Online Orientation

HCC Online Course Information

Note: Students are not able to log into their course before that first day of each semester.

Welcome Students
Welcome to Houston Community College’s online classes. This information is made available in advance of your course’s start date to allow you extra time to prepare for your course and obtain necessary course materials.

Succeeding Online
Many students are attracted to the flexibility that online learning offers; however, that flexibility requires students to be motivated and self-disciplined. A successful online student has the discipline and motivation necessary to prioritize their educational goals and focus on their coursework. Unlike in a traditional, face-to-face course with scheduled class times, an online class requires students to manage their own time and establish their own priorities. A successful online student will develop a plan and stick to it, keep ahead of tasks, and seek help when needed.

Textbooks

Please check your instructor’s syllabus for information on textbook and other materials. Textbooks and other materials, for online courses, are available online at hccs.bncollege.com
Select the Textbooks link at the top, chose the campus where your class CRN is located, and order the materials. CRN’s are very important since they determine what textbook your professor requires. Textbooks and materials purchased online through the bookstore can be shipped directly to your home.

Library
As an online student, you have access to a host of information resources through the HCC Libraries system. Visit the Library Online for all your research and learning needs. Librarians are available online providing live assistance to help you find books, articles, and learning materials in Ask a Librarian.

Course Participation
All students are expected to attend classes regularly, thus online students must log in to their course(s) on a regular basis. Online students who do not log in and actively participate before the Official Day of Record may be automatically withdrawn for non-attendance. An automatic withdrawal from a course does not erase the course from your record or excuse you from paying for the courses. Your instructor will define what "active participation" is for your course.

Electronic Exam Proctoring
HCC faculty members teaching online courses may require online electronically proctored examinations to ensure the integrity of the assessment process and to prevent acts of academic dishonesty. Your professor will communicate proctoring requirements, examination schedule, and other pertinent information via the course syllabus or via an announcement or other mechanisms within Eagle Online (Canvas). Students may be required to have a computer with a built-in camera and microphone, or a webcam connected to their computer.

Tutoring Service
One important key to success in college is using available resources. HCC provides two options for support in all subjects.

Option 1: For asynchronous tutoring, use Upswing (hccs.upswing.io). All document submissions will be returned, generally within 18-24 hours. Please take ten minutes to watch the how-to video at the bottom of the Upswing log-in page .
Option 2: For synchronous/videoconference tutoring, use our Virtual Academic Success Centers by calling 713-718-8184. Tutors are available Monday through Thursday 8am-7pm, Friday 8am-3pm, and Saturday 9am-2pm. See hccs.edu/tutoring for more information.

Ability Services
Houston Community College is committed to creating an accessible learning community where individuals with disabilities have an equal opportunity to pursue their educational goals, limited only by their abilities, not their disabilities. Ability Services strives to empower students, foster independence, and promote the achievement of the student’s career and educational goals. Due to the high demand for services and the nature of certain disabilities, it is recommended that students meet with an ADA Counselor at least 60 days prior to the beginning of each semester. For more information about ability services, please visit the Ability Services website.

Learning Management System
HCC uses the Canvas learning management system (LMS), which we call Eagle Online. The basic computer specification for Canvas are a PC (Windows 7 or newer), Mac (OS X 10.10 or newer) or Linux ChromeOS with a broadband connection to the Internet. The login website is eagleonline.hccs.edu. There are Canvas student guides that will help you get started using the software on the Canvas Community website.

For basic Canvas guides and tutorials, please visit the HCC Online Technical Support Website. Additional Canvas and software information is available on the Instructional Resources (Covid-19) site.

Technical Support
If you have technical issues while taking online classes with HCC, please contact the Eagle Online (Canvas) Customer Support via phone at 713-718-5275, option 3, or via the Student Help Form.

If you are having difficulties with your HCC Email account, please contact the Information Technology Customer Support at 713-718-8800 or you can manage your password via the Password Reset Manager.

Microsoft MS365 Software
HCC now offers Microsoft MS365 cloud-based, software suite free-of-charge to students. The suite includes: Mail, Calendar, Contacts, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and others. You also have cloud-based storage space via Microsoft OneDrive. For more information about MS365 and OneDrive, please visit the HCC MS365 website.

Additional software resource information is available on the Instructional Resources (Covid-19) site.

HCC Student Handbook
The HCC Student Handbook provides valuable information about many available resources while you attend HCC. It also provides information on student rights, policies, procedures, services, and activities. For more information about the HCC Student Handbook, please visit the HCC Student Handbook Website.

Student Support Website
For more information about any other Student Support Services (Career planning, Health and Safety, etc.), go to the HCC Student Support website.