course.

A few "no" answers to these questions may identify areas that need strengthened or addressed, but you may still decide that online learning is a good choice for you.

If you answered "no" to many of these questions, this may indicate that your chances for success may be greater in a traditional course setting at this time. As your skills and experience grow, you may decide to revisit the option of online learning in the future.

If after answering these questions you are still unsure whether an online course is your best choice, you may want to take the Self-Assessment for Online Learning survey to help you decide (you may register to use the system or log in as a guest). You may also wish to contact a couselor or advisor in the Student Services Center [(217) 875-7211, ext. 267] to discuss other options.

Other Points to Remember

  • Expect to spend at least as much time (and possibly more time) on an online course as you would on a traditional course.
  • Be flexible and creative. You may find that it helps to print out reading materials, rather than reading them on the screen. Some students form online study groups with fellow class members.
  • Use the Internet as a teaching tool; many times answers to your questions about the Internet can be found on the Internet.
  • Get comfortable with the online tools - browsers, e-mail, plug-ins, and any software being used in your course(s) - as soon as possible. When coursework becomes demanding, you will not have the added burden of trying to learn to use the computer as well.
  • Get help early! Ask questions as soon as you can. Don't delay asking your instructor for help if you need it! Use the additional support resources available to you (Student Learning Center, Technical Resource Center, Learning Resources Center).

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Where can I find more information about Richland's online courses?

Any online course that RCC offers is listed on the Online Courses page in the schedule. Click on a category to view course descriptions, instructor information, and more detailed course information.

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How do I enroll in an online course?

If you have never attended Richland Community College, or if you are a former student has not attended RCC for the past two semesters, you must complete an Admission Information Form PDF Document Icon. Enrollment procedures are the same as for traditional courses. New students must enroll in person (Student Services Center, Room C128). Current students may enroll in person; however, if pre-approved by a counselor, current students may enroll by phone ((217) 875-7211, ext. 267), by FAX (217/875-7783), by mail (One College Park, Decatur, IL 6252), or through WISE-1. Additional enrollment information can be found on the Registration page.

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How much is tuition? Are there extra fees?

Tuition is the same for online courses as for traditional courses. Tuition and fees are listed in the Catalog or on the Tuition and Fees page. All students pay a $10 non-refundable registration fee. Any additional fees required for a given course will be specified in the course description.

For more information on tuition and fees, call the Business Services Office at (217) 875-7211, ext. 227.

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Now that I am registered, what's next?

The first thing to do is to activate your student account. Go to myRichland, the Richland Information Portal, and click on Activate Account under the Student Account Maintenance menu on the right hand side of the page. Follow the directions listed.  Note that it may take up to 15 minutes before your account is fully activated. Then access your student e-mail account from myRichland to find helpful information about your online courses.

Download the student account activation screenshots PDF Document icon

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How do I purchase books and other required materials for my online course(s)?

The best way to purchase books and other course materials is through the RCC bookstore. This will assure that you are getting the correct textbook edition and any required supplementary materials. Be sure to tell the bookstore the section in which you are enrolled. Books and materials may vary slightly for online and traditional sections.

If you are unable to come to campus to purchase your books and materials, call the RCC Bookstore at (217) 875-7211, ext. 231, to discuss alternative arrangements.

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What else do I need?

If you wish to access the Internet from your home or other locations, you need a computer with the proper software and access to the Internet from an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Information on hardware, software, and ISP's may be found on the Online Learning Hardware & Software Requirements page.

Sometimes additional software is required for a course. In many cases, software is provided with the textbooks or is available online from the publisher at no charge to the student. Some online courses may require access codes; the instructor will provide these. Please check with your instructor for additional information

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How do I access my course(s)?

If you will be using computer on campus:

All computers on the RCC campus are connected to the Internet.

If you will be using a computer at your place of employment:

Check with your supervisor to find out if the equipment is connected to the Internet and if company policy allows you to use the computer for this purpose.

If you will be using a computer at your home:

You will need to have your own Internet connection through an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Richland Community College does not provide Internet access for students, faculty, or staff off-campus.

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How do I select an Internet Service Provider (ISP)?

Many local and nationwide companies provide Internet access for a monthly charge. You need to choose a provider that permits you to use a Web browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox. Some providers (such as AOL) require the use of their own proprietary browser; these browsers may not provide all the functionality needed for your online course(s). If you are using AOL, you will need to minimize AOL and use an alternate Web browser.

Further information on hardware, software, and ISPs may be found on the Online Learning Hardware & Software Requirements page.

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What are the hardware and software requirements for my computer?

Please refer to the Online Learning Hardware & Software Requirements page.

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I don't have a computer at home? Can I still take an online course?

You can take an online course as long as you have access to the Internet on a computer that meets the minimum requirements [see above]. Every registered RCC student has an RCC NetID, which allows them to access student e-mail and course information from any computer that is connected to the Internet.

Computers are available on-campus for use by online students. These are located in the Learning Resources Center (C155), the Technical Resource Center (C239), and the Student Learning Center (S117).

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How can I get help with questions or technical problems?

If you have questions about an assignment, course content, or software unique to your course(s) (such as a CD that came with your textbook), you should call your instructor.

If you cannot connect to the Internet at all, you should check with your Internet Service Provider (ISP).

If you have computer hardware issues, you may need to contact a computer technician.

If you think your computer may have spyware, malware, or viruses; or if your question does not fall into one of the above categories, contact the Online Learning Help Desk.

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How do I contact the Online Learning Help Desk?

Call the Help Desk

Call (217) 875-7211, ext. 376, Monday-Friday between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. If no one is available to take your call, please leave a message and your call will be returned no later than the next business day.

E-mail the Help Desk

You may send an e-mail to ochelp@richland.edu. Your question will be answered within one business day.

Walk-In

Online Learning Help Desk personnel are located in C150 (behind the LRC). Normal hours are 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., with some evening hours available (see schedule).

Make an appointment

If the Help Desk hours do not fit into your schedule, contact the Online Learning Help Desk at (217) 875-7211, ext. 376, to set up an appointment with a member of the Help Desk staff.

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Do I need a student e-mail account to take an online course?

Yes! Student e-mail is the primary means of individual communication between instructor and student. Any student registered in an online course offered by Richland has an RCC e-mail account.

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How do I get a student e-mail account?

Richland Community College provides a free student e-mail account to currently registered students as a service. When a student registers for any credit course at RCC, the account is automatically created. Students then need to visit the myRichland page to activate their NetID, which is used to access student e-mail.

Student e-mail accounts remain active as long as the student is enrolled at RCC, and are not normally deleted during breaks or over the summer.

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What if I do not want to use a student e-mail account?

Richland's policy is that online students must use a student e-mail account for correspondence and other functions of online course(s).

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Does my instructor automatically receive my e-mail address?

Yes. However, it is always a good idea to e-mail the instructor the week before class begin in order to make sure that they have the correct address.

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How do I access my student e-mail?

Go to the Richland Community College homepage, click on "Current Students," then click on the link for e-mail to sign in using your NetID and password.

Can I send or receive attachments?

You are able to send and receive attachments using your student e-mail account. However, there is a chance that you will not be able to receive large attachments, due to storage space restrictions.

Why don't my "Sent" messages show up in the Sent Mail folder?

Messages sent using the student e-mail system are not automatically saved to the system. The check box to save a copy of a sent message must be marked to keep a copy of a sent message. This is not enabled by default, due to storage space restrictions for student mailboxes. If every message was saved, the mailbox would soon fill up and prevent students from sending or receiving e-mail.

How much e-mail space do I have?

Student e-mail accounts are limited to 10 MB of space. There is a counter at the top of the Inbox that will show how much space has been used and how.

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How do I log in to the Angel Learning Management Software?

Once a student registers for an online course, a Welcome Letter is mailed to them from the Online Learning Help Desk containing information needed to log in to Angel and access course information. If this information has not been received by the first day of class or you have problems accessing your courses, contact the Online Learning Help Desk at (217) 875-7211, ext. 376, or e-mail ochelp@richland.edu .

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