Distance Learning Overview

Northeast is an active participant in the Mississippi Virtual Community College (MSVCC). The MSVCC is a cooperative of 15 Mississippi’s community college districts and the Mississippi State Board for Community and Junior Colleges that offers internet-based courses. Theses 15 institutions share resources so that students at any one of theses institution may take internet-based courses from any member of the consortium. Students admitted to Northeast Mississippi Community may register in any of the courses that Northeast hosts (internet-based courses taught by other consortium members). Restrictions for hosted courses consist of the course must be listed in the course descriptions section of the Northeast catalog and it, as well as the instructor must be approved by that particular department.

Distance learning is defined as a formal educational process in which the majority of the instruction occurs when student and instructor are separated by time and/or location.

Purpose and Goals of Distance Learning

The purpose of the Distance Learning Program at Northeast Mississippi Community College is to provide quality instruction through electronic technologies to enable students to attain their educational goals and to acquire and support appropriate emerging technologies for curricular, instructional and administrative enhancement consistent with our strategic initiative. The program will extend the offerings of Northeast Mississippi Community College to the community and beyond through distance learning.

• Instructional Services Goal: The Distance Learning Program will provide online learning environments that foster change in the individual; are not bound by the constraints of time and place; are collaborative in the MSVCC Consortium; are creative with electronic delivery; are driven by learner need; have measurable, predictable outcomes; provide quality online courses comparable to traditional delivery; and engage learners in an active mode.
• Student Support/Service Goals: Distance Learning at NEMCC will continually strive to develop, modify, and improve procedures for providing satisfactory support services to distance learners in areas such as testing, admissions, registration, counseling, library services, financial aid, and advising using such means as email, telephone, web pages, and mail.
• Fiscal, Growth, and Finance Goals: The NEMCC Distance Learning Program will provide quality administration, sufficient facilities and equipment, and appropriate financial management to support the mission of the college. To evaluate periodically and comprehensively every facet of the distance learning program and to use these results to restructure and improve the program to ensure distance learners will be retained at the same or higher rate than traditional student enrollment and success rate.
• Professional Faculty/Human Resources Goals: The division of Distance Learning will provide professional development that demands the highest professional teaching standards for teaching via the Internet; encourages continuing growth development, technology training among faculty; and recognizes the importance of faculty participation in the institution’s distance learning program.