Louisiana State University and A&M College

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  2. COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION
  3. PART 1. Signatures Attesting to Compliance
  4. PART 2. List of Substantive Changes Approved Since the Last Reaffirmation
  5. PART 3. Institutional Assessment of Compliance
    1. Section 2: Core Requirements
      1. 2.1 Degree-granting Authority
      2. 2.2 Governing Board
      3. 2.3 Chief Executive Officer
      4. 2.4 Institutional Mission
      5. 2.5 Institutional Effectiveness
        1. 2.5 Institutional Effectiveness (Continued)
      6. 2.6 Continuous Operation
      7. 2.7.1 Program Length
        1. 2.7.1 Program Length (Continued)
      8. 2.7.2 Program Content
      9. 2.7.3 General Education
      10. 2.7.4 Course work for Degrees
      11. 2.8 Faculty
      12. 2.9 Learning Resources and Services
      13. 2.10 Student Support Services
        1. 2.10 Student Support Services (Continued)
      14. 2.11.1 Financial Resources
      15. 2.11.2 Physical Resources
    2. Section 3: Comprehensive Standards
      1. 3.1.1 Mission
      2. 3.2.1 CEO evaluation/selection
      3. 3.2.2 Governing board control
      4. 3.2.3 Board conflict of interest
      5. 3.2.4 External Influence
      6. 3.2.5 Board dismissal
      7. 3.2.6 Board/administration distinction
      8. 3.2.7 Organizational structure
      9. 3.2.8 Qualified administrative/academic officers
      10. 3.2.9 Personnel appointment
      11. 3.2.10 Administrative staff evaluations
      12. 3.2.11 Control of intercollegiate athletics
      13. 3.2.12 Fund-raising activities
      14. 3.2.13 Institution-related entities
      15. 3.2.14 Intellectual property rights
      16. 3.3.1 Institutional Effectiveness
        1. 3.3.1.1
          1. 3.3.1.1 (Continued)
        2. 3.3.1.2
        3. 3.3.1.3
          1. 3.3.1.3 (Continued)
        4. 3.3.1.4
          1. 3.3.1.4 (Continued)
        5. 3.3.1.5
          1. 3.3.1.5 (Continued)
      17. 3.4.1 Academic program approval
      18. 3.4.2 Continuing education/service programs
      19. 3.4.3 Admissions policies
      20. 3.4.4 Acceptance of academic credit
      21. 3.4.5 Academic policies
      22. 3.4.6 Practices for awarding credit
      23. 3.4.7 Consortial relationships/contractual agreements
      24. 3.4.8 Noncredit to credit
      25. 3.4.9 Academic support services
        1. 3.4.9 (Continued)
        2. 3.4.9 (Continued - 2)
      26. 3.4.10 Responsibility for curriculum
      27. 3.4.11 Academic program coordination
      28. 3.4.12 Technology use
      29. 3.5.1 General education competencies
      30. 3.5.2 Institutional credits for a degree
      31. 3.5.3 Undergraduate program requirements
      32. 3.5.4 Terminal degrees of faculty
      33. 3.6.1 Post-baccalaureate program rigor
        1. 3.6.1 Post-baccalaureate program rigor (Continued)
      34. 3.6.2 Graduate curriculum
      35. 3.6.3 Institutional credits for a graduate degree
      36. 3.6.4 Post-baccalaureate program requirements
      37. 3.7.1 Faculty competence
      38. 3.7.2 Faculty evaluation
      39. 3.7.3 Faculty development
      40. 3.7.4 Academic freedom
      41. 3.7.5 Faculty role in governance
      42. 3.8.1 Learning/information resources
      43. 3.8.2 Instruction of library use
      44. 3.8.3 Qualified staff
      45. 3.9.1 Student rights
      46. 3.9.2 Student records
      47. 3.9.3 Qualified staff
      48. 3.10.1 Financial Stability
      49. 3.10.2 Financial aid audits
      50. 3.10.3 Control of finances
      51. 3.10.4 Control of sponsored research/external funds
      52. 3.11.1 Control of physical resources
      53. 3.11.2 Institutional environment
      54. 3.11.3 Physical facilities
      55. 3.12.1 Substantive change
      56. 3.13 Policy compliance
        1. 3.13.1 "Accrediting Decisions of Other Agencies"
        2. 3.13.2. "Collaborative Academic Arrangements: Policy and Procedures"
        3. 3.13.3. "Complaint Procedures Against the Commission or Its Accredited Institutions"
        4. 3.13.4. "Reaffirmation of Accreditation and Subsequent Reports"
          1. 3.13.4.a.
          2. 3.13.4.b.
      57. 3.14.1 Publication of accreditation status
      58. 3.13.5. "Separate Accreditation for Units of a Member Institution"
        1. 3.13.5.a.
        2. 3.13.5.b.
    3. Section 4: Federal Requirements
      1. 4.1 Student Achievement
      2. 4.2 Program curriculum
        1. 4.2 Program curriculum (Continued)
      3. 4.3 Publication of policies
      4. 4.4 Program length
        1. 4.4 Program length (Continued)
      5. 4.5 Student complaints
      6. 4.6 Recruitment materials
      7. 4.7 Title IV program responsibilities
      8. 4.8 Distance and correspondence education
        1. 4.8.1
        2. 4.8.2
        3. 4.8.3
      9. 4.9 Definition of credit hours
  6. PART 4. Institutional Summary Form Prepared for Commission Reviews
  7. FOCUSED REPORT
  8. QUALITY ENHANCEMENT PLAN (QEP)

3.13.4.a.

Applicable Policy Statement

An institution includes a review of its distance learning programs in the Compliance Certification.

Compliance Status

Louisiana State University and A&M College is in compliance with this principle.

Narrative

Louisiana State University and A&M College (LSU) complies with the policy of the Commission on Colleges as it applies to review of its distance learning programs. LSU currently has limited distance education degree programs, and these are all graduate-level degree programs. The five online degree programs are

  • The Master of Business Administration;
  • The Master of Science in Construction Management (a new degree program in the College of Engineering);
  • The Master of Science in Human Resource Education (the legacy programs that now offers a 100% online degree program option through AP);
  • The Master of Arts in Education with a specialization in Higher Education Administration; and
  • Master of Education in Educational Leadership.

As demonstrated in the compliance certificate for Federal Requirement 4.8, LSU carefully addresses several important aspects of the delivery of distance education. The discussion in 4.8.1 demonstrates that LSU uses (1) secure, unique login and pass codes for students participating in distance education courses, (2) proctored examination locations that have been reviewed and approved by LSU and (3) emerging technology to verify student identification. In Federal Requirement 4.8.2, there is evidence that LSU protects the rights of distance education students and ensures the privacy and accuracy of education records. As noted in Federal Requirement 4.8.3, LSU distance education programs identify for prospective and current students all tuition, fees, and projected additional charges associated with a particular course or program.

In terms of development, content, and expectations, distance-learning courses and curricula are treated similarly to their on-campus counterparts. All new courses and curricula are critically examined by the Faculty Senate Courses and Curricula Committee before they can be approved [1].  Distance education curricula and courses must meet the same criteria as they relate to faculty competency and student learning outcomes as those taught on the LSU campus in a traditional classroom/laboratory setting.  As noted in the compliance certificate for Comprehensive Standard 3.3.1.1, LSU ensures that all of its programs assess expected outcomes, analyze the results and use the results to improve the program. The University Review and Assessment Council (URAC) [2], as part of their ongoing review of schools and departments, also reviews distance learning curricula/courses when the school/department housing them is reviewed.

The technology infrastructure and resources provide distance-learning students access to campus resources, including the LSU libraries [3], which has specific distance education resources [4]; support services, such as the university’s course platform, Moodle [5]; and training to use the services. Specific library services [4] are available to faculty to help assure that their distance/independent learning courses have access to Adobe Connect or compressed video presentations about appropriate library resources, assistance with acquiring library materials in electronic format, and assistance with interpreting copyright services.  Faculty and students also have access to a distance education Web page [6] that has detailed information about library services and the procedures for accessing them, to a distance education librarian or coordinator to assist with problems, to subject librarians/specialists to assist with research, and to a list of all subject librarians. Subject guides can be accessed from this online page or by subject under A-Z on the LSU Libraries Web page. LSU Libraries’ circulating collections are accessible via document delivery, and a form to request materials is available. Circulating collections of other Louisiana academic libraries (including the site library on the campus where instruction is received) may be accessed by using a LALINC borrowing card, which can be requested.  Interlibrary loan services for in-state students are accessible at site libraries under the LALINC borrowing agreement. A toll-free number (1-800-364-7678) is available for the exclusive use of distance education students. Additional information on the use of technological resources to enhance the learning opportunities of distance students are covered in Comprehensive Standard 3.4.12.

File Attachments:
  1. [1] LSU Faculty Senate Courses and Curriculum Committee [1] LSU Faculty Senate Courses and Curriculum Committee
  2. [2] University Review and Assessment Council [2] University Review and Assessment Council
  3. [3] LSU Libraries [3] LSU Libraries
  4. [4] LSU Libraries Distance Education Resource [4] LSU Libraries Distance Education Resource
  5. [5] LSU Moodle [5] LSU Moodle
  6. [6] LSU Libraries: Division of Continuing Education [6] LSU Libraries: Division of Continuing Education
Author: Stephenie Franks
Last modified: 7/1/2015 8:33 AM (EDT)