off-campus & distance learning committee
SACS Substantive Change for Distance Education
Drs. Kris Biesinger and Dorothy Zinsmeister presented the findings from their SACS Substantive Change for Distance Education site visit in North Carolina. Dr. Biesinger informed the group that Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina have participated in SACS Substantive Change for distance education at the two-year college level. Georgia would be the first multi-sector system to participate in the process. Drs. Biesinger and Zinsmeister discussed the advantages to a comprehensive SACS Substantive Change review for a system. These advantages include savings in staff time and fiscal costs as well as increased opportunities for distance education collaboratives. Georgia has the option of encouraging a comprehensive visit in Fall 2000 or Spring 2001.During the North Carolina site visit, the team found that 38 institutions in three regions of the state participated. SACS was notified of the impending change in March 1999 and the visit was performed in October 1999. When SACS was notified, North Carolina determined that 25% of its programs were offered via distance education. North Carolina faced the challenge of determining whether distance education was separate from campus-based instruction or a fully integrated part of the didactic and clinical curricula. Another challenge involved the definition of alternative delivery (i.e., web enhancements, telecourses, on-line courses, etc.). North Carolina also addressed issues concerning the coordination of a System strategy that enhances learning, uses similar technologies, and integrates institutional effectiveness
Administrative Committee on Academic Affairs
November 16, 1999
Regents' Central Office Board Room
Atlanta, Georgia