FAQs

Online Learning

  When is student email available to new students?

You may see your student email shortly after acceptance.  However, the standard is a week before classes begin.

Current students, returning and new students will have access to their classes on the first day of class.

Yes, student computer labs are open to all SCTC students.

Flint campus has one computer lab in the library.

Griffin has two computer labs – one is located in the library and the other is located in the medical building room 221.

Henry has one computer lab on the first floor.

Students will need to present their student id badge in order to work in the lab.

On Campus(Banner code “CA”): Courses that are taught primarily in the classroom or lab with 50 percent or less of instruction online. On campus courses may include lecture, labs, internships, clinicals and other in-person instructional modalities. On campus courses are not considered distance learning courses. 
 
Blended (Banner code “BL”): Blended courses are distance learning courses with the majority of the course content, activities and interactions occurring online (>50% but <100% online) but may require students to come on campus for specific labs, assignments, activities, or events. Blended courses must detail any on-site course components in the course catalog. 
 
Online Synchronous  (Banner code “OS”): Courses taught fully online synchronously with course content, activities and interactions occurring entirely online. This delivery method requires students to be online at specific dates/times during the term. Online synchronous courses may require proctored events, which must be detailed in the course catalog. Be sure to provide information about the day and time of the virtual meetings and how to access them. 
 
Online Asynchronous  (Banner code “OA”): Courses taught fully online asynchronously with course content, activities and interactions occurring entirely online. This delivery method does not require students to be online at specific dates/times, and students may participate in class activities and complete course assignments asynchronously. Online asynchronous courses may require proctored events, which must be detailed in the course catalog. 

Some online/hybrid classes require books with an ‘access key’ that is ONLY available with new books or purchased directly from the publisher. Please check with the instructor of your online course if you are not sure if an access key is needed.

Free Office 365

Currently registered students are eligible to download and install a copy of Office 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) free of charge as long as they are registered students. Microsoft Access is not included in this version of Microsoft Office.

All you have to do is follow the instructions on https://products.office.com/en-us/student

The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) uses reasonable precautions to protect your privacy to the maximum extent possible on this web site. TCSG cannot ensure absolute privacy. We are not responsible for any breach of security or for any actions of any third parties which result from any such security breach. These terms inform you of the information that TCSG collects from you at this site, and what we do with it.

Blackboard

  How do I learn how to use Blackboard?

At the beginning of each term, you will automatically be enrolled in a Blackboard instruction tutorial. This can be found on the Blackboard site, under My Organizations. If you are a late enrollment, the tutorial may not show the first time or two you log in. After the first day of the term, enrollment in this tutorial is updated at the end of each day and may take another day for it to be reflected on your Blackboard page.

Yes! Even face-to-face classes, which are called web-enhanced, have a Blackboard course associated with them. Web-enhanced classes contain your course syllabus, a course schedule, course resources, your grades, and the instructor contact information.

No. SCTC uses a single sign on (SSO) process for all student accounts. Students must set up Okta in order to access student email, Banner Web, and Blackboard. Visit About Okta, Office 365, and Helpdesk for instructions on getting setup.

During the first 3 days of the semester, students need to enter each Blackboard class and perform an academic activity. Instructors typically use a syllabus quiz or discussion board assignment as an activity to verify presence in the course.

We recommend Chrome or Firefox.

Yes! Every student is enrolled in the Student Blackboard Training course. After logging into Blackboard, you will see this training link under the My Organizations module.

If you don’t see your class(es) in Blackboard, check Banner Web to make sure the course is listed on your schedule. If the course is not showing in Banner Web, check your Financial Aid award status inside Banner Web. If aid hasn’t been awarded, the course may have been dropped. The course may also have been dropped for non-payment or non-attendance. If you are still unsure why your course does not show up in Banner Web, please contact Academic Affairs at 770-228-7361.

Any schedule changes within the add/drop period may take up to a week for Blackboard to reflect your current schedule.

“Email” responses go to your student email (Microsoft Outlook) and do not come through Blackboard. Only “Course Messages” are sent and received inside Blackboard.

Some courses require students to use access codes to Publisher content inside Blackboard. If your purchased code does not work, contact your instructor and the SCTC Bookstore. Also, be sure to enter your student email, and not your personal email, when setting up accounts with access codes.

For Chromebook and Mac products, use Chrome or Firefox web browsers.

Clear the cache in your internet browser.

  • When you receive a message to contact the administrator.
  • When you receive an error inside your Blackboard course.

  • Install or uninstall software on personal devices, to include third-party applications like Cengage and MindTap.
  • Attempt to troubleshoot on your device. Distance Ed can help you through the steps as you troubleshoot on your device.
  • Open course content (a module, unit, folder, test, or assignment) that expired without speaking directly to the instructor.