Frequently Asked Questions

An online course is 100% online. All assignments, testing, and peer discussions take place on a computer via an Internet connection.

A hybrid course meets part of the time in the classroom, with more than 50% of the course held online. Refer to your course syllabus for course meeting specifications.

A blended course also meets part of the time in the classroom, but 50% or lessof the course is held online. Refer to your course syllabus for course meeting specifications.

You should expect to spend the same amount of time on an online course as you would attending and studying for an on-campus course. IMPORTANT! Be prepared to commit 6 – 9 hours per week to studies for every 3-credit course. More time is needed when taking 8 or 12-week course.

The process for registering for an online course is the same process as for registering for a traditional course. You must be accepted to the college first. Please visit the Future Students section of our website for more information.

You should be automatically provided with a JCC student email email account, student ID and student username when you become a JCC student. This account should be used for all JCC related email communication.

Your PortalGuard username and password will work for your Blackboard account after your course begins. Even if you are fully admitted as a student and registered, your Blackboard account may not be created until the first day of your first class.

Students can access online courses by logging into Blackboard. 

All of this can be done directly through Blackboard.

• Online students turn in homework/assignments and communicate with their instructor through the Blackboard system using drop boxes, internal course mail or by using other course tools as stated in the course syllabus.
• Check your course syllabus to find out when your instructor may be available for telephone and office conferences.
• Students communicate with other students enrolled in the course through private course mail and public “discussion board” postings.
• Students in most courses take their tests online using Blackboard testing capabilities.
  
  

Log into Blackboard and click on your course. You will be able to access your online course syllabus at on the first official start date of your course. Also, check out the Getting Started and Ready for Online pages on this site.

Yes! An online JCC Blackboard Student Orientation is available.

The Blackboard LMS provides a secure password protected learning environment. Only your instructor, course administrators and students enrolled in the course have access to course content. Students have access to their grades only; they cannot see the grades of other students. You should not provide your log-in information to anyone else.

If you have any questions about a course, please contact your instructor. Your course syllabus will have your instructor's contact information.

Please see the Hardware/Software requirements page for details on technology requirements.

All JCC online courses begin on the first official day of class for the JCC semester and session. JCC’s online courses are not self-paced. Each instructor has a schedule with assignment due dates (syllabus) that must be adhered to. Students will be able to begin coursework as of 8 am the first day of the semester. Please check the Academic Calendar for the exact semester start date.

Online students are expected to log into Blackboard on the first day of class and at least 2 days per week. Failure to log into the course and complete the Enrollment Verification quiz within the first 72 hours of the course start date may result in your being locked out of the course. All course related dates can be found in the syllabus.

Online courses are designed as alternatives to traditional classroom instruction and offer maximum scheduling flexibility. Online courses allow the instructor and you to be anywhere, and for participation to occur anytime. You can interact with your instructor and other students outside of the confines of a classroom. Online students should participate fully in the online course. Discussions between fellow classmates and the instructor are an important learning tool in online courses. Online courses require students to be self-motivated and organized. Check out the Are You Ready for Online page for more information.