Enrolling in a Virtual College of Texas Course

The Virtual College of Texas (VCT) is a collaborative of accredited public Texas community colleges. It functions as a service of the Texas Association of Community Colleges. Through the VCT, students may take courses from colleges anywhere in Texas. Panola College participates as both a host and a provider college.

If a Panola College (PC) student needs to take a course via a VCT institution, then Panola becomes the host college. Through the VCT, Panola students have access to hundreds of courses from community colleges throughout the state of Texas. These community colleges are referred to as provider colleges. To take a course from a provider college, a student enrolls at PC and pays PC's regular tuition and fees, plus an additional $10 per course hour VCT course fee.

• To access VCT course information

  • Go to http://www.vct.org (VCT website)

  • Click on Catalog. Under Credit Courses, there are two options

    • View Course Listings

    • Search Catalog

  • In View Course Listings, select the semester for the course information and whether you wish to look at all colleges or a particular one.

  • In View Course Listings, all courses will be listed alphabetically according to the course name and number. You will also see starting and ending dates of the course and the mode of instruction. The provider college's name is a hyperlink to teacher and textbook information.

  • In Search Catalog, you have the option to choose whether to search according to course prefix and number, course prefix only, course title, or by using a keyword.

  • In either option, click Submit (or Search) to go to the next screen.

  • Browse for the course you would like to take.

To reserve a space in a VCT class

After you have found the course you would like to take, call the Panola College VCT Coordinator, Patti Rushing, at 903-693-2013 or email prushing@panola.edu to reserve a space. Spaces are limited. Reservations are necessary. Reserving a seat must be done prior to registration in order for you to register for the class. Reserving a seat does not mean you are enrolled in the class.

Enrolling in a VCT course

Registering for a VCT course is the same as enrolling in any PC course. You must go through the regular registration process after a seat for you has been reserved by the VCT Coordinator. You will pay your $10 per course hour VCT fee when you register.

Responsibilities of Your Provider College

Your provider college provides instruction. If the Panola College Store does not have the textbook your course requires, you will have to order it from the provider college. Please order you book as soon as possible to avoid delay in beginning your course work. If you are on financial aid, the PC Store can order your book for you from the provider college store.

Responsibilities of Panola College as your Host College

PC will support you with a full slate of student services, including advisement and counseling, financial aid, and learning resources. PC will also award credit for the course and transcript it. Your transcript will not reflect that your course was taught by an instructor at another institution or that it was a distance learning course.

PC will also provide you with a place to take proctored exams. To set up an appointment to take an exam, please contact Mrs. Sharon Hill at vct-testing@panola.edu or 903-693-1155 in the M. P. Baker Library at Panola College in Carthage, Texas. Photo identification is required.

For more information about the Virtual College of Texas and Panola College as a host college, contact Panola College VCT Coordinator, Patti Rushing, at 903-693-2013 or email prushing@panola.edu.