Policy for LMS Certification of Faculty Members
Effective Date: 11/10/11
Revised: 4/5/12
RATIONALE:
Online and blended learning courses have increased significantly at the University of South Alabama
over the last decade. Beginning in the spring semester 2012, all but a very few courses will be required
to have web-enhanced capabilities as part of a course emergency plan. Currently, the University of
South Alabama is in the process of migrating to, Sakai CLE,a learning management system (LMS) with
increased capabilities and many more options. In most cases, faculty will need to receive training to use
the system effectively for their courses and collaborative projects.
POLICY GUIDELINES
Full-time and Regular Part-time (Benefits Eligible) Faculty
 All faculty members will demonstrate the competencies required in the four-part Sakai 101
training. These competencies reflect a minimum level of competence in using the
University’s new LMS system. The current Sakai 101 competencies are posted at
(http://usailc.org/sakai-page/sakai101). These competencies will be updated as necessary
to accommodate changes in the LMS. Upon request, the Innovation in Learning Center (ILC)
will provide Colleges with an up-to-date spreadsheet listing faculty members who have
received any of the four parts of the Sakai 101 certification.
 Faculty members can demonstrate that they have addressed the Sakai 101 competencies
three ways:
 by successfully completing on-campus training modules delivered by the
ILC.
 by successfully completing online training modules delivered by the ILC
through USAOnline/Sakai.
 by providing evidence that they have achieved all the competencies of a
particular part of Sakai 101 without formal ILC training. The procedure for
Sakai 101 Certification Review is posted at http://usailc.org/sakaipage/certreview.
 Faculty members who are certified in all four parts of Sakai 101 will receive a certificate to
that effect.
 New faculty members must be certified before or during the first semester of their
appointment.
 Current faculty members teaching online (WO) or blended (WB) courses must be certified
no later than December 31, 2012.
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Policy for LMS Certification of Faculty Members
Effective Date: 11/10/11
Revised: 4/5/12
 Current faculty members teaching only web-enhanced courses (WE) must be certified no
later than December 31, 2013.
Temporary Part-time Faculty
 Part-time instructors who teach web-enhanced (WE) courses only are required to complete
only Part 1 of Sakai 101. These instructors will receive a $50.00 stipend if they complete the
on-campus Sakai 101 Part 1 training module. This stipend will apply until May 1, 2013, after
which the Sakai 101 Certification requirement will be a condition of employment. Current
full-time employees of the University are not eligible for a stipend.
 Part-time instructors who teach a blended (WB) or online (WO) course will complete all
four parts of Sakai 101 certification before, or as soon as possible after, they are assigned a
blended or online course. These instructors will receive a $200.00 stipend if they complete
the four-part on-campus Sakai 101 training modules. This stipend will apply until May 1,
2013, after which the Sakai 101 Certification requirement will be a condition of
employment. Current full-time employees of the University are not eligible for a stipend.
 Part-time instructors who are certified in all four parts of Sakai 101 will receive a certificate
to that effect.
Any faculty member exempted from this policy will be approved by the College Dean in a memo copied
to the Senior Vice-President for Academic Affairs/Vice-President of Health Sciences.
RELATED INFORMATION:
1. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Compliance (selected from Distance
Education and the Principles of Accreditation: Documenting Compliance, Guidelines)
Comprehensive Standard 3.4.12
Expectations: The institution is expected to ensure that faculty members
teaching distance education courses are proficient in the use of technology.
Comprehensive Standard 3.7.1
Expectations: The institution should consider and define unique qualifications for
faculty members teaching distance education courses.
The institution is expected to make its case that faculty teaching distance
education courses are qualified to teach those courses.
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Policy for LMS Certification of Faculty Members
Effective Date: 11/10/11
Revised: 4/5/12
Best Practices: In its practices for hiring faculty members to teach distance
education courses, the institution ensures and documents appropriate
qualifications.
Comprehensive Standards 3.7.2 and 3.7.3
Expectations: The institution should make professional development activities
and training available to distance education faculty members and ensure
professional development.
2. Learning with Technology Plan (adopted by the University Trustees)
Goal 3: Faculty will have access to resources and expertise that enable them to
effectively use technology in the learning environment.
 Provide training support for the learning management system.
 Verify faculty qualifications to use the electronic learning management system
for the first time.
 Provide ongoing training support.
 Periodically review and upgrade technology as appropriate.
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