Distance Learning Program Transition

Each academic year from, a minimum of two certificate or degree programs will be selected and provided significant support and resources to either (a) convert the entire program to fully online or (b) develop a new certificate or degree program as one delivered fully online. This will be accomplished by providing a full instructional design model. Support for selected faculty and departments will include, but may not be limited to:


  • A seat in the Teaching Online Seminar (TOL6100) for each program faculty.
  • A departmental budget for use towards the development and delivery of the distance learning program. Funds may be used for activities which support the development and delivery of the distance learning program.
  • The dedicated assistance of an instructional designer to develop the courses, working in conjunction with an identified faculty Course Developer.
  • Stipends to the faculty Course Developer for up to 2 courses in each program beyond the course developed in TOL6100.

Look for the call for proposal, which typically goes out in Fall of each academic year for programs to be transitioned the following year.

 

Program Personnel

Selected departments will assign a faculty program coordinator to serve as the main contact person to coordinate transition of this degree program with the Center for Instruction & Research Technology (CIRT) and to assist with any issues that may arise. Coordination will include:

  • Facilitating communications between CIRT and instructors/course developers;
  • Coordination and communications between the program and the college and other administrative units to ensure policy and procedures are in place to facilitate the offering of this program to distance students.

CIRT will assign an instructional designer to serve as the main contact person to coordinate development of this degree program and to build the program courses in consultation with identified faculty Course Developers.

 

Funding Overview  

Funding is varied, based on program size.  All funds will be disbursed from the Distance Learning auxiliary budget account.Funds may be used for activities which support the development and delivery of the distance learning program. This may include distance learning assistants, faculty development, the purchase of specialized equipment, compensation for Program Coordinator, marketing, distance learning facilitators, or other expenditures. All expenditures must be approved by AA/CIRT to ensure compliance with state requirements for the use of distance learning fee funds.

 

Faculty Training & Support Funding = $4,000 per Course Developer
All faculty who will develop courses for the program are required to complete the Teaching Online Seminar (TOL 6100) offered by CIRT. Faculty will receive a $2000 stipend at seminar completion and a $2000 Distance Learning development budget that may be used for professional development or the acquisition of resources and equipment to support course development and delivery. During the course of the seminar, faculty will redesign one of the courses in the program and at its completion, they will be certified to develop and deliver online instruction.

 

Faculty Training Funding = $1500 per Course Instructor 

Any instructor who will deliver, but not develop, courses for the program is required to complete the Online Course Delivery workshop (TOL5100) offered by CIRT. Faculty will receive a $1500 stipend at workshop completion and be certified to deliver online courses.

 

Course Development Funding = $2000 per Course
Each faculty member identified by the Department as the Course Developer for a course will be assigned an Instructional Designer for course development and work with that Instructional Designer as a Subject Matter Expert. Upon course review and approval, that faculty member will receive a $2000 stipend for the course development. The stipend is available for the development of up to 2 courses. Faculty assigned by the department to develop more than 2 courses will not receive the stipend for those additional courses.
 

Program Development and Collaboration 

  • Courses will be collaboratively planned, designed, and developed by the Course Developer and the Instructional Designer provided by CIRT.
  • All courses in the program will be developed using a best practices framework for instructional design, aligned with national standards for distance education courses and programs, and developed in the Blackboard course management system.
  • The Course Developers will engage in continued collaboration with CIRT from project inception to ensure course completion and approval of each course at least 4 weeks prior to the initial term start. Designee(s) from the Department and CIRT will review the course upon completion of development, using the Rubric forOnline Instruction.  The Lead Instructional Designer in consultation with the Program Coordinator determines final course approval. Courses will also be reviewed within a month after delivery by an instructional designer, and feedback provided to the course developer and instructor for continuous improvement.
  • If any  course is not complete and ready to be taught at least 4 weeks prior to the start of initial term, the CIRT Director will consult with the Department Chair concerning advisability of course cancellation.

 

Use of Course and Materials

Instructional materials for distance learning courses developed as part of this program transition are subject to the existing UNF UFF Collective Bargaining agreement and the Faculty handbook.

 

End-of-Project Report

The Department will submit a final report within 3 months of completion of the project to include:

  • Description of the development process
  • Two-year schedule for continued course and program delivery
  • Student feedback on the experience taking the courses
  • Course evaluation data
  • Faculty response to the development activity
  • Final expense report
  • Plans for program sustainability

Funding Agreement Terms 

The funding described in this plan is contingent upon completion of course development and offering as describe above, and summarized in Distance Learning Program Intake Form. Changes to the agreements, timetables or funding will be based on agreement between the College and AA/CIRT. The funding agreements are subject to renegotiation if course development and delivery do not proceed according to the accepted Course Development Plan, with course development completed by term/year. In signing below, we accept this award and the conditions outlined in the letter.