Hot Topics and Accreditation Issues in

Distance Education

Authentication, Substantive Change, Authentication, Substantive Change, Effective Contact …Effective Contact …

And Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!And Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

Dolores Davison, Foothill CollegeGinni May, Sacramento City CollegeCatherine Webb, Monterey Peninsula College

Topics and Questions that Topics and Questions that will be addressed in this will be addressed in this Breakout Session:Breakout Session:

What is Distance Education?What do the Accreditation

Standards say about Distance Education?

What is substantive change?Are there requirements from the

US Department of Education?

In CCCs, distance learning continues to grow:

•2005-06: 12.48% of total headcount (unduplicated)

•2009-10: 23.54% of total headcount (unduplicated)In US, over 6 million students took at least one online class last year.

•Institutions indicating ‘‘Online education is critical to the long-term strategy of my institution’’ reached its highest level in 2011 (65.5%).

Federal and National Concerns Expressed by ACCJC◦ A few cases of significant institutional growth and

transformation triggered Congressional concerns with exploitation of institutions, students

◦ Growing amount of federal student aid funds, proportion going to private institutions and for profit institutions offering DE

◦ Financial aid fraud for which Distance Education may be particularly suited

◦ Growing number of degree mills that operate as “distance only” institutions leading to problems for transfer institutions, employers

ACCJC Web Seminar Spring 2012

 Some of the Hot Topics:

I.Recently accelerated external regulatory demands

A. Student authentication B. Last date of attendance / Title IV

 II. Lack of clarity and consensus

A. Categorizing distance educationB. DE or CE? C. Whose responsibility is it?

How does the ACCJC How does the ACCJC Evaluate Institutions Evaluate Institutions regarding Distance and regarding Distance and Correspondence Education?Correspondence Education?

The “Guide to Evaluating Distance Education and Correspondence Education” published by the ACCJC explains this:

http://www.accjc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Guide-to-Evaluating-DE-and-CE_2012.pdf

 Some of the Hot Topics (continued):

III. Substantive Change Reports

IV. Some Consequences and Questions

Student AuthenticationStudent Authentication

Academic Integrity and Academic Integrity and AuthenticationAuthenticationHEOA requires accreditors to require institutions “to have processes through which the institution establishes that the student who registers in a distance education course or program is the same student who participates in and completes the program and receives the academic credit.”

(emphasis added)

Examples of Processes and Examples of Processes and PracticesPractices

1) College LMS2) Proctored assessment3) LMS log-in statement

Through the entry of my username and password I affirm that I am the student who enrolled in this course. Furthermore, I affirm that I understand and agree to follow the regulations regarding academic integrity and the use of student data as described in the Student Conduct Code that governs student rights and responsibilities. Failure to abide by the regulations may result in disciplinary action up to expulsion from the college.

4) Academic integrity in DE training5) Plagiarism detection software

Why is it important to us???

What those looking in are What those looking in are looking for:looking for:

Institutions must use:a) secure log-in and password, OR proctored examinations,b) and/or new or other technologies c) and/or practices that are developed and effective in verifying each student’s identification

By Knterox

Last date of attendance (LDA) & Title IV

Must document LDA and verify “regular and substantive interaction” between faculty and student

Who is Who is attending attending class?class?

Make it clear to online teaching faculty that LMS statistics are not enough.

Regular Effective Contact is defined and enforced LDA policy is created and enforced that includes

academic engagement (activity). Instructors save work of the student dropped and

document when theactivity stopped.

Institutional definitionof Excessive Absences

DE or CE?

State DefinitionState Definition“Distance education means

instruction in which the instructor and student are separated by distance and interact through the assistance of communication technology.”

Same course-quality standardsRegular, effective contactSeparate curricular reviewFederal definition not much different

ACCJC DefinitionACCJC Definition“. . .a formal interaction which uses one

or more technologies to deliver instruction to student who are separated from the instructor and which supports regular and substantive interaction between the students and instructor, either synchronously or asynchronously.

Technologies include internet, interactive TV, TV, audio conferencing, video conferencing, DVDs, CD-ROMs, etc.

Correspondence Correspondence EducationEducationInstructional material provided by

mail or electronic transmission (including examinations) to students who are separated from the instructor

Limited interaction between student and instructor and primarily initiated by students

A course that is typically self-paced

34 C.F.R. § 602.3 (Definitions)

Substantive ChangeSubstantive Change

The ACCJC’s “Substantive Change Manual” can found at:

http://www.accjc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Substantive-Change-Manual_August-2012.pdf

““Substantive” in the DE Substantive” in the DE contextcontext• Change in the Intended Student Population (3.2.1)

E.g., Institution offers courses/programs via online delivery intended to reach students not included in the student population described in the current mission statement

• Addition of a Program or Courses that Represent a Significant Departure from an Institution’s Current Programs or Curriculum (3.7.1)

E.g., program offered in face-to-face format is now offered 100% online

• Addition of Courses that Constitute 50% or More of the Units Offered through a Mode of Distance or Electronic Delivery, or Correspondence Education (3.7.3)

E.g., Institution offers courses that make up 50% or more of the credits required for a program through an instructional delivery that is new for the college/program

See http://www.accjc.org/substantive-change

Process and StructureProcess and StructureSubstantive Change Manual, Section 4

• 4.1: Eligibility • 4.2: List of Sequential Steps NB: Step 4 outlines sections & content to

include

• 4.3: Committee Review Process & Potential Outcomes

Structuring the ProposalStructuring the Proposal

A. Concise description of the proposed change

B. Description of the program (or change in delivery mode) to be offered

C. Description of the planning process leading to the change

D. Evidence of analysis and planning of adequate resources

E. Evidence that required approvals have been met

F. Evidence that Eligibility Requirements will be fulfilled

G. Evidence that Accreditation Standards will be fulfilled

Types of data to considerTypes of data to consider

Growth Projections

• Recent (2-5 yr.) history of distance learning• Increase in the number of courses offered

online• Increase in the number of faculty teaching

online• Increase in number of students taking online

courses

Types of data to considerTypes of data to consider

Institutional processes

• Admissions• Orientation• Financial aid• Tutoring• Registrar Services (grades, transcript requests, etc.)

• Student communication (email, portal, etc.)

Types of data to considerTypes of data to consider

Student Success/Achievement Data

• Class size• Retention and withdrawal rates• Course completion rates• Student learning outcomes data/assessment• Online success & retention data compared to

face-to-face

Types of data to considerTypes of data to consider

Quality Assurances

• Capability of faculty to teach online• Faculty & student support services• Integration within institutional mission• Student authentication• Faculty resources• Technical support

Questions and ConcernsQuestions and Concerns

http://tinyurl.com/accjcDE

For more information---

ACCJC Web Seminar: DE on the Front Burner: New Regulations, New Challenges and Accreditation Spring 2012

http://www.onefortraining.org/coordinators

DE Coordinators’ Web Seminar Meetings