University-Wide
Undergraduate Curriculum Handbook
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Approved by APSCUF Representative Council December 14, 2000
Approved by Meet and Discuss February 22, 2001
Modified by APSCUF Representative Council April 7, 2005
and Meet and Discuss April 27, 2005
While Article 42 of the CBA concerns distance education, the
procedure in this policy pertains to section E of the article -- Course
Approval. Article 42 defines distance education as…"mediated
communication/instruction between faculty
member(s) and student(s) other than when faculty member(s) and student(s) are
physically present in the same classroom." In accordance with the definition,
this policy applies to all courses where more than one-third of the
contact hours are conducted via distance education technologies and the students
are located at remote sites with little or no required presence in a traditional
classroom setting on an IUP campus. If distance education technologies are used
for less than one-third of classroom hours, this policy and compensation
process are not applicable. Furthermore, when more than one-third of the
courses required in a graduate degree or certificate program are designated
"distance education" courses, as defined above, a program revision proposal must
be approved through the graduate peer review process.
The CBA specifically states that "distance education shall not include
instruction at multiple locations on the same campus" (Article 42 A-1). Courses
offered via technology to students at branch campuses and other off-site
locations are considered distance education courses. In addition, several
courses by design have for quite some time required students to pursue their
studies outside of the classroom and are specifically addressed in the CBA.
Therefore, the following are exceptions to the above policy and are not
considered distance education courses:
clinical experience internship cooperative education practicum student teaching independent study individualized instruction thesis and dissertation
Curriculum Approval for Existing and Special Topics Courses
This procedure pertains to the method of delivery and the
quality of instruction. Note that although special topics courses are treated in
the same manner as existing courses, curriculum committee policy, which
prohibits the scheduling of a special topics course more than three times, will
be enforced.
A course proposal, which includes sample lesson(s), will be made available for
review and recommendation to the departmental curriculum committee. Given that
thirty calendar days are allowed for the review process, the department
recommendation and course syllabus (for special topics courses only) are
forwarded simultaneously to the University-Wide Undergraduate Curriculum
committee or Graduate Committee for review and recommendation, and to the
President or designee. Information copies are also sent to the college
curriculum committee, college dean, Dean of the School of Continuing Education,
and if applicable, the Dean of Graduate School and Research. After considering
the recommendations, the President or designee shall announce a decision prior
to the deadline.
The department shall conduct a review, using the form provided by the
university-wide curriculum committee (see following pages) as a guide. The
following criteria listed under Article 42 Section E. appear on the form:
a) a qualified instructor;
b) how will each objective in the course be met using distance education technologies;
c) suitable opportunity for interaction between instructor and student;
d) suitable evaluation of student achievement by the instructor; and integrity of the evaluation methods used.
The President or designee is to receive the proposal and any
recommendations from the department curriculum committee and from the
University-Wide Undergraduate Curriculum Committee or Graduate Committee no
later than thirty calendar days after the University-Wide Undergraduate
Curriculum Committee or Graduate Committee receives the department proposal with
recommendation. The President or designee will announce final disposition of the
proposal within thirty days after the University-Wide Undergraduate Curriculum
Committee or Graduate Committee receives the department proposal with
recommendation. In order for a recommendation to be considered by the President
or designee, it must be received by the thirty calendar-day deadline, excluding
breaks, during the fall and spring semesters. If the President or designee has
not received information from one of the two committees, he/she may grant
temporary approval to offer the course one time.
Curriculum Approval for New Courses
New credit bearing courses, which may be offered through distance education,
must be approved through the normal course approval procedure of the University,
which shall incorporate the criteria in CBA Article 42 E.
Note:
1. Existing courses offered via distance education technologies prior to April 30, 2001 may continue as approved distance education courses without additional review.
2. For the purpose of the Article 42 preparation payment, a Special Topics course that is later approved through the curricular process is considered the same course if not significantly changed since first time it was offered.
Approval to Schedule Distance Education Courses
Curriculum approval of a new or existing course for distance education delivery
does not assure that the course will be listed on the schedule. Prior to taking
the first step in adapting an existing course or developing a new course that
uses distance education technologies, the faculty member shall consult with
his/her department chair and dean to ascertain whether or not projected
enrollment and technical infrastructure are sufficient to support the endeavor.
Because of such additional costs as the preparation compensation, off-site
student fee, and technical assistance for the faculty member and students, every
distance education course must receive budget approval from the dean of the
college or the Dean of the School of Continuing Education, as appropriate, prior
to review by the department curriculum committee. Moreover, approval for the
distance education course must be obtained from the dean of the college or the
Dean of the School of Continuing Education, as appropriate, prior to the start
of classes each semester the course is offered.
Compensation
Preparation compensation is paid in accordance with Article 42. Faculty members
who share in the development of a course will share in the stipend as determined
by the faculty members.