Attending: Ann Miller, Brad Reed, Cecelia Green, Jane Salisbury, Kathy Clifton, Ken Knapke, Linda Verceles, Mary Beth Aust-Keefer, Sharon Brown

Not attending: Janice Michael, Denny Myers

Unless I hear otherwise, these are the recommendations I will take to the CQI Steering Committee Oct. 12:

In the interests of optimizing the online course experience for both students and instructors, minimizing problems with access and interface while maximizing support services, we recommend a standardized platform, with room for variation when required. We recommend new online courses be constructed in Blackboard, and existing online courses undergoing extensive revisions be shifted to Blackboard, unless there is a compelling and documentable reason to do otherwise.

We recommend that in addition to common standard syllabus items, the following be addressed in the syllabus for each online course:

1) At the outset of the course, the instructor must employ some means of identifying students needing intervention, and providing students a self-assessment with which to determine their fitness for online learning, within the refund period.

2) Specific expectations and timelines should be explicit

3) Attendance policy should be explained (what does it mean to be "here")

4) Any special, specific software or hardware requirements for the course

5) Evaluation methods and Academic Honesty statements should specifically address the online environment

6) Communication parameters should be included in Part II

Also, the syllabus should be

• available to students prior to their enrollment in the course

• be available in a downloadable, printable format (PDF)

• designed to minimize scrolling in order to facilitate online reading

We recommend that an end-of-course survey be required for each online course.

With CQI Steering Committee approval, implementation is to begin immediately effective October 12. New online course are already being directed to Blackboard via ITS. Existing courses will be adjusted as appropriate. We recommend the primary implementation be handled through the deans, each addressing opportunities and concerns relevant to their charges.

Measurable indicators include:

1) Analysis of problem calls from students (ITS tracks now)

2) Completion rate of students enrolled in online courses

3) The number of online sections

4) The number of online instructors

5) Student satisfaction surveys (evaluation of course)

6) Instructor satisfaction survey (to be designed)