SACS and Other Regulations: What We Are Required to do About Online and Distance Education

Institutional Planning, Assessment & Research

2010 Institutional Planning, Assessment & Research

SACS and Other Regulations: What We Are Required to do About Online and Distance

Education

Dr. Rita Reaves, ChairCompliance Certification Council

East Carolina University

Key points:• SACS Policy Statement on Distance Education:• http://

sacscoc.org/pdf/Distance%20and%20correspondence%20policy%20final.pdf

• Efforts to institutionalize compliance at ECU

• Challenges along the way

• New regulations


http://sacscoc.org/pdf/Distance%20and%20correspondence%20policy%20final.pdf



SACS Policy Statement on DE: Guidelines in the Application of the Principles to DE• Mission (1)• Curriculum and instruction (8)• Faculty (3)• Institutional effectiveness (2)• Library and learning resources (2)• Student services (5)• Facilities and finances (2)


EFFORTS TO INSTITUTIONALIZE PROCESSES

“The institution is in compliance . . . “


Distance Education at ECU

• 1999 “Quality Assurance Standards for Undergraduate Courses Offered via Distance Education at ECU”

• 2002 Joyner Award for Faculty Service through Continuing Education • 2008 NCDLA Excellence in Distance Learning Teaching Awards• 2008 College of Nursing designated a Center of Excellence: “innovative

online outreach efforts”• 2009 College of Business and College of Education—US News & World

Report—best graduate programs (online).• 2010 MBA online program ranked third in the nation GetEducated.com• 2011 NCDLA Excellence in Distance Learning Teaching Awards


How we began

Review College-specific policies Creation Online Quality Council Collaboration Faculty Senate Support Office of Faculty Excellence Support Information Tech & Computer Services Leadership Provost, Associate Provost for Academic

Outreach, Associate Provost for IPAR, Senate officers, President, NC Distance Learning Association


Faculty Senate representation on Online Quality Council

Chair Faculty Senate Vice Chair Faculty Senate Chair Graduate Curriculum Committee Chair Undergraduate Curriculum Chair Educational Policies and Planning Chair Academic Standards Committee Chair Career and Continuing Education Unit faculty Senate representatives


ECU Policy on Distance Education Documented professional

development prior to teaching online (modules in review).

Annual professional development while teaching

Peer review of syllabus, course materials

http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/fsonline/customcf/facultymanual/newmanual/depolicy.htm2011 Institutional Planning, Assessment & Research

http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/fsonline/customcf/facultymanual/newmanual/depolicy.htm




Challenges along the way• Comparing the SACS definition and UNC-GA

definition of distance education• Identifying DE courses and faculty according to the

SACS definition• Recognizing continuum of how online programs had

been developed• Communicating the scope and impact of proposed

changes needed for institutional compliance


New Regulations Section 600.9 of the new DOE regulations:

“If an institution is offering postsecondary education through distance or correspondence education for students in a State which it is not physically located in or in which it is otherwise subject to State jurisdiction as determined by the State, the institution must meet any State requirements for it to be legally offering postsecondary distance or correspondence education in that State. An institution must be able to document to the Secretary the State’s approval upon request.”


Interpretations of the new policy:• The implementation of the regulations will go

forward and are effective July 1, 2011; however “good faith” efforts will be recognized for the next year. Those efforts are that you need to have applied or be in the process of applying by July 1, 2011.


This quickly gets complicated! Institutions must be able to identify where a student is

located BEFORE s(he) enrolls in a program and the requirement to secure approval from that state. Further, if a student moves from that state during the time of enrollment, the institution must re-evaluate (or may have to seek approval from the new state).

There is no minimum enrollment “bar” that triggers the requirement for approval. One student enrolled outside your home state requires you take action unless the state has or sets a minimum.


Moving into the course room means a fresh look at effectiveness:

• Student learning outcomes• Preparation and

effectiveness of instructor• Adequacy of support

services for online learners• Documentation of

demonstrated quality• Application to ALL courses


SACS and Other Regulations: What We Are Required to do About Online and Distance Education

Documents

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