Course Delivery Terminology

4160.1 Introduction

The consistent use of terminology concerning online courses and programs is critical for meeting compliance requirements, reporting to accreditors, and providing clear and effective information to students.

4160.2 Course Types

Fully Online/No Set Meet Time (asynchronous) - an online course where 100%* of the direct faculty-led instruction is delivered in an asynchronous instruction mode. Students do not need to be on campus for any portion of the course work, homework/independent student preparatory work or evaluation. Instruction and interaction occur through the internet, such as via the university-managed Learning Management System (LMS). Day and time are not listed in the course schedule.  Assessment, including quizzes and exams, may have "due by" dates.  If a comprehensive final exam is administered in the course, there must be a minimum 24-hour window of time available to students to avoid potential conflicts with other fully online/no set meet time courses.  Students will not be expected to take an exam during weekend or holiday periods, although assignments, including exams, may be due during those times (as long as the completion window includes non-weekend or non-holiday time as well).

Fully Online/Set Meet Time (synchronous) - an online course where 100%* of the direct faculty-led instruction is delivered online with synchronous instructional meetings required. Students do not need to be on campus for any portion of the course work, homework/independent student preparatory work, or evaluation. Instruction and interaction occur through the internet. Set meeting days and times, such as via the university-managed LMS and online course meeting tools are listed in the course schedule.  Assessment, including final exams, may have set meet times.  If a comprehensive final exam is administered in a course with a set meet time, the university time blocks for final exams will be followed.

Mostly Online - an online course where 80%-99%* of direct faculty instruction and/or evaluation is delivered online, in either synchronous or asynchronous mode. Students are required to be physically present on campus for no more than 20%* of the course contact hours. Most instruction and interaction, as well as most homework or independent student preparatory work, occurs online, such as via the university-managed LMS, utilizing either synchronous or asynchronous instruction modes. Day and time are listed in the course schedule for all synchronous online and/or on-campus meeting times.

Partially Online - a course where direct, instructor-led component and/or assessment is 20% - 79%* online. This classification exists to allow the faculty to seek approval of course content for potential substantial online instruction and to inform students that a particular course offering will include a substantial online direct instructional component and/or evaluation.

Face-to-Face - a course that is offered with direct faculty-student interaction occurring primarily in person. May include some online instruction and/or evaluation (not to exceed 20%*).

Flexible Participation Mode - a course that allows student participation choice for synchronous/asynchronous based on the instructor's course delivery mode.  The instructor delivery mode could be:

  • Fully Online/Set Meet Time (synchronous) with a fully asynchronous participation option (D1C);
  • Mostly Online with a fully asynchronous participation option (D2C); 
  • Partially Online with a fully asynchronous participation option (D3C);
  • Face-to-Face/Online Participation Choice - a course with set meet times with an asynchronous/synchronous participation option, in which students may choose to take the instructor-led portions of the course in a face-to-face setting, or by using distance technology (D5).

*The percentage of online and face-to-face instruction is determined by the number of contact hours each method utilizes relative to the number of contact hours for the entire course.

Coding for Courses Based on Delivery Method
ATTRIBUTE DESCRIPTION ADDITIONAL ATTRIBUTES WITH REMOTE OPTION(S)

DESCRIPTION

D1A Fully Online/No Set Meet Time

n/a

n/a
D1S Fully Online/Set Meet Time D1C Online/Meet Time Optional 
D2 Mostly Online D2C Mostly Online/Remote Option
D3 Partially Online D3C Partially Online/Remote Option
D4 Face-to-Face n/a n/a
    D5 In-Person/Remote Option

Set meeting days and times, such as via the University-managed LMS and online course meeting tools are listed in the course schedule.  Any assessments for students using asynchronous options will adhere to the assessment window requirements described for asynchronous course delivery modes.

One year from approval by the Faculty Senate and Provost, this mode will be assessed for its efficacy in delivering stated learning outcomes to students utilizing both modes of delivery.