DE Modalities

office suppliesThe FA contract currently identifies the following DE course modalities: online, blended/hybrid, and distance learning classroom courses. We are well aware, however, that post-pandemic other distance education and remote modalities have come into play and will need to be addressed contractually. 

Below is what DEC has approved for the five course modalities going forward. Fully on campus obviously is not a DE modality, but we include it in the list below because we firmly believe in the centrality of traditional, on-campus courses for the future of the college and the best success for our students. We have long held that DE courses should supplement but not supplant on-campus courses. 

Please note that these are proposed definitions of modalities until or unless college administration adopts them (they were approved unanimously at DEC on 3/3/22) and that by defining a modality we are not making an argument about how many sections of each should be offered in a given semester, or in which disciplines, or for which courses or levels (developmental to 200 level to independent study, etc.). E.g., for the first decade that blended/hybrid courses were defined in our contract, only a handful or two were offered at SCCC during that entire time. 

Fully On Campus

Fully on-campus classes meet in a classroom on specific days and times, like MW 9:30-10:45 or TR 2-3:15. Your professor may use our digital learning environment to provide materials to you and/or as a space for you to submit assignments. 

Hybrid

Hybrid classes meet on campus on some days and times (less often than a fully on-campus class), and you’ll do the rest of your coursework online—either in our digital learning environment or, for some classes like in the sciences, via videoconference.

Sufflex

For Sufflex classes some students meet on campus while others work remotely at the same time via videoconferenc, and some coursework also happens in the digital learning environment. Make sure you can be available at the indicated times on the course schedule. 

Real-time Online

Real-time online classes do not meet in person but do require you to regularly meet with your class virtually at the specific times on your course schedule. You’ll use our digital learning environment for all of your coursework. 

Fully online

Fully online classes do not meet on campus or at any specific times. Coursework happens in our digital learning environment on set due dates and times, so you’ll work with your class, but there are never set times when you have to meet your class virtually or on campus.