Academic & Student Services

Academic Program Planning & Review

SUBMITTING REQUESTS TO OFFER
EXISTING DEGREE PROGRAMS BY DISTANCE EDUCATION

Attachment B

UWS PROGRAM SPECIFIC DISTANCE EDUCATION REQUEST

A. PLAN TO CONVERT AN EXISTING ACADEMIC PROGRAM TO DISTANCE EDUCATION DELIVERY

1. PROGRAM IDENTIFICATION
1.1 Title of Program
1.2 Department or Functional Equivalent
1.3 College, School, or Functional Equivalent
1.4 Explain whether the distance education degree program will replace the residential on campus program, or be offered in addition to the existing program.
2. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND EVALUATION
2.1 Appropriate technology and Instructional Design: Discuss why the technology used is appropriate and consistent with the nature and objectives of the program. Discuss how the faculty will ensure that instructional design appropriate to the content, student population and technology is employed.
2.2 Student Orientation: Discuss how students will be informed about expectations of the program and technical requirements that they must meet. Describe any plans for assessing student readiness for a distance education program.
2.3 Curriculum: Discuss how the program will provide timely and appropriate interaction both among students and between students and faulty. Explain how the institution will ensure quality in cases where it uses "third party" products (e.g., purchased modules, specialized software, outsourcing program components).
2.4 Method of Assessment or Evaluation: Describe how the institution will evaluate the educational effectiveness of the program. Explain how student leaning outcomes and student retention will be assessed. Describe how the institution will assess student satisfaction with such things as faculty accessibility, access to advising, computing services, library services, etc.
B. DESCRIPTION OF NEEDS AND RESOURCES
  1. Regional, State and National Needs: Provide specific/detailed market data indicating the program's potential for success. (Where appropriate, cite data from organizations such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics and/or professional associations). Drawing on these data explain the reasons for offering this program through distance education. Discuss estimated future employment opportunities for graduates of this program. Provide documentation (e.g., relevant state regulations, employer policy) to support any special need for this program expressed by state agencies, industry, research centers, or other educational institutions.
  2. Student Demand--Future Enrollment: Provide projections for anticipated enrollment and number of degrees to be granted for each of the first five years. Provide information concerning the existence of any other distance education programs in this academic area available to your students.
  3. Collaboration: Discuss the possibility of offering the proposed, or an equivalent, program collaboratively with another institution.
  4. Costing Methodology: If the tuition/cost for this program differs from the regular undergraduate or graduate tuition, indicate how tuition/fees will be established and which financial and administrative policies pertain.
  5. Commitment to Maintain Program: Describe how the institution will ensure that appropriate faculty, equipment, facilities, technical expertise and financial planning exist to sustain the program over time. Describe how faculty will be provided training and on-going support for teaching in the distance environment Explain how the institution will inform students of stipulations or conditions regarding offering of courses in the program.
  6. Student services: Will this program be providing student services and services for individuals with disabilities in the manner described in your institution-level distance education document? Is the existing capacity sufficient to meet the increased student demand created by this program?