SOLANOnline

Frequently Asked Questions ...

Question: Will I ever have to attend any classes on campus at Solano?

Answer: Currently all full online courses at Solano are totally on the Internet and do not require any attendance on Solano’s campus. A few courses may have a mandatory orientation meeting held on campus.  That information is included in the course preview information for the specific term.

Question: How much time will I be spending per week for my online course?

Answer: You can expect to spend the same amount of time in an online course as you would a face-to-face course held on campus. Plan on spending the same amount of time on the computer as you would in going to class and then the same amount of time on assignments.

Question: Can I work ahead in the course and complete the semester in a few weeks?

Answer: No, you must participate in the course week by week throughout the semester. This format is not an independent study course completed at your own pace. Some instructors will furnish you with a calendar of assignments and reading to allow you to read ahead, while others will only give you assignments and readings as the class week opens.  Online courses are interactive and fluid and are extremely flexible.

Question: Is there a set time each week that I have to login to the course and do the work?

Answer: You can login anytime. In the online courses, you work on your own within the time frame established by the instructor. Unless the instructor has mandatory chat sessions, you will not have to login at a certain time. You will have to keep up with all assignments and exams as they are presented.

Question: After registering, how do I know when and where to login to the course?

Answer: Courses are administered through the www.SOLANOnline.org Web site.  Students are first setup in their online courses at that site approximately two weeks before the beginning of the semester.  After the first setup, students are activated at SOLANOnline two business days after enrollment and payment of fees are received.  In order for your enrollment to be activated at SOLANOnline, you must have all your fees paid in full and your current e-mail address on your records at SCC. If you login to Online Services, you can update your email address on the Records Verification page.  Within 48 hours of your SOLANOnline activation, you will receive an e-mail message with login instructions. The actual course material may not be available, but you can access the student tutorial that will help you learn more about how the course works.  Courses actually open a few days before the beginning of the semester.

Question: Do I need to buy a textbook?

Answer: Yes, you do need to buy a textbook and, in some courses, a workbook also. The Solano College bookstore will sell you the materials online and ship them to you. You never have to come to campus to purchase books for an online course.