A faculty member can request to offer an SVSU course in the online or hybrid format using the “Online/Hybrid Course Plan.” The plan requires a clear description of how the course content will be delivered effectively in the asynchronous format, with specific examples of tools and methods to facilitate active online learning, as well as a programmatic rationale for online or hybrid delivery. Sample course plans are available for both hybrid and online courses to serve as a general guide.
The Course Plan is filled out the first time the course is offered in an asynchronous format and must be signed by the department chair (including a departmental vote) and the dean of the appropriate college. The course plan is ultimately approved by the Provost or his designee. Once a course is approved, it can be scheduled in either the hybrid or online format, pending administrative scheduling needs.
The submission dates for online/hybrid course plans are:
• Oct. 1 for Spring/Summer courses
• Nov. 1 for the following Fall/Winter academic year courses
The forms can be accessed in the SVSU VSpace site called “Online/Hybrid Instructors” under Resources.
Faculty may be approved for online/hybrid teaching in three ways :
1. Successful completion of SVSU Professional Development Course
This is the preferred route to teaching online at SVSU. The SVSU course professional development course has been designed to meet the standards and expectations for this University. Once a faculty member has completed the training courses, they must submit a “Faculty Application to Teach Online Classes” which can be accessed in the SVSU VSpace site called “Online/Hybrid Instructors” under Resources.
2. Approval by a review panel
This option is for faculty who can demonstrate prior success at teaching online and proficiency in online course design. The procedures for the panel review are described below.
3. Provisional temporary approval by VPAA office
This is a temporary approval made in extenuating circumstances, usually for experienced individuals hired too late to complete the SVSU training or panel review prior to the start of a semester.
Once a faculty member has been approved by completing the professional development course or by the review panel process, she/he is eligible to teach any online or hybrid course within his/her professional expertise and pending scheduling approval by the administration.
In this course, faculty members will learn about the best practices of teaching online and hybrid courses. The course focuses on the best ways to design, assess, and create and/or select interactive learning activities for an online or hybrid course and how these items differ from an on-ground course. This course also touches upon the concepts of Universal Design for online and hybrid courses and how to build community in the online and hybrid space, which is vital if your students are to remain engaged and interested in your content.
This course is not a VSpace course. While VSpace is used for delivering the material, it is not course on how to use the tool itself. (Faculty members who wish to take the professional development course must complete the VSpace training course and the VSpace Tools for Online Teaching and Learning course prior to this professional development course.) The professional development course will not cover learning how to create tests, modules, or blogs in this course. Instead, it focuses on the proper pedagogical use of these tools within an online or a hybrid course and when each of these items might be appropriate. Faculty members will re-design one of their courses from start to finish and end the course with a preliminary design for a course that they will teach, either as an online or a hybrid course.
A faculty member can request a panel review to obtain approval to teach online if (s)he can demonstrate prior success at teaching online and proficiency in online course design. An application form is available in the SVSU VSpace site called “Online/Hybrid Instructors” under Resources.
The review panel will be composed of three members. Two will be appointed by the FA president and one by the Provost. Both FA appointments will be Faculty who have taught several online/hybrid courses at SVSU, and whenever possible, minimum of 1 Faculty member will be from the applicant’s college. A Yes vote by majority of the panel members will result in applicant being on “master roster” of approved faculty; a No vote will result in applicant needing to take the SVSU course for approval.
At the time of application, the faculty member must provide evidence of prior successful online teaching experience and knowledge of best practices in online education. While there is no “template” for a successful review, the panel will be looking for sufficient competence in three general areas: course design; course assessment; and interactivity.
It is required that a faculty member provide examples of on-line content including sample modules from an online or hybrid course developed by the faculty member. These materials must demonstrate course design and assessment consistent with current best practices and appropriate interactivity. In addition, faculty members may provide additional evidence such as additional course materials as desired, professional development credentials, and student evaluations.
1. The faculty member submits an application, electronically and simultaneously, to the Provost/VPAA office, department Chair and Dean. Within 7 days the Chair and the Dean will, in writing, convey, to the Provost/VPAA whether they endorse the application.
2. Upon receipt of the application, the Provost / VPAA office will notify the Faculty Association President. Within 7 days , the Provost / VPAA and FA President will announce their appointments to the review panel.
3. Once the review panel has been assembled, the appointed members will elect a Chair of the panel. The Chair will consult with the applicant to schedule an agreeable time / date / location for the applicant to meet with the panel to demonstrate the course content and review the merits of the application based upon the relevant evidence. This meeting should take place within 21 days following submission of the application.
4. The review panel should inform the applicant, the Department Chair, and the respective Dean of its decision within 7 days following the review meeting.
• Decision of the panel is not grievable.
• NOTE: The maximum amount of time for this review to occur, from its beginning to the culmination, is 28 days.
Once a course is fully approved it can be included in the regular course schedules that departments submit to their Dean. The following information must be included in the schedule at that time in order for the courses to be listed in Cardinal Direct:
• Dates and times of all face-to-face class meetings
• The name of the instructor (who has completed online/hybrid training)
Online and hybrid courses cannot be listed in Cardinal Direct with ‘Staff’ as the instructor.
