Executive Summary

Options Report (pdf)

Strategic Areas

Benchmark Colleges

References

This strategy area addresses issues related to providing students with the information and support to succeed in distance education. Recognizing that distance modes are not the right choice for all students, how will we ensure that those who choose this option will succeed? Accreditation requires that distance students have comparable/equivalent access to the same range of student services as on-campus students. More information on services for DE students is provided on the link and in the reference resources.

A key principle in Los Rios’s strategy is that student needs will determine the mode of delivery for all services and programs. How is this principle applied in student services where developing interpersonal rapport and trust are key to determining needs and providing services?

The issues identified in this area include:

• Student Readiness
• Learner Support and Resources
• On-Campus Requirements

1. Student Readiness:
   Some students place themselves inappropriately in distance education –e.g., they may not have access to the necessary technology, they may be unprepared academically, or they may lack basic technology skills. Colleges with DE programs may need to help by communicating information on what it takes to succeed as a distance learner –i.e., technology requirements, technical competencies, learning styles and personal discipline required in a distance learning environment.

   Comparisons between Los Rios and Benchmark Institutions:

   Los Rios:

   • There is a self-assessment quiz for students to help them decide if they are ready to take an online course.
   • Extensive orientation materials and tutorials, as well as Frequently Asked Questions are available for using Blackboard.
   • An Orientation CD has been created to assist instructors in delivering an appropriate and complete online course orientation.
   • Television courses have both web-based and on-campus orientation materials for students.
   • There is currently a course on “Becoming a Successful Online Student” offered by each college. However, enrollment has been very small so the course is often cancelled due to lack of enrollment.

   Benchmark Institutions:

   • Several colleges allow students to enroll in a free demonstration class on how to use the course management software.
   • Extensive online tutorials are available for the course management systems used by the benchmark colleges. The vendor (e-College) provides this for Golden Gate University and Foothill College (using Etudes) has created these materials.
   • Cerro Coso Community College has a “Becoming a Successful Online Student” course.

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   Strategic question:
   Should orientations and training on how to succeed in distance learning formats be available to students on an as needed basis or should these be made mandatory to ensure that all DE students are appropriately prepared to learn via distance delivery methods?

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2. Learner Support and Resources
   If complete distance programs are developed, they should be supported by equivalent and responsive student services for DE students per accreditation standards. There should be effective information, advising, and support to ensure that DE students have the best possibility of success. This would require that appropriate support services and resources are available, and that information about learner support is consistent and visible. The lack of formal support services for DE students may create additional responsibility for the DE instructor to bridge the gap.

   How to provide these services is the question. Nearly all services should have some online presence, even if it is just at the information level. Some services (such as, registration) can be totally accessible online, while others (such as, testing or counseling) may be only partially so. All services, however, need to include easy access when necessary to a live-person via other remote methods such as online chats or instant messaging, email, telephone, or fax. Additional information about delivering services to DE students is available in our reference resources.

   Resources available to students enrolled in distance education courses should include:

   Links to Campus resources (e.g., counseling, library, tutoring, disabled student services, bookstore, financial aid, campus publications, etc.)

   • Admission - Application
   • Registration and fee payment
   • Assessment
   • Orientation
   • Academic Advising and Educational Plan Development
   • Counseling
   • Transfer and Career Transition
   • Library
   • Course specific resources and contact information
   • Tutoring and Instructional Assistance
   • On-campus Access to Technology
   • Support for students with disabilities which comply with ADA Section 508
   • Help Desk tech support (discussed under Management, Governance & Funding)

   Comparisons between Los Rios and Benchmark Institutions:

   Los Rios:

   • Application, registration and fee payment are available online.
   • Each of the Counseling and Student Services departments has a website which provides information and linkages to such student services as advising and orientation.
   • Counselors are available via email.
   • Some placement and assessment tests used throughout the district can be provided to students at remote locations.
   • Orientation to the college is available online and televised at some of the colleges.
   • Transfer information is available online, but advisement is not available remotely.
   • Library orientation is available online: while various library services are available, student evaluations indicate opportunities for improvement.
   • There is minimal online tutoring provided.
   • Each college provides open computer labs for students who do not have access to technology at other locations.
   • Each of the colleges has a commitment to ADA compliance. Training is offered on how to make web sites accessible and there is assistance in evaluating the accessibility of web sites. However, resources and processes for achieving this are not consistent.
   • Blackboard meets minimum standards for accessibility but PeopleSoft does not.
   • Online scholarship applications are now available.
   • Job placement information and job notices are available online via Job Connections.
   • Financial aid information is being made available online.
   • Early alert for targeted populations exists to provide additional support to students who are not succeeding in classes.

   Benchmark Institutions:

   • There are a variety of technological options for providing services at a distance. Cerro Coso provides a full suite of student services completely online.
   • See the compilation of benchmark institutions for a more complete listing of the student services provided at each.
   • Online tutoring is available through a company called Smart Thinking at several institutions, including Cero Coso. Online Writing Centers are also available.

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   Strategic question:
   Should we identify and develop an appropriate set of the current student services that would be available to DE students without coming to one of our colleges or centers?

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3. On-Campus Requirements
   Face-to-face interaction and learning communities are often seen as important elements of a complete educational experience. Many believe that one of the roles of higher education is to give people interpersonal skills and experiences that will help them function in an increasingly complex and diverse world. In the workplace, teamwork, communication and other “soft skills” continue to play an important role. In addition, some feel that in-person orientation may be important to ensure student success in an online course if the student is not already familiar with relevant technology. Lastly, in-person assessment may be important to ensure that distance education students have achieved the learning outcomes as expected. Other institutions take a variety of approaches regarding on-campus activities and requirements, including orientation, proctored exams, residency requirements and other oncampus meetings based on a set of guidelines and best practices.

   There could be a flexible standard for the degree of required on-campus activity that varies according to prior educational experience and educational goal. Another option is for Los Rios to develop on-campus requirements based on the following principles:

   • All students are encouraged to engage in campus life, given the importance of learning community and citizenship value of interacting with a diverse educational community.
   • Students seeking their first degree will be strongly encouraged to take at least 50% of their first year course work on campus.
   • Students seeking a certificate are encouraged to take some classes in face-to-face settings, but can complete certificates incomplete distance mode.

   Comparisons between Los Rios and Benchmark Institutions:

   Los Rios:

   • There are currently either no consistent guidelines about whether distance education programs should have on campus requirements, such as in-person orientations, mandatory, proctored exams, residency requirements or other on-campus meetings or whether activities or guidelines are set at the department level.
   • There is currently no policy about who can enroll in distance education programs based on the length of time that they have been students or their educational goals.

   Benchmark Institutions:

   • Most of the benchmark institutions do not have residency requirements or mandates that distance education students take a minimum number of courses on-campus.
   • North Harris Montgomery and Coastline provide multiple locations that students can select to take proctored exams.
   • One college does require mandatory, proctored exams for every course.
   • Most colleges do not require on-campus orientations or other on-campus meetings for all DE courses although some courses do have such requirements.

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   Strategic question:
   Should there be on-campus requirements (orientations, proctored exams, etc.) for distance education students?

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