DrexelUniversity’sOnlineLearningCouncil(OLC):
AproposedframeworkfortheOLC
Vision.TheDrexelUniversityOnlineLearningCouncilisaninclusivearrayof
dedicatedacademicandadministrativerepresentativesfromacrossDrexel
University,chargedwithimprovingthetechnology-enhancedlearningexperience
forfaculty,staff,andstudents.Theireffortswillenabletheuniversitytore-envision
onlineandhybridlearning,inlinewiththegoalsithassetoutinDrexel’s2013-2017
StrategicPlan.TheOLCoperatesundertheaegisoftheInterregionalGuidelinesfor
evaluatingdistanceeducation;criteriasetforthbyaccreditors;andcompliance
requirementsdesignatedbyvariousagencies.Itworkscollaboratively,throughits
committees,toresolveanychallengesbroughtforwardbyitsmembership.
Likewise,OLCmembersareresponsiblefordeveloping,demonstrating,andsharing
strategiesthatwillhavepositiveandlastingimpactontheoverallqualityofDrexel’s
online,hybrid,andtechnology-enhancedface-to-facecourses.
Mission.Toprovideaformalstructureforfaculty,staff,andadministratorsfrom
acrosstheuniversitytoexplore,design,andpresenttokeyDrexelstakeholders,
innovativesolutionstocriticalchallengesintechnology-enhancedlearning.
OLCStructure
Staff.TheSeniorVicePresidentofOnlineLearning(asappointedbytheProvost)
willserveastheDirector,withsupportfromaCoordinatorchosenfromamongthe
professionalstaff.
Membership.TheOLCisopentoallinterestedDrexelfaculty,administrators,and
staff,withdetailsaboutcommitteeparticipationpostedontheOLCwebsite.
Drexel’sOfficeofCommunicationswillprovideongoinginformationaboutOLC
events–exceptforcommitteemeetings–toallDrexelUniversityemployees.
Committees.TheOLCDirectorwillappointonefacultymemberandonestaff
memberoneachcommittee,toserveasco-chairs.TheChairoftheFacultySenate
willalsoappointamaximumoftwofacultymemberstoeachcommittee.
Committeepurposestatements.Eachcommitteewillhaveaspecificpurpose,
whichwill,inturn,enabletheOLCtoachieveitscollectiveMission.Workingwithin
theirrespectiveareas,committeememberswilldiscover,vet,share,support,and
showcaseeffectiveapproachesforDrexeleducatorsandadministratorstousefor
enhancingtheDrexelonlinestudentexperience.
TheExecutiveSteeringCommitteesupportstheOLCmissionbyreviewing
OLCcommitteereportsforrecommendationsonstrategicprioritiesrelated
totechnology-enhancedlearning.Thecommitteeiscomprisedofseniorlevel
academicandadministrativeofficials.TheOLCDirectorwillfacilitatethe
ExecutiveSteeringCommitteemeetings.Themeetingswillbecomprisedof
oneormorecommitteechairspresentingexecutivereportsforconsideration
andansweringmemberquestions.
TheEmergingTechnologyCommitteesupportstheOLCmissionby
identifying,piloting,andreportingonemergingtechnologiesforteaching
andlearning.
TheProfessionalDevelopmentCommitteesupportstheOLCmissionby
creatingandmaintainingarobustyear-to-yearfacultyandstaffprofessional
developmentplan.
TheAccessibilityCommitteesupportstheOLCMissionbyelevatingDrexel
facultyandadministratorawarenessaroundthecriticalareasofaccessibility,
usability,andreadabilityforallDrexelstudentsinonline,hybrid,and/or
enhancedface-to-facecourses.TheCommitteewillprovideeasy-to-follow
andreadily-implementablesteps,processes,andprocedures(with
professionalguidanceandsupport)thatpractitionerscanuse,atescalating
levelsofchallengeandbreadth,tomaketheircoursesmoreaccessible,
usable,andreadableforallstudents.
TheStudentSupport&EngagementCommittee’spurposeistoimprove
thestudentexperienceforonlineandhybridstudentsthroughouttheir
studentlifecycleinawaythatbettersupportstheiracademicsuccessand
retention.
TheTAGG(TeachingAcrossGeographyGroup)Committeesupportsthe
OLCmissionbyidentifyingandstudyingboththesupportsinplaceandthe
challengesfacedamongDrexelfaculty,whoteachremotelyfromgeographic
locationsoutsideofPhiladelphia.Theseissuesmightrunthegamutfrom
localtaxwithholdingandstateregulatoryissues,tomaximizingtechnology
supportandengagingdistancefacultyintheDrexelcommunity.
Meetings.
• TherewillbethreeOLCmembermeetingseachyear–oneeachinthefall,
winterandspringterms–tofurnishupdatesonthestateoftechnologyenhancedlearning,bothnationallyandatDrexel.
• Committeemeetingswilloccurattimesdeterminedbytheco-chairs.
• TheCollaboratoryisaneventthatwilltakeplacetwiceayear(fall/spring),
toprovideaforumforOLCmemberstoshowcaseprojectsandengagein
collaborativediscussionwiththeirpeers.
Reporting.Committeeswillcompleteandsubmitquarterlywrittenreportstothe
OLCDirector,detailingtheiractivitiesandaccomplishmentsduringthatperiod.
Thesereportswillincludeanexecutivesummaryfollowedbyacomprehensive
narrative.Exampleswillbeprovidedtothecommitteechairs.
OLCFellows
TheOLCFellowsGroupsupportstheOLCMissionbyservingasambassadorsand
championsoftheCouncilthroughouttheDrexelcommunity,toensurethatitswork
iseffectivelyimplemented.TheFellowswillhavespecificareasoffocus.
• First,theFellowswilluseobjectiveinstrumentstoexaminethequalityof
technology-enhancedlearningacrossallacademicunitsanddeliverymodes.
Post-reviewactivitieswillincludemakingqualityimprovement
recommendations;exploringopportunitiesforfacultymentoring;
showcasingbestpractices;highlightingexemplarycoursedesignfeatures
andapproaches;andfollowinguponrecommendations,withaneyetoward
improvedstudentoutcomes.
• Second,theFellowswillfocusoneducatingandengagingfacultyintheuseof
objectivequalityassessmenttoolsandmethodologiesthatareappropriateto
theirparticularcourse(s).