Kentucky Community and Technical College System KCTCS Online Learn on Demand (VLI) Request to Offer Course(s) or Program Phase III

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1 Kentucky Community and Technical College System KCTCS Online Learn on Demand (VLI) Request to Offer Course(s) or Program Phase III The KCTCS President s Leadership Team (PLT) seeks to provide an opportunity for KCTCS colleges to submit a request to develop and offer a course(s) and/or program through KCTCS Online Learn on Demand. KCTCS colleges may submit to be the Lead College. The request should follow KCTCS Online Learn on Demand criteria and instructions as outlined in this document. Requests may be submitted at any time during the year with approval of awards announced in August and December. KCTCS Online Learn on Demand Overview The KCTCS President s Leadership Team (PLT) oversees the operations of KCTCS Online Learn on Demand. KCTCS Online Learn on Demand is established to create a single website where students may receive all of their services and courses online. Courses and programs posted at KCTCS Online Learn on Demand provide students with flexibility and access to expanded educational opportunities. KCTCS Online Learn on Demand is student friendly providing easy access to matriculation within KCTCS, opportunities to rapidly complete their educational goal, and exceptional support for students academic goals and progress toward those goals. The KCTCS Online Learn on Demand is established to reach new markets of students both within and outside Kentucky. KCTCS colleges may submit a request for approval to develop and offer a course(s) and/or program for KCTCS Online Learn on Demand. Among specific criteria outlined below, approval is based on courses and/or programs meeting standards of high quality, attractive to new markets, especially Workforce Solutions, comply with all accreditation standards, and include a strong infrastructure of online student support services. Only KCTCS colleges are eligible to submit a course(s) and programs and must be eligible to offer the KCTCS Online Learn on Demand course(s) and/or program proposed. Under this request, KCTCS is inviting colleges to apply for funding that will be used to develop a course(s) and/or program offered through the Virtual Learning Initiative model and posted on KCTCS Online Learn on Demand. Because the available budget is limited, priority will be given to those projects that, in addition to meeting or exceeding RFP criteria, are most likely to provide the best return on investment. This funding is for the development of the course(s) and/or program. Actual delivery and maintenance of a course(s) and/or programs are supported through the funding model of the VLI. 1

2 VLI Criteria for Development and Delivery of Online Courses and Programs: The VLI has established several principles which will be expected to be applied within the course and/or program offerings and described in the request. A submitted course and/or program must meet the specific criteria listed below. In completing the KCTCS Online Learn on Demand (VLI) Request to Offer a Course(s) and/or Program, please describe how a course(s) and/or program meet the following criteria: 1. The Lead College shall designate a Project Team Leader as being responsible for the ongoing course and/or program review process. 2. The Lead College may also designate a Course Leader for each course developed and offered. This person, along with the Project Team Leader, is responsible for arranging for module facilitators and assuring quality for each module taught within that course. 3. To the extent possible, it is expected that the course and/or program will be delivered 100% online, unless there is ample justification for requiring students to be on site, such as in the case of hands-on labs, clinicals, etc. All proposals must provide justification for every required on- site visit. Whenever possible, visualization and simulation-based learning shall be applied to content. 4. No course may be capped. The submitting Lead College shall provide staffing plans in the request that demonstrate how they will allow courses to be available to as many students as wish to enroll. The plan should address how sectioning, course leadership/oversight, and management will occur. 5. If there are lab requirements deemed to be justified, the Lead College will describe how lab facilities will be provided at multiple locations for Kentuckians and students outside Kentucky. 6. The Lead College will observe Quality Assurance Guidelines for KCTCS Online Learn on Demand courses and programs. 7. All facilitators providing instruction in KCTCS Online Learn on Demand must participate in the KCTCS Online Learn on Demand Quality Certification training and pass the certification test before being assigned to teach in KCTCS Online Learn on Demand. 8. Course(s), program, and faculty will meet all SACS criteria. 9. Proposals shall not have to include developmental/remedial courses, but requests may include how some remediation may be embedded in program courses to assist the student s readiness to succeed in the course. 10. All courses shall be offered utilizing competency-based, open-entry, modularized, instruction. 2

3 11. All courses shall include an assessment component, assessing learning outcomes, such as, but not limited to, a pre-test and post-test as well as summative and formative assessment techniques. 12. The Lead College shall establish a course review process that includes review and refinement of course components, functionality, and monitoring of faculty/student engagement (based on quality assurance criteria) that shall be conducted more than once during each term the course is delivered. 13. Programs shall provide the minimum number of courses required to complete the degree in the interest of speeding students to degree completion. 14. Requests shall include a budget for the development of the course and/or program appropriate to the proposed scope of work. 15. Request shall include a budget for the delivery and maintenance of the course and/or program. 16. The delivery and maintenance of the project budget shall describe how the project will be sustainable and a return-on-investment analysis. Eligibility Only KCTCS colleges are eligible to submit requests to be a Lead College. The request shall be signed and submitted by the president of the Lead College. Request Evaluation A committee selected by the Chancellor will review proposals and make recommendations. Evaluation will be made on the basis of the following general criteria: Compliance with KCTCS Online Learn on Demand criteria 1 through 16. Evidence of market demand for program option. Sustainability and return on investment of program. Flexibility of delivery to accommodate diverse learning styles, i.e. interactivity, student engagement, use of simulation/visualization and gaming technologies, etc. 3

4 Other criteria to be used in evaluation will include: The provision to embed remediation within coursework, where appropriate. The length of time/number of courses required to complete the degree - less being better. Responsibilities of Colleges and KCTCS Online Learn on Demand Central Services The PLT has established responsibilities of the KCTCS Online Learn on Demand infrastructure of services to students, faculty, and staff. The full document approved by the PLT may be found in Appendix A. This document is meant to be a guideline only, and the PLT expects to be refining the structure and processes of the KCTCS Online Learn on Demand as the initiative unfolds. In creating a Request, the Lead College should take into account the scope of their responsibilities for the development and delivery of the program, and the support they will receive from infrastructure services. KCTCS Online Learn on Demand Central Services These services will be provided by the KCTCS Online Learn on Demand, funded from grants to KCTCS and from the business model of the KCTCS Online Learn on Demand. o Program and course development funding o Blackboard License o KCTCS Online Learn on Demand Website development and management o Online student services to include: Application; registration; skills assessment, where appropriate; help desk; financial aid application and assistance; library; bookstore; communications between faculty, students, and staff; estimated cost calculation; estimated financial aid calculation; tuition and fee payments; all functionalities of Blackboard and PeopleSoft for account and information management; KCTCS Online Learn on Demand website orientation course to assist success in Online courses; Blackboard orientation; first and second level academic advising (written information, general information delivered via phone or chat); program and course information; and contact information. o Coordination from KCTCS System staff o Call Center/Help Desk o Faculty training 4

5 o Course module Quality Assurance design assistance o Modularization - Open Entry design assistance o Simulation and visualization design assistance o Marketing o Assistance in faculty recruitment o IT support Lead College Responsibilities An approved a Lead College will be responsible for the offering of superior online courses through the Blackboard Academic Suite and delivering them with highly trained, qualified and sufficient faculty. The program requirements will provide every course in modular fashion and will provide the staffing and other pedagogical elements for permitting open entry/closed exit access to students. The Lead College for course(s) and/or program will provide appropriate copy to Web services management for information on degrees, courses, and student services. It will also be responsible for all academic services to students, and student services to students of the KCTCS Online Learn on Demand who elect to come to campus for their service. The Lead College has responsibility with KCTCS Online Learn on Demand for advising, awarding and delivering financial aid, and for receiving tuition and fee payments. Before submitting the Request, the Lead College must identify content providers (publishers and others) who have agreed to deliver Required eresources (econtent) on demand seamlessly integrated in Blackboard so that all learning resources are available immediately for student. The Lead College will provide some level two and three advising through the KCTCS Online Learn on Demand Virtual Advising Centers organized in Blackboard ecommunity and will support providing specific information regarding program requirements, courses to take, and other information and help to students usually provided by faculty or academic advisors on campus. This help may involve advisors/faculty being available occasionally by phone, Instant Message chat, or a scheduled video conference live meeting through the KCTCS Online Learn on Demand Virtual Advising Centers. The Lead College will be responsible for quality assurance in the development and delivery of courses and programs, including quality assurance course certification funding in the delivery budget, and will abide by the quality assurance guidelines and standards established by the PLT. The Lead College will be responsible for all reporting required by KCTCS and CPE. The Lead College will designate a single point of contact for liaison with KCTCS. 5

6 Request Proposal Guidelines The following template is provided for KCTCS Online Learn on Demand (VLI) Request to Offer Course(s) and/or Program as a guideline. Please follow the template closely for the Cover page and its information. Respondents are welcome to edit the other parts of the template as best suits their program request. Please use Times New Roman, 12pt. type. I. Cover Page: a. Proposed Courses and/or Program b. Lead College c. Lead College s Team Leader d. Chief Academic Officer of Lead College f. Phone and Fax Information g. Brief Description of Program (~150 words) II. Signature page(s) with Lead College president s signature 6

7 Proposal Guidelines Cont d III. Proposal Narrative 1. Describe the Project Structure o For Program Project: Title of degree program with designated option List of courses and credit hours within degree program with appropriate designation, i.e. general education requirement, core, and option, credit hours, pre-requisites if any o For Course(s) Project Only: Title of course(s) and course description List of course(s) and credit hours and applicability toward degree program requirement with appropriate designation, i.e. general education requirement, core, and option, credit hours, pre-requisites if any 2. Describe how diverse learning styles will be addressed, i.e. interactivity, faculty/student engagement, use of simulation/visualization, and other technologies. 3. Describe how each course will have assessment of student learning outcomes and how these outcomes will be reported. 4. Describe other aspects of the project as appropriate. 5. Using research into local and national information, describe the market demand for the project proposed and why this option may have more demand than others. Employment information, employment vacancy, online and onsite student enrollment may all be included in market demand analysis. 6. Name the Lead College s Project Team Leader who will be responsible for quality assurance in the course(s) and/or program. 7. Describe the plan for staffing to allow for unlimited enrollment. 8. Provide a budget and budget narrative for development of the course(s) and/or program. 9. Content Provider decision before submission of request 10. Describe how Course Developers will be provided full release time to complete all modules in a parent course(s) to be available at least on a pilot basis the following term after the Request approval notice. 11. Budget should include funding request for adjunct faculty replacement costs at $1,500 per course release to cover full release time for Course Developer. For programs where 7

8 instructors are scarce and full release time is not possible, Lead Colleges may identify a qualified Course Developer from an external resource. 12. Provide a budget and budget narrative for the delivery of the program. 13. Provide a sustainability and return-on-investment analysis for the proposed program delivery budget. 14. Provide an estimate of the number of faculty who will need KCTCS Online Learn on Demand course development, design assistance, and training in Online teaching for the purposes of KCTCS Online Learn on Demand faculty support services planning. KCTCS Online Learn on Demand (VLI) Request to Offer Course(s) or Program Additional Requirements The PLT reserves the right to make additional requirements and ask for revisions from those institutions submitting requests. Approved requests must also abide by the following additional requirements That all development and delivery of a course(s) shall abide by KCTCS Online Learn on Demand guidelines; That the Lead College shall submit reports as requested by PLT; That the Lead College abide by intellectual property laws and System policy. 8

9 Program Monitoring Deliverables associated with each project will be monitored by the Office of the Chancellor and Technology Solutions. Questions should be directed to Dr. Jay Box, Chancellor KCTCS 300 North Main Street Versailles, KY Office: OR Dr. Sandy Cook System Director Distance Learning KCTCS 300 North Main Street Versailles, KY Office:

10 Appendix A: PLT Guidelines for the Virtual Learning Initiative Model KCTCS Virtual Learning Initiative Based on principles developed by the Program and Resources RAMP Teams I. Basic Elements The KCTCS Virtual Learning Initiative (KCTCS ONLINE LEARN ON DEMAND) is a systemwide initiative whose oversight is vested in the KCTCS President s Leadership Team. The KCTCS ONLINE LEARN ON DEMAND will authorize complete programs offered Online (certificate, diploma, or degree). These Online programs will be developed and delivered following best practice guidelines developed by the KCTCS ONLINE LEARN ON DEMAND. The processes of the KCTCS Online Learn on Demand will include the following: Colleges may continue current online offerings independently of the KCTCS Online Learn on Demand. The KCTCS Online Learn on Demand will develop a request for proposals process to solicit proposals from KCTCS colleges in and thereafter. The Lead College will have ultimate responsibility for providing and managing the delivery of the program. Once authorized by the KCTCS Online Learn on Demand, the Lead College will receive a nonrecurring grant to develop the program for implementation. Tuition (and any course charges) revenue for each KCTCS Online Learn on Demand program will be credited to the KCTCS Online Learn on Demand account to be disbursed as follows: Pay the cost of infrastructure services. Pay for grants for development of program and/or courses. Pay the Lead College the cost of delivery by instructors for the program based on a budget recommended annually by the KCTCS Online Learn on Demand. Pay the Lead College a recurring additional allocation based on a budget recommended annually by the KCTCS Online Learn on Demand. Allocate net revenue from the KCTCS Online Learn on Demand to all the KCTCS colleges through the funding model. Colleges must have program approval for KCTCS Online Learn on Demand programs to be a college in which students register for the program and from whom students receive their degree/certificate/diploma. 10

11 II. Responsibilities of Lead College The Lead College receives: a nonrecurring grant for development of the program, an instructional budget for the delivery of the program, and an additional allocation for the program(s) which they develop and deliver. The Lead College will create a return on investment (ROI) plan as part of its response to an Request, that shows how the program and/or courses(s) will be self-sustaining and generate net revenue. The Lead College will participate in revenue sharing of net tuition revenue as do other colleges. The Lead College will ensure there is enough faculty for its program delivery so that enrollments in any course will not be capped. The Lead College will recruit faculty for its program. The Lead College will decide, based on resources, the number of students per instructionally-facilitated section. The Lead College will be responsible for program/course reviews and revisions through regular college/system processes. The Lead College will implement best practice guidelines developed by the KCTCS Online Learn on Demand. III. Responsibilities of VLI Infrastructure Services Faculty training and support Training in quality assurance Review of best practices implementation to assist in quality assurance Software contracts, e.g., Blackboard, Customer Resource Management Website construction and maintenance; and integration with PeopleSoft Front door website with electronic student services i.e. admission, registration, enrollment, schedules, cost calculators, help desk, advising, etc. Grant-making for program development and delivery Call center and help desk IT design and support Outsource services as appropriate, e.g., tutoring, advising, Web design Marketing of programs and for faculty recruitment 11