Distance Education

Access to Information and Online Instruction

Courses that are taught online or via a hybrid format provide course instruction through a Blackboard Platform managed by UTHSC. To ensure privacy and student identity, students must use their unique login and id to access their email accounts and the Blackboard site. Student’s personal information is not shared with anyone outside of the college unless specified by the student in accordance with all FERPA guidelines. Students can only access courses in which they are enrolled. Within the Blackboard course site, students access the course syllabus, link to campus resources, access course assignments including readings, recorded lectures, videostreaming, tests and assessments, grades and other classroom materials. Students participate in discussion boards and chats through Blackboard. Students submit assignments and email faculty through the Blackboard system. Faculty may also interact with students via web-conferencing using Adobe Connect, video chat, and telephone conferences.

Access to Student Services and Academic Support

Online students and those completing a portion of their studies in a location other than on the Memphis campus have access to the same academic support and student services offered to students located in Memphis for the duration of the program. Information regarding access to resources particularly pertinent to students enrolled in online programs or completing a portion of the program in a location other than Memphis is provided in the UTHSC overview portion of the catalog. 

State Authorization 

The US Department of Education requires that states be responsible for all education offered to residents within their state boundaries regardless of where the education originates. As a result, states have instituted state authorization regulations governing all or portions of educational programs that are being completed is their states (e.g., a UTHSC student wishing to complete a clinical experience in a state other than TN). These regulations encompass both online education as well as clinical experiences for UTHSC students permanently or temporarily residing in states other than Tennessee. Students are advised to seek clarification and the necessary approvals prior to arranging for field experiences outside of the state of Tennessee or to enroll in one of the College’s online or hybrid programs if they reside in a state other than Tennessee to ensure the presence of the necessary authorization. Additional information is provided in the UTHSC overview portion of the catalog .