A new, start-to-finish accredited online degree program and a challenge grant for future construction prompted a press conference Monday at Central Baptist College. Two degrees will now be available through the college’s “enrollment to degree” online program, which uses a student’s rented or owned remote proctor.
Dr. Gary McAllister, vice president of academic affairs, presented the virtual proctor prototype like those to be used in the program to attendees at the Mabee Student Services building Monday. He also explained its role as offering convenience to the student and contribution to accreditation success.
“An online student may use a librarian as a proctor, but that librarian does not know the actual identity of that student, or that librarian could be the student’s aunt,” McAllister said. “There’s no guarantee with the situation.”
The Securexam Remote Proctor is a device roughly the size of an office telephone that online students may rent or buy, which has the ability to authenticate the student’s identity, to record a testing room with a rotating camera, and to control browser settings to reduce a student’s ability to cheat.
“The primary purpose of offering distance-delivered courses and programs at Central Baptist College is to provide access to students who cannot attend face-to-face classes on campus,” McAllister said. “Some live too far from campus, and others have scheduling conflicts that prevent them from taking the classes they need. Distance-delivered courses can resolve these issues.”The slogan for the new degree program is “college at your convenience.”
The proctors will be available for purchase for the student at around $200, and the college is still working to develop a possible rental solution.
The school has offered online courses with its degree programs, though never has a CBC student been able to complete their degree using online courses alone.
President Terry Kimbrow said the school’s online studies program was accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
He added the program’s approval by the group was a “major accomplishment” for the school, which will have “a profound impact upon the institution.
McAllister said Monday he believed the offering of a fully online degree at CBC was the only one in the state by a private, non-profit, accredited regional college.
“You can start and complete a degree at CBC from anywhere in the world,” he said.
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