Distance Learning

NWACC Distance Learning Policies

NOTE: The Distance Learning Committee has revised these policies and they are currently in the administrative approval process. The new policies will be posted here when available.

• General Distance Learning Guidelines and Information
• Course Development and Compensation Policies
• Definitions of Distance Learning

NWACC Distance Learning Guidelines and Information

(This document is a summary that has been developed from several guideline resources for distance learning at NWACC and other information documents.)

Guidelines

Definition:

      Distance Education is defined, for the purpose of accreditation review, as a formal educational process in which the majority of the instruction occurs when student and instructor are not in the same place.  Instruction may be synchronous or asynchronous.  Distance Education may employ correspondence study, or audio, video, or computer technologies.  (Commission on Institutions of Higher Education, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, March 1997)

1. Faculty Compensation:

Faculty may be compensated for distance learning work in the following ways:

3 hours release time or 3 hours overload pay for the development of a WWW-based course.

1.5 hours release time or 1.5 hours overload pay for preparation to teach an online course that has never been taught at NWACC before.

A $500 stipend for the development of substantial support materials for a specific class in distance learning.  The materials must be applicable to other versions of that class (distance learning or face to face).  This level of compensation is also available for the revision of an NWACC owned WWW-based course where 35% or more of the course is revised.

The Division Chair or Department, and the Vice President for Learning must approve all compensation listed above.  An approval form and an application form can be found in the Distance Learning folder on the K drive.  These forms must be submitted for compensation to be approved.

All projects in distance learning for which faculty are compensated for are subject to review and approval by an appointed review subcommittee and the Vice President for Learning. 

For overload pay of a 3 hour development, payment is to be distributed as follows: 50% midway through the project after a preliminary progress review, and 50% on completion and approval of the finished project.

All other forms of compensation, including travel, phone, and expenses must be worked out with the division in which the instructor works.

2. Classes - Development and Teaching:

Faculty must receive approval from their Division Chair or Department and the Vice President for Learning in order to teach a distance learning class.  This approval is for the initial class.  All succeeding sections of the class can be approved by the Division Chair or Department alone as part of their regular scheduling duties.

Faculty seeking to deliver a compressed interactive video class to another institution must have written approval to deliver the class from the department responsible for the subject matter taught at that institution.  For example, if a computer science course were to be taught, permission would be needed from the computer science department.  The Vice President for Learning can waive this requirement if appropriate. 

3. Usage (Rules and Fees):

The Vice President for Learning and the Facilities Use Committee with the advice and consent of the College President and the Board of Trustees will decide which persons and entities may use the Distance Education facilities of the College.  Federal regulations regarding equal opportunity will apply fully in determining who may and who may not use the facilities. 

Until such time as a statewide higher education committee proposes set rates across Arkansas, the rate schedule for CIV usage from outside agencies is as follows:

Educational Rates- $50 per hour

Continuing Education/Administrative Use By a State Agency- $100 per hour

Non-State Entity- $200 per hour

Facilitator Cost (included in above rates for weekday usage at regular working hours)

Evenings and Weekends- $10 per hour

In addition, a $100 fee will be charged if cancellation is requested within 48 hours of the event.

This rate is negotiable with the permission of the Vice President for Learning or the College President.  This rate does not apply to usage by the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville of the Compressed Interactive Video unit.

Rates for other distance education usage will be determined as those technologies are implemented.

Copying, FAX and other material resources will be charged at cost.  The Vice President for Learning or the College President may waive this charge.

All parties using the facilities will be responsible for any damages incurred during such use.

4. Marketing:

All marketing for classes and events and the corresponding costs will be the responsibility of the department from which the class originates. The distance learning department will assist where necessary in the marketing of courses.

5. Cooperative Agreements:

All cooperative agreements between NWACC and other institutions in distance learning will be negotiated according to the standard College procedures for such agreements, where applicable.  The Vice President for Learning must approve any cooperative agreement, which uses distance learning facilities of the College.  All corresponding distance learning fees may be waived or discounted by the Vice President for Learning or the College President at their discretion.  Other fees are subject to NWACC regulations.

6. Support Services:

NWACC will make available any institutional resources and services necessary for students enrolled in distance learning classes originating from other institutions, who are not enrolled in classes at NWACC (students presently enrolled at NWACC are already eligible for those resources and services).  All students will be responsible for any corresponding fees for the usage of these resources and services, and failure to pay these fees may result in the withholding of those resources and services.

NWACC will work to ensure that students enrolled in NWACC classes at remote locations will have access to the equivalent resources and services available to students in the same class on the NWACC campus.

7. Registration:

NWACC students at remote locations will be registered online, by mail or phone in advance of the starting date of the class(es) they are registering for, or may be registered on-site in particular situations.  These students will also be provided a form that will enable NWACC to meet state guidelines for registration.  Local students will be registered in the traditional manner.

Students registering for classes requiring prerequisites and/ or placement tests, are responsible for demonstrating that they can be placed into the class.  Where such evidence can not be demonstrated, these students must meet the placement requirements as set by the department sponsoring the course.  This includes all required tests and interviews.

8. Site Visits:

Instructors teaching distance education by compressed video or another comparable distance educational delivery system must visit the remote site(s) no fewer than 3 times for 1 site, 2 times each for two sites, or 1 time per site where there are 3 or more sites.  If possible, the instructor should encourage remote students to visit the local site at least once.  (For classes which meet once a week, this requirement may be reduced.)

9. Student Tuition & Fees:

Distance students will be charged standard tuition for all academic credit classes from NWACC as based on residence.  The exceptions are Step Ahead and other populations that receive tuition breaks for classes.

Business and Industry and other non-credit classes will charge tuition to remote students as required by their departmental guidelines.

Distance Learning students will be charged a $22 per course Distance Learning fee to help cover the expenses of the department.  Compressed Video students taking classes on NWACC’s campus and Step Ahead students are exempt from this charge.  Other NWACC fees apply as required by the College.

10. Competition:

NorthWest Arkansas Community College will not intentionally compete with the offerings of other state supported educational institutions in Arkansas in their immediate locations.  Courses from other institutions that compete with College offerings will not be accepted unless permitted by the corresponding Division Chair, the Dean of Instruction or the College President.

Information

Types of Distance Learning Classes

(Text in Parenthesis notates how courses are listed in the schedule)

Compressed Interactive Video (DL or DL - Location)

These classes are conducted as videoconferences between two or more sites, one of which will be Burns Hall 2414, the Distance Learning Lab.  The instructor may teach the class from any site, which is referred to as the origination site.  Burns Hall 2414 will be the origination site unless the class listing indicates it is from another site.

Self Directed Study  (DL-SDS)

These classes are conducted as independent learning classes which may or may not use technology such as the WWW or e-mail for communications.  Students receive a course guide with instructions, schedules, tutorials, and other important materials.  They use this guide, their textbook, and communications with the instructor to complete the course.

World Wide Web Based (DL-WWW)

These classes require the student to have access to the World Wide Web via a computer connected to the Internet.  The student will need web browser software, either Netscape or Internet Explorer (AOL’s web browser is not supported, although students can still connect via AOL).  Students will use the materials and communications tools provided on the course web pages to complete their work..  NWACC uses WebCT to facilitate most of our online classes.  A few courses are conducted via other systems such as CourseCompass.

DEGREE PLANS

NWACC offers an Associate of Arts degree and an Associate of General Studies degree online.  These degrees will have the same core requirements as the regular degree plans.  The main difference is that there are a more limited number of course options available online. 

Instructor Consent

The Deans’ Council have decided to remove the instructor consent requirement for online courses, starting with registration for Summer and Fall of 2007.

Orientations

Asynchronous courses may have an orientation sessions for their students.  These sessions can be group sessions at the outset of a semester, or they can be on an individual basis.  Students unable to physically attend an orientation session will be separately contacted.

My Education Connection (MEC)

My Education Connection is a program designed by Wal-Mart, Inc. to provide discounts to their associates in pursuit of a college education.  NWACC, in partnership with several AATYC schools and UALR, are providing an online degree to students who complete this program.  NWACC offers the Associate of Arts and Associate of General Studies.  Classes are provided by NWACC and other AATYC schools.  These courses transfer to UALR, which provides a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies, among other degrees.  UALR provides its own courses.  The MEC students are supported online and through phone and e-mail.

ACCESS Arkansas

ACCESS Arkansas is the consortium of all two-year (AATYC) schools in Arkansas that offer WWW Based courses (or “online” courses).  Students seeking a WWW based course that is not offered or that they cannot take otherwise at NWACC should be directed to the ACCESS Arkansas web site at http://www.aatyc.org/access-ar.  There, they can search for courses by institution or by subject (NWACC’s WWW Based courses are listed here also).  All of the core courses listed should transfer to NWACC.  If there is any question of transferability, consult the Admissions and Registrar’s office.

NWACC Distance Learning Website

The Distance learning Website is located at http://www.nwacc.edu/disted.  It is also accessible from the main NWACC homepage.  The site contains class listings, room schedules for the Distance Learning Lab, Admissions and Registration information, Orientations schedules, information for contacting instructors for consent, and other important information for distance learning.

WebCT

WebCT is the primary online course management system NWACC uses to facilitate online courses.  It is housed and maintained on the NWACC campus.  The Distance Learning Director is the Administrator for WebCT.

(Updated November 13, 2006 – Draft for Committee Revision)

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Policy for Distance Learning Compensation at NWACC

The following proposal suggests compensation levels and policy based on the recommendations of the Distance Education Committee meetings of March 3, April 13, and May 5, 2000. 

Part I covers the recommended format for applying for compensation and for the review of materials created under compensation for the purposes of verifying compensation is merited.

Part II covers development of materials and compensation levels.

Part III covers additional compensation issues involved in the actual teaching of a distance learning course.

Part I - Procedures for Proposing a Distance Learning Class, Applying for Compensation, and Review of Work for Compensation Approval

The procedure will follow the following steps:

I -         Research and Training           
II -        Proposal                                 
III -       Divisional Approval              
IV -       Instructional Approval
V -        Arrangements    
VI -       Mentoring  
VII -      Development     
VIII -     Review 
IX -       Remuneration   
X -        Usage

Step I - Research and Training: The instructor is required to research distance learning with a particular emphasis on the methodology, strategies, and issues involved with the particular distance learning type the instructor plans to develop materials for.  The Distance Learning department will be responsible for providing a bibliography of recommended resources for the instructor to review.  The instructor should research with the goal of developing a vision for how they will teach and communicate through distance learning, what their course and course materials will be like, and how they may be utilized.  The instructor will then participate in all required training for the development and/or the delivery of the course unless waived by the Distance Learning Department.  Training will be both in the technical skills required to develop materials, and the practical and theoretical applications of the medium chosen in education.  Training will only be waived if the instructor demonstrates sufficient skills and experience for the applicable tasks.

Step II - Proposal: All instructors who seek to teach via distance learning should first seek approval for their course from the Division Chair or immediate supervisor they are responsible to.  Each instructor seeking approval must complete a form describing the class and what steps they will take to transfer the curriculum to the delivery system they are choosing. (K:\Distance Learning\Application Forms\DL Class Application.doc) The form should be filled out and submitted to the supervisor at this time. They must also obtain signatures of the Division Chair and the Vice President for Learning on a form for approval of any compensation. (K:\Distance Learning\Application Forms\DL Approval Application.doc) If the instructor seeks compensation for development under the guidelines in Part II, they should inform their supervisor at this time.

These forms should be turned in no later than the first week of the semester preceding the one in which the instructor intends to teach the course.  The exception is WWW Based Courses being developed by an instructor who will seek release time.  These requests should be turned in before scheduling of the semester during which the instructor wishes to develop the course through the release time.  In other words, two semesters before the semester the instructor is to teach.  This is in order that the Division sponsoring the course may plan for release time to be given if approved.

Step IIA: If the course is a repeat offering with the same instructor, only the approval application must be submitted unless substantial changes have been made to the course delivery.   If changes have been made or a different instructor is teaching the course, the Class Application should be resubmitted with the Approval Application.

Step III - Divisional Approval: The supervisor authorized to approve the course at the Divisional/Departmental level should review the applications and decide whether or not to approve the class and whether or not compensation is justified and available.  Approval will be based on the needs and guidelines of the supervisory Division/Department as well as College guidelines and policies, including whether or not the course curriculum is approved.  Upon approval of the class, compensation, or both, the applications should be forwarded to the Vice President for Learning.  The supervisor should also contact the Distance Learning Coordinator/Director and inform them of what class is being proposed.  If the proposed class is a compressed interactive video class, the supervisor and instructor must produce written permission from the corresponding Division or Departmental Chair at the planned target institutions for the class to be delivered to another institution, or must ask the Vice President for Academic Affairs to sign a waiver of this requirement if such a waiver is justified.

Step IV - Instructional Approval: The Vice President for Learning should review the applications and confirm with the sponsoring Division/Department that compensation is available (The source for Compensation to be determined in the budget processes).  Upon confirmation that compensation is available or not necessary, the class may be approved.  At this point the Vice President for Learning should also make sure any other institutional requirements regarding the course are met, including permission to deliver the course to a remote site, in the case of compressed interactive video.

Step V - Arrangements: Upon approval of the class, the approval forms should be sent to the Distance Learning Department.  The Distance Learning Department will then begin to make arrangements with all interested parties for the purposes of development of the course, training of the instructor to develop and/or teach the course if still needed, arrangements with "remote" sites in the case of compressed interactive video, and any and all other arrangements necessary for the development and delivery of the course.

Step VI - Mentoring: The instructor will be appointed a “mentor” for the development of the course.  This individual will be someone who has developed materials for the particular course type (WWW, etc…).  Their responsibility is to provide the instructor with constructive criticism, feedback, encouragement, and direction, as well as to relay their own experiences in developing materials.  All other support for development of the course, including technical support, shall be the responsibility of the Distance Learning Department.  If an individual with experience in the development of materials for the course type is not available, an individual with experience teaching the course type or with similar credentials shall be chosen.  The Distance Learning Coordinator shall be responsible for selecting the mentor.  The mentor will meet with the instructor prior to the beginning of development to evaluate the goals and methods of the instructor.  The mentor and Distance Learning Coordinator will meet with the instructor for a preliminary review no later than midway through the semester prior to which the class is to be taught using the materials.  The purpose of this review will be to evaluate the progress of the development.  Other meetings between the instructor and mentor are at the discretion of both individuals.

Step VII- Development: Having received approval for the class and/or development and training in the basic skills necessary to develop and/or deliver the course, the instructor will develop the course materials under the guidelines presented in this proposal and in accordance with the instructions of their supervising Division/Department.

Step VIII - Review: For the development of all course materials resulting in compensation, the instructor will be required to present those materials for review, prior to the delivery of the course.  The review will be made by a subcommittee consisting of representatives from the following Academic Institutional Committees/Subcommittees: Distance Learning, Academic Standards, and Curriculum.

The review process shall rely on the following:

Criteria:

• The ease of use of the course materials by both the instructor and the students. (Including navigation of course web pages, comprehension of the concepts and ideas communicated by the materials, visual and textual readability, etc…)
• The effective application of the course materials to the instruction and of the course curriculum and the assessment/evaluation of the students therein. (Do the materials work in the way they are supposed to in teaching the course?)
• The ease of which the course materials may be applied to the same course as taught by another instructor.  (Can another instructor easily use these materials without significant revision?)
• The professional quality of the design of the materials as representing the interests of NWACC. (Do the materials adequately represent the college in a professional manner?)
• Whether or not the materials meet the guidelines for the level of compensation, for which the instructor has applied.

Procedure:

The review team will meet with the instructor and mentor prior to review of the materials to discuss the materials and the instructional objectives of the instructor.  The review will be conducted privately by the review team at their discretion.

Upon review, the review team will make the following recommendations to the Vice President for Learning:

• Approval, or non-approval, of the materials for use.  All non-approval recommendations will contain written comments describing the reasoning by which approval is not recommended.  In addition, all approval recommendations will contain any suggestions for revision or areas of concern the team wishes to include. 
• Approval, or disapproval, of compensation based on the guidelines for compensation and whether or not, in the team's view, these guidelines have been met.

A copy of the recommendations will be forwarded to the instructor and to the Distance Learning Department.  Appeal of the recommendations may be made to the Vice President for Learning, who will make the final assessment on approval of the materials for use and compensation, in consultation with the Distance Learning Department.  The Vice President for Learning may overrule the review team either on appeal, or by their own judgement.  The Vice President for Learning final judgement is binding in each of these matters.

If approval is denied, the instructor is required to address any revisions noted by the review team and resubmit the materials to the team for approval.  The process then repeats, including the opportunity for appeal.  This resubmission process will continue until the materials are approved for use and compensation.  If compensation has not been awarded in the form of release time, the instructor may withdraw the materials from consideration for compensation at any time.  Instructors who have been awarded release time are required to resubmit the materials in a timely fashion until approval is given.  Please note that if the course has been approved and compensation is not requested, review of the materials by a team is not required and the materials may be used in class.  However, standard peer review of instructors and Distance Learning evaluations will apply in these cases.

Timeline:

In order to ensure the timely development and implementation of materials, the following deadlines shall be adhered to:

• Web Based Course Development Proposal (Release Time) - 2 semesters prior to the semester in which the class will be taught (prior to the scheduling of the following semester).
• Other Development Proposals - First week of semester prior to the semester in which the class using the materials will be taught.
• Initial Meeting with Mentor - Within one week of the approval of the development and the appointment of the mentor.
• Preliminary Review of the Materials - No later than the approximate midpoint of the semester prior to the semester in which the materials will be used or the semester in which the materials are developed which ever is earliest (March 15, break between Summer I and I, October 15).  When and provided that the Vice President of Learning approves both the materials for use and compensation based on the guidelines herein, forms will be submitted so that the instructor will receive 50% of the agreed compensation.  This compensation will be paid on the next scheduled payroll date, either the 15th or the 30th of the month.  The remaining 50% of agreed compensation will be scheduled for payment when final approval of materials and compensation is given by the Vice President of Learning and will be paid on the next scheduled payroll date.
• Meeting with Review Team - No later than 3 weeks prior to the end of the semester preceding the semester in which the materials will be used.
• Actual Review of Materials by Review Team - Within one week of the Meeting with Review Team.
• Final Approval of Materials - Materials must be formally approved at least 2 weeks prior to the beginning of the semester in which they will be used.  The Vice President for Learning may offer an exception at their discretion.

Step IX - Remuneration: Upon approval by the Vice-President for Learning of the preliminary review of materials and the compensation plan for the instructor, the instructor shall be scheduled to receive 50% of agreed compensation.  When final approval of the material for use and the compensation plan for the instructor is given by the Vice-President for Learning, the remaining 50% of agreed compensation will be scheduled for payment.  These payments will be paid on the next scheduled payroll date following these approvals.  The materials will become the property of NWACC upon compensation according to Board Policy 2-12.  A signed agreement stating the conditions of the compensation and establishing final ownership of the materials shall be required before remuneration is given and the materials are used.

Step X - Usage: The materials are used in the approved course(s).  The materials may be used by any instructor teaching an approved NWACC Distance Learning course as well as non-DL courses if appropriate.

Revision of Existing NWACC Course Materials:

Instructors will be responsible for any minor revisions to course materials they use in their classes. 

If course materials created under Level III require major revisions, said revisions will fall under the guidelines in Part II.  Additions of revisions to existing course materials, in the case of web based courses, shall constitute Level II compensation unless the administration deems the course revisions to be the equivalent of the construction of a new course.  In either case, the individual who will revise or recreate the course must use the approval process in Part II.

Revision of course materials created under Level II will also require the application process and justification of the level of compensation requested.

Part II - Compensation Levels for Development of Distance Learning Materials

As instructors develop materials for use in distance learning classes, there will be situations in which the instructors will have the option to create and develop materials that will go beyond the normal scope of their responsibilities, either as primary or support materials for the particular class.  In this case, the issue of compensation for additional work must be addressed.  This proposal will recommend the levels and standards by which instructors may be eligible for that compensation.

The proposal is organized by the 4 primary modes of distance learning (Compressed Interactive Video, Self Directed Study, and WWW Based Courses), each of which is broken up into 3 levels of compensation. 

Level I will allow for no additional compensation as the materials and work therein is deemed by the Committee to not require extraordinary efforts or time, or falls under the regular responsibilities of the teacher.  In some cases, extra work falls under Level I because the nature of the class allows for a corresponding reduction in responsibilities that balances the extra work.  Also, instructors whose work is heavily facilitated by college support personnel will fall under Level I unless it can be demonstrated that the level of work done by the instructor is extensive enough to warrant compensation irregardless of the assistance received.

Examples: Individual or small groups of PowerPoint presentations/Overheads/ELMO Documents, Basic Web Page support, Handouts, Demonstration materials.

Level II allows for minimal compensation at a recommended one-time level of $500.  This compensation is only allowed for the development of extensive materials necessary to support a class, and that may be applied to other sections of the same course, whether distance learning or not.  The materials described are not the primary delivery materials of the class, but may support the primary delivery of the curriculum. NWACC has the right to use any materials for whose development instructors have been compensated for.   This right is permanent as enumerated under the Board policy 2-12.  The instructor agrees to this stipulation upon acceptance of compensation.   The Vice President of Instruction shall be the final arbitrator as to whether the materials qualify for compensation.

Examples: Series of PowerPoint presentations/ELMO Documents and Notes for online use covering the entire class curriculum.  Extensive Web Page support for students (Information, Notes, Communication tools) including materials that can also be made available to other sections of the same course, Extensive use of instructor designed multimedia programs (e.g. Authorware, Director, Hyperstudio, etc…) requiring instructor development and covering the majority of the course lessons.  Extensive Course Packet/Workbook containing notes, assignments, tutorial handouts, and additional support material as designed by instructor. Publisher's or Instructor designed WWW based materials or course where instructor has added additional new content not less than 35% of the total course.

Level III allows for maximal compensation via one-time release time of 3 hours during the semester immediately prior to the initial offering of the course.  Comparable financial compensation may be offered at the discretion of the Vice President for Instruction if release time is not feasible and if resources are available in the budget.  Financial compensation shall be based on 3 hours at the associate faculty scale (the same as overload compensation).  This compensation shall be available only for those courses where all primary delivery materials for the curriculum have been developed by the instructor (not including web-course management, communications applications, or associated applets) and are original, non-copyrighted work. Upon award of the compensation, copyright of the work shall revert to NWACC in accordance with NWACC Board policy 2-12a.  Any instructor compensated for Level III work on course materials, during the development of such materials, will be engaged in a primary activity as part of their employment in accordance with policy 2-12a.  If the materials have been created by the instructor prior to employment at NWACC and are owned by said instructor, compensation for their use must be negotiated between the instructor and NWACC.  Compensation must cover permanent use of the materials and cannot exceed the financial equivalent of 3 hours release time.  This last scenario is considered to be a special circumstance and is not the preferred method for the development of classes.  Consequently, such arrangements will not be promoted, and will only be made with special permission.

Examples: Development of Web Based Course in which at least 50% of contact and delivery occurs asynchronously via the WWW.  In this instance at least 90% of course materials must be developed by the instructor to qualify for compensation.  Any other materials must be owned by NWACC or have the special permission of the copyright holder for use in the course described.  This permission should be written or in a verifiable form of electronic communication.

Approval

Approval for compensation Levels II and III must be given by the Division Chair directly responsible for the supervision of the instructor and/or the program under which the specific class to be taught exists.  Approval for both levels must also be given by the Vice President for Learning also, who will serve as the arbitrator for all disputes involving compensation levels.  See Part I for details.

Table of Compensation Levels

Part III: Additional Compensation Issues: Teaching and Expenses

Distance Learning classes often generate tasks and responsibilities that are different in comparison with "regular" classes.  The following issues address issues relate to compensation for these activities and whether it shall be justified and how under NWACC policy.  They are based on the Distance Education Committee's analysis of the issues.

Travel for CIV instructors to "remote" sites: Travel compensation is to be covered by the Division sponsoring the class and is to be conducted according to the IRS guidelines used by NWACC for all travel reimbursement.

Extra Communications Work: It has been deemed by Committee members that the extra time spent in Telecourses and Self-Directed Study courses, communicating with students on an individual basis is balanced by the fact that instructors in these courses are not required to have regular class attendance time.  Thus, no compensation is given.

Additional Students: The consensus of the DE Committee was that classes should be structured to fit the NWACC Mission Statement.  Class caps should be firm and overloaded classes should not be allowed, thus compensation to instructors for additional students should not exist.  For reduced classes, instructors should negotiate with their Divisions as to whether the class will count towards 3 hours of credit time or in the case of part-time instructors, compensation for an individual class, or whether the class will be regarded as an overload section.  This decision will be made by the appropriate supervisor at the Divisional/Departmental area upon approval of the Distance Learning class .

Transfer of Materials: This work should be handled by DL support personnel whenever possible and thus remain uncompensated.  Instructors who choose to participate in the transfer of materials cannot be guaranteed compensation.

Additional Charges or Maintenance and Overhead Expenses: On occasion an instructor will potentially incur costs that would normally be covered by a Maintenance and Overhead account at the Divisional or Departmental level, or would be covered through access to NWACC personnel or equipment.  Examples include long distance phone calls made on a personal phone for purposes of the class, use of personal funds for the copying of materials, etc…  Compensation in any such instances must be negotiated between the instructor and their supervisor.  Compensation should only be considered if access to NWACC equipment and personnel is not available on a regular basis making the expenses unavoidable for the instructor.

Summary of Part III

The general consensus is that compensation should not be given for teaching a class as significant extra work can be dealt with by limiting class size.  In addition, other areas that may justify compensation will either utilize existing forms of compensation (travel), can be covered by support personnel (transfer of materials), or balances with the reduced classroom responsibilities some distance learning types allow for.  Therefore, compensation is recommended to be given primarily for development and not for teaching/facilitation of the class, beyond the instructor's primary compensation for teaching.

Conclusion: This process shall be, upon approval by the administration of NWACC, the process by which all Distance Learning compensation is conducted.  Compensation will be contingent upon available funds in addition to the other criterion and procedures indicated in this policy recommendation.  The approval of compensation by NWACC shall constitute an agreement between the instructor and NWACC to adhere to this policy and the requirements therein, including approval, compensation, review, and appeal.

Date Approved: Updated 12/7/01

(See also addendum of December 14, 2004 and Flow Chart from January, 2005)

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Recommended Definitions of Distance Learning for NWACC

• "The acquisition of knowledge and skills through mediated information and instruction, encompassing all technologies and other forms of learning at a distance."
  -USDLA (United States Distance Learning Association) definition
  http://www.usdla.org
  
• Distance education is defined, for the purposes of accreditation review, as a formal educational process in which the majority of the instruction occurs when student and instructor are not in the same place. Instruction may be synchronous or asynchronous. Distance education may employ correspondence study, or audio, video, or computer technologies.
  -NCA-CIHE definition
  http://www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org/resources/guidelines/gdistance.html

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For questions/comments on this content, please contact the Distance Learning Department.

This page was last updated on:  December 21, 2009 @ 8:51 am