Welcome to online learning at Purdue University Calumet
Below are some commonly asked questions to students who are taking Distance Learning Classes at Purdue University Calumet.
How do I access my course?
Unless you hear otherwise from your instructor, your course will be conducted though our course management system, Blackboard Vista. Blackboard Vista can be accessed at www.purduecal.edu/ecourses. It will ask you to log into the system using a user name and password. You can locate your username on your printed schedule or through PC Star at www.purduecal.edu/pcstar. Typically, your username is your last name, first initial, and a number. Your password is initially set to your six digit birth date (e.g. May 15, 1986 is 051586).
When will my course be available?
The earliest you will have access to your course will be a week before the semester begins. However, courses are only made available at the instructor's request, so you may not see your course until the first day of the semester. If you are able to login to Vista using the information about but do not see your course, please contact your instructor.
What equipment / software do I need to have?
On the eCourses website, at www.purduecal.edu/ecourses, you will find a link to minimum technical requirements for students taking an online course. Please review the requirements and make sure you have access to what is required. In addition, Vista requires the current version of Java to be installed on your computer. There are directions on the website which outline how to check to see if you have Java installed and if it is the correct version. It is very important that you confirm your Java settings on your computer before starting your course.
How will my instructor communicate with me?
Your instructor will most likely use one of two methods to communicate with you. First, he/she may choose to use the mail tool within your online course. This tool allows you and the instructor to send message to each other and to the other students in the course. If the instructor uses this method, you will need to check your mail within each course. Otherwise, your instructor may choose to use you university email address. Your university email address is your username followed by @calumet.purdue.edu. You can access your university email account at www.purduecal.edu/netmail. Regardless of the method chosen, you should plan to check your mail frequently each week.
What if I need help?
If you need assistance with the content of your course (understanding concepts, completing assignments, locating information, quiz interrupted due to failed Internet connection, etc.), you should contact your instructor as directed in his/her syllabus. If you are having difficulty with the technology (logging into Vista, submitting assignments, etc.), you have three options for support - available to you at www.purduecal.edu/ctis:
- You can look up the answer to you questions in the Knowledgebase, available to you 24 hours a day.
- You can log a request or question into the online support system and someone will respond to our question with the hour, during standard business hours.
- You can stop by the Computer Support and Service Center in Gyte 133 or call them at 219/989-2888. The hours of operation are posted on the website above.
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