This policy shall apply to all matriculated courses and programs offered through distance education by California State University, Sacramento (CSUS).
For purposes of this policy, Distance Education is defined as a formal educational process in which the majority (50 percent or more) of instruction takes place when the professor and students are not in the same place at the same time. Instead, the interaction between professor and students is mediated using audio, video and/or computer technologies.
Three methods are utilized to deliver distance education courses to CSUS students. These include video-based, web-based and mixed media (video and web) delivery. Cable television, two-way compressed video, microwave, satellite, videotape, CD-ROM and video streaming are video-based methods of delivery. Web-based courses include Web courses and Web-enhanced courses. Web courses deliver instruction on the Internet with students in the traditional classroom only for orientation and/or testing. Web-enhanced courses deliver at least 50 percent or more of the instruction on the Internet.
1. General Guidelines
1.1 The faculty are responsible for deciding which courses and/or programs will be offered in a distance education format.
1.2 The faculty have the collective responsibility to ensure both the rigor and integrity of all courses offered as well as the quality of instruction.
1.3 Prior approval by the Vice President for Academic Affairs is required for any individual, department or program to contract with any private or public entity to design, transport. and/or produce content for distance education courses or programs on behalf of CSUS.
1.4 Prior approval by the relevant department or program is required for the University to contract with any private or public entity to design, transport, and/or produce content for distance education courses or programs.
1.5 For programs in which required courses have been traditionally provided in a non-distance education mode of delivery, a change in any of these required courses to a distance education mode of delivery shall also provide students in the program a pathway to completing the major through non-distance education courses.
NOTE : Per President's memo of 8/1/01: "The Division of Nursing is exempted from provision 1.5 in view of ongoing programs. Other academic units may be exempted upon request, approved by the appropriate dean and the Provost."
2. Program Approval Guidelines
2.1 A New Program Proposal in which a student can complete the program with 50 percent or more of the program being provided through distance education courses must include the information indicated in subsection 2.3.
2.2 A Program Change Proposal must be prepared and the University's current "Policies and Procedures for Initiation, Modification, Review and Approval of Courses and Academic Programs" (as specified in the Bluebook) followed for any program where additions or changes of any courses in the program can result in a student completing the program with 50 percent or more of the program being provided through distance education courses.
2.3 Program Proposals should include the following information:
2.3.1 The role of full-time faculty in developing and implementing the proposed distance education degree program.
2.3.2 Student learning outcomes for the program and the plan for assessing these outcomes.
Note : An existing program adapted for distance education must be equivalent to the program offered on campus. The proposal must demonstrate how course objectives for all distance education classes will be met as effectively as on-campus course sections.
2.3.3 The means for ensuring the academic integrity of student work.
2.3.4 The means for providing the methodologies/strategies for providing interaction between faculty and students as well as interaction between students.
2.3.5 The means for providing the required academic support services and resources (including library, general advising, financial aid, counseling, social support services, etc.).
2.3.6 A faculty development plan for providing pedagogical and technical training to teach through video-based and/or Web-based technologies.
2.3.7 The means whereby faculty and students will access needed technical support.
Note : New distance education programs or existing programs converted to distance education must be reviewed and granted approval by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) prior to implementation. The guidelines for preparing such a proposal are consistent with the guidelines contained in this policy. Academic Affairs will assist departments in the preparation and submittal of such proposals.
3. Course Approval Guidelines
3.1 A New Course Proposal in which a majority (50 percent or more) of instruction takes place when the professor and students are not in the same place at the same time must include the information indicated in subsection 3.4.
3.2 A Course Change Proposal must be prepared and the University's current "Policies and Procedures for Initiation. Modification. Review and Approval of Courses and Academic Programs" (as specified in the Bluebook~ followed for any existing course modified for distance education - where the majority (50 percent or more) of instruction occurs without face-to-face interaction between professor and students.
3.3 Approval of transfer credit for distance education courses taken at other institutions is the responsibility of the appropriate department or program. Such courses will be reviewed and evaluated as to both curriculum content and the Course Approval Guidelines specified in this policy.
3.4 Course Proposals should include the following:
3.4.1 Student learning outcomes for the course and the plan for assessing these outcomes.
Note . An existing course adapted for distance education must be equivalent to the same course taught on campus. The proposal must demonstrate how course objectives for distance education sections will be met as effectively as the on-campus course.
3.4.2 The means for ensuring the academic integrity of student work.
3.4.3 The methodologies/strategies for providing interaction between faculty and students as well as interaction between students. This would include the types and forms of interaction expected.
3.4.4 The means for providing the required academic support services and resources (including library, general advising, advising in the major, financial aid, counseling, social support services, etc.).
3.4.5 The skill level and technology experience as well as the hardware and software a student will need to take the course.
4. Evaluation and Approval of Distance Education Courses Established Prior to the Approval of this Policy
The Program Review process will be used to review and evaluate courses established prior to implementation of this policy. The Course and Program Approval Guidelines specified in this policy will be used to verify compliance.
5. Institutional Support
5.1 Basic Student Support Services. All regularly matriculated CSUS students receiving instruction through distance education shall be provided equivalent access to the basic student support services offered on this campus. These shall include admission, course registration services, academic advising and orientation, textbook purchasing, financial aid, career development and other special program accommodations as applicable (for example, EOP, Veteran, and Reentry students).
5.2 Library Support. The Library shall provide equivalent support for distance education courses and programs. Effective and appropriate library services for distance education may differ from those services offered on campus but they should be designed to meet a wide range of informational and bibliographic needs. The requirements of academic programs should guide the Library in its response. Elements of library support available to students taking distance education courses may include courier and electronic document delivery, electronic journals, full-text databases, end-user searching, reference assistance and instruction, network access, reciprocal borrowing and interlibrary loan services, cooperative arrangements with other libraries for collection access, cooperative development of databases, and other strategies that emphasize access to resources.
5.3 Technology Support. In order to facilitate instruction that is appropriate for selected technologies, professional support in the use of the technology is necessary. Such support shall include:
- Training in the use of distance education tools, applications, and transport systems.
- Development and production of online and mediated materials
- Ongoing consultation with Computing, Communications and Media Services (CCMS) and / or College Instructional Technology (IT) staff
5.4 Pedagogy Support. In order to facilitate instruction that is pedagogically effective, faculty members teaching distance education courses shall have access to pedagogy support from faculty and staff involved in distance education. Such support shall include:
- Instructional design
- Effective pedagogical uses of specific technology
- Assessment strategies
- Ongoing consultation with Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) faculty and/or CCMS staff
5.5 Faculty Support. The University shall provide appropriate faculty support services specifically related to distance education. It is easy to underestimate the effort and skill required of faculty to convert from a conventional classroom format to a distance education format. It is even easier to underestimate the effort and skill required of faculty to change from professor-centered classroom activities to the genuinely lamer-centered activities made possible by technology. Consequently, workload calculations for distance education courses should reflect the additional effort and skill required of faculty. The workload calculations should be uniform and consistent with guidelines currently used to determine assigned time for excess enrollment, for differences in course classification, and for faculty to make use of support available for both technology and pedagogy.
6. Copyright, Patent and Ownership Policy :
Ownership of materials, faculty compensation, copyright issues, and the utilization of revenue derived from the creation and production of software, tele-courses, or other media products shall be agreed upon by the faculty and the University in accordance with the University's Copyright and Patent Policy and guidelines (UMC02750).
Approved by:
Off-Campus; Memorandum of Understanding between Senate Chair and Academic Affairs, February 11, 1993
Distance Education Policy; Senate, 1994; President January 27, 1995
Revisions Approved:
Faculty Senate 4/26/01; President 8/1/01 (approved for 2001-2002 academic year)
