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Standards & Regulations

OSU Curricular Procedures and Policies

OSU Extended Campus programs and courses follow the OSU curricular procedures and policies.

Course Quality Standards

Defining educational quality is the overarching purpose for creating and applying quality standards for distance education instruction and course development and delivery. It is the intention of OSU – Extended Campus to keep our focus on quality while working to create and improve the Internet-based teaching and learning environments, pedagogy, methodologies, and evaluation systems applied by instructors for teaching at a distance. The OSU Distance Education Quality Standards are aligned with national and state distance education standards such as those developed by the Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions (C-RAC), the Western Cooperative for Educational Telecommunications (WCET), the Oregon statewide standards for distance education developed by the Oregon University System, and the OSU standards for the student assessment of teaching. These Quality Standards are meant to assist instructors who are teaching at a distance, and the DE Unit, with planning and developing distance education courses and providing an assessment framework for evaluating the quality of OSU distance education courses.

• 1.0 Teaching/Learning Standards
• 2.0 Media and Materials Standards
• 3.0 Accessibility Standards
• 4.0 Privacy and Protection Standards
• 5.0 Evaluation Standards
• 6.0 Degree/Certificate Program Standards
• 7.0 Institutional Support Standards
• 8.0 Student Support Standards
• 9.0 Faculty Support Standards

1.0 Teaching/Learning Standards

• 1.1 Distance education students are given advance information about course requirements, equipment needs and techniques for succeeding in a distance learning environment, as well as technical training and support throughout the course
• 1.2 Students are active learners in presenting, organizing, applying and constructing information, ideas and knowledge.
• 1.3 All course objectives/outcomes and requirements are clearly presented.
• 1.4 Courses maximize the opportunities for regularized and ongoing interaction between teacher and students, among students, and between students and the learning environment.
• 1.5 The course provides mediation strategies. Mediation as a means of intervention between the student and the subject matter, as a way to guide the learning process toward particular outcomes, and connect a body of knowledge with a student’s cognitive framework (Petrie 1981).
• 1.6 The course provides opportunities for active learning that allows students to engage and participate in activities and tasks that enhance comprehension, understanding, and knowledge.
• 1.7 All student assignments and their due dates as well as tests and test dates are explained and posted at the beginning of the course.
• 1.8 Examinations are relevant to the reading assignments and to the learning material presented in the course.
• 1.9 Feedback to student assignments and questions is constructive and provided in a timely manner. Instructor commits him/herself to a turn-around-time for normal student e-mail messages within 2 working days, and communication of exam results within 7 working days unless students are informed otherwise.
• 1.10 The course documents describe the functions of the course website to the student (how to post assignments, communicate with the instructor etc.)

2.0 Media and Materials Standards

• 2.1 All external links and internal functionality of web courses will be fully operational when students begin the course.
• 2.2 The course content will be kept current term by term.
• 2.3 Prior approval for use of copyrighted materials as required by law, OUS, and OSU is obtained before the course materials are released to students on the Internet.
• 2.4 Technology is appropriate to the course pedagogy.
• 2.5 The course is facilitated through the Blackboard portal.

3.0 Accessibility Standards

• 3.1 DE courses provide accessibility with screen readers. Images and links contained in the course website must show alternate text upon cursor contact.
• 3.2 All assignment pages are provided in a printable format. Courses provide ample written instructions for every task the student has to perform: taking tests or quizzes, posting contributions to the on-line discussion, downloading files/software, finding supplementary reading, returning to the website, etc.
• 3.3 DE students have access to sufficient library resources that may include a “virtual library” accessible through the World Wide Web.
• 3.4 Academic counseling and advising is available to distance learning students at the same level as it is for students in on-campus environments.

4.0 Privacy and Protection Standards

• 4.1 To protect the integrity of the teaching/learning process in courses that do not feature a proctored test environment the student must be required to formally acknowledge and pledge adherence to OSU’s Code of Academic Honesty published in the Student Handbook.
• 4.2 To provide reasonable assurance of privacy, there must be a published course policy regarding the electronic transmission of student grades including a provision for password protection.
• 4.3 Procedures are in place to help ensure security of student work.
• 4.4 Students receive clear instruction to save and retain copies of work submitted electronically.

5.0 Evaluation Standards

• 5.1 An approved evaluation instrument(s) is provided with the course to insure student feedback on the functionality of the website, the organization/content of the course, and instructor performance.
• 5.2 Evaluation of student outcomes includes assessment of student products and exams as well as student evaluations of the course.
• 5.3 Data on enrollment, costs, and successful/innovative uses of technology are used to evaluate program effectiveness.
• 5.4 Intended learning outcomes are reviewed regularly to ensure clarity, utility, and appropriateness.
• 5.5 Course meets or exceeds Oregon University System’s academic standards.
• 5.6 Teacher evaluation is determined and conducted according to OSU policies. Teacher evaluation is based on: course content, course design, course presentation, student performance, and teacher interaction with students.
• 5.7 Course is evaluated on a regular basis and revisions documented. Instructional materials are reviewed periodically to ensure they continue to meet program standards. Course evaluation includes: technical design, curriculum alignment, rigor, depth, breadth, student performance, and student participation and interaction.

6.0 Degree/Certificate Program Standards

• 6.1 Each program of study results in learning outcomes appropriate to the rigor and breadth of the degree or certificate awarded.
• 6.2 An OSU/DE offered degree or certificate program is coherent and complete.
• 6.3 Qualified OSU faculty provides appropriate oversight of the DE program.

7.0 Institutional Support Standards

• 7.1 The reliability of the technology delivery system is as failsafe as possible.
• 7.2 A centralized system provides support for building and maintaining the distance education infrastructure.
• 7.3 The OSU Curriculum Council and the academic department have approved the course for credit.

8.0 Student Support Standards

• 8.1 Students receive information about programs, including admission requirements, tuition and fees, books and supplies, technical and proctoring requirements, and student support services.
• 8.2 Throughout the duration of the course/program, students have access to technical assistance, including detailed instructions regarding the electronic media used, practice sessions prior to the beginning of the course, and convenient access to technical support staff.
• 8.3 Questions directed to student service personnel are answered accurately and quickly, with a structured system in place to address student complaints.
• 8.4 Technical requirements for student access are documented.
• 8.5 Minimum technology competencies for students are announced and assessed.
• 8.6 DE courses have monitoring/proctoring policies in place.

9.0 Faculty Support Standards

• 9.1 Technical assistance in DE course development is available to faculty, who are encouraged to use it.
• 9.2 Faculty members are assisted in the transition from classroom teaching to online instruction and are assessed during the process.
• 9.3 Instructor training and assistance, including peer mentoring, continues through the progression of the online course.

Resource

• US News E-learning section -- Articles, lists, and other resources.

Student Academic Regulations

OSU Extended Campus students follow all of the academic regulations as on-campus Oregon State University students. These regulations and procedures are published to assist students by providing information that is essential for planning and pursuing their academic programs. Continuing efforts are made each year by the students, faculty, and administration to revise and improve these regulations in order to enhance the quality of the university's programs and the achievement of educational goals.

Please visit the Office of the Registrar's Academic Regulations for more information on:

• Academic Regulations
• Equal Opportunity
• Major and Minor Changes or Declarations
• Minority Education Office
• OSU Directory
• Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD)
• Social Security Number (SSN) Disclosure
• Student Life Policies and Regulations
• Undergraduate Graduation Access to Student's Records