When will I have access to my online courses?

Most instructors set their online course availability for sometime during the week before classes officially begin.  For example, the full-semester spring 2008 classes that begin January 14th, 2008, may be accessible by students sometime between January 7th and January 13th.  However, please be aware that instructors do not have to make their online classes accessible to student view until the day they are officially set to begin.  Also, some instructors may have their classes set to be available to students quite a while before the semester begins.

How do I begin my online course?

You are encouraged to login to Blackboard and access your course for textbook information and to begin the Online Orientation as soon as possible.  When a student enrolls in online courses at West Hills College for the first time, a "Welcome to WHC Online" letter is sent to the student's whccd.net email account.  This letter will tell you how to login to Blackboard.

Directions for changing your password are just one part of the Online Orientation. Your Blackboard password is stored independently of your other passwords, such as your student email and My West Hills passwords. Changing your password for your online course does not change your password for your whccd.net student email or for logging into My West Hills.

Please note the following address for your online course

http://online.westhillscollege.com

You can also access your online course from the WHC online web site www.westhillscollege.com/online

Click on the Blackboard Login link in the "Quick Links" box.

What is my login information?

USER NAME
When a student enrolls in online courses at West Hills College for the first time, a "Welcome to WHC Online" letter is sent to the student's whccd.net email account.  Your User ID and Password for logging into Blackboard are discussed in this letter.

PASSWORD
New online students: When a student enrolls in online courses at West Hills College for the first time, a "Welcome to WHC Online" letter is sent to the student's whccd.net email account.  Your User ID and Password for logging into Blackboard are discussed in this letter.

It is recommended that you change your password the first time you login to your online course. Click on the Personal Information link in the "Tools" box on the left-hand side of your Blackboard home page and change your password.  Please take the time to make a note of your user name and password so that you do not forget it and find yourself unable to login.
Returning online students: Your password has not been changed.

How can I find out which textbooks I need and how do I buy them?

If you have questions, please call the bookstore that serves the campus your online class is assigned to.  If your class section number begins with the letter C or F (C01, C02, F03, etc.), please call the Coalinga campus bookstore at 1.800.266.1114, Ext. 2360 (locally at 559.934.2360).  If your class begins with the letter L or N (L01, L02, N10, etc.), please call the Lemoore campus bookstore at 1.800.266.1114, Ext. 3440 (locally at 559.925.3440).

To view a current list of textbooks, please use the following links:

> Coalinga Bookstore
> Lemoore Bookstore

HELPDESK

The Helpdesk can reset your password should the need arise.

Contact the helpdesk, toll-free at 800.266.1114 x2002 or online at helpdesk@westhillscollege.com

Beginning the orientation

West Hills College Student Email

New student accounts will include your WHC student email address as your primary contact.

You can access your student email account from the WHC web site at:

www.westhillscollege.com and clicking on the Student Email link in the "Online Services" box in the middle right-hand side of the page. 

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT USING AN EMAIL SERVICE OTHER THAN YOUR WHCCD STUDENT EMAIL ACCOUNT (SUCH AS HOTMAIL OR YAHOO) TO CONTACT ONLINE INSTRUCTORS MAY RESULT IN MISPLACED OR LOST ASSIGNMENTS.  This is due to a spam filter that is in place on our system that routes what it considers to be spam or junk email to a quarantine folder. Sometimes email routed to this quarantine folder may go unchecked or get deleted. Online faculty require that you use only your West Hills College student email account for communication purposes in their online classes.

It is the responsibility of each online student to ensure that they have access to a reliable computer and Internet service for the duration of the semester.  Please take note of the system requirements and software issues listed in the Course Documents section of the orientation.  Attempting to take online courses using hardware and software that fall below the minimum posted system requirements could result in a substandard grade for the course(s).

We appreciate your interest in online learning and welcome any feedback that you wish to contribute. We are committed to make your distance learning experience the best possible. Email your comments to us at online@westhillscollege.com