Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Visit the WAOL information page for FAQ
about Washington Online
Before You Register
- Is Distance Learning right for me?
- What is Distance Learning?
- What is Washington Online?
- How do I obtain a student ID number?
- When is tuition due?
- Are online courses self-paced?
- Are online courses covered by tuition waivers?
- Will credit for Distance Learning courses transfer to other
colleges?
- Will I ever need to attend class on campus?
Registering for Online Classes
- What if the course I need is full?
- How do I change my email address?
- Why do I need to use my own email address?
- How can I confirm my registration?
- How do I drop an online course?
- Classes have already begun, can I still register?
Getting Started in Your Class
- What is my password to log in to my class?
- What if classes have begun and I have not heard from my
instructor?
- When is my first assignment due?
- What if I'm having problems with my password?
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions 1. Is Distance Learning right for me?
Distance Learning courses require you to be highly
self-motivated, have good reading and writing skills, have email and
web access, and be able to spend 10-15 hours per week, per class.
Learn more, and take the Distance Learning
self-assessment quiz to help you decide!
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2. What is Distance Learning?
Distance Learning is a convenient way for students needing flexible schedules and independent
learning locations to pursue educational goals. Courses are
taught at a distance in various formats. Distance Learning includes:
- Highline Online Classes - Highline classes which are
delivered over the WWW and email; there are no scheduled class
times.
- Hybrid Classes - Highline classes that are partly online, partly
face-to-face, but with fewer class meetings than a regular class.
- WashingtonOnline
(WAOL) Classes - Online classes from a state-wide consortium of
colleges; they are transcripted as Highline classes but may be
taught by instructors from another college.
Courses have beginning and end dates, regular
assignments and project due dates, but since part or all of the
class activities are online
and asynchronous, you can work on your class at the time and place
most convenient to you.
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3. What is Washington Online?
Washington Online (WAOL) is a cooperative effort by Washington community
colleges to provide courses necessary to complete an AA degree
online. WAOL courses may have different options for AA requirements
than are available through Highline Online. See the
WAOL information page for more details.
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4. How do I obtain a student identification number?
If you have not applied to Highline before, you will receive an
ID number once your application process is complete. You can
apply
to Highline online.
If you are already taking classes at Highline, but do not know your
ID number, contact Registration at 206-878-3710 ext. 3242.
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5. When is tuition due?
Online courses have the same tuition deadlines as campus courses.
Check the
tuition and registration deadlines for details. WAOL classes
often start a few days before Highline classes.
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6. Are online courses at Highline self-paced?
No.
The online version of the class will be similar to the face-to-face
class, except you don't meet at campus on
a regular basis. This means you'll have textbook reading, regular
assignments, tests, online lectures and other class work to do on a
regular basis. Online classes take just as much time as regular classes. For a 5
credit class, you'll need to schedule 15 hours a week. You will need
to schedule this time and honor that schedule.
If you are a person
who tends to procrastinate or who is not very self motivated, you
might have a difficult time with a distance learning class.
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7. Are online courses covered by tuition waivers?
For Highline Online and Hybrid classes, you can use
tuition waivers to register for classes. However, you will have to
contact the instructor for permission and to be given access to the
online course. The instructor must also contact ICHELP to have your
account created. Regular tuition waiver policies apply.
It is not possible to take a WashingtonOnline course with a
tuition waiver.
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8. Will credit for Distance Learning courses transfer to other
colleges?
Distance Learning classes are regular classes at Highline
Community College, and will transfer just like face-to-face classes.
For more information on transferring courses, contact the
Educational Planning Center at
edplanning@highline.edu.
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9. Will I ever need to attend class on campus?
Highline Online courses do not require on campus visits. However,
you may be required to set up a location to take proctored exams or
complete other class activities. Check the course syllabus, or
contact the instructor for details.
Hybrid classes meet partly online and partly
face-to-face. The face-to-face meetings are required. The
quarterly class
schedule will indicate which days and times you need to be on
campus.
WAOL classes do not require on-campus visits.
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10. What if the course I need is full?
Highline Online and Hybrid courses have wait-lists just
like face-to-face classes. However, you will need to contact the
instructor to get access to the online course materials. You need to
participate in the class starting on the first day to maintain
eligibility to get into the class.
WashingtonOnline courses do not allow over-loads or
waiting lists. However, prior to the start of the quarter, WAOL may
add additional
sections for popular classes. Check
with WAOL periodically to see if the course has been
re-opened.
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11. How do I change my email address with the college?
Visit Highline Community College Online Student Services to change
your email address. https://sec.highline.edu/wts/student/.
You will also need to change your email address in
Blackboard.
See the instructions for details.
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12. Why do I need to use my own email address?
All online courses require email access to submit assignments,
receive information from instructors, and to
participate in class. You also need to use your own email address to
register so your instructor is able to contact you. Highline Online
courses begin with an email from the instructor.
Do not use an email account that you share with other people.
Online courses can generate significant amounts of email, may
discuss very personal topics, and instructors may send personal or
private information to you. If you provide an email address, it is
assumed that you are the only person reading messages sent to that
account.
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13. How can I confirm my registration?
To confirm your online registration,
View Your
Class Schedule in
Online Student
Services.
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14. How do I drop an online course?
Before the third day of classes, you can drop your online courses through
Online
Registration in
Online Student Services. After the third day of classes, you
need to visit Registration on campus or use the
online late drop form.
If you are checking confirmation of a dropped course, please
allow 2 business days to process your drop form.
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15. Classes have already begun, can I still register?
For Highline Online and Hybrid Courses, registration is
closed the third day after the class starts. Contact the instructor
to ask for permission to register after that day. No late
registrations are permitted after the 10th day of classes.
For late-start classes (those that do not start on the first day
of the quarter), contact Registration at (206) 878-3710 ext. 3242,
or registrar@highline.edu.
Late registrations are not accepted for WashingtonOnline classes.
WAOL classes close three days before instruction begins. Check the
WAOL information page for start dates for WAOL classes.
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16. What is my password to log in to my class?
For Highline Online and Hybrid classes, instructions for your
username and initial password are available. See:
To log
in to WAOL, follow the instructions on the
WAOL Blackboard Home Page.
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17. What if classes have begun and I have not heard from my
instructor?
For Highline Online classes and some Hybrid classes, your instructor will contact you prior to the first day of the
class.
If your course has begun and you have not heard from your instructor
complete the following steps:
- Check your course schedule to verify enrollment in the course. If
your tuition was not paid before the due date you may have been
dropped.
- Check the email address on record with the college and in
Blackboard. Please note that it is your responsibility to make
sure your email is up to date both with the
college registrar and in Blackboard.
- Check your junk mail or spam folder in your email for
messages from your instructor. You may need to lower the filter
level or add your instructors or classmates to your "allowed
senders" list.
- Contact your instructor. See the
staff
directory or
department directory for phone and e-mail. It is your
responsibility to contact the instructor if you did not receive
a pre-course email or letter.
For most Hybrid classes, you will meet your instructor during the
first face-to-face session of the class.
For WAOL classes, you need to log in to your classroom to see
your first message from your instructor.
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18. When is my first assignment due?
For Highline Online and Hybrid classes, your instructor will
notify you of the first assignment deadlines. You can expect a short assignment to
be due within the first few days of class. See the course syllabus
for details.
WAOL classes have several required Week 0 activities.
Log in to your WAOL course
a few days before the class begins to complete the assignments.
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19. What if I'm having problems with my password?
For Highline Online and Highline Hybrid classes, contact the
Instructional Computing
Center at
ichelp@highline.edu or (206) 870-4880.
For WAOL classes, contact
WashingtonOnline Help
or call WAOL Technical Support at 1-888-580-9011.
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Last updated:
January 07, 2008
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