Welcome to the Spring 2023 Semester

Semester Announcements

Welcome to the Spring 2023 semester!

The following courses are available: face-to-face, hybrid on campus, hybrid virtual (structured remote and online), structured remote, and online.

Visit Admissions & Registration for more information.

Owl Mail (student email account)

Have you activated your Owl Mail Student email account? If not, click here for three easy steps to activate your student email account. You will need your 7-digit student id to activate your student email account.

Online Student Orientation Information

All credit students are automatically eligible to take the eLearning Smart Start orientation. While eLearning Smart Start is not required, it is recommended for all first-time online, structured remote, and hybrid/online students to complete.

Get Started

Internet Browser

Canvas is most compatible with the current or previous versions of Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.

How Do I

How do I clear my cache?
What is Cache, Cookies, and History and How Do You Clear Them

Each time you access a file through your web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, etc), the browser caches (i.e., stores) it so it doesn't have to keep retrieving the same files or images from the remote website each time you click Back or Forward. You should periodically clear the cache to allow your browser to function more efficiently. A cookie is a file created by a web browser, at the request of a website, that is stored on a computer. These files typically store user-specific information such as selections in a form, shopping cart contents, or authentication data. Browsers will normally clear cookies that reach a certain age, but clearing them manually may solve problems with web sites or your browser. A browser's history is a log of sites that you visit. When you press a browser's Back button, you are moving back one entry in the history log. Browsers will normally clear history at regular intervals, but you may want to clear it manually for privacy reasons.

This knowledge article describes how to clear cache, cookies and history.

How Do I Log in to Canvas?

Canvas is a web-based program that serves as the College's online classroom. You will use Canvas to communicate with your instructor, see your course materials, submit assignments, and discuss the course with your classmates.

To login to your Canvas course, please follow these steps:
  • Go to myPGCC portal (my.pgcc.edu) and enter your PGCC Username & Password.
  • After logging in, look for the Canvas Icon under the title Faculty & Staff Portal, click to access the Canvas LMS Site. It should automatically take you to the Canvas Dashboard!

For information on Canvas support and training options, please see the Faculty and Staff QuickStart Guide.

Important Resources

When Do Classes Begin?
The Spring 2023 semester begins on Monday, January 23. 

The start date of courses vary during the semester. Canvas course sites will be available to students four days prior to the start date of the course.

All Spring Classes

  • Classes beginning on January 23, 2023, will become available in Canvas on Thursday, January 19.
  • Login to Canvas using your PGCC username and password.
Registered For An Accelerated Course?

Please Note: Accelerated courses are full semester courses (15-week, fall and spring or 10-week, summer) that are condensed to allow students to complete a course in a shorter timeframe. Due to the condensed nature of accelerated courses, it is imperative that you are ready to begin your course on the start date.

  • Accelerated courses are made available to students four days prior to the start date of the course for summer and fall courses. There are no accelerated courses for the winter intersession.
  • You can register for an accelerated course up to the start date of the course.
Free Online Tutoring - Smarthinking

Connect with a Tutor and interact live.

How To...in Smarthinking?

Explore a series of Smarthinking video tutorials that will help you understand how to use the online tutoring service. Click on the links below to take you directly to each video.

View Smarthinking subject descriptions and times available.

Getting Started:

Accessing Smarthinking through PGCC is simple:

  1. Log in to Canvas: http://pgcconline.instructure.com using your PGCC username and password (same as myPGCC)
  2. Go to your online course
  3. Choose "Smarthinking Online Tutoring" from the left side menu.

Note: Each student is allowed 180 minutes per semester.

Technology Requirements and Troubleshooting Tips
  • Cookies/Javascript should be enabled.
  • Please disable all pop-up blockers for services.smarthinking.com
  • Make sure that your browser is set up to allow cookies and pop-up windows (Smarthinking uses both of these)
  • Make sure that you have Java installed. If you need to install Java, go to Java's Website and follow the instructions for the free download.
Need Help using Smarthinking?
  1. Once you log in, view the Smarthinking Student Handbook for all you need to know about navigating the website and using the service.
  2. The Smarthinking Technical Support team is available to assist you. First, check the information in the Customer Support Self-help options are available 24/7, where you can browse the support articles and use the Pearson Virtual Assistant. If you still need help, Live Online Chat Support is also available 24/7 to assist you here
  3. If you are a faculty/staff member with questions, please contact eLearning Services at 301-546-0463 or eLearning@pgcc.edu.
Don't See Your Course?

There are two reasons why most students cannot see their courses in Canvas.

  1. Canvas course sites will appear four days prior to the start date of the course for summer, fall, and winter session courses and five days prior to the start date of the course for spring courses.
  2. It may take up to 24 hours after registration or class schedule changes to see your course in Canvas. Class schedule changes include new registrations, add/drop courses, drops for nonpayment, NA grade drops, and course withdrawals. You must have a students.pgcc.edu email account for your Canvas account to be created.
  3. If you have confirmed your registration and the start date is within four days and you still do not see your course, please contact eLearning Services

This information also applies to accelerated courses that begin later in the semester. Check the start date of your course to determine when the Canvas site will appear.

Contacting Your Instructor

You can find your instructor’s contact information via the PGCC Directory. You can also find your instructor’s contact information in your Canvas classroom and in the course syllabus.

 

myPGCC Portal

Keep current on Prince George's Community College news, events, information, important announcements, and personal information like your grades. Go to myPGCC and log in with your PGCC username and password.

Access Canvas from within the myPGCC portal. Students are able to click on the Canvas course link from the myPGCC portal and go directly to the Canvas course, without additional login to Canvas.

Library - Learning Resources and Tutoring

The Prince George's Community College Library is where you can find library materials, streaming videos, databases by subject, scholarship information, and other services such as research help and tutoring.

Math Learning Center

The Math Learning Center (MLC) offers two modes of tutoring for mathematics: online tutoring through Zoom and face-to-face tutoring at the Largo Campus and University Town Center (UTC) Campus.

PGCC Bookstore - Books and Materials

Contact the PGCC bookstore at 301-546-0912 or pgccshop.com and refer to your class syllabus for information about textbooks and other course materials.

 

Technical Support

Visit our Technical Support page for technical requirements and recommendations for online courses. 

Enterprise Technology uses a service called askPGCC for the submission and resolution of a variety of issues. To submit an askPGCC ticket for eLearning technical support, please click the following link to log in ask.PGCC.edu. All tickets submitted within askPGCC go directly to the Area of Service.

If you still need help, please visit the Contact Us page.

Testing Center

The Testing Center provides placement tests for new students and instructional tests for students enrolled in specific disciplines and courses.

Tutoring and Writing Center

The Tutoring Center provides instructional support to all students. Services include individual tutoring by appointment, drop-in assistance (when a tutor is available), guided small-group study sessions, and assistance for related computer software.

Contact Us