Distance Education

What is Distance Education?

Distance education is any kind of learning in which students and the instructor are separated by time and/or place. It can be delivered using various methods of technologies, including:

Online Courses:

Course offerings are provided over the Internet, with instructors located at either BMCC or another Oregon community college (host/provider). Tests are conducted either online or an approved proctored site.

Elluminate Live

is a web-conferencing tool used at Blue Mountain Community College. It offers the opportunity to interact with faculty and other students even though you may be miles, even oceans, apart. Basically, you take classes from any computer that has Internet access. You can take classes while sitting at home in front of your personal computer. Elluminate Live classes can be done in real time; in other words, the instructor is teaching the class and you are there watching it happen on your computer, or you can log in at a later time and attend the recorded class.

Interactive Video Conferencing (ITV):

Classes originate from another site but are real-time and place. Classes are offered through interactive television or Web-based software

Interactive Video Computer (IVC):

Students may meet at a designated BMCC site and interact with the instructor and students at other sites.

Guided Instruction:

Courses are taught through the mail only, with materials presented on paper in the form of study guides and textbooks (no videotapes). Students contact the instructor in writing, electronically, or through telephone discussions.

Who Benefits From Distance Education

The time-bound student, whose job or education schedule conflicts with the times when classes are offered on campus.

The distance-bound student, who lives far from where classes are offered.

The home-bound student, who cannot leave home for physical, emotional, or family reasons such as caring for the young, sick, or elderly.

Those whose work schedules, prevent them from finding blocks of time to participate in classes.

Those who seek to advance themselves, in their current career or to prepare for a new career.

Who Should Take Distance Education Classes?

Self-motivated learners

Time- or place-bound learners

Technically astute learners

Registering for Distance Education Classes

Student services and financial assistance information for distance learning students; such as—admissions, enrollment, registration, advising, book purchases, and payment—are the same as for any other classes offered at BMCC, noted elsewhere on this Website. Please see Getting Started or Student WolfWeb  for registration information and a list of courses.

Financial Assistance for Distance Education

Online students may be eligible to receive financial assistance. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, available online at www.fafsa.gov. BMCC’s federal school code is 003186. Check the Financial Assistance Website for more information.

Paying for Distance Education Classes

Blue Mountain Community College’s distance education classes are assessed at the current tuition and fees listed in the Schedule of Classes published each term and online at www.bluecc.edu. There is an additional distance education class fee for each class.

Purchasing Distance Education Textbooks

Students can order books online with a credit card at www.bookstore.bluecc.edu, or students can call the bookstore at 541-278-5733 or send a fax to 541-278-5842. Students taking an online course provided by another Oregon community college (host/provider) may order books by contacting the BMCC bookstore.

Distance Education Library Services

Many library services and electronic databases are available online to all students, whether on or off campus. Go to the library Website at www.bluecc.edu/library for more information on library services.

Distance Education Technical Help & Support

The Office of Distance Education is located on the Pendleton campus in Pioneer Hall, Room P-154. The email address is Distance_Ed@bluecc.edu.

Find tutorials, frequently asked questions, self-assessment tests, and hardware and software requirements for taking online classes, and a list of current term classes on the Distance Education page of our Website.