California State University (CSU) Dominguez Hills
Academic Senate
EPC 14-12
Ensuring Consistency Across Instructional Modalities and Location
Approved on November 5, 2014
Whereas:
The use of distance education (courses offered via the application of technology
e.g., television, satellite, video, or internet) and alternative off-campus locations
can allow the University to expand its educational access and opportunities by
offering high quality courses that provide greater flexibility and convenience for
students as well as the development of the complementary skills needed for
working in a networked world; and
Whereas:
Since faculty control over and development of curriculum and instructional
materials is the foundation of quality education, the faculty govern all decisions
related to the instructional mode of delivery, content of courses, and appropriate
class size through the curricular approval processes of the department, college,
and university; and
Whereas:
Faculty has the same control and ownership of the substantive and intellectual
content of their distance education course-related materials as in classes offered in
a traditional face-to-face classroom format, at the time of production, at any time
during their use, and thereafter in accordance with the provisions of the CFA/CSU
Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article 39 Intellectual Property Rights; and
Whereas:
The U.S. Department of Education and in turn WASC Senior College and
University Commission (WSCUC)1 defines credit hour as a minimum of one hour
of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out of
class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester
credit unit. Therefore, a total of 45 instructional hours for a three-unit semester
course is required regardless of location or instructional modality; and
Whereas:
All courses should be consistent in terms of purpose, quality, assessment and
expected learning outcomes with other courses bearing the same department
designation, number, and course title regardless of how or where they are
delivered; and
Whereas:
Chancellor’s Office Executive Order 926 states that information technology
resources and services be available to all CSU students, faculty, staff and the
general public regardless of the disability; and now, therefore, be it
Resolved:
The Academic Senate of California State University Dominguez Hills
(ASCSUDH) recommend courses and programs offered in all modes of
instruction shall be consistent with the educational mission of the University; and
be it further,
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Resolved:
The ASCSUDH support that regardless of mode of instruction or location, all
courses and instructional settings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, shall abide
by the same standards, regulations and policies set forth by the University; and be
it further,
Resolved:
The ASCSUDH recognize all instructional courses must provide evidence that the
lecture, seminar, online activities or work assigned is equivalent regardless of
modality to warrant the credit awarded as the course progresses through the
curricular approval processes of the department, college, and university; and be it
further,
Resolved:
The ASCSUDH note that prior to implementation, “all degree programs in which
50 percent or more of the program is delivered by any distance learning modality
– satellite, video, internet, or any other kind of technology-mediated modality”
shall meet the substantive change requirements related to distance education
programs as established by the WSCUC1 – Distance Education and TechnologyMediated Instruction Policy (2014); and be it further,
Resolved:
The ASCSUDH note that prior to implementation, all degree programs in which
50% or more of the program is offered at a location 25 miles or more from the
main campus shall meet the substantive change requirements related to offcampus sites as established by the WSCUC1 – Off-Campus Locations Review
Protocol (2007); and be it further,
Resolved:
The ASCSUDH charge the campus to implement policies and procedures to
ensure that accessibility requirements have been incorporated into the curricular
review process (Chancellor’s Office AA 2013-03); and be it further,
Resolved:
The ASCSUDH note that course designers should implement Universal Design
for Learning (UDL) principles for curriculum development including print-based
and multimedia-based instructional resources in accordance with Chancellor’s
Office coded memo AA-2013-03 (January 29, 2013) that give all individuals
equal opportunities to learn; and be it further,
Resolved:
The ASCSUDH recognize all online materials created for use in instruction shall
comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990), Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Chancellor’s Office policies on accessibility for
online education. All films, videos, and material from video-sharing websites
(e.g., YouTube) must be closed-captioned; PowerPoint presentations, scanned
documents, or other faculty-prepared class materials for posting online are in
accessible formats; and graphs, charts, pictures, and illustrations are accessible
(e.g., by adding alternative text or by enhancing colors or contrast); and be it
further,
Resolved:
The ASCSUDH charge the campus to provide technical support and faculty
development to ensure accessibility requirements are met.
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Rationale
Distance education can allow the University to achieve its mission more fully and expand
educational access and opportunities; however, used improperly, courses offered via distance
education can erode academic standards; widen achievement gaps among students in different
demographic groups, and lower graduation rates. Developing rigorous policies and standards
that govern all instruction regardless of location or instructional modality can protect the quality
and climate of the educational environment for students, faculty members, and the campus
community as we move to online course offerings at CSU Dominguez Hills.
1
WSCUC Document List is located at http://www.wascsenior.org/document-list
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