Approved by FAPSC, April 13, 2000
Revisions, October 17, 2000

Electronically Mediated Distance Learning

1. When a distance learning course requires students to have specialized hardware or software, it is recommended that this be noted in the "Schedule of Courses" using the letter “D”.

D. Electronically Mediated instruction that is intended primarily for remote reception requiring the student to have access via special equipment.

2. The following policy is recommended by FAPSC:

§ The Faculty, at the individual and Department level, assumes responsibility for and oversight of distance learning courses ensuring both the rigor and the quality of the instruction.

§ Academic policies and standards are the same as those that apply to any course, academic program, or degree.

§ Instruction and learning activities are appropriate for the content.

§ Course syllabi are written in the same format as traditional courses and include a clear statement of intended learning outcomes, learning content that is appropriate to those outcomes, clear expectations of learner activities, flexible opportunities for interaction and assessment methods appropriate to the activities and technologies.

§ The selection and application of technologies by the instructor for a specific learning activity are appropriate for the subject matter content, the intended learning outcomes, the characteristics and circumstances of the learners to who the course is targeted, the technologies used and the learning environment. Among the attributes considered are access to library materials, academic community interaction, timely assessment and feedback of student success.

§ The learning design is evaluated on a regular basis, at the Department level, for effectiveness, with findings utilized as a basis for improvement.

§ Evaluations are obtained from students from every distance education course, as is done for on campus courses by the Department. The Department Faculty is free to tailor the questions to the course within the College Faculty and University Faculty Policies.

§ All University academic resources are available to students taking distance learning courses or on-campus courses.

§ The University provides appropriate training opportunities for faculty who are assigned to teach distance learning courses.

§ The University provides the faculty assigned to teach distance learning courses with the necessary technical support and assistance.

§ In the case of asynchronous instruction, the instructor will be available for direct student interaction on a regular and reliable basis.

§ The Instructor is responsible for the content of the instruction and its suitability and therefore retains ownership of the content consistent with the intellectual property policies of the University.

3. Faculty workload and compensation issues have been addressed in a memo to the Provost from the Deans dated August 7, 1996. These recommendations seem appropriate.