Telecourse Program Coordinator FAQ

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we receive from telecourse coordinators and distance education directors concerning use of the ever-expanding telecourse program nationwide. If there is not enough information provided, please contact ACT.

Does our college or university need to sign a legal agreement in order to become a member of ACT's telecourse program?
Absolutely not! Registering with ACT's telecourse program is free and no additional licensing fees are required to participate. Colleges assume no financial risk for participating. Your students enter into a contractual rental agreement with ACT when they place their order and are personally responsible for the payment of all fees, for taking proper care of telecourse materials and for returning them to us in a timely manner to avoid any additional fees.

What are the steps to be taken in order to offer this telecourse program at my college or university?
First, you must license each video series you plan to offer with the appropriate producer. Once proper licensing is obtained, please contact our customer service department at 800/745-5480 or by email to request to be added to our list of member institutions. We will send you a registration packet to complete; please return it to us at least 45 days prior to your semester start date. Our services are FREE to member institutions.
For example:

Spring Semester, January 18 to May 14, 2000 XYZ COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Course #	Course Title	Telecourse Title
OCE-101	Oceanograhy	Endless Voyage
SOC-112	Modern Sociology	Exploring Society
MUS 115	Introduction to Music	World of Music

How much will the rental or access cost the students, and do they get a refund at the conclusion of a course?
The cost is a nonrefundable $35.00 to $55.00 per course, plus shipping and handling for VHS, DVD, DVD-ROM, and CD-ROM. Additional formats include streaming video and video downloads, which are priced from $27.00 to $55.00 per course. For some courses, individual lessons are available for purchase either as streaming video or video downloads and are priced from $3.29 to $11.99 per lesson. The only reason a refund would be given is if the college or university drops the course after a student has enrolled.

In what formats are the telecourse materials available?
ACT offers most of our telecourses on videocassette (VHS). We also offer a number of titles on DVD, DVD-ROM, CD-ROM, and also streaming video and video downloads via the Internet. For a complete list, see telecourse products and their available formats.

What are the system requirements for streaming video access?
1. Broadband connection (cable, DSL, or broadband wireless)
2. Windows Media Player 9.0 or higher (free download available)
3. Internet Explorer 7.0 or higher OR Firefox 3.6 (PC) or higher (free download available)
4. Testing the user's system before purchase is required.
5. Streaming video will not play in AOL, Safari, or Chrome browsers or on Macintosh/Apple computers.

How will a student know if his or her computer and Internet connection are fast enough to handle the streaming video files?
Before the students begin the ordering process, we strongly recommend they test their computer by playing a streamed video using the Streaming Video Test. If they are satisfied with the quality of the video, then they can obtain their lessons in the streaming video format. If they are not satisfied with the quality of the video they view, then it is suggested that they obtain their course in another format instead. If a student's computer does not meet the system requirements and he or she chooses to order the streaming video access anyway, then ACT will not be responsible for lack of quality in the streamed files, and a refund will not be issued.

Do students have to view the streaming video files from the same computer every time?
No; students can view the streaming video files from any computer, as long as it meets the system requirements. However, ACT strongly suggests that they register from the computer they intend to view the streaming video files on, so that they may test the quality of the stream before making a financial commitment. Students lending their passwords will be disconnected.

Where do students need to go to access their streaming videos and video downloads?
Once the checkout process is complete and the students have made their purchases, they will need to visit the Digital Video Access page to log in and access their videos.

When will you make the telecourse materials available to students?
Thirty days prior to the start of your institution's telecourse semester or term. Note: Students must be enrolled before they obtain their telecourse materials from ACT. Our fees are nonrefundable.

What happens if my institution cancels a course from its schedule after sending ACT the course listing?
Please notify ACT immediately. ACT will refund the rental fee for students enrolled in the canceled course only if you notify us. Also, we will refund fees to students who are excluded from a course by your college or university after they have enrolled. ACT will not refund fees to students who drop a course for any other reason. In other words, if the school cancels the course, we will issue a refund. If a student drops a course, no refund will be given.

Do we need to notify ACT of extensions given to students in order that they may complete their work?
Yes; we need to know of all extensions so students are not charged for late return of materials. Individual instructors must provide written proof on college letterhead of the extension by contacting customer service directly by fax or mail.

How long do students get to use the materials? When are they to be returned?
The rental/access period is for the semester in which they are currently enrolled. The materials must be returned no later than 30 days after the final day of their course. Streaming video and video downloads do not require the return of any materials, but students' accounts will be closed. They can view each lesson as often as necessary during the semester.

What if students have problems purchasing streaming video or video download or logging in to view the videos?
They can call ACT at 800/745-5480, and a customer service representative will gladly help them.

Are all of the programs in a course included on the rental VHS, DVD, DVD-ROM, CD-ROM or via streaming video and video downloads?
Yes; all programs that would be broadcast or cablecast are included in the order. Some streaming video and video download courses are available as individual lessons that students can purchase.

Is there an ordering guide for students available from ACT?
Glad you asked! We provide, free of charge, our student guide, which lists the procedure students use to order their materials.

Do you offer any other services?
Yes; we offer several related services:

- Streaming video encoding, hosting, and managing
- Video download encoding, hosting, and managing
- Professional video editing and DVD authoring
- Duplication and rental of your locally produced telecourses
- Duplication of faculty sets of most courses offered
- Duplication of student telecourse sets for use in learning centers
- Duplication of individual programs in series if you have an AV license
- Emergency backup for your broadcast tapes

Call ACT at 800/745-5480 for information on these services.

Frequently Asked Questions for Students