Students Section

You can attain nearly all of your credits for some of the programs offered by Chesapeake College over distance learning. See your college advisor for more information. A completely online AA degree is planned for the near future.

Regular online courses begin on the official start date of classes for the semester. Students should log in on the first day. (Note that Chesapeake College offers a few “compressed” online courses that begin at mid-semester. Dates are provided in the official course schedule.)

Online courses generally follow a semester schedule similar to on-campus classes. Refer to your course syllabus for specific instructions, including due dates for assignments.

Online courses follow a schedule similar to traditional face-to-face courses. You will need to log in on the first day of class and keep up with assignments and activities as specified by your instructor. In most online courses, students must take exams at a Testing Center, such as the ones on the Wye Mills or Cambridge campuses. In a “web-enhanced” or “hybrid” class, you will come to campus for some of the class meetings, and be online for the remainder of the class. These meetings are published in the official Semester Schedule of Classes.

Your course syllabus will provide that information. In many online courses, tests are given in the Testing Center on campus. Testing Centers are located on the Wye Mills Campus and at the Cambridge Center. Other testing centers are available at most colleges and through public libraries.

The instructor provides the course Syllabus. In an online course, the syllabus will be posted on the course website.

You may purchase your books at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore on the Chesapeake College Wye Mills Campus or at the Cambridge Center. If you prefer, you may have books mailed to your home.

In online classes, papers and projects are usually submitted electronically through the College's online course management system (called WebCT) unless otherwise stated in your course syllabus.

Most online course materials may be accessed over the Internet by logging into the College’s WebCT system and entering the course website. For some courses, additional materials are provided on CDs or DVDs. Depending on the course, these will either be sent to you directly or you will be able to purchase them through the bookstore.

You may register for as many as you think you can successfully complete. Most students find that Internet courses take as much, or more, effort as a traditional face-to-face class.

Most online courses do not require you to come to campus except to take tests and exams. A few classes require your on-campus attendance at an initial meeting. As posted in the official course schedule certain other classes are a mix of online and in-class meetings. In those cases, the dates of required meetings are posted in the schedule.

If you need help with your coursework, first contact your instructor to discuss your needs. The Writing Center maintains an online writing center service for students needing assistance with writing projects. The Learning Resource Center can provide online research assistance and has many information resources available from their webpage at http://www.chesapeake.edu/library/default.asp

If you have technical difficulties with WebCT, call toll free 1-866-78WEBCT. Your call will usually be answered live Monday-Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. At other times, please leave a voicemail and we will return your call promptly. During the first few weekends of each semester, voicemail requests are returned daily, including Saturday and Sunday. You can also send an email to the Online Learning Helpdesk at any time. We will reply promptly.

Online courses carry the same prerequisites their face-to-face counterparts at Chesapeake College. Before registering in an online course, complete the questionnaire in the "Is Online Learning for Me?" section of this website. Online courses may not be right for you even though you meet the official prerequisites.

The Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools accredits Chesapeake College, so credits from Chesapeake College are transferable to other schools. Students should meet with a transfer advisor early in their academic career to ensure the correct selection of courses that fit their intended major at the institution to which they plan to transfer.

All students may register at the Chesapeake College Wye Mills Campus, the Allied Health Center in Easton, and at the Cambridge Center. Many returning students may register online by logging on to Chesapeake Registration and Beyond (CRAB) through Chesapeake Cruiser. To see if you are eligible to do this, visit the "How to Register" page.

Internet courses follow the same refund policy as other courses, based on the start time of the class. We strongly recommend that you complete the questionnaires in the "Is Online Learning for Me?" section of this website before registering. They will help you determine whether you are a good candidate for online learning. To view a sample online course, go to the WebCT online orientation course through Chesapeake Cruiser, with the Username guest and password guest.