CollegeNow CollegeNow On-Campus or Online

• High School Student Application
• Registration Form for On-Campus Courses
• High School Student Release of Information
• Certificate of Residence
  • A Certificate of Residence is required of any New York State resident taking a course at a community college and must be submitted annually. Applications for Certificates of Residence are processed through the CollegeNow Office. A student’s teacher or guidance counselor will collect the application and supporting documentation at the beginning of the semester.
  • Please Note: Students residing in Tompkins or Cortland County, foreign exchange students, and students who have not been a New York State resident for the past full year do not need to submit an application. Students who already have a valid certificate on file do not need to submit an application.
  • If you need assistance completing the application, please contact CollegeNow at 607.844.8222 x4311.

Students will be required to demonstrate college-level reading, writing, and math skills either through placement testing or prior college-level coursework.

The CollegeNow staff works with students and their guidance counselor on an individual basis to determine readiness for college-level coursework. Tompkins Cortland uses the Accuplacer test to determine placement in Reading, Writing and Math courses. Students can familiarize themselves with the placement testing process by reviewing the Accuplacer study guide, which includes an overview of topics and links to online practice questions. The College's Baker Center has also created an excellent Math study resource called the Go2Guide, with links to practice videos for each topic covered in the College Math's curriculum through Trigonometry.

Students must independently secure permission from their high school principal if credits will count toward their high school diploma. CollegeNow will not become involved in this process. 

Please visit TC3's Access & Equity site for more information.

When they are in class, students under 17 years of age must have a parent, guardian, or responsible adult on campus.

Successful distance learners have a few characteristics in common. Read this list to determine whether online classes are a good fit for you.

The Open SUNY Readiness Guide

See how an online course works. Check your computer skills. Prepare for success in online courses.  Are you Ready?

Are you self-disciplined and motivated?

Unlike traditional courses in which classes meet face-to-face at specific times, you will complete your work throughout the week when it is convenient for you. However, without the structure of regular class meetings, it will be up to you to pace yourself and keep up with assignments.

Are you able to commit time each day or week to your online course(s)?

Online courses often require at least as much or more of a time commitment than traditional courses. Before enrolling, be sure you have enough time to keep up with your daily or weekly assignments.

Do you have good reading, writing, and communication skills?

In online courses, most communication is written. If writing is a challenge for you, be sure to find out how much writing is required for the course before enrolling.

Are you comfortable seeking help when needed?

If you have problems with the technology or course content, you need to let your instructor know as soon as possible so that he or she knows how to assist you.

Will you miss the experience of sitting in a classroom?

There is considerable interaction in online courses. However, it is not the same as face-to-face interaction. If you feel that a traditional classroom is essential for learning or you want to experience campus life, then online classes may not be right for you.

Are you comfortable using computers?

Your computer is your primary learning and communication tool in online courses. Though you do not need to be a computer expert, you do need know some basic technology skills, such as word processing and using a Web browser.

If you have the right qualities to be a successful online student, you will likely find it to be a very convenient and rewarding alternative to traditional classroom learning.

All high school students enrolled in online courses are required to work with their high school counselor and/or a mentor, who both play essential roles in supporting student success in college-level online coursework. Reading the Advisor Guidelines and Mentor Guidelines can help students understand the roles of the advisor and mentor and how they will be expected to participate in these important support systems.

While online courses are asynchronous, meaning there is no requirement to log on at a specific time, online courses are not self-paced. Assignments must be submitted by the date and time specified by the course schedule.

The following are a few general guidelines for meeting online course expectations. Students should refer to the Tips for Success in an Online Course for a complete set of guidelines. 

• The average student spends 2.5 to 4 hours per week per credit on coursework.  For a three-credit course, you should plan on spending at least 7.5 to 12 hours per week on the course.
• Before their online course begins, students are encouraged to print the course outline and review expectations and due dates with their mentor.
• Students must be able to log in at least three to five times each week, complete all assignments on time, and read all course documents provided by the instructor and other students.
• It is very important that students log in to their online course(s) within two days of the course start date.

Note: All online courses follow the College’s academic calendar (not the student’s high school’s calendar). Note that online courses normally start before highs school begin the school year. Additionally, school breaks may not align. Students are required to follow the college calendar for online courses.Logging into an Online Course

After registering for an online course, a student should receive a letter from CollegeNow including his log-in information. Contact CollegeNow at 607.844.8222, Ext. 4311, for help logging in.

One week before the online course begins, the student will be able to log in and view any available course materials. 

1. Go to my.tc3.edu and select the Create An Account. 
2. With your myTC3 username and password follow these steps:
   1. Select "Sign in" 
   2. Enter your myTC3 username and password.
   3. The first time you log in successfully to myTC3 you will be directed to enroll in myTC3 Password. You can recover or change your myTC3 password later or receive password assistance in accordance with the Student Identity Verification Policy.
   4. Select "Web Courses" link.

Remember to sign out when finished, especially if you are on a public or shared computer.

Students should have access to a computer with high-speed Internet access and word-processing software. They may also need to purchase additional course-required software, for example, for a computer applications course.

There are some technical requirements for successful participation in an online course. Students should read the College's Student Computer Recommendations  to learn more about the required hardware, internet connectivity, and web browser settings.

For help accessing an online course, email help@tompkinscortland.on.spiceworks.com or call 607.844.8222 x4550. For technical assistance while logged in to the course(s), contact the OPEN SUNY Helpdesk at OpenSUNYHelp@suny.edu or 1.800.875.6269.

Communication in the online learning environment is essential. Just as in a traditional classroom, students are encouraged to ask questions in an online course. Students can post questions to the course, where the instructor or other students may answer them when they log in. Some instructors may log in daily while others may not. If the instructor shares his or her usual log-in times, it is possible to anticipate when a question may be answered.

Before the course begins, students should be sure they understand how the instructor expects to be contacted. Contact information and office hours often appear at the top of the syllabus or course outline. The mentor can provide assistance in helping the student understanding instructor guidelines.

Online tutoring is available through the Baker Center for Learning’s Online Tutoring program. Additionally, several helpful Online Resources are available.

Online courses generally require textbooks. Textbooks can be purchased through Tompkins Cortland's bookstore’s website or at the campus bookstore. Information is also available about How to Locate Your Course Textbooks.

At the end of the course, there is a 2 hour 20 minute mandatory, comprehensive, in-person, paper-and-pencil, final exam. You must score 60% or higher on the final to pass the course and you need at least an overall average of 73% in the course to earn a C. The final is given during the last days of the course at a time specified by your course instructor. If you cannot take the final on campus, you may request from the instructor, approval to take the course at an alternate location with an authorized proctor. The proctor must be an employee of an educational institution (IE, a teacher, counselor, certified tutor, librarian, or administrator who is not related to you). You must notify your instructor and provide the name, position, and contact information of the proctor for authorization.

As a student taking a CollegeNow Online course, you are required to work with a mentor at your high school. Your mentor will support you in your transition to college-level coursework in the online environment.

Managing your time effectively is essential to success in online courses. You will be required to log in to the course at least three times per week and complete all readings, assignments, and discussion posts by the specified deadlines. You should plan on dedicating 2.5 to 4 hours per week, per credit to your online courses. If you are unsure about whether the online environment is a good match for your learning style, visit our “Is It Right for You?” page.

Before the First Week of Class

• Purchase or rent any required textbooks. Find them at the TC3 Bookstore.
• Familiarize yourself with the College’s Academic Standards and Grading Policies.
• Review the Implications of Beginning a College Transcript.
• Log in to your myTC3 account, select Web Courses, and complete the Brightspace Student Orientation. If your course has live remote meetings, download the Microsoft Teams app. Review Accessing Brightspace and Teams to learn more about these tools for your online courses.
• If you do not participate in class for two consecutive weeks, you will be viewed as not attending the course and will be administratively withdrawn, which appears on your transcript as an AW.
• Review the deadlines for dropping and withdrawing, which are posted on the College’s Academic Calendar. Online courses follow the College’s Academic Calendar. Usually, online courses start earlier than your high school begins the school year; also, school breaks may not align. You are responsible for submitting your work according the course outline’s schedule, regardless of whether you have classes at your high school that day.
• If the student needs to drop or withdraw from the class, an Official Change of Schedule Form must be completed and submitted by the deadline.

During the First Week of Class

• Log into your myTC3 and Brightspace accounts and review the course materials.
• Complete the Student Brightspace Orientation. You will see this course in your Course list in the My Courses Window, or you can go here after logging into Brightspace.
• Print the course outline with due dates and decide on regular times during the week to log in to the course.
• Understand the attendance policy for your course. At a miniumum, expect to participate in your course at least three times per week; this includes not only logging in, but doing assignments and/or submitting comments in the discussion forum, as required by your instructor. Instructors may administratively withdraw you if you fail to participate for two consecutiveweeks. Always contact your instructor if you expect any interruptions to your attendance.
• Review the exam dates and deadlines for readings and assignments. Enter the dates into your planner, and use the calendar on your phone for reminders.
• With your mentor, set up a schedule for weekly check-ins throughout the semester.
• If you feel you cannot succeed in the course, you must drop or withdraw by the deadlines to avoid receiving a low grade. A drop leaves no record on your transcript. A withdrawal is recorded as a W, which does not affect your GPA, but does count as credits attempted and not earned. If you withdraw after the regular withdrawal deadline, you will either receive a WP (“withdraw pass”) or a WF (“withdraw fail”). A WF factors into the GPA as an F. Use this form to withdraw from the course. 

Throughout the Semester

• If you have questions, contact the instructor and attend their office hours.
• Check your grade regularly using the Gradebook in Brightspace or the course OER. Ask your instructor or mentor if you need help understanding your grade.
• Follow the schedule you set with your mentor for regular check-ins.
• Review deadlines of remaining assignments using the course outline’s schedule.
• Pay attention to the important semester dates for course withdrawals. Tell your mentor if you feel you cannot earn a passing grade and need to withdraw. Use this form to withdraw from the course. 
• Make use of Tompkins Cortland's Library services and Online Tutoring services.

For Students Taking Winter or Summer Online Courses

Summer and winter online courses are a great way to earn college credit while exploring potential career interests. However, you should take into account these special considerations due to the condensed nature of these courses.

• Because winter and summer courses are offered in a condensed format, the drop and withdraw deadlines arrive much sooner. Review the Academic Calendar for winter and summer courses, and the drop and withdrawal deadlines.
• Due to the compressed schedule, you are expected to cover more work at a faster pace.
• Remember to factor in other commitments, including a summer job or family vacation, before you register.