C:\RHETORIC2000\OCDLDLgsamsrumor.htm

DRAFT:
RANKING of "MUST" STATEMENTS
for Off-Campus & Distance Learning Committee
2 April 2000

Proposed categories:

Category 1: Primary responsibility of OCDL committee:
OCDL committee will identify information needs and assume primary responsibility for assessment.

Category 2: Supplementary charge with other self-study committee(s):
Representative from OCDL committee will work with other, appropriate self-study committee to identify information needs and conduct assessment re. application of "must" statement to off-campus and/or distance learning site(s).

FYI:
Distance learning as defined by the Commission on Colleges in June 1997:

Distance education is defined, for the purposes of accreditation review, as a formal educational process in which
the majority of the instruction occurs when the student and instructor are not in the same place [emphasis
added]. Instruction may synchronous or asynchronous. Distance education may employ correspondence study, or
audio, video, or computer technologies. (Distance Education: Definition and Principles/A Policy Statement
1-2)
___________________________________________

Category 1: Primary responsibility of OCDL committee

*4.2.3 Undergraduate Curriculum*

Curricula intended to provide basic preparation for

students who will subsequently transfer to another

institution must be designed to consider the institutions

to which these students transfer. Associate and bac-

calaureate degree-granting institutions should work co-

operatively to develop articulation agreements. The

agreements should be evaluated periodically to ensure

an equitable and efficient transfer of students. "Invert-

ed," "two plus two" and similar programs must include

an adequate amount of advanced coursework in the

subject field.

Institutions which enter into programmatic partner-

ships with secondary schools which result in the award

of college credit, such as technical and dual enrollment

programs, must ensure that the credit awarded is at the

collegiate level and is in compliance with the Criteria

and with Section IV in particular. Partnerships must be

evaluated regularly by the participating institution of

higher education. The participating institution must

assume full responsibility for the academic quality and

integrity of partnerships as measured by the Criteria.

*4.2.4 Undergraduate Instruction*

Courses offered in non-traditional formats, e.g., con-	19
centrated or abbreviated time periods, must be de-	20
signed to ensure an opportunity for preparation, reflec-	21
tion and analysis concerning the subject matter. At least	22
one calendar week of reflection and analysis should be	23
provided to students for each semester hour, or equiva-	24
lent quarter hours, of undergraduate credit awarded.	25
The institution must demonstrate that students com-	26
pleting these programs or courses have acquired equiv-	27
alent levels of knowledge and competencies to those ac-	28
quired in traditional formats.


4.5
Distance Learning Programs

The Commission recognizes the legitimacy of dis-	21
tance learning, such as that conveyed through off-cam-	22
pus classroom programs, external degree programs,	23
branch campuses, correspondence courses, and various	24
programs using electronically-based instruction offered	25
geographically distant from the main campus. An insti-	26
tution must formulate clear and explicit goals for its dis-	27
tance learning programs and demonstrate that they are	28
consistent with the institution's stated purpose. Further,	29
an institution must demonstrate that it achieves these	1
goals and that its distance learning programs are effec-	2
tive and comply with all applicable Criteria. (See	3
Commission policy statement "Distance Education:	4
Definitions and Principles.")	5

4.8.2.4 Distance Learning Programs/Activities
Institutions offering courses for credit through dis-	6
tance learning activities and programs must meet all	7
criteria related to faculty. Whether through direct con-	8
tact or other appropriate means, institutions offering	9
distance learning programs must provide students with	10
structured access to and interaction with full-time fac-	11
ulty members.

against which the performance of each faculty member

will be measured. The criteria must be consistent with

the purpose and goals of the institution and be made

known to all concerned. The institution must demon-

strate that it uses the results of this evaluation for im-

provement of the faculty and its educational program.

4.9

Consortial Relationships

and Contractual Agreements

The Commission on Colleges recognizes the right of

a member institution to enter into consortial relation-

ships and contractual agreements for the purpose of of-

fering credit courses or programs. However, the Com-

mission reserves the right to prohibit the use of its

accreditation to authenticate credit courses or programs

offered through such relationships. A member institu-

tion which enters into such consortial relationships or

contractual agreements must have sufficient control of

relationships/agreements so as to maintain compliance

with the Criteria when offering educational programs

through such arrangements. All consortia and contracts

must be evaluated regularly.

If an institution plans to participate in consortial rela-

tionships or enter into contractual agreements for edu-

cational programs, it must follow reporting policies and

procedures related to substantive change. (See the

Commission's substantive change procedure on the

initiation of a consortium or contractual arrangements.)

4.9.1 Consortial Relationships

A member institution seeking to participate in a con-

sortium degree or certificate program must enter into

such a relationship only with regionally accredited in-

stitutions offering degrees or certificates at the same

level. Exceptions must be approved by the Commis-

sion in advance of the formation of or participation in

the consortium.

The member institution must maintain the quality of	1
all courses/programs offered through the consortium.	2
Educational courses/programs offered through a	3
consortial relationship must be related to the teaching	4
purpose of the institution and comply with the Criteria.	5

4.9.2 Contractual Agreements
Educational services and programs offered through a	6
contractual agreement with another institution or orga-	7
nization must support the purpose of the institution. The	8
member institution must maintain the quality of pro-	9
grams/courses offered through the contract and ensure	10
ongoing compliance with the Criteria. (See Commission	11
document "Guidelines for Contractual Relationships	12
with Non-Regionally Accredited Institutions.")	13
*If an institution enters into a teach-out agreement*	14
*with another institution, it must submit the agreement*	15
*to the Commission for approval (See Commission*	16
policy "Teach-Out agreements.")

Category 2: Supplementary charge with other self-study committee(s)

All statements (except those included above under Category 1) identified in SACS document "Distance Education: Definition and Principles" fall under Category 2. Additional "must" statements (particularly those that may involve students, faculty, and programs at off-campus sites) may be added to Category 2 following further review by the OCDL committee, other self-study committees, and the Steering Committee. An OCDL liaison to each of the other self-study committees will be identified by May 2000.
--draft dated 2 April 2000

off-campus & distance learning committee