Online Course Policies

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Course Development and Quality

Academic colleges and departments are responsible for managing the assignment of faculty to both teach and design online courses. Similarly, they are responsible for ensuring the quality of the courses and the content within. This includes the institutional and governmental best practices for online courses (some of which are included in subsidiary policies referred to below). Faculty should use available resources, including the online course development checklist, when designing course content.

The Instructional Support department is responsible for training and assisting faculty to meet the best practices described above as well as to ensure competency in using online resources, such as our learning management system (Blackboard Learn), video storage and distribution systems (Panopto), online proctoring service (SmarterProctoring), etc.

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Course Merge Policy

In order to prevent violations of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), UAFS will only merge together online course shells in which students regularly meet simultaneously and in the same location (cross-listed courses, some concurrent credit and WATC courses, etc.) or have periodic simultaneous meetings (ensembles, etc.).

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Online Course Definitions Policy

UAFS offers different types of courses that meet online or use the online learning management system: full online, synchronous online, hybrid, and web-enhanced. These course types are specifically defined by policy. A general list and descriptions can be found on the Online Course Options page.

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Online Course Retention Policy

Online courses in the learning management system will be kept live in the system for a period of two (2) years following the assignment of final grades for all coursework. Courses older than two years will be removed from the live system. Course production shells will be archived after the completion of the course and stored for a period of five (5) years, after which they will be removed.

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Approval Policy for Blackboard Learn Integrations

• Blackboard integrations are connections to external systems (online proctor, publishers, etc.) that can be added to Blackboard Learn to provide additional functionality. Faculty interested in integrations should first review the official UAFS policy regarding the use of such teaching tools.
• Faculty must submit a Building Block Request Formbefore installation. Should you have questions please contact our Instructional Support Office at InstructionalSupport@uafs.edu. The Building Block Approval Policy is also available for your review.