PALOMARCOLLEGEDISTANCEEDUCATIONPLAN

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Draft11 May2017

TableofContents:

ExecutiveSummary(Includewhendocumentiscomplete)

Introduction

DefinitionofDistanceEducation(ACCJC)

DistanceEducationMission/Values/Standards

DistanceEducationPlan

Appendix:

Statistics/Data

OnlineEducationInitiative(OEI)Overview

PalomarOnlineEducationTraining(POET)

ServicesandSupportforDistanceEducation

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Introduction

Acrossthecountry,about5.5millionstudentstookatleastone

onlinecourse–roughlyone-quarterofthetotalenrollment.Among

those5.5millionstudents,about2.6millionwereenrolledinfully

onlineprograms—theresttooksometraditionalcourses,some

online,accordingtotheNationalCenterforEducationStatistics.

Thesestatisticscomefrom2012,butthenumberscontinuetoclimb

everyyear.

AtPalomar,onlineclasseshaveconsistentlygeneratedaround

18,500FTES.Whilesomeofthesestudentslivegeographically

distantfromthecollege,mostlivewithindistrictboundaries.Even

usingzipcodestodetermineresidencedoesnotprovideanaccurate

pictureofthenumberofonlinestudentswhoarelivingoutsidethe

districtbecausemanyonlinestudentsareonmilitarydeployment,

attendschoolelsewhereinthecountrysimultaneously,orare

travelingforworkorpersonalreasons.Otherstudentschooseonline

coursesduetoworkorfamilytimeconstraintsormobility

constraints.

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Withthepossibilityofastate-widedistanceeducation

component,itisimperativethatPalomarhaveacohesive

DistanceEducation(DE)plan.

Thepurposeofthisplanistoincreaseaccessandsuccessforonline

studentsbyprovidingthefoundationforaunifiedvisionandthe

foundationforfutureeffortsintherealmofdistanceeducation.

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DefinitionofDistanceEducation

FromtheACCJC(2013):

Distanceeducationisdefined,forthepurposeofaccreditation

review,asaformalinteractionwhichusesoneormore

technologiestodeliverinstructiontostudentswhoareseparated

fromtheinstructorandwhichsupportsregularandsubstantive

interactionbetweenthestudentsandinstructor,either

synchronouslyorasynchronously.

Distanceeducationoftenincorporatestechnologiessuchasthe

internet;one-wayandtwo-waytransmissionsthroughopen

broadcast;closedcircuit,cable,microwave,broadbandlines;

fiberoptics;satelliteorwirelesscommunicationsdevices;audio

conferencing;orvideocassettes,DVDs,andCDROMs,in

conjunctionwithanyoftheothertechnologies.

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DistanceEducationMission/Values/Standards

PalomarCollegeMission:

Ourmissionistoprovideanengagingteachingandlearning

environmentforstudentsofdiverseorigins,experiences,needs,

abilities,andgoals…Asacomprehensivecommunitycollege,we

supportandencouragestudentswhoarepursuingtransfer-

readiness,generaleducation,basicskills,careerandtechnical

training,aestheticandculturalenrichment,andlifelong

education…Wearecommittedtohelpingourstudentsachieve

thelearningoutcomesnecessarytocontributeasindividualsand

globalcitizenslivingresponsibly,effectively,andcreativelyinan

interdependentandever-changingworld.

https://www2.palomar.edu/pages/strategicplanning/

InstitutionalMissionandEffectivenessAnalysisofhowPalomar’s

MissionStatementconsidersDistanceEducationwhendeveloping,

approvingandcommunicatingtoallstakeholders.

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DistanceEducationclassesareofferedacrossabroadspectrumof

departmentsanddivisionsatPalomar,includingclassesthat

preparestudentswhoarepursuingtransfer-readiness,general

education,basicskills,careerandtechnicaltraining,aestheticand

culturalenrichment,andlifelonglearning.

Distanceeducationcoursesaredeveloped,approved,andmarketed

inthesamemannerasface-to-face(F2F)classes.Theyarecreated

andreviewedbyfaculty,processed,andapprovedthroughthesame

curriculumprocessatPalomar,andbytheChancellor’sOffice.They

areapprovedbyadvisorieswhenappropriate,andvettedacross

disciplineexpertsingroupssuchasCourseIdentification

NumberingSystem(C-ID),and(FRDG).Tosummarize,Distance

EducationandF2Fclassesareequallydeveloped,reviewed,vetted,

approved,andmarketed.DEclasscontentisequivalenttoF2F

classes;thereisnodifferenceinwhatislearnedinaDEorF2Fclass.

Inthesamemanner,minimumqualificationsaredeterminedby

departmentsconcerningwhowillteachaDistanceEducationclass.

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OurValues:

PalomarCollegeisdedicatedtoempoweringstudentstosucceed

andcultivatinganappreciationoflearning.Throughongoing

planningandself-evaluation,westriveforcontinualimprovement

inourendeavors.

Increatingthelearningandculturalexperiencesthatfulfillour

missionandensurethepublic’strust,weareguidedbyourcore

valuesof:

•Excellenceinteaching,learning,andservice

•Integrityasthefoundationforallwedo

•Accesstoourprogramsandservices

•Equityandthefairtreatmentofallinourpoliciesandprocedures

•Diversityinlearningenvironments,philosophies,cultures,beliefs,

andpeople

•Inclusivenessofindividualandcollectiveviewpointsincollegial

decision-makingprocesses

•Mutualrespectandtrustthroughtransparency,civility,andopen

communications

•Creativityandinnovationinengagingstudents,faculty,staff,and

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administrators

•Physicalpresenceandparticipationinthecommunity

https://www2.palomar.edu/pages/studentaffairs/home/palomar-

college-missionstatement/

•“Accesstoourprogramsandservices”embodiesthekeypurpose

ofofferingourcoursesinaDistanceEducationdeliverymethod.

Working,military,out-of-state,andinternationalstudentscannow

takeclassestowardcompletionofprogramsthroughPalomar

College.

DistanceEducationDeliveryMethodcoursesaredesignedto

respondtotheneedsofstudentstoprovidecourses,support

servicesandtrainingopportunitiesthatareflexible,responsive,and

innovative.

Standards:

TheinstructionalcontentofcoursesofferedthroughtheDistanceEducationProgramshouldmeetthestandardsofon-campusclassroomcoursesandincludecoverageofthecommonStudentLearningOutcomesforthatcourse.

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Tomeettheneedforflexiblelearningopportunitiesforourcontemporarylearners,PalomarCollegeoffersarangeofoptionsfromfullyface-to-facetofullyonlinedelivery.Withintheseboundsisavarietyofrequirementsforonandoffcampusorientations,testing,fieldtrips,etc.TheInstructionalCategoriesatPalomarCollegeare:

• Face-to-face:Completelyface-to-face,meaningallinstruction,coursework,officehours,andexamsare/canbeface-to-face,buttheymayhaveweb-enhancedinstruction.

• Hybrid:Lecturesandcourseworkaredeliveredinacombinationofface-to-faceandvirtualcontactbetweenstudentsandinstructors.

• OnlinePlus:Partiallyonlinewithallinstruction,coursework,officehours,andorientationsareonline.Examsmaybeface-to-faceorbeproctored.Theremaybeotheroptionalclassmeetings.

• Online:Completelyonline:Allinstruction,coursework,officehours,orientations,andexamsaredeliveredonline.Therearenoface-to-facesessions.

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Classesoffered(infullorinpart)onlineofferthesameskillsandacademicinstructionthataretaughtintraditionalface--to--faceclasses.Itisimportanttorememberthattheonlinecourseexperiencerequiresthesameamountoftimeandeffortason--campusclasses.

PalomarCollegesupportstheonlinestudentwithequivalentservicesthatareavailabletoface-to-facestudentstomakeiteasierforallstudentstoobtainsupport,enhancetheirengagementwithPalomarCollege,andsuccessfullycompletetheireducationalgoals.Examplesoftheseservicesinclude,butarenotlimitedto,thefollowing:

Theseservicesinclude:

• Preparationforonlinelearningskills

• Assistancetofindopenonlinecourses

• Administrativeprocedures

• Registration

• Tuitionpayment

• Coursecredit

o Academicload

• Academicskills

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o Onlinetutoring

o Onlinelibraryresources-includingdatabases,eBooks,tutorials,onlineworkshops,anda24x7livelibrarianchat

o Financialaid

o Counselingservices

o Bookstore

o AcademicTechnologyServicesandAssistance

• LearningManagementSystem(Canvas)

o StudentTutorials

o HelpDesk

FacultyRequirements

Instructorsarerequiredtoconductclassfortheentirescheduledtime.

Itisrecommendedthatfirst--timeinstructorsmustbetrainedbydistancelearningfaculty/DEmentors/staffbeforethefirstclassmeetingandthattheycompletePalomar’sPOETtrainingorequivalent.

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Instructorsareexpectedtohaveanactivepresenceinthevirtualclassroomandtobefullyengagedwiththestudentsthroughoutthecourse.

Instructorsshouldhaveonlinecontactinformationandberesponsiveandaccessibletostudentsoutsideofface-to-facemeetings.Allpoliciesconcerningstudent--to--facultyandstudent-to-studentcontactmustbespecificallydescribedinthesyllabus.

Instructorswillnotrelyonpublishers’materialstodistributecoursecontent,asa coursemanagementrole.Instructorswillprovidearobustlearningenvironmentbutisnotrequiredtogenerateallcontent.

Itisrecommendedthatonlineinstructorsendeavortorespondtostudentinquirieswithinapproximately48hours(weekendsandholidaysexcepted.)

Instructorsmaydeliverclassesfromanoff-campuslocation;however,theinstructorisresponsibleforhisorherownhardware,software,andinternetconnection.

Thecollegeprovidesthenecessarysupportservicesforacademicintegritysuchasproctoringoptions.

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SynchronousDistanceLearningCourses

CoursesdeliveredatadistancebutmeetonlineataspecifictimeareconsideredSynchronousDistanceLearningCourses.

SynchronousDistanceLearningcoursesaredeliveredthroughBlackboardCollaborateorequivalenttechnology.

Studentscanreceiveonlineface-to-facemeetingsfromanywherewithaninternetconnection.Studentscanalsoattendonlineface--to--facemeetingsinthedistancelearningcomputerlabonthemaincampusorattheoff-campussites.

Classsessionsarealsorecordedandmaybeviewedlater.

TechnologyPalomarCollege’sAcademicInformationServices(AIS)providesacoresuiteoftechnologiesandtechnicalresourcesrequiredtosupporthigh-qualityonlineeducation,includingthefollowing:

• Infrastructure

1. Servercapacity

2. Wiredandwirelessnetworks

3. Campuswebsite

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• Coreproductivitytechnologies

1. Email

2. Officesuite

3. Virtualizationofspecializedapplications:VMWare

4. Studentinformationsystem:PeopleSoft.

• Keyinstructionaltechnologies

1. Coursemanagementsystems:Canvas

2. VoicetoolswithinCanvas

3. Synchronousweb-conferencing:CCCConfer

4. Screencasting

5. Assessment:TurnitinandRespondus

6. Accessibility:Read&WriteGold

7. Technology-enhancedclassroomsthatenableuseofalloftheabove

8. Computerlabswithavarietyofhardwareandsoftware,includingdiscipline-specifictechnologiesasneeded.

• Technologysupport

1. Systemdevelopmentandmaintenancestaff

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2. Employeehelpdesk

3. Studenthelpdesk

StudentComputerRequirements

Accesstoafairlynewcomputerwithacurrentoperatingsystem,Internet,andasoundcard.

AccesstothelatestMicrosoftOfficePackorequivalentandacurrentbrowsercompatiblewith theLearningManagementSystemsatPalomarCollege(Canvas).

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MarketingandResearch

Palomar’scurrentandpotentialstudentsinterestedinonlineeducationwouldbenefitfromgreaterclarityabouttheexistenceandscopeofPalomar’sonlinecourseofferings,studentservices,andotherresources.AndasPalomarCollegedevelopsonlineprogramsthatmaybecompletedentirelyatadistance,itbecomesincreasinglyimportanttoconsidertheuniqueidentityandmarketingeffortsrequiredforsuchprograms.

PalomarCollegehas,inrecentyears,providedmorethoroughprogramreviewdatatoacademicdepartmentsdisaggregatedbycoursemodality,whichhasenableddepartmentstoconsidertheperformanceandefficiencyoftheirdistanceeducationofferings.AsPalomarcontinuestorefineitspracticeofevidence-basedplanninganddata-informeddecision-making,thedevelopmentofnew datamanagementtoolsmustconsiderthereportingrequirementsandopportunitiesspecifictodistanceeducation,includingdetailsaboutdistanceeducationenrollments,success,andretention, forvariousstudentsubgroups.

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ThefourmainobjectivesofPalomar’sonlineeducationplanareas

follows:

1.Establishandpromotedistanceeducationprogramsand

resourceswithinanintegratedandcomprehensiveonline

environment.

2.Providecontinuingguidanceforfacultyteachingonline.

3.Providesupporttostudentsforsuccessinonlineeducation.

EnsureonlineeducationatPalomarisincompliancewithexternal

regulations.

Detailsforimplementingtheseobjectivesareasfollow:

Objective1:Establishdistanceeducationprogramsandresources

withinanintegratedandcomprehensiveonlineenvironment.

!ActionPlan1.A:DocumentandfacilitatecomprehensivePalomar

onlineeducationprograms.

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"Outcome1.A.1:Programsofferedfullyonline,promotedvia

Collegelinktosuchprograms.Classesscheduledbasedonanalysis

byDepartmentChairsandDisciplineCoordinators,usingcurriculum

approvedforDistanceEducation,anddocumentationofstudent

interest.Suggest:Collegepromotionofprogramsofferedfully

online.

"Outcome1.A.2:Addressopportunitiestoengageoff-campus

studentswithcollegeactivitiesandcampuslife.

!ActionPlan1.B:Establish,evaluate,andimprovecommunication

aboutonlinecourses,programs,andsupportservices.Suggest:

Makesurestudentsaremadeawareofonlinecourses,programs,

andsupportservices.–thissaid,Ithinkmaybethisonecouldbe

deletedbecauseIfeellikewhatisin1.B.1belowcoversallofthis.

"Outcome1.B.1Improveoutreachandcommunicationaboutonline

educationprogramsandclasses,usingnewPalomarOnline

Educationwebpage,revisedscheduledesignations,/identity

developedspecificallyforPalomaronlineeducation.

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!ActionPlan1.C:Implementtechnologieslikelytosupportstudent

successinonlineeducation.Idonotfeelthisisnecessaryaswehave

thesethingsimplemented,inmyopinion.

"Outcome1.C.1:Worktomaintainonlineeducationtechnologies

thatarefullyaccessibletoallstudents.

"Outcome1.C.2:Usethenewlyadoptedcoursemanagementsystem

tosupportfacultyintheuseofOpenEducationalResources.

Suggest:EncouragefacultytoutilizeinformationfromComets

AffordableLearningMaterial(CALM)forpromotingandincreasing

zerotextbookcostcoursesandprograms.

Objective2:Enhance,support,andclarifyproceduresforfaculty

involvedinonlineeducation.Suggest:Makesureonlinefacultyare

awareoftheonlinefacultyrequirementsandadaptandclarifythem

asneeded.

!ActionPlan2.A:Enhancefacultypreparationandsupportfor

successfulonlineteachingthroughPOETandotherresources.

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"Outcome2.A.1:Exploreadditionalprogramsfordeveloping,

certifying,andmaintainingfacultypreparationforonlineteaching

andtechnologiesandpersonnelsupportresourcesthroughthe

AcademicTechnologyCommittee(ATC),AcademicTechnology

ResourcesCenter(ATRC),andProfessionalDevelopment(PD).

!ActionPlan2.B:Developanddistributebestpracticesinsupportof

consistentonlineclassquality.

"Outcome2.B.1:Createspecificproceduresforonlineclass

evaluationbystudents,administrators,andpeers.

Objective3:Providestudentswitheffectivesupportforsuccessin

onlineeducation.

!ActionPlan3.A:Expandonlinesupportservicesandintervention

strategies.

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"Outcome3.A.1:ExpansionofATRCeveningsupportand

InformationServicesstudenthelpdesktobeavailable24/7student

helpdesk.Formalizeandfullysupportonlinecounseling,online

educationplanning,andpeermentorsforonlinestudents.Build

capacityandbudgetsupportforonlineproctoring.Developand

keepmaintainedandupdatedanonlinelearningorientation.

Expandandintegrateresourcesforonlinelibraryinstructionand

coursereserves.

"Outcome3.A.2:EngagementwithCCCOnlineEducationInitiative

(OEI)inplanning,developing,andimplementingtoolsand

procedures,enablingPalomarinstructorstoteachOEIclassesand

PalomarstudentstotakeclassesthroughOEI.

!ActionPlan3.B:Regularlyevaluatetheimpactofonlinesupports

onsuccess,retention,andequity,andrefineaccordingly.

"Outcome3.B.1:Regularlyevaluateonlineprograms,resources,and

supportservicesandrefinedtoimprovestudentsatisfaction,equity,

retention,andsuccess.

Objective4:EnsureonlineeducationatPalomarisincompliance

withexternalregulations(ACCJC).

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*ActionPlan4.A:Monitorandfollowaccreditationexpectationsand

effectivepracticesfordistanceeducation.

"Outcome4.A.1:FullyaccreditedstatusforPalomardistance

educationwithoutsanctions.

AppendixAalignstheseobjectiveswiththeinstitutionalgoalsand

objectivesstatedinthecurrent

***Theseobjectivesare[shouldbe]alignedwiththeinstitutional

goalsandobjectivesstatedinthecurrentPalomarCollegestrategic

plan.

.