Executive Summary

Options Report (pdf)

Strategic Areas

Benchmark Colleges

References

• Part of a three-college district --- distance education planned and delivered independently by colleges
• College mission --- non-traditional instructional delivery methods
• Large distance education program (21-50% of instruction; 8000 enrollments per semester)
• Modes of instruction --- online, hybrid, telecourses
• Planning process --- highly coordinated institutional process; planning conducted by discipline deans; distance learning dean coordinates DE offerings
• Degrees/Certificates - AA, Business, Gerontology
• Target student population --- inside Coastline's geographic service area
• Technical support --- large department (tech support, production and clerical)
• Faculty training --- workshops, tutorials
• Faculty compensation --- stipends (varied levels depending on the scope of development)
• Average class size --- 35 in online classes, 100 in telecourses
• Student support by phone and email - no weekend tech support
• Proctored exams at other campuses in the district

Recent Trends

• Growth in Internet courses (over 100 sections per semester)
• Tools developed in-house (CVC Net, web studio, virtual library)

Provocative Elements

• Large enrollment caps in telecourses - average class size of 100 = cost effectiveness
• Independent study/CD-ROM courses -- 700 enrollments per semester
• Military partnerships
• No CMS - Course websites not password protected; WebBoard for class discussion; QuizServer for testing