Northern Virginia Community College

Web Course Policy

Academic & Administrative Standards Checklist

for World Wide Web Courses

Offered Across Service Area Boundaries

I. Standards for Credit: A. Is the course listed in the State Curriculum Guide for Community Colleges?; B. Does the course meet VCCS and NVCC course content requirements?; C. Does the course follow a formal written syllabus based on the course description in the State Curriculum Guide?; D. Is the course taught by a fully qualified faculty member as prescribed by the VCCS Form 29?; E. Does the course have a minimum of three proctored learning activities (e.g. examinations, laboratories)?; F. Do procedures for proctoring include student picture ID verification?; G. Does the course design provide regular interactivity amongst students, and/or with the instructor? (Note: interactivity does not include tests and exams)
II. Standards for Student Support: A. Is a telephone number listed for student questions and concerns?; B. Is the instructor's telephone number and/or voice mail number included?; C. Is the instructor's e-mail address included?; D. Does the course provide for student evaluations?; E. Is pre-enrollment information available for faculty, counselors, division chairs, advisors, and other personnel involved in answering students questions?; F. Is an orientation available for students for the course?; G. Is technical support available for the student in the form of a toll-free hot line?; H. Do students have ready access to all required resource materials, including library materials?; I. Are textbooks readily available to students?; J. Have provisions been made for distribution of, and access to, all other media, e.g., video tapes, CD-ROM, audiotapes, disks, etc.?; K. Has the instructor listed office hours when he/she is available for students?; L. Have accounts and procedures for long distance charges been established?; M. Is the instructor's US postal address included?; N. Are procedures for submission of work clearly explained?; O. Are deadlines clearly explained?; P. Are grading policies and criteria clearly explained?; Q. Are "I" grade policies clearly explained?; R. Is a student's privacy protected?; T. Is library reference help available?; U. Have exam schedules, locations, proctors, and passes/IDs been arranged?; V. Are financial aid procedures and deadlines included?; W. Does the course meet financial aid requirements, and is the course approved for financial aid?; X. Is access to counseling services provided for students?; Y. Have provisions been made for students with disabilities?
III. Standards for Academic Supervision: A. Is the syllabus accurate and complete?; B. Have course materials, including on-line materials, been reviewed?; C. Have grading and exam procedures been reviewed?; D. Have book and material orders been submitted?; E. Are clear instructions provided for students in all course materials?; F. Do students have access to college policy regarding grievance procedures?; G. Is the chain of command for student complaints clearly understood?; H. Are the criteria for course cancellation determined?; I. Is the person responsible for course cancellation ascertained?; J. Are all laboratory requirements provided for?; K. Has permission to use all copyright materials been obtained?; L. Have provisions been made for notifying students in the event of changes in the course, date changes, corrections, revisions?; M. Have course evaluations been reviewed?
IV. Standards for Information and Promotion: A. Have provisions been made for data entry and printed information in the Schedule of Classes?; B. Is a description of any special course requirements written and included in the NVCC Schedule of Classes?; C. Is the section number appropriate?; D. Is the session code determined?; E. Are registration procedures clearly presented-especially any special procedures?; F. Are application for admission procedures clearly presented?; G. Is the tuition payment process clearly presented?; H. Are refund and withdrawal policies and procedures clearly presented?

The Role of NVCC's Extended Learning Institute

In Any World Wide Web Courses

That Are Delivered Across Service Area Boundaries

Based on its experience and College responsibilities for providing distance education, ELI provides the following services to facilitate the delivery of Web-based courses across service area boundaries for courses developed and delivered by Campus Divisions without direct and on-going ELI involvement:

1. Develops academic and administrative standards for College approval covering web-based courses that cross service area boundaries based on NVCC, VCCS and SACS Accreditation standards, policies and requirements.
2. Informs faculty and administrators about academic and administrative standards to be followed for web-based courses to be offered across service area boundaries.
3. Confirms that courses have Division approval and appropriate administrators are aware of academic and administrative standards.
4. Defines and monitors procedures for faculty to order books and materials.
5. Establishes and coordinates data entry process and printed information on web-based classes for the Schedule of Classes.
7. Establishes procedures to facilitate coordinated use of the College's Testing Labs; outlines proctoring rules and regulations.
8. Supervises computer server interface for World Wide Web instruction to insure consistent information links, formats and services, while allowing creativity and innovation.
9. Assists the NVCC Office of Information Technology in providing faculty training in developing web-course materials, in cooperation with the NVCC Office of Information Technology.

Courses that are developed and delivered with direct and on-going involvement of Extended Learning Institute staff carry ELI section numbers and are offered under the academic supervision of the Extended Learning Institute. ELI assumes responsibility for meeting the academic and administrative standards covered by this Checklist for its courses. It is up to individual Divisions to insure these standards are met for all web-based courses not offered directly through ELI.

(Passed by the NVCC Information Technology Committee, 12/8/97)

This page maintained by Steven G. Sachs, Vice President, Instructional & Information Technology

Last update: 7/1/02
nvsachs@nvcc.edu