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Online Counseling:
Shasta College, like many community colleges, is trying to expand the curriculum offerings that are available to students located throughout its district. What makes Shasta College unique to most of the districts in California is its size and rural nature. The college serves a three-county area of approximately 10,000 square miles, with a large population base outside of the city of Redding. Traditionally, the college has tried to provide educational opportunities for students, but with the academic requirements to hire a faculty member and the minimum number of students required to fund a class, the college has not been totally successful in meeting student needs. In order to better serve the students, the college has developed locations in Burney, Red Bluff, and Weaverville to provide courses using two-way interactive video. The application of this technology has provided increased access to courses for students. The Online Counseling grant provides Technology Model Applications Pilot Project (TMAPP) funds to purchase computer-based 128Kbps video-conferencing equipment. With the installation of ISDN lines at a site, the student can call up the counseling office and visit with a counselor in real time and within the student?s schedule. Time and effort that will be saved if the counselor does not have to travel to a distant location. Students will also have a greater opportunity to participate in the Extended Education program if they are able to dial the college for essential services. Shasta College believes there are many services that can be delivered to students using this technology. Admissions and records, financial aid, health services, academic tutoring, and consultation with individual faculty members are services that students may be able to access as a result of this grant. By using the grant to build the infrastructure, Shasta College will be better able to serve all of the students regardless of their physical location. |
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