"Distance counseling is technology-assisted counseling," explained Dory Leahey, HACC's dean of retention services. "It uses alternate forms of communications, such as e-mail, phone, and video conferencing, to complement or substitute face-to-face interactions based on a student's needs and the available technology."
Lisette Ruiz-Newhard at the Gettysburg Campus, Jackie Bareuther at the Lancaster Campus, Gina Bowers, Kelvin Harrison and Elfi Hoskins at the Harrisburg Campus and Ann Burris of the Lebanon Campus, attended a two-day DCC Training Program provided by ReadyMinds, the leading provider of Distance Career Counseling and the Center for Credentialing and Education, Inc., an affiliate of the NBCC®.
The 15-hour program provided intensive instruction in the use of distance techniques, with specific applications to career, school and clinical counseling specialties. Participants were required to complete a Training Accountability Requirement document in order to receive their DCC certification.
Some of the topics the counselors covered in the training included looking at how distanced communications affect ethical issues, building strong working relationships, resolving difficult situations, following best practices and delivering efficient communications, legal issues, and determining the best use of technology.
The need for the certification has become increasingly important as the number of students enrolled in HACC's Virtual Campus has increased, according to Leahey.
"This fall there are nearly 2,300 students taking at least one online course," she said, adding that counselors are already receiving requests for personal counseling and academic advising from these students. "Right now we are looking at how we can offer these two services online and protect the confidentiality of students who want to communicate this way."
In addition to online courses, HACC's Virtual Campus also uses two other delivery systems. The first, compressed video, is used primarily to offer "live" classes among the College's campuses in Harrisburg, Lancaster, and Lebanon. The system also permits connection to other locations with similar equipment, such as area high schools and various national and international businesses.
The second delivery system involves videocourses, also called telecourses. Videocourses generally require campus visits for an initial orientation session, three review sessions, and three proctored exams. Orientation and review sessions are videotaped and made available in the libraries of the College's four campuses.