There may be occasions when your instructor may schedule chat sessions. Most course interaction occurs on the course discussion board which can be accessed any time. Check your online course syllabus for details.

Most courses use Blackboard (WebCT) as a course management system, though some courses, like math and Spanish, use other systems. Students login to the course site when the course begins, read online lectures and their course textbook; read and respond to emails and discussion board postings; and complete assignments and assessments by the due dates set by the instructor. Most communication takes place online, and courses typically have structured weekly lessons and due dates set by the instructor. For more information, visit the Online Learning page.

Class schedules are listed by semester at www.hacc.edu/VirtualCampus/. Click on the drop down box to select a semester, then select GO. A list of courses will appear.

Follow the steps to view the Class Schedule in the question above. Click on the course title to see a detailed course description page. A syllabus will be available on this page prior to the start of the semester.

Your instructor’s contact information will be available on the course description page. See the question above to locate this page.

Some courses do require campus visits for labs or proctored exams.Visit the individual course description page and view the course comments for meeting or proctored testing requirements. If you are unsure, check with your instructor.

Many “guest students” take HACC online courses. You need to currently be enrolled and in good standing at another College or University and taking courses at HACC to fulfill the home institution's degree requirements. For more information, visit Guest Students.

HACC’s Early Admissions program permits students who are currently enrolled in high school to spend their senior year at Harrisburg Area Community College as a full-time student, or to take selected courses to complement their high school curriculum. For complete details, visit Early Admissions.

Online learning is not for everyone. Take our self-assessment to help you determine if online learning is right for you. You may also contact us at 717-780-2541 and ask to speak to our Virtual Advisor/Counselor.

The standard computer hardware is:
• Personal computer with a 500-Megahertz or faster processor;
• 512 MB of RAM or greater (recommends 2 GB);
• 2 GB of available hard-disk space;
• CD-ROM or DVD drive
• 1024 x 768 or higher resolution monitor
• Mouse
• Broadband connection (cable or DSL) or higher recommended; Dial up/56K modem minimum
requirement
However, hardware requirements may vary by course. For example, some courses, like Spanish, require that you have a microphone for voice recordings. See your individual course description page for more details.

If any special software is required, the instructor should mention this in the comments section of the course description page or on the course syllabus. Make sure that any required software is installed on the computer you will be using PRIOR to beginning the course.

General Questions 717-780-2541 virtual@hacc.edu
Counselor/Advisor (Bob Karas) 717-780-2613 rdkaras@hacc.edu
Student Concerns (Elaine Moran) 717-780-2633 emmoran@hacc.edu
Testing/Proctoring (Wanda Page) 717-780-1122 wjpage@hacc.edu
Virtual Campus FAX Number: 717-780-1925

Yes. Visit the Technical Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.