Palomar and CVC Exchange Online Classes

Palomar College students can take fully online classes at Palomar College, or they can take fully online classes at other CCC’s by using the CVC Course Exchange. The CVC, or the California Virtual Campus, is a collaborative effort among California’s community colleges (CCC) to provide students with better access to fully online courses.

Palomar College

The Palomar College class schedule includes all Palomar College online class modalities , including we are offering: Partially Online, HyFlex, and Fully Online.

View Palomar College Online Classes

CVC Course Exchange

The CVC Course Exchange includes fully online courses offered across the California Community Colleges. Only Fully Online classes are included in the CVC Exchange.

View CVC Exchange Online Classes

“CVC Exchange Student” Experience

Students who take a course through the CVC Course Exchange become a “CVC Exchange” student at the college where they are taking the course. The Students’ Home College and Teaching College will assist the students in different ways along their educational journey. Here is an overview of which college will assist the student when they take a CVC Exchange course.

Home College

The students’ primary college is their Home College.

Teaching College

The college where the student is taking a course through cross-enrollment in the CVC Course Exchange is their Teaching College.

CVC Exchange Student Guidance

Topic	Home College or Teaching College
Financial Aid	The students’ Home College is responsible for Financial Aid for all classes including CVC Exchange classes. Students should email their Home College Financial Aid office and be sure to inform them that they are a taking a class through the CVC Course Exchange.
Disability Resource Services	For disability support or learning accommodations, students will contact the disability services at the Teaching College where they are taking the CVC Exchange course. Students should email the Disability Resource Center/Services at the Teaching College using their Teaching College email address and be sure to inform them they are a CVC Exchange Student.
Academic or Degree Planning	The students’ Home College is responsible for supporting the student with their academic planning. Students should reach out to their Home College counseling or degree planning support and be sure to let them know they are taking a class through the CVC Course Exchange.
Canvas Help	For Canvas, students may require support from both their Home College and their Teaching College. The Home College is how the student accesses Canvas for all classes including CVC Exchange Classes. If the student is having difficulty logging in, they need to contact Canvas support at their Home College. If a student experiences challenges with Canvas for a Teaching College class, Canvas Support at the Teaching College may be needed.
Course Help	Students will communicate directly with the Instructor of their class at the Teaching College. Students should email their Instructor using their Teaching College email address or message them through the Canvas Inbox.

This table provides an overview of how CVC Exchange Students will interact with both their Home College and their Teaching College.

CVC Course Exchange Frequently Asked Questions

What is the eligibility to use the CVC Course Exchange?

In order for students to use the CVC Course Exchange, students must meet the following requirements:

Students must have a 2.0 GPA
Students must have completed at least one class from the Home College in order to enroll in a CVC Exchange Class.
Students must not have any registration holds at the Home College.
Student must not be a special admit student, such as a Dual Enrollment or International Student.

What is a CVC Exchange Student?

A CVC Exchange Student is a student who is taking a class through the CVC Course Exchange through cross-enrollment.

For example:

A Southwestern College student enrolls in a Palomar College class through the CVC Course Exchange, they are a CVC Exchange student at Palomar College.
A Palomar College Student enrolls in a Southwestern College class through the CVC Course Exchange, they are a CVC Exchange student at Southwestern.

How do students find courses on the CVC Course Exchange?

Go to the CVC Course Exchange
Select Palomar College as your “Home College”
Search for the course you need
- If you see “Add Class” next to the course then this course is available for cross-enrollment through the CVC Course Exchange, just follow the instructions to register.
- If you see “Apply” next to the course, you can choose to apply to that college and register for the course.

What classes are included in the CVC Course Exchange?

Not all classes are made available in the CVC Course Exchange, here are some classes or situations that would limit the class inclusion in the CVC Course Exchange:

Non-Credit courses are not currently included
Only Fully online classes are included
Classes with a co-requisite that is in-person are not included

How do I access my CVC Exchange course in Canvas?

Students will log into Canvas using their Home College login credentials and CVC Exchange courses will appear on the students’ Home College Canvas dashboard.

For example, if a Palomar College students enrolls in a course through the CVC Course Exchange, they will log in to Canvas using their Palomar login and the exchange course will be included on their Canvas dashboard.

Note: If the CVC Exchange Course is not showing on the Canvas Dashboard, students should check the Canvas Course list.

As a CVC Exchange Student I now have two email addresses, one for my Home College and one for my Teaching College, when do I use them?

CVC Exchange student will have two email addresses, a Home College email address and a Teaching College email address.

Here are some of the different ways you will use the two emails while being a CVC Exchange Student:

Your Home College (primary college) Email:
- Canvas: You will log in to Canvas through your Home College.
- Canvas Notifications: Canvas notifications will be sent to your Home College email (unless you have adjusted your Canvas notification settings).
- Financial Aid: If you have questions about Financial Aid, please contact your Home College using your Home College email address.
- Academic Planning: If you have questions about your degree or course planning, please contact your Home College using your Home College email address.
Your Teaching College (exchange college) Email:
- Disability Resources/Accommodations: Use your Teaching College email to communicate with the Teaching College.
  - For Palomar College, use your Palomar College Email address to connect with the Palomar DRC.
- Emailing Faculty: It is best to use your Teaching College email to communicate with the Instructor of your CVC Exchange Course.
- Canvas: Some Canvas tools used within the class might connect with your Teaching College Email address.

Who do I contact to discuss my academic or degree planning?

For support with course/educational planning, connect with a counselor at your Home College.

I need to request learning accommodations for my CVC Exchange class, who do I contact?

Learning accommodations are provided by the Teaching College (CVC Exchange college). It is best to use your Teaching College email address to communicate with the Disability Services at the Teaching College. Be sure to identify yourself as a CVC Exchange Student and include your Teaching College ID number.

If you are a CVC Exchange student taking a class at Palomar College, please connect with the Palomar DRC.

I would like to request to use Financial Aid for my CVC Exchange course, who do I contact?

If you have been approved for or are eligible for federal financial aid at your Home college, please contact the Financial Aid Office at your Home college to determine if you can use your Financial Aid for your CVC Exchange course. CVC Exchange students who are simultaneously enrolled at both their Home and Teaching Colleges may be able to receive federal and state financial aid funds based on combined units taken at both colleges.

Please note, CVC Exchange Students may still be eligible for a fee waiver. Most students qualify by applying for the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or Dream Act.

I need to pay fees for my CVC Exchange course, who do I contact?

Students using the CVC Exchange are subject to the payment policies of the college that is offering the class, i.e. the Teaching College. Since a college may have a drop for non-payment policy and deadline date; it is in a student’s best interest to pay for classes at the time of enrollment in order to secure a seat in the class.

Pay your Fees online through the CVC Course Exchange
If you have additional fees for your Exchange course, reach out to the Teaching College
For Palomar College, you can find more information at Palomar Financial Aid Hub

How do refunds work when taking a CVC Exchange course?

Refunds are subject to the policies and procedures of the college offering the course (Teaching College). The Teaching College is also responsible for processing individual refunds. If you dropped a class through the Exchange platform, please select the refund policy page below for the Teaching College where you dropped the class for more information on how to obtain a refund for your dropped class.

How do I get my transcript from the Teaching College to my Home College?

Transcripts are automatically shared to the Home College from the Teaching College. In order for the automatic transfer of information to occur, students must consent to have their transcripts automatically shared from the Teaching College to the Home College at the end of the term. The Exchange informed consent statement at the time of enrollment specifies that a student must consent to having their transcripts automatically shared with the Home College. This consent acts as the request for any classes taken through the Exchange.

I have more questions about the CVC Course Exchange, where can I look for answers?

Check out the CVC Course Exchange Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How might my experience be impacted by the Home College and Teaching College Academic Calendars?

Every California Community College develops their own Academic Calendar, which means the calendars between your Home College and Teaching College might not align. Be sure to double check the star/end dates and holidays to know when each college is in sessions.

Palomar College classes will adhere to the Palomar College Academic Calendar.