Sul Ross State University

Who should complete this self-study: All faculty teaching a web-delivered course through Sul Ross State University should read and complete this online self-study, which was adapted from one developed by the University of Texas System TeleCampus.

Completed copies of this document will be kept on file in the office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs. After filling in all applicable sections, click the Submit Self-Study button at the bottom of this form. The form will be mailed to the OIT Instructional Services Team Leader and to the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Introduction

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, through the Distance Education Advisory Committee, commends and encourages the development of online courses and other electronically delivered courses that enhance access to higher education throughout the state of Texas. THECB works closely with Texas college and university systems as well as with ICUT (Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas) to ensure that the quality of distance education is high. To that end, all course providers and all institutions are encouraged to use the Principles of Good Practice for Electronically Offered Academic Degree and Certificate Programs as developed by the Western Cooperative for Educatioal Telecommunications (WCET), a program of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) and as endorsed by the THECB.

Institutions seeking approval for distance education plans through the THECB must demonstrate that all courses adhere to the Principles. Use of a course evaluation document such as this one is one way to demonstrate adherence to the Principles.

Course Information

Technical Notes:

Note: If you need assistance completing this section of the study, please contact Media & Instructional Technology Services at itc@sulross.edu or (432) 837-8668.

1. Course Management Platform: BLACKBOARD OTHER

2. Students will use a variety of browsers and hardware. Have you tested your course on a combination of browser versions and hardware platforms? Yes No

a. Please provide details (for ex., Tested Netscape 4.X on an older Pentium PC or Internet Explorer 5.X on a Mac running OS 7.X)

3. Student Discussion/Chat component (if applicable):

Asynchronous (Threaded Discussion) Yes No
Synchronous (Live Chat) Yes No
Discussion via Email Yes No

4. Audio:

Number of Segments:
Length of Longest Segment:
Method of Delivery:

Streaming via Real Audio Yes No
Quicktime or Other Yes No
CD-ROM Yes No
Other Yes No

Transcript of Audio Included: Yes No

5. Video:

Number of Segments:
Length of Longest Segment:
Method of Delivery:

Streaming via Real Media Yes No
Quicktime or Other Yes No
CD-ROM Yes No

Transcript of Video Included: Yes No

6. Does the course meet the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act and specifically the Rehabilitation Act Amendments in Section 508? Yes No

For information on the actual guidelines, see the ADA Home Pageor Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Course Copyright and Permissions

It is the responsibility of the instructor and his/her colleagues to ensure that all copyright provisions are met and that permissions have been obtained as appropriate.

You will need to confirm that all course materials not developed by the instructor/course copyright holder meet "fair use" guidelines, or that you are otherwise exempt from liability from infringement, or you have received the appropriate permissions from all copyright holders. You may contact the Instructional Technology Center in ascertaining this and for assistance in obtaining appropriate permissions.

Information on copyright laws relating to the use of intellectual materials is available through SRSU's Intellectual Property Rights Policy. Or see the UT System Crash Course in Copyright site.

In any case where the institution and/or course author(s) contribute copyrightable expression, the institution and/or course author(s) warrant that they are the only owner(s) of the course and have full power and authority to make this agreement; and that the course does not infringe any copyright, violate any property rights, or contain any scandalous, libelous, or unlawful matter.

Name(s) of Copyright Holder(s):

Have you confirmed that the course materials and any course materials not developed by the copyright holder are "fair use" or that you are otherwise exempt from liability from infringement?

Yes No In Progress

If not have you acquired permission to use or link to the material?

Yes No In Progress

Additional Information/Comments as Appropriate:

Principles of Good Practice

The Principles of Good Practice for Electronically Offered Academic Degree and Certificate Programs were developed by the Western Cooperative for Educational Telecommunications and adopted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. These principles provide an outline for consideration when developing, teaching, or evaluating the quality of electronic instruction. Therefore, the Distance Education Advisory Committee of the THECB recommends that all instructors complete this Guide as an assurance that all courses offered through distance learning in Texas meet these guidelines.

Assumptions of the Principles of Good Practice

1. The program or course offered electronically is provided by or through an institution that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and authorized to operate in the state where the program or course originates.
2. The institution's programs and courses holding specialized accreditation meet the same requirements when offered electronically.
3. The "institution" may be a single institution or a consortium of such institutions.
4. These principles are generally applicable to degree or certificate programs and to courses offered for academic credit.
5. It is the institution's responsibility to review educational programs and courses it provides electronically and certify continued compliance with these principles.
6. Institutions offering programs or for-credit courses are responsible for satisfying all in-state approval and accreditation requirements before students are enrolled.

Principles of Good Practice Curriculum and Instruction

1. The course results in learning outcomes appropriate to the rigor and breadth of the degree or certificate awarded. Yes No

Degree or Certificate (if applicable):

2. The course offered electronically is coherent and complete.

a. Necessary materials are identified. Information on how to purchase or obtain materials online or via phone is provided, if necessary. Yes No

b. If students are not required to meet on campus, they can complete the course without physically visiting the institution offering the course (i.e., all necessary instruction and support infrastructure is in place to serve the off-campus student.) Yes No

c. The course includes:

[Note: A positive response is not required for every item below. This section should be used as a checklist and should be dependent upon the course content and target audience.]

• Introduction Yes No
• Course Title Yes No
• Course Prerequisites Yes No
• Syllabus Includes:
• 1. Course Number and Title Yes No
  2. Instructor Name/Contact Number Yes No
  3. Required text and purchase information Yes No
  4. Learning Objectives Yes No
  5. Descriptions of Lessons/Modules Yes No
  6. Information on Course Assessment Yes No
  7. Links to library or other learning resources Yes No
  8. Policies and Procedures of the course Yes No
  9. Calendar of all assignments Yes No
• Pages of Content
  1. Graphical and Multimedia Elements Yes No
  2. PDF and other downloadable files Yes No
  3. Links to other web sites Yes No
  4. Interactive Exercises Yes No
  5. Evaluation Instruments Yes No
  6. Link to online conference or chat Yes No
• Technincal Support or Information Link Yes No
• Technical Requirements for the Course Yes No

3. The course provides for appropriate interaction between faculty and students and among students.

a. Interaction with and among students is achieved through (check all that apply):

Asynchronous discussion Yes No
Synchronous chat Yes No
Team Projects Yes No
Individual Email Yes No
Group Email Yes No
Audioconference Yes No
Interactive video (ITV) Yes No
Student posting of projects for peer/instructor review Yes No
Other

b. Feedback for students on assignments and questions will be provided in a timely manner and guidelines for feedback are defined or outlined in the syllabus or course menu.
Yes No

c. When teaching the course, the faculty member(s) will be available to support and communicate with the students and oversee student projects and evaluation.
Yes No

d. Students have the opportunity to interact with each other and with faculty and administrators outside of class to build a learning community. Yes No

4. Courses offered electronically are offered on the campus of the institution where the programs or courses originate.

a. Is this course part of the institution's course inventory? Yes No

b. Did this course obtain approval through the regular approval process used for all courses? Yes No

5. Academic standards for all programs or courses offered electronically will be the same as those for programs or courses delivered by other means at the institution where the program or course originates.

a. The course provides students with clear, complete and timely information on course goals and objectives. Yes No

b. The course specifies necessary technology competence and skills.
Yes No

c. This course meets the institutional standards for content, reflective learning, competencies, etc., as other courses. Yes No

d. Student learning online is comparable to student learning offered at the campus where the program or course originates. Yes No

Principles of Good Practice: Institutional Context and Commitment

1. The course and associated technology requirements are consistent with the institutional technology policies. Yes No

2. Course announcements and catalog entries provide appropriate information about the course and services associated with the course. Yes No[Note: If 50% of the course is delivered electronically or off-campus, it must be listed as a distance learning course - or a "web-delivered" course in SRSU terminology - in the official schedule of courses and in all promotional materials.]

3. Enrolled students have reasonable and adequate access to the range of student services and student rights appropriate to support their learning.

• Financial Aid: Yes No
• Library Resources: Yes No
• Counseling: Yes No
• Special Student Services: Yes No
• Career Services: Yes No
• Technical Support: Yes No

4. The institution has admission/acceptance criteria in place to assess the extent to which a student has the background, knowledge and technical skills required to undertake the program or course. This would include, if appropriate, a prerequisite technical and/or content background.
Yes No

5. The institution provides you and your co-developers (when applicable) support services specifically related to teaching via an electronic or distance format.
Yes No

6. The institution provides training for you and your co-developers who teach via the use of technology. Yes No

What training have you and your co-developers received:
a. General technology skills workshop Yes No
b. Web-course development/delivery workshop Yes No
c. Other

7. The institution provides support for you and your co-developers as they revise the course.
Yes No

8. The institution provides adequate equipment, software, and communications access to you and your co-developers to support the interaction with students, other faculty, and other institutions or services. Yes No

9. Courses offered electronically may also be offered on the campus of the institution where the programs originate. Indicate below the status of this course as it relates to on-campus sections of the same course.

a. A separate section of this course is sometimes taught on campus
Yes No

10. Will this course be a part of or in addition to the assignment of you and your co-developers?
A Part of In addition to

Principles of Good Practice: Evaluation and Assessment

1. Students will be given an opportunity to evaluate this online course. Yes No

2. Student achievement in this course will be assessed. Yes No

3. The effectiveness of the course will be evaluated by students at regular intervals.
Yes No

4. You and your co-developers will use the results of assessment to make necessary revisions to this course at regular intervals. Yes No

Faculty and Institutional Commitment/Approval

I (We) acknowledge that the answers to the questions in this self-study are accurate and truthful. All efforts have been made to ensure that copyright permissions have been obtained. All efforts have been made to comply with institutional policies regarding technology and other learning resources.

Yes No

Faculty Signature: _______________________

Printed Name:

Faculty Signature: _______________________

Printed Name:

Date:

Institutional Commitment (Vice President of Academic Affairs)

Signature: ________________________
Printed Name:
Title: Date:

Completed self-study will be housed in the Office of the Vice President of 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 the THECB.

Adopted April 2003.

Please Remember: Just click the 'Submit Self-Study' button once.