Procedures for Initiating Distance Education Courses
Courses offered in the distance education format at Texas A&M University – Kingsville incorporate the guidelines for the
Principals of Good Practice for Electronically Offered Academic degree and Certificate Programs, developed by the
Western Cooperative for Educational telecommunications and adopted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board (THECB).
Definitions of Distance Education
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), Chapter 4, Subchapter P, states that distance education is the
formal educational process that occurs when students and instructors are not in the same physical setting for the
majority (more than 50 percent) of instruction. Two categories of distance education courses are defined:
Fully Distance Education Course - A course which may have mandatory face-to-face sessions totaling no more than 15
percent of the instructional time. Examples of face-to-face sessions include orientation, laboratory, exam review, or an
in-person test.
Hybrid/Blended Course - A course in which a majority (more than 50 percent but less than 85 percent), of the planned
instruction occurs when the students and instructor(s) are not in the same place.
http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/index.cfm?objectid=B9959530-E985-8C9F-3867A0F4CB0234B7
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
For the purposes of the Commission on College’s accreditation review, distance education is a formal educational
process in which the majority of the instruction (interaction between students and instructors and among students) in a
course occurs when students and instructors are not in the same place. Instruction may be synchronous or
asynchronous. A distance education course may use the internet; one-way and two-way transmissions through open
broadcast, closed circuit, cable, microwave, broadband lines, fiber optics, satellite, or wireless communications devices;
audio conferencing; or video cassettes, DVD’s, and CD-ROMs if used as part of the distance learning course or program.
http://sacscoc.org/pdf/Distance%20and%20correspondence%20policy%20final.pdf
At Texas A&M University-Kingsville, the term “online course” refers to a fully distance education course (85% or more of
course content) offered via the Internet; while the term “hybrid course” refers to a course with more than 50% but less
than 85% of course content offered via the Internet. A course with 50% or more content delivered by TTVN or other
teleconferencing technology is referred to as a “Videoconference course.” Designated section numbers for courses
delivered in distance education formats are: Online (600), Hybrid (900), Off-Campus (200), and Videoconference (400).
Programs
SACS requires institutions to submit prior notification when 25-49% of a degree program will consist of distance
education courses. SACS requires submission of an official substantive change prospectus prior to delivering 50% or
more of a degree program by distance education courses. Contact the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs for
more information.
http://www.sacscoc.org/pdf/081705/Substantive%20Change%20policy.pdf
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Texas A&M University – Kingsville
Request to Offer Distance Education Courses
The following information should be completed and submitted at least three (3) months prior to offering a course
in a distance education format.
Course Information
Title and Number of Course:
Brief course description:
This course is offered for?
Credit
Non-credit
In which semester do you first plan to offer this course?
What program(s) include this course as a requirement?
Both Credit and Non-credit
Can this course be selected as elective, cognate or specialization?
If yes, for which program(s)?
Yes
No
Prerequisite (s) and/or required academic skills/ background of students:
Delivery Format : (select all that apply)
Online
Hybrid
Percentage of course content to be offered by distance delivery:
Recommended Class Cap:
Off-Campus
Videoconference
Name, title, phone number and e-mail of principal contact person:
Instructional Faculty – List faculty who will teach the course.
Credentials (degrees, experience
Name
relevant to teaching this course)
Approvals – Department, College and Provost’s Office approvals are required.
Approving Authority
Signature
Department Chair
College Curriculum Committee Chair
College Dean
Provost or AVPAA
Training Received
Date
Approved request forms are filed in the Office of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs and used as part of the
institutional plan for distance education activities as required by state law and coordinated through the Distance
Education Advisory Committee of THECB. A notification copy is sent to the Center for Distance Learning and
Instructional Technology.
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Texas A&M University – Kingsville