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Policies and Procedures

Course Development and Quality Assurance

In light of FHSU's ever-expanding course offerings via distance education, it is imperative that the quality of such courses be of comparable quality to that of courses offered via face-to-face instruction. For this reason, FHSU's Virtual College has standardized the processes used in developing, reviewing, and revising online course materials developed by FHSU faculty.

Specifically, if FHSU is in need of the development of a specific course, it will initiate a Virtual College Course Development Contract for Quality with specified faculty that will set forth the respective rights and obligations of the parties. This is Pathway I in the course quality process.

In the event FHSU's Virtual College determines that a course previously developed will be sufficient for instructional purposes if certain revisions are made to the course, it will initiate a Virtual College Course Re-Development Contract for Quality Assurance. This Agreement will specify the deliverables that will be required of the Author in order to raise the quality of the course to the level necessary to be offered by FHSU. This is Pathway II in the course quality process.

In the event that faculty developed a course outside of a specific agreement with FHSU, FHSU may request that the faculty member offer the course. In this circumstance, a Virtual College Faculty Self-Produced Course Development Contract for Quality Assurance will be entered into, which in no way will affect the intellectual property or ownership rights of the author, but rather will make provisions regarding the quality of the course prior to its delivery. This is Pathway III in the course quality process.

In all three circumstances, the course materials developed by faculty that are the subject of the agreements will be subjected to FHSU's Quality Assurance Process. This process has been developed by the Provost's Council and will be implemented by FHSU. The Center for Teaching Excellence and Learning Technologies (CTELT) personnel will determine whether the design and technology utilized in developing the course satisfies the standard customary for FHSU courses. CTELT may make recommendations for enhancing the quality of course technology or content. Absent exceptional circumstances, no course will be offered for distance education by FHSU unless it has been subjected to and complies with recommendations made as a result of the Quality Assurance Process. This stipulation is a part of the University’s Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) in partnership with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Submitting a Course Development Proposal

Before submitting a Course Development Proposal the faculty or staff member should discuss the course with the Department Chair. Next the Department Secretary should be asked to submit a Virtual College Course Development and Support Proposal, Redevelopment Proposal or the Quality Assurance Proposal. Step-by-step instructions for submitting the proposal follow:

    1. Open the Virtual College workflow icon in the Lotus Notes workspace. This is the same icon used to submit course approvals.

    2. To begin a new proposal click on the Course Development button in the bottom left corner of the view.

    3. Next click on Course Development, Course Re-development, or Quality Assurance Proposal depending on the nature of your request.

    4. Make sure to complete all fields of the form.

    5. Once the form is completed click on Edit Approver List button; click to highlight “entered when submitted” line, click OK. All “Entered when submitted” lines must be changed to contain an approver’s name. The order of the approver list should be: Course Developer, Department Chair, Academic Dean, Graduate Dean (if applicable), and Director of the Virtual College.

    6. At the "Approver Name" window, click the down arrow (the FHSU Address book will pop up; select the name of the first approver, then click OK. Repeat these steps for all additional approvers. Note: if there is an unused approver slot it must be filled with the name of the Director of the Virtual College (Dennis King).

    7. Now click on Submit for Approval. A message will appear informing the submitter that "Notification has been sent to 1st approver’s name."

    8. The submitter and approvers may check on the status of the course approval as it progresses through the approval process, at any time.

Once the proposal as been approved, the Director of the Virtual College will meet with the Course Developer to sign the Course Development Agreement.

Virtual College Course Development Contract for Quality Assurance

If the Virtual College Course Development and Support Proposal is approved by all approvers the appropriate contract is prepared by the Virtual College Faculty Services Coordinator. The course developer will meet with the Director of the Virtual College to review and sign the contract. The original is kept in the Virtual College and a copy is given to the Developer, Department Chair, Dean of the College, and Graduate Dean if applicable.

Submitting the Virtual College Quality Assurance Completion Form

Once the Course Development or Re-Development is complete the Course Developer asks the Department Secretary to submit a Quality Assurance Completion form. The Department Chair and CTELT Course Development Advisory Committee review the course for quality and then approve the Quality Assurance Form in Lotus Notes. A copy is then forwarded to the Faculty Services Coordinator in the Virtual College. Step-by-step instructions for submitting the form follow:

    1. Open the Virtual College workflow icon in the Lotus Notes workspace. This is the same icon used to submit course approvals.

    2. To begin a new proposal click on the Course Development button in the bottom left corner of the view.

    3. Next click on Quality Assurance Completion.

    4. Make sure to complete all fields of the form.

    5. Once the form is completed click on Edit Approver List button; click to highlight “entered when submitted” line, click OK. All “Entered when submitted” lines must be changed to contain an approver’s name. The order of the approver list should be: Course Developer, Department Chair, Director of CTELT.

    6. At the “Approver Name” window, click the down arrow (the FHSU Address book will pop up; select the name of the first approver, then click OK. Repeat these steps for all additional approvers. Note: if there is an unused approver slot it must be filled with the name of the Director of CTELT (Hong Wang).

    7. Now click on Submit for Approval. A message will appear informing the submitter that “Notification has been sent to 1st approver’s name.”

    8. The submitter and approvers may check on the status of the course approval as it progresses through the approval process, at any time.

Payment

Once the Quality Assurance Completion form has been approved by the Department Chair and the CTELT Course Development Advisory Committee payment will be made during the first semester the course is offered. A payment request is sent to the Personnel Office by the Virtual College Faculty Services Coordinator at the end of the first pay period in the semester the class is offered. Payment will be equally split between two consecutive pay dates. A memo will be sent to the Course Developer giving payment information.

Virtual College Course Approval Form

When offering a course through the Virtual College, a Virtual College Course Approval Form must be submitted. This should be done by the department through which the course will be offered. Submission of the Course Approval Form also triggers the generation of a Virtual College teaching contract. The Office of the Provost will mail the finalized teaching contract to the faculty member and provide payroll forms for new faculty. All courses offered through the Virtual College must go through one of the three Pathways to Quality Assurance.

Book Adoptions

Ordering the textbooks for your class is made easy at the University Bookstore. Simply go to http://www.fhsu.bkstr.com. Then follow the steps below:

    1. Choose the "Faculty Services" tab.

    2. Choose "Online Textbook Adoptions."

    3. Fill out the page to log on. If you have not logged on before, you will be prompted to register. You must register to continue.

    4. Fill out the form with the appropriate course and textbook information.

    5. You will see an order confirmation, which means the bookstore has received your order and will begin processing it.

Media

CTELT handles any media needed for courses that are developed for the Virtual College. They deal with audio/video production, streaming video and duplication of DVD lectures or CD-ROMs. If you are planning to offer a course that requires audio/video production by CTELT a Virtual College Course Development Contract must be signed a minimum of two semesters prior to the first semester the course is to be offered.

If you plan to use pre-produced media in your course CTELT staff can assist with copyright clearance.

Blackboard and Other Access

The Computing and Telecommunications Center (CTC) recommends that the Academic Department Secretary submit a CTC Request for Services to request Blackboard, CICS, and Lotus Notes access for new faculty. If a faculty member needs CICS access from off-campus they should contact the CTC HelpDesk at www.fhsu.edu/ctc/helpdesk/ or at 785-628-5276.

Blackboard Course and Enrollment Management Policy

Tech Support

Tech support for faculty is available through the CTC Helpdesk at www.fhsu.edu/ctc/helpdesk/ or at 785-628-5276 or through CTELT by calling 785-628-4194. Information regarding instructional technology is available on the CTELT Website.