Information Technology

Welcome to HCC! We use Canvas as our main online system for classes. Think of it as your online classroom space (it's called a Learning Management System or LMS). 

Getting Started with Canvas at HCC 

What You Need to Know: 

• Access Starts: You can get into your Canvas course sites 3 days before the first day of the term (semester). 

• Syllabus & Grades: For ALL your classes, your teachers must post the class syllabus (the plan for the class) and your grades in Canvas. This is the official place to find them. 

• Other Materials: Many classes also use Canvas for more, like sharing course materials (readings, videos), giving quizzes, posting assignments (homework), and other class activities. 

How Classes Use Canvas 

HCC offers different There are many Ways to Learn at HCC: 

• Face-to-Face: Classes held entirely on campus. 

• Flexible Online: Classes held entirely online, learn on your own schedule. 

• Scheduled Remote: Classes held entirely online at specific, scheduled times. 

• Online Hybrid: Classes with a mix of scheduled online meetings and flexible online work. 

• In-Person Hybrid: Classes with a mix of on-campus meetings and flexible online work. 

	Flexible Online
	Scheduled Remote
	Online Hybrid
	Face-to-Face
	In-Person Hybrid

Remember: No matter the class type, you will always find your syllabus and grades in Canvas. Classes with online parts (like Flexible Online, Scheduled Remote, and the Hybrid types) use Canvas for learning materials, communication, graded items. 

How to Log In to Canvas 

1. Go to the main HCC homepage. 

1. Find and click the "Tools & Resources" button. 

1. Select Canvas from the options. 

1. Use your HCC email address and your password to log in. 

Technology You Need 

• Best Web Browsers: Canvas works best with the newest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari. Using an older version might cause problems. What are the browser and computer requirements for Instructure products? 

• Check Requirements: To see if your computer and browser are ready for Canvas, you can read this guide: What are the browser and computer requirements for Instructure products? (You can usually find this link in the Canvas Help section). 

• Check Canvas Often: Log in to Canvas regularly! It's important to check for:  

• Announcements (news from your teacher) 

• Feedback (comments on your work) 

• Due Dates (when homework is due) 

• Content (class materials) 

Help with Canvas 

HCC offers help resources directly inside Canvas: 

• Canvas Training: Click the Help Center button (often looks like a question mark '?' symbol). Inside, find the "Canvas Student Training Guide" to learn how to use Canvas features. 

• New Student Orientation: Look for the "New2HCC" button in Canvas. It has an "Orientation to Online Learning" that is very helpful if you are new to online classes. 

• 24/7 Support: Need help right away? Click the "Help Center" button. You can contact Canvas Support anytime (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) using chat, phone, or email. 

Course Materials 

Once you access your course, you can find information about the course materials in your Syllabus (typically on the course navigation, but it is possible your instructor has it in another location).  You should also see a Couse Materials button in the course navigation which lists your courses, materials needed, and how to access if electronic.

Students are encouraged to use cloud storage, such as Google Apps and Microsoft OneDrive, for storage of personal files. To access, visit:

• https://drive.google.com/a/howardcc.edu for Google Drive (use your HCC Username and HCC password).

• https://onedrive.live.com/ for Microsoft OneDrive (use your HCC email address and HCC email password).

Students are responsible for complying with section 668.14 of the HEOA (Higher Education Opportunity Act), which prohibits illegal peer-to-peer file sharing. Downloading or sharing copyrighted music, videos, games or software (The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) of 1998) without permission from the copyright owner can result in:

• A criminal penalty of 5 years in prison and $250,000 in fines, even for a first offense.
• A civil penalty of $750 or higher per illegal song

The college may use several methods to detect and deter illegal P2P file sharing, including:

• A URL filtering device to identify, block and redirect any discovered illegal P2P traffic.
• Network traffic monitoring to identify, trace and investigate continuous high bandwidth users.

Reporting students who engage in suspected illegal behaviors for investigation and possible disciplinary action under the Student Code of Conduct.

Alternatives to Illegal File Sharing
Students may seek out legitimate, legal sources of digital content, including numerous sites listed by Educause.com.

myHCC is the center of your digital life at Howard Community College! Use it as the starting point for many online services. After logging into myHCC with your HCC Login ID and password, you can view college calendars and announcements, check email, get to your Canvas courses, and use self-service:

• Plan and register for classes.

• Add, drop, or withdrawal from classes.
• Pay your bill.
• See your drop, refund and financial aid and scholarship status, and academic course history.

Choose Self Service in myHCC to take advantage of these and other planning, registration, and financial services. Full registration instructions are provided online and in the printed Schedule of Credit Classes.

Consistent with College Mission
Information Technology equipment and services are provided to students to support academic studies. The use of campus information technology resources must be consistent with the mission of the college and be compliant with local, state and federal laws on copyrights, security, and other statutes regarding electronic media.

Violations
Students are required to adhere to the college standards of acceptable use of campus technology. Violation of these standards may lead to disciplinary action as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.

Prohibited Actions

The following actions are prohibited when using the college network and computer equipment:

• Downloading or installing external applications.
• Copying, transferring, or modifying software installed on the college computers.
• Theft, misuse of, or damage to college computer equipment and supplies.
• Viewing or distribution of pornographic material.
• Connecting personal equipment to the college network other than the open wireless network.
• Interfering with or disrupting other users, services or resources of the college network and computer labs.
• Propagation of computer viruses, spamming, or transmitting chain letters or slanderous materials.
• Use of file and music sharing applications
• Using Peer to Peer connections.
• Commercial activities or other use of college computer resources for financial gain.
• Accessing or tampering with the files and electronic information of others without authorization.
• Disrupting or threatening the viability of the college equipment and network, and networks to which the college’s systems are connected. 
• Illegal distribution of copyrighted information or work