Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement

Frequently Asked Questions

• Where do I purchase my textbooks?
  
  Text books can be purchased at the Pioneer Bookstore. Follow the links below for more information. Jefferson Campus Pioneer Bookstore , Shelby-Hoover Campus Pioneer Bookstore Purchase Online
  
• How do I contact the instructor?
  
  You may contact me through Jeff State e-mail at ctubbs@jeffstateonline.com, or from WebCT by clicking on the E-mail link. E-mail is normally returned within 24 hours unless sent on the weekend
  
  Messages may be left on my office phone at (205) 856-6051. I try to return calls within 24 hours unless messages where left on Friday afternoons. Feel free to call me at anytime. Also, I have office hours available so come by if you prefer, my office is RSH 214G on the Shelby-Hoover Campus. Click on the Office Hours link for my semester hours.
  
• What are the hardware and software requirements for taking an online course?
  
  Hardware Requirements:
  
  Although at least a Pentium III with 128MB RAM is preferred, you can complete the assignments if you have a Pentium II or even a Pentium computer with at least 64MB of RAM, or less if your system will run Microsoft Office software you will be using.
  
  Software Requirements:
  
  Microsoft Office XP Professional. You can check the version of your software by opening your program (PowerPoint, Word, Excel or Access), click on HELP, then click on ABOUT PROGRAM_NAME. If you see 2002 in the version, you have the correct XP version. Microsoft Office XP Professional comes with PowerPoint 2002, Word 2002, Excel 2002, Access 2002, etc. You will use all of these packages during our course. If you have PowerPoint 2002, Word 2002 and Excel 2002, but do not have Access 2002, you most likely have Microsoft Office XP. This is the standard edition. The difference between Standard edition and the Professional edition is that the Professional edition also has Access. Some versions of Microsoft Works have Word 2002 only. I can NOT read Microsoft Works files so only use Microsoft Works if it includes Word 2002 or Word 2000. You will not be able to use the Microsoft Works Spreadsheet or Database software to complete assignments in this class.
  
  IF and ONLY IF, you do NOT mind if the instructions in the book do not match your software, you are welcome to use an older version of Microsoft Office such as Microsoft Office 2000 Professional. If you use Microsoft Office 2000 Professional, you can complete all assignments. However, you will not have several features found in the Office XP version. For example, the task pane is a new feature added to the XP version. You can do the assignment steps in our textbook without the task pane, but you will have to find a different way to access the features required. You will also be missing several graphic files that the book will ask you for. In this case, you may substitute a similar graphic file found on your computer. All the features we will use in our class can be found in the 2000 version but many features may appear on different menus. If this does not bother you, if you can find them on other menus, you're welcome to use Office 2000 Professional. You may even use Office 97 Professional if this is the software you have installed on your computer. However, if you use Office 97, you will have to skip some steps and save your work so that you can later take your files to the computer lab at school and finish any features/steps you had to skip. If you have some of the software, but are missing others, you can always use the computer labs on either campus to complete your assignments. Actually, you can do all of your work in the computer labs on campus if you'd prefer.
  
  If you want to follow the steps in the book exactly, make sure you have PowerPoint 2002, Word 2002, Excel 2002 and Access 2002 - all will be present if you have Microsoft Office XP Professional.
  
  You can purchase the academic version of Microsoft Office XP Professional for approximately $199 in the college bookstore. The academic version is identical to the regular version which sells for approximately $479 retail.
  
  
• In order to successfully complete an on-line computer course, you will need to have basic computer skills before you start a computer course. By basic computer skills, I mean that you know how to turn on your computer, how to load programs, how to load a browser, how to navigate your way to a Website given a Web address, how to check and reply to email, how to attach files to email, how to restart your computer, how to browse a local directory to locate a file for attachment, etc. I can help you with any questions you have if you will call me. I often help students by walking though specific steps over the phone, and I'm happy to help you in this area. However, if you've never used a computer before, it would be much better for you to take a computer class in a regular classroom environment so that you will have more one on one instruction time. The more computer experience you have, the better. If you are lacking in computer experience, but still want to take an online course, you can handle it if you plan lots of extra time into your schedule. The more experience you have, the faster you will be able to complete the work in the course.
•  Who do I contact for technical and administrative support?
  
  Enrollment Services:
  (205) 856-7704
  help@jeffstateonline.com
  
  Technical Help:
  techsupport@jeffstateonline.com
  
  Technology Failures:
  
  Procedures to follow in the event of technology failure (ie: WebCT server is unavailable):
  
  Let someone know that WebCT is unavailable by calling the school at (205) 983-5900 or (205) 856-1200.
  
  I have an exact copy of most of the information from WebCT on my school Website at http://faculty.jeffstateonline.com/ctubbs/ which you are welcome to use if the WebCT server is unavailable. This link will direct you to my homepage where you will select your present course number. The Course page provides all information needed to complete your assignments. You will not be able to turn in your assignments at this link. You can save your work and upload your assignments using WebCT after it becomes available.
  
•  Who do I contact for Financial Aid information?
  
  Financial Aid regulations require that Jefferson State Community College document that a financial aid recipient is attending the classes for which they are enrolled. Normally, a student must turn in to the financial aid office a form signed by the instructor. For Internet courses, the financial aid office will accept an e-mail from the student to the instructor indicating they have enrolled in the course. Instructors will forward this e-mail to the financial aid office as verification that the student is participating in the class.
  
  To request a financial aid letter, e-mail me at ctubbs@jeffstateonline.com and I will forward a letter to financial aid with a carbon copy to you. For more information on financial aid, go to http://www.jeffstateonline.com/FinancialAid/
  
•  Who do I contact for ADA accommodations?
  
  Accommodations will not be agreed to until I have received an accommodations notice from the Jefferson State Community College Americans with Disabilities Act Office. Students who require ADA accommodations should contact Martha Smith at 205-856-7731, FSC 301 or 205-983-5904, RSH 102E, as soon as possible upon registration for this course.
  
• When and where can I access computer labs?
  
  Jefferson Campus (Carson Road):
  
  Northeast Library
  Learning Success Center
  Student Support Services
  ACT Center
  Ruby Carson Computer Facilities
  Shelby-Hoover Campus (Valleydale Road):
  
  Shelby Library
  Shelby Computer Facilities
  
• How do I get started with WebCT?
  
  Log on to WebCT by entering http://virtual.jeffstateonline.com in the address bar of your browser.
  Click on your course number.
  Click on ONLINE LEARNING.
  From there, take the two inventories to find your learning style and computer skills in addition to the necessary computer equipment.
  Next click on the specific links to obtain a syllabus, schedule, and assignment sheets.
  To test your knowledge of chapters and tutorials covered, take the practice quizzes from the Exam link on the main page. These quizzes can be taken as many times as necessary up until exam day.
  A Discussion link is available to talk with other students in the same course during the semester. Feel free to use this link to discuss homework or related topics.
  
•  How to I submit my Assignments using WebCT?
  
  
• Procedures for Submitting Assignments:
  
  

  1.	Click on Assignments Link from main page
  2.	Click on Assignment Number
  3.	Under Submit Assignment, complete the following: Status: Not submitted Student files: None
  4.	To upload your completed assignment, click Upload file.
  5.	Upload file Remove files
  6.	Notification: If you want to be notified when your assignment has been successfully submitted, enter your email address.
  7.	After you have uploaded your completed assignment, you must click Submit assignment.
  8.	Submit assignment
  9.	Click on Upload File
  10.	Select correct assignment to be submitted (always use filenames without spaces and save as html file), then click Upload file. You will be redirected to the above screen.
  11.	From above screen, click Submit assignment

  
  
•  How do I take exams with WebCT?
  
  Procedures for Taking Exams:
  
  Exam dates and location are posted on the schedule for each class in WebCT and on my faculty Website. Exams are giving through WebCT and will be similar to the Practice Quizzes even throughout the semester. Exams are Multiple Choice with 60 questions on each exam. Be sure to study the Practice Quizzes on WebCT for each exam. You will take your exam on the computer in the lab on campus through WebCT, but with a specific code only to recognize the lab on campus. It is just like taking an exam on paper, except that you will receive your grade upon completion. Exams also cover the material learned by completing assignments so be sure to have completed all assignments prior to each exam.
  
•  How do I use the e-mail provided with WebCT?
  
  To send mail:
  
  

  1.	Click on 'E-mail” from the course homepage.
  2.	Click on 'Compose Mail Message.”
  3.	Click 'browse” to select recipients. The instructor is listed first (Ann Lyons).
  4.	Press 'ctrl” while clicking on each recipient to select more than one recipient. Arrow down to continue selecting all of your classmates. It may not scroll all the way down.
  5.	After selecting recipients, click 'done” in the selection window.
  6.	Type in the subject of your email. Your subject should be specific and precise.
  7.	Type your message in the body of the email.
  8.	Attach files at the bottom. You will have to 'browse” for the file you wish to attach. Select the file from the place you saved it by double-clicking on it.
  9.	Click 'attach” after you have selected your file. After you click 'attach,” make sure the file is listed as attached.
  10.	You are now ready to click 'send.” Your email will then be sent to everyone you selected as recipients.

  
  To check email:
  
  

  1.	Click on 'E-mail.”
  2.	Click on 'inbox.”
  3.	Click on individual email that you wish to read.
  4.	To open attachments, click the paper clip, then mark the bubble next to the file name you want to open.
  5.	Next, click 'download.” You can select to open the file in its current location or save it.
  6.	To save a copy of the attachment, click on 'file” then 'save as.” Choose the location you wish to save it to (probably a floppy disk (drive A)). Then change the name of it. Click 'save.” You can then type into it, resave it by selecting 'file” then 'save,” and send it using the above directions.

  .
  
  If the file does not open, you will need to save it first, then open it:
  
  

  1.	On the next screen the circle for 'Save file to disk” should be checked. Click OK.
  2.	On the 'Save as” screen, save your file to a disk or the desktop or 'My Documents.”
  3.	Minimize the current screen by clicking the left-most button in the upper-right corner of the screen.
  4.	Locate the file you have just saved by double-clicking on 'My Computer” then browsing to find the location and file you have just downloaded.
  5.	5. Double-click on the file name. The file should open now if you have the file format (program) on your computer. If a menu of options to open the file appears, select WinWord.

  
  
•  What is the procedure for evaluating the instructor?
  
  When you come to take the final exam, you will be given a student evaluation of the course to complete. Also an online course evaluation is available for students at: http://is.jeffstateonline.com/evaluator. This evaluation requires students to log in with their social security number, but all evaluations are anonymous. Students registered for more than one course should complete an evaluation for each course. The site for online course evaluations will not be available until around the end of the term.
  
  
•  What is the procedure for dropping a class?
  
  Stop by enrollment services and pick up a drop form. Fill it out and turn it in prior to the last day to receive a W. This date is published in the college class schedule. It is normally shortly after midterm. You do not need an instructor's signature to drop a class prior to the last day to receive a W. Your grade will be a W for the class if you drop it before the last day to receive a W. Your grade point average is not affected by dropping a class prior to the last day to receive a W. After this date, but before the final exam, you may also drop a class. In this case, you will need your instructor's signature on your drop form. Your instructor will assign a grade of either WP (Withdrawn Passing) or WF (Withdrawn Failing). A WP will not affect your grade point average. A WF will be calculated in your grade point average the same as if you received an F in the class. I am very lenient about giving students a WP if you are close. However, in order to drop a class after the last day to receive a W, you will need to pick up a drop form from enrollment services, fill it out, and get my signature and grade assignment (WP or WF) and turn it in to enrollment services before the first day of final exams. You cannot drop a class once final exams begin. Final exam dates are listed in the class schedule. Keep in mind that many health insurance policies will cover students 18 years of age or older under their parent's policy if the student is a full time student. You must be enrolled in 12 or more hours of classes in order to be officially considered a full time student. Dropping a class will reduce your total number of hours.