Everything you ever wanted to know about remote learning, but were afraid to ask.
The landscape of higher education is changing—and this is an exciting time for online students! If you enjoy online learning, you have more options now than ever before.
But even if you’ve never taken an online class, Front Range Community College is a great place to try one. FRCC’s online faculty have a lot of training and expertise, so they’re great at teaching in a virtual environment. Plus our classes are small and we have a lot of support in place for helping students—both with technology tools and with course material.
FRCC also offers 48 programs that can be completed entirely online, including 28 degrees and 18 certificates. So if you decide you like online learning, you’ve got a wide variety of subjects to choose from.
Why Take an Online Class
Convenience
Not a morning person? Don’t want to choose between a your job and your education? Online classes allow students the flexibility to study any time of day or night. Our online learning platform, Desire2Learn (D2L), can be accessed 24/7, along with many other support services.
Affordability
FRCC tuition is 56% less than Colorado’s public four-year colleges and universities. Students taking only online classes do not pay any campus fees—and since tuition is charged per credit hour, no student pays for more than what they get.
Accessibility
D2L is equipped with ReadSpeaker, a robust screen reader and text-to-speech tool that supports our students who may be hearing impaired. It is also a great tool for all students who learn better when text is read out loud.
Location, Location, Location
Save the time and hassle of driving to one of our campus locations. Work on assignments from the comfort of your home, or even on the go! Online classes can be completed anywhere you have access to the internet.
Improve Your Time Management & Technology Skills
Online classes help students learn how to prioritize and organize tasks, increase efficiency and plan ahead. Additionally, remote classes prepare students for a variety of technological advances by promoting use of the latest software, systems and programs.
What to Expect from Online Classes
Virtual classes are special in that they require a lot of self-discipline. But like any college-level class at FRCC, you can expect the amount of work to correlate to the number of credits you sign up to take.
Most students find that:
- Online classes are not easier than on-campus classes. Expect to spend a minimum of three hours each week for each credit hour.
- Scheduling out your time is imperative if you want to stay on track with course work. Be proactive with assignments and consider working on projects in small chunks instead of waiting until the last minute.
- You get high-quality instruction. FRCC ranks in the Top 10 nationwide for online learning. Our instructors are trained and certified to teach specifically online.
Resources Available to Online Students
If you find you need help with a remote class, there’s a wide array of helpful resources available, created specifically with the needs of online students in mind.
TutorMe
This is a free online tutoring service that students can access in D2L (our online learning platform). They receive five complimentary hours of tutoring each semester, with tutors covering more than 300 subjects.
Online Student Union
This is a virtual gathering place for FRCC students. Connect with your peers, stay informed about upcoming events and even enter drawings for scholarship money!
Online Orientation
This 100% online orientation features a series of videos that will answer a lot of your questions about being a new student at FRCC. Students learn valuable information about campus and classroom expectations, career and academic communities and student support services.
Online Writing Lab
Looking for help with that essay? The FRCC Online Writing Lab has options for students to sign up for a one-on-one video meeting, or to submit their writing for feedback within 24-48 hours.
Online Math Center
Get math support without having to come to campus. Our Online Math Center offers both scheduled and drop-in sessions. Either way, you get a live video-conference with an FRCC math consultant.
Counseling Services
FRCC students have access to BetterMynd, an online therapy platform offering 50-minute, live video sessions that are private and confidential. Sessions are available any time—day, night or weekend. FRCC’s on-campus counseling services are also available for in-person and remote sessions.
Online Instructors
If you’re struggling in a course, we encourage you to proactively reach out to your online instructor. They’ll work with you to ensure that you understand the course content, assignment deadlines and student expectations. You can locate your instructor’s contact information in your class syllabus in D2L.
Online Pathways Advisors
Every FRCC student has a dedicated advisor who is knowledgeable in online student affairs and can connect you with the resources you need to succeed. Students can schedule an appointment in their student account by clicking on the “Appointments” tab in Navigate.
See You This Spring!
Interested in being an online student at FRCC? Get started today by filling out our online application. Once accepted, you’ll be contacted by an enrollment advisor who will walk you through the next steps.
And regardless of whether you prefer to take classes on campus or online, we hope to see you for spring semester! Classes start January 18, so get registered today.
