Distance LeARning

Procedures for Amending Distance Learning Teaching Eligibility

As the staffing needs of the department change, adjunct faculty members may wish to add distance-learning (DL) course formats to their teaching eligibility when these courses are available for scheduling. The procedures below are used by the department for both determining required training and eligibility to teach distance-learning courses.

Adjunct faculty members interested in amending course teaching eligibility should have a minimum of three current semesters of Student Evaluations in the Very Good/Excellent range. Ratings on the most recent Faculty Evaluation should be in the Very Good or Excellent range for both the Student Evaluations and Instructional Performance. Professional Development should be complete, and the Administrative Performance should be acceptable. Contact the department.

The Adjunct Faculty Member making the request will:

1. Complete the Request to Amend Distance Learning Teaching Eligibility form

2. Attach documentation to support the request, including:

2. 1. ACC student evaluation summary statements from the last three semesters taught and submit to the Department Chair.

   2. Syllabi (current) for distance learning courses taught at other institutions (if applicable)

   3. Most recent student evaluation(s) for distance learning courses taught (if applicable)

   4. Current syllabi for face-to-face version of course currently taught at ACC

   5. Documentation of completed ACC TLED BlackBoard Training (four modules)

   6. Documentation of completed ACC Distance Learning Series Training Modules. (Other required training may be added to this requirement as the college develops its own DL teaching requirements.)

   7. Documentation of any other related training completed outside of ACC (optional)

3. Work with a Faculty Mentor and participate as an observer in the distance-learning course his/she is applying for one semester prior to requesting teaching assignment in e-staffing.

4. Work with a Faculty Mentor to create a “Sample Course” in Blackboard one semester prior to requesting teaching assignment in e-staffing.

5. Be assigned a Faculty Mentor by the department chair who will observe, coach, and serve as a resource during the first semester teaching a distance-learning course. Preferably would be the same faculty member observed, but not required.

The Department Chair will:

1. Notify the applicant upon receipt of the form and documentation.

2. Verify that the interested faculty member is eligible to teach the course requested based on a review of transcripts and other relevant documents.

3. Forward the request and documentation to the Faculty Committee for review and recommendation with timeline for review included.

4. Work with the departmental Administrative Assistant to confirm completion and receipt of documentation of required ACC training.

5. Review the last faculty evaluation results with the Department Chair.

6. Recommend the change to the applicant's eligibility to the Department Chair if approved.

7. Inform the applicant of the committee's decision and assigned mentor is applicable.

After approval, the faculty member is expected to participate in additional distance-learning professional development opportunities that are offered and/or required throughout the year by TLED. Adjunct faculty are eligible to receive professional development for the Bb training courses and any training modules required by TLED.

Assignment of DL sections will follow a round-robin approach with the adjunct faculty member with greatest seniority given first preference at the start of the fall semester. The round-robin sequence will carry over into the spring and summer semesters if sections are available, and then will be reset in the next fall semester.

NOTE: Distance-learning teaching assignments are not guaranteed in any semester during the academic year, regardless of eligibility to teach these courses. Courses are staffed by adjunct faculty on an as-needed basis. If the number of interested eligible adjunct exceeds the number of available mentors, entry into the required training path will be granted based on teaching seniority in the department with HPTH status given consideration.

The Department Chair can make exceptions to these procedures and amend eligibility and/or departmental training mandates for special College needs.