Internet/Web-Based Courses

Policy 215

Introduction

1.1 This policy is adopted in order for the University to ensure that the student who registers in a distance or correspondence education course or program at the University is the same student who participates and completes the course or program and receives the credit. The University will verify the identity of a student who participates in class or coursework by using, at the option of the University, methods such as (1) a secure login and pass code, (2) proctored examinations, or (3) new or other technologies and practices that are effective in verifying student identification.

1.2 The University offers distance and/or correspondence education and will ensure that it reports accurate headcount enrollment on its annual Institutional Profile submitted to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC or “Commission”).

1.3 The University will ensure that its distance and correspondence education courses and programs comply with the Commission’s Principles of Accreditation. This applies to all educational programs and services, wherever located or however delivered.

Scope

2.1 This policy applies to all the faculty, staff, and students of the University registering for, enrolled in, and receiving credit for a distance or correspondence education course or program, wherever located or however delivered by the University.

Definitions

Web-based course

any course in which students may complete 50 percent or more of the requirements through internet access to the course web site(s), materials, or activities.

This definition is consistent with the SACSCOC policy and definition: http://sacscoc.org/pdf/Distance%20and%20correspondence%20policy%20final.pdf

Classification

Web-based courses can be offered via distance education or main campus. Web-based courses are offered as main campus courses unless the courses are offered within the context of an approved, authorized distance education program. These courses are differentiated in the University-adopted course schedule information system by campus cohort codes.

Course-building

All web-based courses must be created in Banner in the University-adopted student information system with an appropriate activity code. The activity types are:

1. WEB (Entirely Web-Based) – This course is 100 percent online. Formal presentation and interaction occurs only through online communication of information via the internet. Presentations may incorporate elements of lecture, lab and other activity types. Flexibility of time and location for delivery are key factors that distinguish entirely web-based courses from traditional course types.
2. WEM (Web-Based Majority) – This course is 90 – 99 percent online. Formal presentation and interaction occurs primarily through online communication of information via the internet. Presentations may incorporate elements of lecture, lab and other activity types. The course may on occasion meet face-to-face in a traditional classroom setting for initial organization, testing, or other purposes; however flexibility of time and location for delivery are key factors that distinguish web-based majority courses from traditional course types.
3. WEH (Web-Based Hybrid) – This course is 50 – 89 percent online. Formal presentation and interaction occurs partially through online communication of information via the internet. Presentations may incorporate elements of lecture, lab and other activity types. The course meets face-to-face in a traditional classroom setting up to 50 percent of the time. A web-based hybrid course provides some flexibility of time and location for the majority of course meetings.

Statement on Credit Hours

Credit hours awarded must be determined by sound practice regardless of course delivery method. In accordance with SACSCOC Comprehensive Standard 3.4.6 of the Principles of Accreditation, web-based courses should adhere to the following:

The number of contact hours for courses that meet face-to-face with an instructor is defined by the number of hours spent in classroom; typically 750 minutes in the classroom are required for one college credit. Contact hours in synchronous online environments may be recorded in the same manner as for traditional classes.

However, contact hours in asynchronous learning environments are more difficult to monitor. Therefore, the definition of contact hours in asynchronous learning environments at the University is based on the following guidelines

1. The course syllabus should clearly document that a web-based course covers content comparable to what would normally be expected if the class were a traditional course. Clear documentation includes the course topics covered, the course objectives covered along with their associated learning outcomes, and the stated expectations for readings, projects, and other course assignments/activities. It is the responsibility of the chair and teaching faculty in the department to determine and assure that the course content delivered in a web-based course is of sufficient scope and rigor to ensure that it is comparable to a traditional course.
2. During the planning and development of a web-based course, faculty should estimate the time a typical student will take interacting with the course content. This should be equivalent to the number of contact hours normally expected in a traditional course and should be documented in the course syllabus. Hours for completing homework assignments, working on projects, studying for examinations, etc., should be considered outside the contact hour requirements for the course.
3. Faculty are encouraged to determine class attendance by the evaluation of student participation in scheduled online discussions, required interaction with the faculty as well as other classmates, and the timely submission of class assignments rather than simply by the number of logins provided in the statistics measured by the course management system.