Bevill State Community College addresses the enormous impact which technology has on higher education. This involves the application of varied strategies that deliver education to students who are in a different location other than that of the instructor. Four distinct approaches to distance education are utilized by the College:
- Web-Based Instruction In order to achieve the goal of providing convenient courses to students at any time or place, the College offers web-based instruction. Students interested in enrolling in internet courses should visit the Distance Education - Technical Requirements section of the College's website to obtain information concerning equipment/software and course requirements. Although the course content is delivered entirely online, students may be required to take proctored exams though online proctoring software such as Honorlock. Academic Testing Centers are provided at each campus to assist with proctoring exams.
- Virtual Courses The equivalent of a face-to-face class with dedicated class time for lectures. However, students attend the class remotely via computer eliminating the need to leave work or home to attend class. The instructor may require proctored exams similar to Web-Based Instruction.
- Hybrid Courses These courses combine in-class lectures with web-based assignments. Time in class is reduced and is replaced with web-based assignments that are required to complete the course. Students must come to class as scheduled for lectures and exams, complete web-based assignments, and work with others to complete group assignments or projects.
- HyFlex Courses These courses feature highly flexible course delivery methods that offer students multiple options for receiving instruction and participating in course activities. These may include a mix of face-to-face, online, or virtual instruction. Available options vary by course.
Academic Testing Centers are located on each campus to provide distance education students an alternative proctored test environment. Faculty must contact the testing center to schedule appropriate times and dates for student testing each term for their courses. Students are responsible for scheduling exams in the academic testing center one week prior to the exam availability.
Successful distance education students are self-directed, mature, disciplined, and highly motivated people. Students who take virtual, hybrid, and web-based courses must be able to work independently with a minimum amount of face-to-face contact with faculty and a minimum amount of interaction with other students. Students assume full responsibility for developing a highly personalized study plan and adhering strictly to that plan to ensure individual learning.