Paine College
Online Learning



Frequently Asked Questions



Online/Distance Learning FAQ
General Questions





1. HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM READY TO TAKE ONLINE COURSES?


Take the hyperlinked online readiness assessment (click here).


2. WHAT CAN I DO TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN AN ONLINE COURSE?



Paine College uses the Blackboard Learning Management System as its online platform for courses. To be successful in an online course is to participate, submit assignments on time, and stay current. This is made possible by logging into the course three to five times per week, staying current on readings and assignments, and completing both online assignments and those that require an upload. Staying in touch with the instructor is important also if you have questions, need additional assistance, or need extra help. If you have technical questions, your instructor will refer you to Information Technology Services at itsstaff@paine.edu. Online courses require a high level of electronic connectivity and self-accountability for your learning within a course.



3. ARE ONLINE COURSES “EASIER” THAN FACE-TO-FACE DELIVERED COURSES?



Online courses are not necessarily “easier” than face-to-face delivered courses. Instruction is offered in a different format that allows students flexibility in terms of physical space and time. The flexibility is balanced with self-accountability for one’s time, other commitments, completion of course deliverables, and self-initiative to request extra help.





4. How should I manage my time within an online course?



For each online delivered course, plan to spend a minimum of four to six hours weekly addressing coursework and requirements. It is imperative that students check online course content daily in order to keep abreast of course announcements and to become familiar with the course structure.

​Completing course assignments ahead of the due date alleviates last minute issues involving technology, assignment review, or other unexpected issues that would prevent assignment completion.



5. What are the technical requirements for taking an online course?



The following hardware and software requirements are requirements for taking online courses at Paine College.

These resources are to be obtained by the student as Paine College does not have a laptop loaner program.

◼ Students enrolling in online courses must have basic computer, Internet and keyboarding skills as described in the course syllabus and on the Paine College student requirements page.

◼ Students must have access to a computer with an ISP (Internet Service Provider), a web browser, and an e-mail account. When compatibility issues arise in terms of document accessibility and readability, it is the student’s responsibility to resolve the problem with their instructor. Specific courses may have additional designated software (STEM courses, second language courses, etc.).

◼ Technical support for course navigation is available through the Paine College Blackboard hosted site and the Blackboard Administrator at the following e-mail address ITSstaff@paine.edu or the information technology web address located at https://www.paine.edu/web/offices/information-technology.

◼ Windows Minimum Requirements o Processor: 1.4GHZ Intel® Premium® 4 or faster processor (or equivalent) for Microsoft® Windows®, Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10 o Memory: 512MB of RAM (1GB recommended) for Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10 o Internet Browser: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8, 9,10, 11 Mozilla Firefox Google Chrome o Other: Adobe® Flash Player 11.2 +

◼ MAC Minimum Requirements o Processor: 1.83GHz Intel CoreTM Duo or faster processor o Memory: 512MB of RAM (1GB recommended) o Operating System: Mac OS X 10.7.4, 10.8 10.9 o Internet Browser: Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari Google Chrome o Other: Adobe® Flash® Player 11.2 + o

​◼ Mobile Minimum Requirements o Android Supported Devices: Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, Samsung Galaxy S3 & S4, Nexus 7 Tablet, Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX, Motorola Atrix, Motorola Zoom, o Android Support OS: 2.3.4 and higher o Apple Supported Devices: iPhone5S, iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, IPad with Retina display, iPad 3, iPad 2, iPad mini, and iPad touch & fifth generation o Apple Supported iOS: iOS 6 and higher Internet Browser: Mozilla Firefox Apple Safari Google Chrome *Students should check their course syllabi for additional software and equipment if required.


6. What should I do if I am having trouble using Blackboard?



If you require assistance using Blackboard, contact your instructor immediately. You are also encouraged to visit the Blackboard Paine College intranet site to learn more about the learning management system and view a series of short videos that are offered as tutorials at https://blackboard.paine.edu/ultra/integration/bbAssist At the web link, Blackboard Assist has a couple of services listed to provide further assistance. The services listed are the following:

Afterhours Helpdesk, 1 – 877 – 290 – 3787 https://painehd.edusupportcenter.com/shp/painehd/home

Lockdown Browser, https://download.respondus.com/lockdown/download.php?id=168389162

Textbook Technical Support, Contact: Derrick Gibson, dgibson@bba-corp.com, 901-378-8890, https://support.vitalsource.com

Ally File Transformer, https://download.respondus.com/lockdown/download.php?id=168389162

Bartleby Help (homework help), https://download.respondus.com/lockdown/download.php?id=168389162

Bartleby Write (writing papers help), https://download.respondus.com/lockdown/download.php?id=168389162

​Go Peer (peer tutoring), https://download.respondus.com/lockdown/download.php?id=168389162




7. How do I know if other supplemental materials are needed for an online course (i.e., access codes, software, virtual lab kits, etc.)?



The course syllabus includes all primary and supplemental requirements. All textbooks are available as digital e-books. Science lab manuals will be shipped to the student address on file at admission. It is vital that students utilize the Blackboard learning management system and read the syllabus for course information with the first day of class.



8. How do I contact my online instructor?



The instructor’s contact information is contained within the course syllabus and as a tab within Blackboard. Instructors provide their means of contact including telephone, e- mail, and available office hours and their preferred means of communication. Maintaining contact with your course instructors is important. It is imperative that students check their Paine College e-mail and log onto the course through the Blackboard platform to see important class information and announcements on a daily basis if not three to four times per week.



9. How are exams administered for online courses?



Online courses offer at least one major examination that is proctored. Review the course syllabus for specific instructions concerning proctored exams and the online software product used by the institution, Respondus. If you choose to enroll in an online course, at least one major exam must be a proctored exam. Review your course syllabus for specific instructions regarding proctored exams.



10. How do I get academic or technical support when I have a problem?



The first point of contact for academic support is your instructor. Locate instructor contact information on the syllabus and within the designated Blackboard tab for the course. Technical support is offered through information technology services at ITSStaff@paine.edu and after hours help is available through the Blackboard Learning Management system. To reach the Helpdesk by phone EST between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
call (706) 396-7600 or after hours, call 1-(877) 290-3787.



ELIGIBILITY, ENROLLMENT, AND REGISTRATION





11. Do I have to be a Paine College student to take online courses?



Students taking online courses are admitted to Paine College, as regular admit, transfer, or transient status. As a member of NC-SARA, the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements, Paine College is approved to offer distance education to students in other states within the U.S.



12 A. How many courses can I take?

Online/Distance Education Students



Online/Distance Education Students: A non-resident, completely distance education/online student will be able to complete their entire program of study online by year 2027. While Paine College students attending in-person classes may take advantage of online offerings to a limited extent, the primary recipients of distance learning courses and programs will be non-resident students.



12 B. How many courses can I take?

On Campus Students



On Campus: On campus only students will be allowed to take a limited number of online classes. However, the number is limited to a maximum of two courses (2) per semester. While enrolled at Paine College, a student may not take more than a total of twenty-four (24) credit hours, from the first year to graduation. The total number of online credit hours transferred from another college will be included in the maximum (24) specified above. A transfer, traditional (face-to-face) student who has received at least twenty-four (24) online credit hours from another institution will not be allowed to enroll in online courses at Paine since the student would have met the maximum specified by the College.



13. How do I gain admission?


Visit the Paine College admission page (Click here)

​An admissions staff member will contact you via e-mail concerning your admission steps, documents required, and link you to financial aid resources. Based on your student classification and admission status (declared major or undecided), you will be assigned an academic advisor.


14. How do I gain register for courses?


Next, visit the Registration page through PaineNet (Click Here)
All online courses are either section 80 or section 90. Section 80 courses are for the first eight weeks of a semester and Section 90 courses encompass the latter eight weeks of any given semester. These are classified as Fall I, Section 80 Fall II, Section 90 or Spring I, Section 80, and Spring II, Section 90.


15. I have registered for an online course, what happens next?



If this is the first time that you have registered for a course at Paine College, you will be issued a Paine College I.D. You will need the numeric I.D. number to access PaineNet (the course and registration portal), Blackboard (the learning management system where your course(s) are housed), access your unofficial transcript online, obtain grades, access library services that require an i.d., use Paine College’s e-mail network service, complete online course evaluations, and more. All students enrolling in online courses are encouraged to contact their instructors because they often have information to share ahead of the course, a welcome message, and key tips for the information found online within Blackboard.



16. What if my circumstances change and I want to drop a course?


Students may drop a course by using the hyperlinked form within PaineNet under student and course schedules at the following url: https://painenet.paine.edu/ics/ or by (clicking here)

Beside the course schedule line is an area to add or drop courses (tip: look for the purple banner).


17. Is Paine College accredited?



Yes. Paine College is accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. TRACS is recognized by the United States Department of Education (US DOE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) as a national institutional accrediting agency for Christian post-secondary institutions, colleges, universities, and seminaries.



TUITION AND PAYMENTS





18. What are the online tuition costs?



The cost for a full load (12 credits) will be a flat rate of $6,000 to include the $750 fee for books and the $945 administrative and technology fee. This is a cost per semester. A charge of $360 per credit would be charged for each credit for new students.



19. When and how must I pay and settle my student account?



Students are required to pay tuition and fees prior to the first day of classes and/or enter into a payment plan with the Controller’s Office. All students must clear any past due balances before registering for classes. Payments may be made by money order, cashier’s check, and all major credit cards are accepted. For students seeking the payment plan option: Fifty- percent of the current charges, not covered by financial aid, are due at registration, along with a signed payment plan for the current semester charges not covered by financial aid. The remaining balance for the current semester is due in four (4) equal remaining payments that are due the fifteenth (15th) of each month.



20. Is financial aid available?


Yes. Financial Aid offers a comprehensive guide for student financial assistance including federal, state, institutional, and private fund resources. Contact financial aid for more details at FinAid2@paine.edu, 706-821-8262 or visit the website at https://www.paine.edu/web/admission/financial-aid

Remember to complete your FAFSA. Remember to sign up for a UNCF account.


21. Will I receive a refund if I drop a course?


Only students with credit balances are eligible for refunds, and a student’s refund cannot exceed the credit balance. A credit balance occurs when funds that are credited to a student’s account (such as cash, federal and state financial aid, scholarships, credits, etc.) exceed the amount of charges such as tuition, fees, room, and board



Credits, Grades, and Transcripts





22. Will online courses count towards a degree at Paine College?



As a registered student who is not auditing courses, online courses count towards a bachelor’s degree at Paine College. Students complete core (common curriculum) courses and then major courses for conferral of either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. Paine College operates on the semester system.



24. What majors are offered?



The following undergraduate majors are offered at Paine College: Business Administration (B.S.), Psychology (B.A.), Sociology (B.A.), Mass Communication (B.A.), Biology (B.S.), Mathematics (B.S.), and History (B.A.).



25. How will I be graded?


The grade criteria are outlined in each course syllabus. Online learning is similar to the on-campus experience, but the classroom is virtual. Letter grades are listed on transcripts along with the grade point average.



26. How do I obtain my grades?


Grades and assignment progress are available for tracking and viewing in Blackboard with each course. Final grades are available at the end of the semester.



27. Will I have a Paine College transcript?


Yes. You can log into PaineNet to view your unofficial transcript or the Paine College Registrar’s webpage to order an official transcript at https://www.paine.edu/web/academics/registrar


Academics





27. What methods will be used to teach online courses?



Although instructional methods may vary by instructor, all course interface occurs through Blackboard, the learning management system. Instructors may use a combination of methods including, but not limited to, videos, podcasts, PowerPoint slides, discussion boards, virtual chats, blog posts, and more. Refer to the course syllabus.



28. Is there a course outline or syllabus for each course?



Yes. A course syllabus is available for each online course and labeled in Blackboard for access.



29. What should I do If I have questions about an assignment?


Although online courses take place in a virtual environment, the skills to succeed academically transcend delivery modes. Questions about assignments or any aspect of a course should be directed to the faculty member/instructor listed on the syllabus and in the contact area of Blackboard by e-mail, phone, or as class announcement, as appropriate.



30. How do I get homework, assignments, and tests?



All course assignments and deliverables are listed on the syllabus and communicated through the course website structure within Blackboard as well as by the instructor with explicit directions.



31. What is the length of online courses?


Online, asynchronous courses are offered in eight-week intervals (in other words, half a semester).


32. Does the course schedule require a specific meeting time?


No. All online courses offered at Paine College are asynchronous, meaning that the instructor and students are separated by time and space/location. Students have the responsibility to view class material, engage with the instructor and other classmates in a virtual environment with posts and other assignments, and complete assignments within a scheduled time frame.


33. Can I start the online course early or alternatively, late?


Although a student cannot start the online course earlier than the prescribed eight-week session on the academic calendar, students are dissuaded from starting late. Remember to check the course in Blackboard for scheduled timeframes for the completion of assignments. The added flexibility means that students are accountable for their time. Once a course has started, you can sign in and access the content anytime. An online enrollment certification is required during the first weeks of the course and sustained and continuous engagement in the course is required.


Online Readiness Assessment





Click button to take online readiness ASSESSMENT


Take Assessment Now

1235 15th St, Augusta, GA 30901

Tel: (706) 821 8200