CVC Exchange
What is the CVC Exchange?
The CVC Exchange allows students to enroll in courses at eligible Teaching Colleges without filling out a separate application. It also gives California Community Colleges students greater access to online courses and allows them to complete their program on time.
I would like to take a course from another college using the Exchange. Do I need to complete a new admissions application to that college?
If you are a CSU or UC student, you will need to apply directly to the college you wish to take a course from. Click the “Apply” button displayed next to the course you are hoping to take. You will then leave the CVC website and be redirected to CCCApply to complete your admissions application. Once you have been accepted to the college, you will visit the college’s website to register and pay for your course.
If you are a current CCC student, you can click the “Add Class” button for courses that have that option available, and you will be able to register and pay for your course through the Exchange. For courses that have the “Apply” option available, you will be directed to CCCApply to submit an application directly to the college offering the course.
Who do I contact if I have a question about my admission application to a certain college?
Admission applications are handled by CCCApply, not by CVC-OEI. We are a course finder service designed to help students locate available courses that meet their academic needs at various community colleges throughout California. We do not process the applications or have any involvement in the admissions process at the individual schools where the classes are being offered.
What are the steps to take a class found on the Exchange?
Please see the CVC Exchange Student Guide for detailed steps on how to register and pay for a course through the Exchange.
What is the difference between a Home College and a Teaching College?
A Home College is the college from which students enter the CVC Exchange to take courses at other colleges. A Teaching College is the college that offers courses via the CVC Exchange to students from other participating colleges.
Can CVC Exchange Instant Enrollment be used to register for a course at my home college?
CVC Exchange does allow for students to register for courses at their home college. However, if you find a class on Exchange offered at your home college, we recommend registering through your home college’s website/portal.
I do not have a home college. Can I still use the CVC Exchange?
Yes, the Exchange is available to all current and prospective students of California public higher education systems (UC, CSU, CCC). Just select the "I don't have a primary California college" radio button when searching. Students are then able to apply directly to any college where they find a class they wish to take.
What courses are available on the Exchange?
Online courses offered through CVC.edu are from across the California Community College system and are transferable to the three primary segments of California public higher education: California State University (CSU), University of California (UC), and California Community Colleges (CCC).
Note: Please work with your academic counselor to determine which courses will meet your needs.
Are all the colleges featured on the Exchange accredited?
The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) accredits all California community colleges.
How many courses or units can I take using CVC Exchange?
There is a two course limit per term for students cross-enrolling through the Exchange. There is not a specific unit limit, so you can cross-enroll into two courses of any unit amount but would then be blocked from cross-enrolling into any other classes through the Exchange.
Note: Winter intersession courses are counted toward the two courses allowed for the spring semester.
How do I search for courses in the Exchange?
CVC offers four ways to search for classes: IGETC Requirements, CSU Breadth Requirements, Subject Search, and Keyword Search. Search results can be refined by selecting optional filters including term and transferability. New classes are added frequently, please keep checking back if you cannot locate the class you need.
Note: Always be sure to contact the appropriate office at your college to confirm this course will transfer.
What does "Live Seat Count" mean?
For colleges currently providing live course information, “Live Seat Count” refers to how many spots are remaining in the class. How current that number is can be determined by the associated timestamp. 'Seat count unavailable' is not an indicator of whether or not a course is still open, it simply means the college is not providing a live update of seat counts to CVC at this time. Current seat count and open/waitlisted status information can be found on the college's website, typically in the online searchable class schedule.
If a class is full, can I be put on a waitlist using CVC Exchange?
No, the CVC Exchange does not currently support enrollment waitlists so cross-enrolled students cannot be added to a waitlist in hopes of a seat becoming available. Rather, we recommend searching for an equivalent class at another college with seats still available. For the majority of listings on the Exchange, any class that is full or has a waitlist will simply show as unavailable. However, some classes at certain colleges may show 1 seat available so you may still attempt to add the course, but the class is actually already reserved for a waitlist. If you attempt to enroll in a class like this you will encounter a waitlist registration error and will not be able to add the class. We recommend searching for an equivalent alternative class at another college with a greater number of still available seats.
How can I find my student ID number at the Teaching College?
When you instantly enroll into a Teaching College, you are created a Teaching College identification number. To locate your ID number, please login to your CVC Exchange account: https://search.cvc.edu/user/edit.
How can I drop a class in the Exchange?
To drop a class, go to your CVC Profile and sign in with your Home College credentials. Once you have signed in, you can drop the class by going to your profile Dashboard. Select the Drop Class button next to the class you wish to drop. (This will open a Drop Notification screen with the drop deadlines.) You must select the Drop Course button from the pop-up screen that appears. Refresh your Dashboard and the course should appear in the Dropped Classes field at the bottom of your screen.
If I drop a CVC Exchange class, can I request a refund?
Refunds are subject to the policies and procedures of the teaching college offering the course. The teaching college is also responsible for processing individual refunds. To find college-specific refund information, select the teaching college from which you wish to request a refund: https://cvc.edu/oei-course-exchange/refunds/
When will courses for a future academic term become available on the Exchange?
Typically, courses for upcoming academic terms will be visible several weeks before the enrollment period, but ultimately depends on when each college decides to upload courses.
What are the badges found in the Exchange search results?
Course listings in CVC Exchange may include quality badges which indicate the presence of embedded student supports such as online tutoring, counseling, and/or online student readiness modules. Colleges that are part of the CVC-OEI Consortium are badged as are courses that have been reviewed for outstanding quality.
How do I change my preferred name at the Teaching College?
If you instantly enrolled into a Teaching College and would like to change your preferred name in Canvas, please refer to the college's Preferred Name policy: https://cvc.edu/teaching-colleges-preferred-name-policy/. There are limitations to how your preferred name will be used.
Your legal name will be used in the following:
1. Student Record
2. Transcripts
3. California College Promise Grant
Student Eligibility
In order to instantly enroll in an online course, you must be currently enrolled at a California community college. Please note, if this is your first term or you were recently admitted at your Home College, you must have completed a class or be taking a class that is currently in progress in order to use the Exchange.
Additionally, you must be at least 18 years old and have:
- At least a 2.0 GPA or not yet established a GPA
- No outstanding fees at your Home College
- An in-state address on file at your Home College
Dual Enrolled Students
Dual enrollment (currently enrolled in high school) are not eligible to enroll in courses via the CVC Exchange, due to the unique policies and procedures in place at each college. You are still encouraged to search for online courses at www.cvc.edu, but you must then apply directly to the college using CCCApply.
International Students
Due to regulations governing international students/F1 visa holders, international student/ F1 visa holder students are not able to enroll in courses via the CVC Exchange. You may still use www.cvc.edu to search for online classes, but you must then apply directly to the college.
Courses with Prerequisites
Some classes displayed on www.cvc.edu have a prerequisite requirement. If you select one of these classes, you will be prompted to upload a copy of your transcript as proof you meet the requirements. The college teaching the course will then review your request. Please note, it can take up to three working days for your request to be reviewed and your spot in the course is not reserved during that time.
Additional Eligibility Criteria
Here are some additional reasons why students may not be able to use the CVC Exchange to cross-enroll in a course:
- You are currently inactive at your Home College
- You have holds on your account at your Home College
- You are currently a non-credit student
- You have graduated high school, but are not 18
- Your GPA is lower than 2.0
- The system cannot find your California Community College statewide ID number (CCCID)
- The system cannot find your Canvas account
- The system is currently in a maintenance window
If you have reviewed this list and believe you should still be eligible for cross-enrollment but are unable to enroll, please contact support@cvc.edu.
Canvas Access
How do I access my Teaching College course in Canvas?
Your course will be available through your Home College Canvas account under “All Courses.” If you are having issues accessing the course, please contact CVC support.
What is my Canvas password?
CVC-OEI does not have access to passwords. From the Canvas login page, select 'Forgot Password' for reset instructions. You should receive an email within a few minutes, please remember to check your spam folder.
I have multiple accounts in Canvas. What account do I use?
You should use your most recent Canvas account information associated with your Home College account. If you need to merge or delete accounts, please contact CVC support.
I am having issues with my Canvas account. Who do I contact?
For Canvas support, please use the links below or contact CVC support.
Canvas Basics Guide - How do I contact Canvas Support?
Canvas Basics Guide - How do I reset my Canvas password?
What internet browsers work best with Canvas?
Canvas supports the current and first previous major releases of the following browsers:
Chrome 77 and 78
Firefox 69 and 70 (extended releases are not supported)
Edge 44 (Windows only)
Respondus Lockdown Browser (supporting the latest system requirements)
Safari 12 and 13 (Mac only)
You should always use the most current version of your preferred browser. For more
information, visit https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-10720-which-browsers-does-canvas-support
Course Fees
How do I pay for classes found in CVC Exchange?
Upon completing registration for a course using CVC Exchange, you will be prompted to pay for your course in full. The current method of payment includes all major credit cards. You may also select your intention to use Federal Financial Aid, or apply for a California Promise Grant (CCPG.)
Note: You are still responsible for paying for your course even if you plan to use Financial Aid or CCPG as reimbursement. We recommend paying upon registration to avoid being dropped from the course.
I am a student using CVC Exchange. What do I need to know about financial aid?
All colleges participating in CVC Exchange have signed a Federal Financial Aid Consortium Agreement. Under the agreement, the Home College will be responsible for the distribution of Financial Aid awards for students using online cross-enrollment. If you are eligible for Federal Financial Aid at your Home College, you may be able to have both Teaching College and Home College units combined, and counted toward your maximum financial aid award. For further details, contact your Home College Financial Aid office. To learn more about Financial Aid within the California Community Colleges system, please visit https://icanaffordcollege.com/.
Note: Regardless of whether state or federal financial aid is granted, you are still responsible for paying for the course at the teaching college or you may risk being dropped from the course for non-payment.
Can my California Promise Grant (formerly BOG Fee Waiver) be applied towards enrollment fees for classes found in CVC Exchange?
If you have a completed and approved California College Promise Grant at your Home College, you may also qualify for a promise grant at the Teaching College if you meet the eligibility requirements at the Teaching College. However, you will need to re-apply for the California College Promise Grant from the Teaching College to cover enrollment fees for the Exchange course using the Teaching College's Promise Grant application process. To apply for the Promise Grant at the Teaching College, please visit your Exchange Profile Class Schedule and select the Pay Now button next to your course, and then choose the California Promise Grant (CCPG) from the payment options to be directed to the Teaching College's CCPG application process. To learn more about Financial Aid within the California Community Colleges system, please visit https://icanaffordcollege.com/
Will my residency status (in-state vs. out-of-state) impact enrollment fees?
Yes, residency status will impact enrollment fees. Click on the 'i' next to the price to see the in-state and out-of-state total price for a specific class. Your residency status will either be requested from you during the enrollment and registration process and will be validated by your home college, or it will be shared directly from your home college.
My residency status is incorrect and I'm being charged non-resident fees. How do I fix this?
Your residency status is determined and confirmed by your Home College. If you are not actively matriculated and registered at your Home College, your residency status may be out of date. If you believe you qualify for CA resident enrollment fees and have already instantly enrolled into a teaching college, please follow the steps below.
1. Contact your Home College Admissions & Records office to reclassify or reestablish CA residency.
2. Email support@cvc.edu and attach the email thread that confirms your CA residency has been updated or changed. Once the Support team receives the confirmation email, they will reach out to both your Home College and the Teaching College with the updated information.
Note: Any changes to residency status must occur before or within the term of your course at the Teaching College. Once the term has ended, you will not be able to make any changes to your residency status and must pay the non-resident enrollment rate.
Prerequisites
What if the course I found on the CVC Exchange has a prerequisite requirement?
When a course has a prerequisite requirement, you will be prompted to submit an unofficial transcript and identify which course you have previously completed that meets the prerequisite. If you have multiple transcripts, please provide the exact course code and term the course was completed as it is shown on your transcript. Prerequisite approval is determined by the assigned evaluator(s) at the Teaching College. If your request is approved, you will receive an automatic email from the CVC Exchange notifying you that the course has been added to your schedule. If your application request is denied, you will receive an email from the evaluator at the Teaching College with the reason why your request was not accepted. To check the status of your request, please visit your Student Dashboard.
I completed the prerequisite at my home college. Why isn’t it showing that I completed it?
If you believe you have successfully completed a prerequisite at your home college with a passing grade of “C” or better, but it is not reflected in the home college system, contact your counselor before attempting to register for the course using CVC Exchange.
Transfer/Transcripts
Who do I contact about course transferability, degree program requirements, or any other academic advising related question?
The CVC-OEI is not a college, and does not provide academic advising or counseling. Students are encouraged to meet with an academic advisor or counselor at their college for guidance.
Will credits from my CVC course transfer to my home college?
All of the online courses available through CVC Course Finder and Exchange are California community college courses being offered as a part of a degree or certificate program. To ensure that a course will transfer and will fulfill degree or certificate requirements, students are encouraged to confirm with an academic counselor prior to enrollment.
Once I have completed a course through the Exchange, how do I transfer course credit from one college to another?
Teaching Colleges will send transcripts for completed courses in the Exchange back to the Home Colleges no later than three weeks at the end of each semester. If you need an expedited transcript, you can request an official transcript through the Teaching College. Note: If you are planning to transfer to a different institution, or need a transcript for your employer, you will need to request official transcripts from each institution you have attended. For more information on sending transcripts for evaluation to SRJC, please refer to: https://admissions.santarosa.edu/incoming-sending-transcripts-srjc
Support:
CVC Exchange Homepage
CVC Exchange Student Login
https://search.cvc.edu/users/sign_in
Self Support / FAQ / Videos
https://cvc.freshservice.com/support/solutions
Support Email
cvc.customersupport@parchment.com