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Distance Education

Welcome to West Virginia Northern Community College’s Distance Education Program. 

Distance Education  is a field of education that endeavors to deliver educational opportunities to students who are not physically “on campus”. Instead of attending classes in person, students and teachers may communicate at times that are convenient for them by using electronic media or other types of technology which allows for real time communication.  Some courses may require students to physically be on campus periodically for reasons such as orientations, exams, labs or presentations.  These courses are considered hybrids or blended courses. 

Distance education courses can be offered in a synchronous or asynchronous format.  In a synchronous course, learning takes place in different locations but at the same time.  Some of the technologies used by WVNCC to deliver synchronous courses are Telecom and Epop.  Asynchronous courses allow for learning to take place at different locations and at different times.  Students and teachers do not typically need to be online at the same time. These types of courses will typically be taught using Blackboard Vista.

WVNCC's online distance education courses are divided into two categories:  West Virginia Northern online courses and Southern Regional Education Board's Electronic Campus online courses.   SREB's Electronic Campus courses are West Virginia Northern courses which have been evaluated and accepted on the State level for inclusion on the Electronic Campus.  These courses are freely transferable throughout the state institutions in the 14 southern region states.   West Virginia Northern Community College online distance education courses may have an on-campus requirement, but Electronic Campus online distance education courses do not.

The goal of the WVNCC Distance Education Program is to provide educational opportunities in a format that is flexible, enjoyable, and convenient.  Distance education courses and instructors are routinely evaluated to ensure that students receive the same quality instruction that is delivered in the traditional, on-campus classroom setting.

We hope you find your distance education experience to be both enjoyable and rewarding.  If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact:

Kim Patterson
Instructional Designer/Distance Education Coordinator
West Virginia Northern Community College
1704 Market Street, Wheeling, WV 26003
Direct Line:  (304) 214-8907
Main Switchboard: (304) 233-5900 Ext. 8907
kpatterson@wvncc.edu