Hillsborough Community College: an Open Door to Distance Learning

Hillsborough Community College is a two-year community college that ranks ninth in size among Florida's 28 community colleges. It operates from four campuses and serves some 40,000 students.

The College offers an Associate in Arts degree (university transfer), Associate in Science degrees (technical), Associate in Applied Science degrees, College Credit Certificates, Career Certificates and a Continuing Education Program.

The College has an "open door" policy and welcomes all those who want to gain knowledge and enrich their lives. Students with diverse educational backgrounds are encouraged to enroll. Preparatory courses are offered to help students to reach a level of proficiency that will enable them to complete a post-secondary education.

Students can complete the first two years of a traditional four-year program leading to an Associate in Arts degree and may transfer as juniors to state four-year colleges and universities as well as to private institutions.

Associate in Science degrees are awarded to students, some of which are transferable to individual four-year institutions. Associate in Applied Science degrees are also awarded that are not transferable to four-year institutions.

Postsecondary Adult Vocational Certificate courses and College Credit Certificate courses are also offered. Students can take more than half the courses needed for an Associate in Arts degree through the eCampus program.

Accreditation

Accreditation is meant to ensure that the quality and integrity of the higher education institutions and programs are maintained. It is also meant to help these institutions to improve.

Hillsborough Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), which is the recognized regional accrediting body in the eleven U.S. Southern states and in Latin America, for institutions of higher learning that award associate, baccalaureate, master's or doctoral degrees.

SACS is recognized by the United Stated Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Distance learning

Hillsborough Community College offers eLearning courses in a range of subjects. These courses are ideal for non-traditional adult learners, who have a packed schedule.

They offer much more flexibility and convenience than on-campus courses and allow non-traditional adult students to acquire a recognized qualification from an accredited institution, while meeting their professional and family responsibilities.

WebCourses are delivered via that Internet, though students may be required to attend one or more on-campus meetings. Students are required to actively participate in projects and course assignments on the Internet.

Media-based WebCourses incorporate video lessons to help learners. They contain the same content that is found in on-campus courses. Video lessons allow students to view demonstrations, which may not be possible in traditional classrooms.

MultiMedia courses combine different technologies with on-campus meetings. They use delivery methods like e-mail, Web pages, discussion boards, video tapes, interactive video conferencing, streaming media and chat.

These eLearning courses can help working adults to get a degree that will add value to their career portfolios.

Hillsborough Community College provides a high-quality learning environment for students of different ages and ethnic backgrounds. Its open door policy is designed to help students with diverse needs to meet their educational goals.