The faculty member should consult with the Divisional Chair to identify the need for a hybrid or virtual course. The faculty member should have completed any required training for teaching online at least one semester in advance.
Once the Chair and faculty member agree that a hybrid or virtual course will be offered online for the first time, the faculty member should develop the necessary materials (syllabus, assignments, grading rubrics, etc.), which are then reviewed by the Chair. The Division's Curriculum Committee should be notified of the development of the course. If the course is new, and meets the Chair's approval, it is then presented to the Curriculum Committee of Faculty Senate for review and approval. If the course is approved through the Faculty Senate process, the faculty member begins developing the course.
If the proposed hybrid or virtual course is an adaptation of an existing course and the Chair approves the materials, the faculty member should develop the course.
The course is then reviewed, according to the guidelines used for implementing best practices in hybrid and virtual courses by the Director of Online Programs. Any necessary changes should be communicated to the faculty member and Chair prior to the beginning of the semester, and these changes should be implemented as soon as possible upon receipt. When the course is added to the semester schedule, the Registrar should be certain to mark it with the appropriate “H” or “V” designation.
Traditional first-year students will not take virtual courses except under extenuating circumstances as approved by the Chair of the student's major as well as the Director of Online Programs, or in cases in which an online course is required by a degree program. Extenuating circumstances might include, but are not limited to, an inability to take on-campus courses, prior success in online courses, justifiable family commitments, inflexible work schedule, medical issues, or a composite ACT score of 23 and above. Students must produce documentation to verify extenuating circumstances. First-year students seeking to enroll in a virtual course should complete a form and deliver it to the Chair who will forward it upon approval to the Director of Online Programs (See Appendix C). Academic Affairs believes the decision regarding whether a first year student can enroll in a virtual course under extenuating circumstances should be made by the VPAA.
This evaluation form is intended to be a component of the peer evaluation process that is already established. Instead of making a classroom observation, which is not possible for a virtual class, a peer evaluation team comprised of those experienced in teaching virtual classes will be temporarily added to the roster of the Blackboard
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