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Volume 3 Issue 9October 1999
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Critical Issues in Distance Learning To Be Examined
Susan Sargeant
Instruction Support, Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara City College was recently awarded a grant to conduct a study to examine the most critical issues being addressed by California community colleges in the development and implementation of distance learning courses and services. It will also investigate possible roles and responsibilities of the Chancellor's Office in providing statewide, regional, and local support for distance learning.
The final outcomes of the project will include an analysis of different models used by other states and regional distance learning consortia; a review of state and federal statutes and their impact on distance learning; identification of barriers affecting the quality of instruction and services provided to the learner; and policy options to be considered by the Chancellor's Office in supporting a regional or systemwide approach to the delivery of distance learning.
Research Design
The study will focus on general planning and coordination issues, instructional and student services policy, funding policy and approaches to evaluation. Some of the questions that will be addressed in the study are, as follows:
- General Planning Issues
- Who has overall responsibility for the planning and coordination of a regional or statewide approach to distance learning?
- What should the governance structure look like in each approach?
- Instructional and Student Services Policy
- How would a state or regional entity handle such issues as faculty selection and evaluation, program and course approval, and program review?
- What support services are best delivered at the local, regional and/or state level (e.g., virtual library, Transfer Centers, Financial Aid, transcripts, etc.)?
- What, if any, jurisdiction would individual colleges have with respect to students enrolling in distance learning courses outside their district?
- What college in a regional or state consortium is responsible for providing services to students eligible for special programs?
- What personnel policies should be in place for full-time and adjunct faculty teaching online courses as part of statewide or regional consortium (e.g., faculty teaching loads and responsibilities, 60% rule for adjunct instructors)?
- Funding Policy
- How will funding to support a regional or statewide approach to distance learning be guaranteed initially and in the future?
- Should students taking distance learning classes from multiple colleges be required to pay the additional fees assessed by each of the institutions (e.g., parking, transportation, health and student union fees)?
- Should fees for nonresident (out-of-state) students be the same for distance learning as they are for traditional courses?
- What funding mechanism should be used to reimburse colleges for distance learning classes?
- Evaluation
- What are the potential strengths and weaknesses of offering distance learning courses at the local, regional and state levels (e.g., cost effectiveness, quality of courses and programs, provision of services)?
Field Input
The project team will be contacting faculty, staff, administrators, students, associations, the California Virtual Campus (CVC) Regional Centers, among others for input into the investigation of critical issues and solutions to those barriers and problems identified. Local participation will be needed during the fall semester. Expect to hear from the project team soon!
