Accessibility
Technology can be a great tool to help students achieve success, but it should not be an obstacle that blocks them from it. Southern Crescent Technical College believes that everyone should have access to tools which can help them succeed in college. While some students have accessibility challenges due to a disability, other students face accessibility challenges through time, location, or technological resources. Alternative formats of course materials are available for everyone and they can help you to overcome those challenges.
As a student, you should be able to interact with your courses, and lessons, according to your study needs and what works best for you – whether that is reading a file for yourself or having it read to you through assistive technology. In each Blackboard course, there is a drop-down arrow to the right of all documents. By clicking the drop-down arrow, you can select a more accessible format for your needs. Depending on the file, these alternate formats may include Tagged PDF, HTML, ePub, Electronic Braille, Audio, or a Translated Version, with more options to come. To find out which alternative formats would work best for your needs, check out the chart and format descriptions on the Ally Alternative Formats page. To get additional information on accessibility, see the Ally Help for Students page. You can also see Ally Tutorials for Blackboard on YouTube.
Let’s look at an example of how accessibility, and alternative formats, works for everyone. Say you are commuting and want to hear the document instead of reading it. Besides downloading one of the alternative formats, there is also a speaker icon in your Blackboard classes which allows you to choose to have the document read aloud. This is the new text-to-speech tool. It can be used in all your classes by using the icon in the bottom left of your screen, or for document reading to the right of each document. A tutorial for student use can be found at YouTube Tutorial for Students.
SCTC is committed to providing equal access to higher education for all and we strive to comply with the federal accessibility standards. If you need additional assistance with course content, please contact your instructor.
State Authorization and Program Integrity
On October 29, 2010, the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) released the final “program integrity” regulations. One regulation requires postsecondary institutions offering distance or correspondence courses to students not living in the institution’s state to obtain authorization from states in which it operates (has enrolled students). This authorization is required for students of that state to receive federal financial aid (gvtc.tcsg.edu).
SCTC is a member of Southern Regional Educational Board (SREB), one of the four regional compacts which comprise NC-SARA. NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education. Southern Crescent Technical College is authorized to provide online education to students who reside in 48 SARA member states. Certain online programs, which include internships, practicums, or other experiential requirements may trigger additional State Authorization requirements.
Complaint Process
Any complaints pertaining to a Southern Crescent Technical College online course or program should be filed with Southern Crescent Technical College first. Complaints not resolved at the college level may be submitted to TCSG using the Program Integrity Complaint Form.