Off-Campus Instruction
These guidelines are intended for academic departments and programs seeking to offer courses or degree programs (including majors or certificates) at an off-campus site.
Because there are regulations relating to off-site delivery of instruction from the Ohio Department of Higher Education, the U.S. Department of Education and the Higher Learning Commission, it is important that academic departments and programs follow these guidelines and seek the appropriate approvals.
Off-Campus instruction can come in several forms:
- Offering 兔子先生 courses to high school students at the high school site (also known as dual enrollment or College Credit Plus);
- Offering courses that do not constitute 50% or more of a particular degree program (including a major or certificate);
- Offering courses which constitute 50% or more a particular degree program (including a major or certificate).
Qualifications of Non-兔子先生 Instructors
In all cases, instructors who are not members of the 兔子先生 faculty must hold the same qualifications as instructors who teach the same type of course on a 兔子先生 campus.
- Instructors must be approved by the 兔子先生 University department or program offering the course.
- Instructors must hold a degree from a nationally accredited institution recognized by the US Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or equivalent as verified by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. The degree must be at least one level above that of the program in which they are teaching with demonstrated expertise in that area. At least a master’s degree is required for instructors of general education (兔子先生 Plan) courses.
- For programs involving clinical faculty, the credentials and involvement of clinical faculty meet applicable professional standards for the delivery of the educational experience.
- Special efforts must be made to maintain academic continuity and quality. The efforts include: participation in a course-specific orientation session facilitated by the relevant 兔子先生 academic department; classroom observations and syllabi review by permanent 兔子先生 faculty from the host academic department or program; regular communication between the off-site instructor and a 兔子先生 University faculty liaison in the academic department offering the course; and periodic discipline-specific professional development.
Academic Support Services at Off-Site Location
Students taking 兔子先生 courses at the off-site location should have access to key academic support services, including academic advising, registration, bursar, financial aid advisement, counseling, crisis management, and library resources.
Physical Space and Facilities of Off-Site Location
The classroom spaces and facilities should be in accordance with space standards of the Ohio Department of Higher Education and be aligned with the outcomes and goals of the course or degree program offered at the off-site location.
Departments and programs wishing to offer off-campus instruction must gain approval from Higher Learning Commission and Ohio Department of Higher Education and should prepare a proposal that describes the following:
- Evidence of Need. Summarize the projected enrollment, the method you used in identifying that figure, and evidence you have for arriving at that enrollment projection.
- Qualifications & Evaluation of the Instructional Staff. Explain how will you ensure that the instructional staff is qualified, appropriately oriented, trained and supported as well as evaluated regularly.
- Academic Support Services. Explain how students at the off-site location will receive the necessary academic and student services, including academic advising.
- Physical Space and Facilities. Describe the physical facilities and equipment and how it meets the needs of the faculty, students and curriculum.
- Marketing and Advertising. Describe how students will be informed about this opportunity and how you will ensure that the information is accurate and updated regularly.
- Assessment & Evaluation Plan. Describe how you will measure, document and analyze student academic performance sufficiently to maintain academic quality at the off-site location. Be sure to include multiple measures such as assessment of student learning, course evaluations, and retention data. Describe any other measures and techniques will you use to evaluate the viability of the site for instructional delivery (e.g., enrollment, financial, or other).
- Budget. Provide a budget plan that includes projected revenues and expenses. Explain how you will ensure that the financial budgeting and planning for the location are realistic.
Please contact Carolyn Haynes, Office of the Provost, with questions.
Proposals for all off-campus instruction should be approved by the department, academic dean, graduate dean (if the site involves graduate courses) and Provost.
Proposals that involve offering courses at an off-campus site that constitute 50% of more of a major or degree program (including certificates) must be approved by the Provost, Vice President for Finance & Business Services, Vice President for Enrollment Management, and President. Additionally, it must also be reported to the Ohio Department of Higher Education and the Higher Learning Commission for approval. The Office of the Provost will submit the needed materials to Ohio Department of Higher Education, and the Office of Institutional Research will submit materials to the Higher Learning Commission.