Guidelines to assure the highest educational quality for such distributed learning.
The purpose of the Distance Learning Policy is to provide guidance for students, faculty and staff regarding the design, development, delivery and evaluation of distance learning at Adelphi University. The policy is grounded in best practices for distance learning in higher education and incorporates appropriate regulatory and accreditation considerations. Ultimately, the Distance Learning Policy is intended to promote excellent distance learning educational experiences and institutional support for Adelphi students and faculty.
Distance learning has become increasingly prominent in higher education. Done well, it expands access to education for those who otherwise could not join a traditional classroom setting because of geographic distance. It also provides flexibility for both students and faculty in terms of course scheduling. Equally important, it exposes students to information literacy and technology skills that are essential for today’s technology-driven world. It also stimulates opportunities for faculty development and professional growth.
While Adelphi University values the small and intimate face-to-face classroom environment that has been its educational signature for more than one hundred years, it must at the same time judiciously develop high-quality instructional opportunities to meet the needs of the diverse student population it serves.
Whether distance learning is incorporated in a traditional class setting or delivered in place of it, well-designed instruction must be at the core of course and program offerings. Not all disciplines or all types of instruction will employ technology-enhanced curricula in the same manner. Nonetheless, some common guidelines are important to assure the highest educational quality for such distributed learning. The elements of this policy are established to guarantee that Adelphi University continues to provide excellent educational experiences for both students and faculty.
Faculty, Staff, and Students
Definition of Distance Learning
Adelphi University recognizes Distance Learning, also called distance education, e-learning, and online learning, as “a form of education in which the main elements include physical separation of teachers and students during instruction and the use of various technologies to facilitate student-teacher and student-student communication.” (Berg, Gary A. and Simonson, Michael. “distance learning”. Encyclopedia Britannica, Invalid Date, Accessed 10 July 2023.)
Definitions for Distance Learning Courses at Adelphi
Adelphi currently recognizes three formats for Distance Learning courses:
Definition for Distance Learning Program at Adelphi
Adelphi adheres to federal and New York State regulations, as well as its institutional accreditor, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, that define any program that offers 50% or more of its instruction online as a Distance Education Program. Additionally, Adelphi participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), a private nonprofit organization [501(c)(3)] that helps expand students’ access to educational opportunities and ensure more efficient, consistent, and effective regulation of distance education programs and abides by the 21st Century Distance Education Guidelines. (See Related Information below)
The U.S. Department of Education issued Final Rules on Distance Education and Innovation in September 2020, with the rules going into effect on July 1, 2021. The regulations update the definitions of distance and correspondence education with the intent to provide more clarity on the differences between these two modes of course delivery. The U.S. Department of Education requires that all online courses for which students may use Title IV funds (federal financial aid) include regular and substantive interaction (RSI) between students and instructors. In short, regular and substantive interaction is one of the key elements distinguishing distance education from correspondence education and thus one of the central determinants for students’ ability to use Title IV funds.
Other critical factors distinguishing distance education from correspondence education are as follows:
Adelphi University is committed to providing instruction and programs that meet the diverse learning needs of our students. Expanded instructional opportunities capture new markets by introducing new certificate, degree and continuing education programs. Distance Learning presents rich opportunities by providing students in selected programs more flexibility in scheduling and enhances existing courses by blending traditional classroom and asynchronous approaches in courses, allowing students to work more independently. All of these activities will enhance our students’ skills in using new technology and learning with technology.
The following principles underlie Adelphi’s policy on Distance Learning:
1.1.1 Courses will be offered according to the general AU academic calendar. Courses are offered on a semester calendar; however, if appropriate, shorter cycles are permitted with the permission of the Provost’s Office. Continuing education offerings are not subject to the University’s academic calendar.
1.1.2 Final examinations will be scheduled according to the designated examination period for the semester or cycle, unless otherwise approved by the Provost’s Office.
1.2.1 All standard Adelphi policies apply to faculty and students in distance learning classes, as in traditional face to face courses. Any policies that are required to be listed on standard Adelphi syllabi should likewise be listed on distance learning syllabi, including, but not limited to:
1.2.2 Courses will reflect good practices to meet the interregional guidelines (C-RAC) relating to distance education (see Related Information below).
1.2.3 Distance education courses will include opportunities for regular and substantive interactions between faculty and students and among students (See 1.5.1).
1.2.4. References to personal traits such as race, ethnicity, disabilities, age, and gender may be made public only when a student initiates the action to do so.
1.2.5 The program faculty member is responsible for the quality of all program curricula. As such, it is the faculty’s responsible to ensure the integrity of the distance learning offerings.
1.3.1 New Courses: New courses must be approved by the unit curriculum committee and Faculty Senate Committee on Academic Affairs.
1.3.2 New Programs: New programs must be approved by the unit curriculum committee, Faculty Senate Committee on Academic Affairs, Faculty Senate, Provost, President, Board of Trustees, and New York State Education Department.
1.3.3 Existing Courses: Online presentation of a course is deemed an alternative presentation mode and subject to the approval of the department/chair and dean if it employs the syllabus of the approved face-to-face course. Substantive changes in content should be approved by the unit curriculum committee.
1.3.4 Faculty members must identify their course sections as either “Online” (O)or “Blended” (B) on the course planning form. This is IMPORTANT because this will affect how the course section is identified on course registration forms (e.g. Section Name, Course and Section Number. Semester, section format indication — “Online” or “Blended”) and will inform students of the presentation modality before they enroll. This will also enable a link in C.L.A.S.S. to the online student tutorial, “Is Online Learning Right for You.”
1.4.1 Course Platform: All online courses and curricula must use the Adelphi University supported course management system (currently Moodle).
1.4.2 Course Presentation: All online courses and curricula presented as part of University sponsored distance learning will reflect best practices in terms of course organization and design. Examples are available for consideration.
Access to online course environments will be restricted to the instructor and registered students. Should the instructor wish to invite a guest from outside the Adelphi community to participate they should contact the IT department to arrange for temporary access. Final grades are submitted via the C.L.A.S.S. system.
The University will provide reasonable accommodations for disabled students and comply with Web Accessibility Initiative Standards. As with students enrolled in traditional courses, students with disabilities may register with the Student Access Office,which assists in providing accommodations when appropriate.
1.5.1 Distance instruction at Adelphi must meet the guidelines set by the New York State Education Department and the interregional accrediting agencies, including the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and Interregional Guidelines for the Evaluation of Distance Education (see Related Information).
1.5.2 Two organizations that set standards and best practices for online teaching and learning include the Online Learning Consortium (OLC) and Quality Matters. The FCPE will guide faculty to these resources as appropriate.
In specific cases student work may be utilized to serve a larger assessment such as for program or student learning assessment or accreditation purposes. Such assessments will vary by school and instructors should confer with department chairs and program directors about whether student’s work is subject to such assessment.
2.1.1 Faculty obligations are consistent with those identified in the current Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Board of Trustees of Adelphi University and the AAUP.
2.1.2 Faculty performance will be evaluated in accordance with the current Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Board of Trustees of Adelphi University and the AAUP.
2.1.3 The University’s standard Course Evaluation Form will be provided via a link online within Moodle courses. Additional questions specific to the course modality may be added to the online course evaluation form.
2.1.4 A faculty member teaching a distance learning course shall conduct the normally expected number of office hours. These office hours can be conducted online. When conducting on-line office hours, faculty members are not required to be present on campus.
2.1.5 Faculty are not compelled to teach in any distance learning format. In cases of campus closure or other emergency, please see Emergency Closing Policy.
2.2.1 The appropriate academic administrator (e.g., chair, director, dean) is responsible for ensuring that the course developer and/or instructor has the necessary skills to develop and/or teach online curriculum.
2.2.2 Faculty who teach in distance learning modalities must acquire competency in online pedagogies and the use of the appropriate technologies. Training is offered by the University through the FCPE. Upon the start of the course, the instructor should possess the following qualifications:
2.2.2.b Online Course Design and Faculty Responsibilities
In all cases, any exceptions to the policies below will be agreed upon in writing prior to the start of the course.
The development of non-credit, continuing education courses will be accomplished exclusively by means of a “Work for Hire” agreement. The fees for development of such courses will be agreed upon by the University and the course developer and specified in writing.
3.1.1 Students will be automatically entered into the online course at the start of the semester, with late “adds” loaded daily thereafter.
3.1.2 Grade book activity for students who have withdrawn from a course will not be deleted.
3.1.3 For students who have withdrawn from a course, for which there are no grade book activities, the instructors will remove the student from the course.
3.1.4 Students will no longer have access to the Moodle course beginning 14 days after the last day of classes for the semester.
3.2.1 Transcripts will be handled as with traditional face-to-face courses.
3.2.2 Transcripts will not reflect the modality of courses.
3.3.1 Pre-requisites and admission standards for the course or program will be decided by department/program faculty, and clearly stated in the course schedule and CLASS system.
3.4.1 Adelphi University shall provide adequate support services for the students participating in distance learning courses, including necessary equipment, personnel and training and an optional Technology Competency Certificate Program.
3.4.2 Student tutorials are available for online use in preparation for taking a course that employs distance learning technology.
Adelphi University shall provide adequate support for the faculty teaching distance learning courses. The University provides significant support through the course design and instructional technology support professionals at the FCPE. These services are freely available to all faculty. Training opportunities are offered in both group workshop and individual sessions on topics and applications of instructional technology and related pedagogy.
The FCPE specializes in faculty support, instructional applications and pedagogical issues involving technology. For hours of operation, available resources, and contact information, please see the FCPE website. The Center’s Distance Learning Support Site contains a wide range of resources for teaching online and blended courses in addition to workshop and seminar training schedules.
4.1.1 When requested, the FCPE will facilitate peer liaison with other Adelphi faculty for discussions of subject-specific, teaching, or technology aspects of course development.
Adelphi University shall provide the necessary equipment, training and personnel for technology support. Adelphi University employs the Office of Information Technology (IT) to support the University with administrative systems, equipment maintenance and general user support for Moodle and other applications.
Students and faculty requiring assistance with Moodle or other technologies should contact Tech Support for assistance in person, via telephone, or via email.
4.2.1 In the event that servers are down, inaccessible or degraded, email or phone messages will be sent to the Adelphi community impacted.
The Adelphi University Libraries play an integral role in the instructional, research, cultural, and student life programs of the University by providing high quality library and information facilities, resources, technology, and services in consonance with the mission and vision of the University. The Libraries serve all members of the Adelphi community representing diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds as well as a wide range of academic disciplines. Access is offered to a comprehensive variety of resources and collections that support Adelphi’s curriculum and information needs. The Libraries support and promote information literacy by teaching members of the Adelphi community to find and evaluate information effectively and to incorporate it ethically in pursuit of their academic, professional, and personal endeavors. The Adelphi University Libraries specifically support distance instruction by providing:
For additional information and/or assistance, contact the University Libraries. Additional information about Library Services is also available online.
For more information about Adelphi University’s Distance Learning Policy, please contact the Director of the Faculty Center for Professional Excellence.
This policy does not have forms associated with it at this time. Upon periodic policy review this area will be evaluated to determine if additional information is needed to supplement the policy.
Regular and Substantive Interaction Infographic, OSCQR, SUNY Online Course Quality Review Rubric
Note: The current policy was drafted in academic year 2022-2023 by the Faculty Senate Committee on Academic Innovation and Technology (SCAIT) with input from the Office of the Provost. It was endorsed by the Faculty Senate on 2/20/2023.