Dec 07, 2024  
2024-2025 Student Handbook 
    
2024-2025 Student Handbook

Distance Learning, Continuing Education, and Lifelong Learning



Introduction

Distance Learning at Edgecombe Community College (ECC) includes those classes that individuals can take anytime and anywhere for which classroom attendance is not required. The classes include curriculum college-credit courses, Continuing Education non-credit courses, and the online GED/Adult High School Diploma program. The distance learning classes are best suited for mature, self-motivated students who have good study skills and do not need to be reminded to study and complete their assignments. Student support services, such as the library, student services, and financial aid, are available without campus. Changing lives with quality instruction and genuine concern from instructors is an integral part of Distance Learning at ECC.

Available Courses/Programs

Curriculum Courses

Two types of distance learning curriculum courses are offered at the college: online courses and hybrid courses.

Online

Students can take online courses anytime and anywhere, provided individuals have access to the Internet. Classroom attendance is not required. The online curriculum classes compare to traditional classroom courses. They earn the same credit, have the same quality and standards, are fully accredited, and have the same course objectives.

Hybrid

Hybrid courses combine the traditional classroom and the Internet. Therefore, depending on the instructor, students must meet on campus at certain times during the semester. Lessons are completed online. As with online classes, hybrid courses earn the same credit and have the same quality and standards as face-to-face courses. Likewise, support services are available online for hybrid students.

Students can find a schedule of curriculum course offerings (online and hybrid) by clicking on “Find Classes” under the Academic Programs tab on the ECC home page: www.edgecombe.edu.

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Degree Online Programs

Edgecombe Community College offers the following certifications totally online:

Certificates

  • Business Leadership
  • Logistics
  • Early Childhood
  • Geospatial Technology Internet Mapping
  • Geographic Information Science
  • Health Information Technology - Coding
  • Health Information Technology - Protected Health Information
  • Health Information Technology - Ambulatory Billing & Coding
  • Health Information Technology - Hospital Ambulatory Coding

Diplomas

  • Business Administration
  • Early Childhood
  • Health Information Technology Coding

Degrees

  • Accounting 
  • ​Associate in Arts (College Transfer)
  • ​Associate in Science (College Transfer)
  • Business Administration
  • Geospatial Technology
  • ​Health Information Technology

Students never have to come on campus to receive a certification in these programs; the courses are all online.

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Characteristics of Successful Distance Learning Students

Extensive research has shown that there are certain qualities distance learning students should have to be successful in this type of instruction. These qualities include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Mature, self-directed, and goal-oriented
  2. Disciplined and organized
  3. Dependable and responsible
  4. Able to work independently and keep up with assignments
  5. Possess the necessary college reading and writing skill levels
  6. Able to think critically and solve problems
  7. Have completed the necessary prerequisites for the course
  8. Know basic word processing
  9. Have the required computer hardware and necessary software
  10. Familiar with sending and receiving email

Distance learning students should be willing to participate in a course orientation session, when applicable; begin course activities within the first week of the course; on a routine basis, set aside an adequate amount of time for study, and contact the course instructor promptly with questions about aspects of the course.

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Computer Requirements

Students must have easy access to a Microsoft Windows computer connected to the Internet, a Web browser such as Netscape Navigator/Communicator, Firefox, Safari, or Internet Explorer 6.0 or later, an email address, and the Microsoft Word processing software. Some online classes may also require Microsoft PowerPoint.

 

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Software Used by the College

Moodle is the software used by the college for all curriculum online and hybrid courses. For more information about Moodle or to review an online orientation, you may visit the following link (no password needed): http://moodle.edgecombe.edu/mod/resource/view.php?id=3468.

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Moodle Login Information

  1. Go to www.edgecombe.edu
  2. Click on the “Moodle” logo in the “Student Portal” along the righthand side of the main page (after completing the instructions below for your password).
  3. Use the following information to log in:

Username:

Your Moodle user login name is your first initial, last name, and first four digits of your date of birth.

Example - John Smith Born May 18, 1988, the username would be: jsmith0518.

Password:

You should now follow these instructions to create a permanent password and enroll in EdgeID.

1. Go to the ECC home page http://www.edgecombe.edu/

2. Click on the STUDENT PORTAL tab on the right-hand side of the page. Click on the Self Service link in the drop-down list.

3. At the bottom right, click the tab that says “Login.”

4. Enter your username and, for the password, the last six of your SSN.

5. You will be forced to change the six-digit temporary password to a new permanent one, which will also become your password for MyEdge email and Moodle. Self Service will say, “Your password has expired. Please choose a new password.” and then ask you for your User ID and your old password.

6. For “Old Password,” enter the last six digits of your SSN again. The new password you create here in Self Service will then be the only one you’ll need for Self Service, MyEdge student email, and Moodle. The new password must be between 6 and 9 characters long and must contain some numbers. It can be all numbers, but it does not have to contain both numbers and letters. So you could use your student ID number as the password.

7. Once you change your password in Self Service, please enroll your password in EdgeId.

  1. Once your Self Service login is working (with a new password), you must go to the following link to activate and enroll your ID and password: https://edgeid.edgecombe.edu. The activation must be done by everyone (even those who already had a Webadvisor account).
    • To activate your UserID/Password, click on “Enroll.”
    • Enter your UserID and password (you just created in Webadvisor).
    • You will be prompted to answer 3 security questions. Enter your answers. Answers to security questions are case-sensitive.
    • Click on “Enroll” 
  2. Check your Self Service and MyEdge email accounts immediately to be certain your new password has been accepted.

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Moodle Icebreakers

Every online course has an “Icebreaker” assignment in Moodle that has a very early due date.  The assignment demonstrates that the student is active in the class. Pay close attention to the due date and submit the assignment on time to prevent being removed from the class

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Moodle Support/Report Problems

For technical support and problem reporting, contact Mr. Arnold Worsley, Moodle Administrator: worsleya@edgecombe.edu or 252/823-5166, extension 281. The direct link to Moodle is moodle.edgecombe.edu

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Tutorial Support

Edgecombe Community College also offers online tutorial support through ThinkingStorm, a leading online tutoring and academic support provider. The free software provides live assistance from a tutor anytime, from anywhere, 24/7. Students will receive a link to ThinkingStorm in their Moodle course.

 

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Student E-Mail

MyEdge is a free service for ECC students and alumni powered by Google. Your MyEdge account is automatically created for you within 24 hours of registering for your first class with ECC. Your MyEdge account will be the official communication between the student and ECC.

The login for MyEdge is the same as for Moodle and Webadvisor. Please refer to the login instructions for “Moodle Login.”

If you need help with MyEdge, create a support ticket: http://www.edgecombe.edu/tech-support-request.

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Ed2Go

The Ed2Go (www.ed2go.com/edgecombecc) non-credit online courses are informative, fun, convenient, and highly interactive. These project-oriented courses include lessons, quizzes, hands-on assignments, discussion areas (chat rooms), and supplementary links. All courses run for six weeks with a two-week grace period after completion.

These courses begin every month and can be completed from the home or office during the day or evening. Twenty-four (24) contact hours in length, they generate 2.4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs). These courses require Internet access, email, and a Web browser, such as Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. The courses are approved for teacher renewal. Upon completing a course, students receive an official certificate issued by the Corporate and Community Development Division.

For further information, interested persons should call (252) 823-5166, ext. 220.

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Adult High School Equivalency/Adult High School Online

Using the Internet, students can prepare for the Adult High School Equivalency exam or the Adult High School Diploma at home. Both programs are free of charge and are fully accredited. However, there are some state exam fees charged once the student is ready to test.

On-campus orientation is mandatory for these online programs. Students would later be required to come onto their nearest campus to take post-assessments and state exams.

For more information on the Adult High School Equivalency/Adult High School Diploma Online program, interested persons should call (252) 618-6704 (Tarboro) or (252) 618-6680.

Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning

Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning promote the lifelong learning process by offering a wide range of programs and services. These programs and services are designed to meet the needs and interests of adults, regardless of their educational background. Some courses and services are offered continuingly, while others begin due to specific requests by individuals, professional or civic groups, and/or business and industry.

ECC can develop a course to be offered on or off-campus, day or night, whenever or wherever a sufficient number of people expresses an interest. Courses and services are usually designed to assist in the following areas:

  • To prepare for entry into an occupation
  • To upgrade or retrain employed individuals
  • To provide cultural awareness
  • To provide self-improvement opportunities

The broad areas of Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning are:

  • College & Career Readiness
  • Hispanic/Latino Initiatives
  • Human Resources Development
  • Special Programs, Customized Training
  • Business and Industry Services
  • Career Readiness Certification
  • Public Safety Programs
  • Small Business Center
  • Workforce Development and Training Center 

Requests and suggestions for additional courses are welcome!

Self Service

Self-Service is a one-stop shop for student planning, financial aid, grades, tax information, and billing statements. Students must use Self-Service to get their grades after each semester. All students are issued a Self-Service account when they register for their very first class. Students can access Self-Service by clicking on the Student Portal tab found on the College’s homepage. If you have technical questions about Self-Service, create a support ticket. 

The following are tabs students can access through Self-Service:

Student Planning enables students to search and plan for courses, register for classes, communicate with advisors, and more.

Financial Aid enables students to check financial aid progress, link to forms, and a financial aid advisor.

Grades enable students to view their grades for previous semesters and midterm grades for the current semester.

Tax Information enables students to access important tax information online.

Student Finance enables students to access billing statements, which contain their class schedule.

 

All students must meet with or contact their academic advisor before registering through Self-Service.

Students receiving financial aid should not register for a course not needed in their program of study. Students who do so will be subject to withdrawal and/or repayment of tuition.

 

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Library

All research and collection databases are available at the link below. Students can obtain contact information for library staff members at this link:
http://www.edgecombe.edu/resources/lrc-library

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Bookstore

Students can view the required books for a course and the cost of books from this link:
http://www.edgecombe.edu/bookstore-information

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