Pay for College
Stay organized, set specific goals, and connect with instructors and peers to enhance your learning experience and stay motivated. On this page you will find a number of resources available to you as an online student to help you achieve your educational goals and aspirations.
How can I maximize my success as an online student?
Time Management - Communication - Building Community
Time Management: You will have to complete assignments on time and prepare for tests, the same as students who meet in person for classes. But without a regular in-person class schedule, you will need to take more responsibility for viewing lectures and learning new material. Many students find it beneficial to set their own regular “class” times throughout the week. Include time to review course materials (read a textbook, watch a lecture) and complete assignments before the due date.
Keeping up with class material also makes it easy to manage stress, which can affect both online and onsite students. Be proactive with studying and asking for help if you need it. Working steadily in a class is better than rushing to complete work at the last minute.
Communication: Reach out to the instructor when you have a question about your class, the online learning management system/technology, the course materials, or even about working in the field. Also let your instructors know when life gets in the way. If something happens that will impact your studies, contact your instructor and let them know you need help.
Build Community: You don’t need to have regular in-person contact in a building to build community. Make it a point to connect with other students in your course. Take time to get to know other people taking your online class. Offer to meet others virtually for study sessions or even to view lectures together and offer help to other students if you can.
Important resources to support your success
Frequently Asked Questions
The Community College System of Colorado and all colleges are committed to ensuring accessibility. Do you need an accommodation support you as a learner? You can request these accommodations by meeting virtually or in person to learn about the college accommodations process. You should start this process early as soon as you apply or enroll in courses as the process may take some time to determine how to best meet your needs. Visit Otero’s Accessibility Services page to review the process and make an appointment.
Students don’t need to apply separately for financial aid for online courses. If you qualify for financial aid at your college and your online course is a part of your degree program, it will qualify for financial aid. Please make sure you have filled out the FAFSA or CASFA and are regularly checking your Financial Aid status by logging into myOtero regularly and checking your Otero College student email. You must complete a FAFSA or CASFA for each academic year – don’t leave money on the table!
You will need reliable access to a computer and the internet to access your online courses. While you could possibly do your course on a mobile device, like a phone, it will present challenges and could prevent you from being successful in your course.
Consider using headphones if accessing your course in a public setting. This not only allows you to focus on materials/recordings but minimize disruption to others around you.
You will need a plan – will you borrow a computer? You may be able to get a loaner laptop from Otero College or the local library, and there are often waitlists and limited supply. What is your plan if there are not any loaner computers? Can you go to the local library? What are the hours, and will that align with your schedule?
Make sure you have applied for financial aid – funds remaining from financial aid can be used to purchase laptops after tuition and fees have been covered.
Internet access assistance may be available in your local area. Wi-Fi access is available at Otero College and in Otero parking lots. Other resources, including Xfinity Internet Essentials may be helpful for low-cost internet and laptops.
Your local public library near you may also have resources for laptops or Wi-Fi. You may search for your closest public library in this statewide directory.
Log into myOtero student portal.
Not sure what your username or password is? Contact IT.
In myOtero, on the “My Courses (D2L)” card, your ‘course shell’ will appear here by the first day of when class starts.
D2L is short for Desire to Learn, and it is an online platform that all the community colleges in the Colorado Community College System use for online learning. It is important you are comfortable with how to use to D2L to be successful in your online course. If you have questions, please make sure you ask your instructor for assistance or so they can help you access help in understanding how to use D2L.
Need help with your password? Having trouble getting into your online course? Forgot your S#? Having technical problems? Contact our 24/7 technology help desk to get support now:
- https://help.cccs.edu/
- 1-888-800-9198
In most cases (not all) your course materials/textbooks are embedded in your online course at no additional cost. Community Colleges of Colorado are committed to utilizing Open Educational Resources (OER) to reduce costs for students whenever possible. Some courses may require you purchase an access code or you may need a lab kit for science courses. Visit Otero’s Virtual Bookstore to know any required or recommended course materials for classes enrolled in, online or in person.
Please visit the Lab Kit FAQ for information on ordering lab kits.
Yuja is a tool that allows you to record videos for assignments. Ask your instructor if you have questions or if you need help and your instructor is not available, check out this tutorial.
Additional Resources
Balancing life and school can be difficult. Colleges have staff dedicated to help you navigate a wide variety of life’s challenges. Resources exist to provide proactive assistance, early intervention, and if needed, caring confrontation or conflict resolution to create a safe and healthy college community.
Emergency Mental Health (after hours or not near a college campus)
- Local 24-Hour crisis center with counselors and trained professionals available to engage in immediate problem solving. Reach by phone, chat, text, or at one of their walk-in crisis centers across the state. 844-493-8255
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- National crisis line that provides 24/7, free, and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. Dial 988 to reach someone who can provide support.
Counseling Services
Counseling is an important and often necessary resource to assist in resolving issues that interfere with students’ ability to successfully navigate college and life. Free to you as a student of Otero, one-on-one counseling can be helpful for times when you are dealing with specific, intense, and/or longer-term mental health concerns. Whether you need support adjusting to college life, dealing with grief, anxiety, depression, school stress, or anything else that just feels off, there is support waiting for you. Counseling is limited to 6-sessions/student and can be also used as a gateway to get you connected with a local provider who is able to offer support for years to come. No information is released to anyone without written consent, except in the case of a life-threatening emergency or when it is otherwise required by law.
If you are wondering if you should be concerned about any mental health related issue, please click on our anonymous and free mental health screening tool:
Free Mental health Screening Tool
Mental Health Counselor Contact Information:
Dänya Herrell
(719) 384-6945
danya.herrell@otero.edu
Learning Commons 117
Life happens. Did you have a death in the family or an emergency medical situation that is making you have to drop your class? That may be considered an extenuating circumstance. Reach out to the Dean of Student Affairs at Gary.Addington@otero.edu for help navigating your options.
Title IX and other laws and policies are in place to ensure you can learn in a discriminatory free environment. Issues of harassment and discrimination are taken seriously and should be reported immediately. We will work with you to resolve the issue, investigate if necessary and are committed to an inclusive learning environment. You can review the student resolution process for grievances on issues of harassment, discrimination or sexual misconduct HERE.
Want to report a concern regarding yourself or another student? Report a concern.
Are you parenting while you are taking classes? Childcare support can make a huge difference for student-parents facing financial and time constraints. Be sure to complete the FAFSA or CASFA and check with your college on any resources available for parenting students. Student-parents should identify themselves early in the application process to discover what childcare facilities prospective schools offer.
Students taking Otero courses online should visit Colorado Department of Early Childhood for resources regarding care facilities, care assistance programs and other resources. Students out of state should work directly with their state agencies or contact the AIM Case Manager office for assistance at 719-384-6811.
No one should ever have to go without their basic needs like food or housing being met during their pursuit of higher education. Otero College provides several resources such as a food resources, Student Emergency Fund, and Counseling services.
Visit the Otero Resources webpage to learn more and to connect with a case manager by phone or virtual appointment to discuss options and resources.
Don’t live physically near the Otero College campus? Statewide options exist that may help. Not sure what to ‘google’ or who to call? Start with Local 2-1-1
Food Resources
Hunger Free Colorado: Hunger Free Hotline
Emergency and General Assistance with Basic Needs
Financial Education & Information
- Credit Union of Colorado
- Society for Financial Awareness (SOFA)
- National Endowment for Financial Education
- CDHE College Invest Division
- Federal Student Aid: An Office of the US Department of Education
Legal Information
If you have a complaint about teaching, you should first reach out to your instructor. If you are unable to resolve your concerns after communicating with the instructor, you may report your complaint here and someone will be in contact with you.
If the complaint is beyond teaching, and involves harassment, discrimination or bias by another student or the instructor, please file a grievance specifically at your college. At Otero, you may file a grievance or discuss it with the Dean of Students.
If you are unclear what to do with your complaint or concern or if it rises to the level of a grievance, please contact studentsuccess@cccs.edu for guidance.