ACADEMIC & STUDENT AFFAIRS ITEMS

Montana University System

November 19-20, 1998

MONTANA UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

• ITEM 18-002-R1077 (REVISION of Board of Regents' Policy 301)

• ITEM 30-006-R0281 (REVISION of Board of Regents' Policy 303.6)

• ITEM 60-004-R0788 (REVISION of Board of Regents' Policy 303.7)

BOARD ACTION:   Move ITEM 18-002-R1077 to Action Agenda for January 28-29, 1999 meeting.

Board policy:

1. This policy does not apply to Colleges of Technology and Community Colleges.

2. Units Campuses will adhere to the non-discrimination policy contained in Section 703 of the Policy and Procedures Manual.

3. Units Campuses may establish a cut-off date for the submission of complete credentials for admission, and any applicant who does not submit a complete application by that date may be required to delay entrance until a subsequent semester.

4. The High School Equivalency Certificate based on the G.E.D. (General Educational Development) examination may be used to satisfy the requirement of high school graduation.

a.  A High School Equivalency Diploma based on the G.E.D. (General Educational Development) examination; or

b.  Satisfactory performance on either the ACT (American College Testing program) Asset or COMPASS examinations, for students who complete their secondary education through home schooling or at unaccredited secondary schools,

c.  Standards for "satisfactory performance" on the ACT examinations shall be recommended by the admitting institution and approved by the Board of Regents. These scores shall not fall below scores which the U. S. Department of Education has published through the Federal Register as indicative of a student’s "ability-to-benefit" from post-secondary education.

5. Units Campuses may establish procedures for the admission and simultaneous attendance of students in high school and a unit campus of the Montana University System, and admission of non-high school graduates prior to the time their high school class has graduated. Such admission shall be highly selective and shall be confined to students who present evidence of high ability and achievement and maturity to do college work. Such admission shall be based on providing educational opportunities that are not available in the high school setting. Such procedures must include the requirement that the high school principal or counselor approve participation of a student in the college program.

6. Units Campuses may establish procedures for the admission of applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements set forth in these regulations. Such procedures shall include submission of evidence of the ability to do college-level work and shall be subject to approval of the Commissioner of Higher Education.

7. Units Campuses may establish the category of special or non-degree student. This category will allow admission for the purpose of taking a limited number of credits without the complete documentation required in a regular application for admission.

8. Students in credit continuing education courses must meet the same admission requirements and academic standards as students in regular academic courses.

9. Falsification or willful suppression by a student of any information called for on an application for admission may be grounds for cancellation of admission.

10. Any unit campus may deny or condition admission, readmission, or continuing enrollment of any individual who, in the judgment of the unit campus, presents an unreasonable risk to the safety and welfare of the campus and persons thereon. In making such judgment, the unit campus may, among other things, take into account the individual's history and experience relative (a) to violence and destructive tendencies, (b) to behavior on other college campuses, and (c) to any rehabilitative therapy the individual may have undergone. A decision to utilize the authority conferred by this paragraph shall be communicated to the individual in writing. Each unit campus shall have a procedure by which such decisions may be appealed.

11. a. All foreign students, except those qualifying for an exemption under part c. below, entering any institution of the Montana University System must show a physician-validated immunization record for measles, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, and skin testing for tuberculosis. This evidence must be presented before a student is permitted to register.

b. All non-foreign students, except those qualifying for an exemption under part c. below, entering any institution of the Montana University System born after December 31, 1956, must show proof of immunization on or after their first birthday and after December 31, 1967, against measles and rubella. Immunization may be shown by the record of a physician, health agency or a school. Immunization against measles can also be shown by a physician's record of diagnosis of the disease. Such evidence must be presented before a student is permitted to register.

c. i) Medical exemption. A person qualifies for a medical exemption when the person files a bona fide statement signed by a physician licensed to practice medicine within the United States verifying that the physical condition of the person seeking to attend school makes the required immunization unsafe and indicating the specific nature and probable duration of the condition. The exemption shall not extend beyond the period of the condition which contraindicates immunization.

ii) Religious exemption. A person qualifies for a religious exemption when the person files a notarized affidavit on an approved form that immunization is contrary to the religious tenets and practices of the signer.

12. All first-time entering first-year, traditional undergraduate students (those who enter college within three years of high school graduation or within three years from the date when they would have graduated from high school) under age 21 will be required to take the ACT (American College Testing program) or SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Testing program) and submit the results to the institution.

13. First-time, first-year undergraduate students will be required to have completed the college preparatory program now recommended in Board Policy 301.7 effective fall quarter/semester 1990.

14. Minimum entrance requirements in addition to the college preparatory program also effective for the fall quarter/semester 1990 are identified in Board Policy 301.1 (in-state students) and in Policy 301.2 (out-of-state students).

15. The Commissioner's Office will establish a procedure for monitoring performance of all students based on: ACT or SAT score, high school GPA, age, high school standing and course of study.

History:

Board action April 1, 1929 (rescinded); Item 18-002-R1077, Admission Requirements: General Policies; Montana University System, October 28, 1977 as revised April 13, 1984, May 3, 1985, December 1986, December 16, 1988, September 14, 1989, March 22,

1990, April 26, 1990, and November 20, 1997.

ITEM 30-006-R0281  Out-of-State Course Offerings; Montana University System (REVISION of Board of Regents' Policy 303.6)

BOARD ACTION:  Approved unanimously at the November 19-20, 1998 meeting in Missoula.

Board policy:

1. Campuses Units of the Montana University System are encouraged to make additional educational opportunities available to their students through field trips and study programs in other parts of this country and abroad. Such programs should be aimed primarily at regular students of the institution, with registration and preferably some of the instruction taking place on the institution's through the campus. Such programs should conform to the standard of the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges that "foreign and domestic travel study programs should not grant credit for travel per se."

2. Campuses Units of the University System may offer courses, and workshops, and programs at out-of-state locations if the institution possesses unique expertise which would not normally be available where the course is to be offered. Such courses and workshops must meet the same standards required if the offering were made in-state. The institution must comply with all applicable statutes and regulations regarding registration or licensing in the state where the course is offered, and must verify that the offering is allowed under conditions of regional and/or professional accreditation.

b. A campus planning to offer O out-of-state courses, and workshops, and programs shall notify be registered in the Commissioner's Office and other campuses in the System at least 60 days prior to being advertised or offered advertising or offering them. Such registration shall include evidence of compliance with licensing or registration requirements and applicable accreditation criteria. For academic programs already approved by the Board of Regents, this will constitute a request for a Level I Program Approval. For new programs not previously approved by the Board of Regents, this will require a Level II Review and more extended deliberation.

3. Credit course fees associated with delivery costs will be approved by the Board of Regents in advance of the course being offered.

History:

Item 30-006-R0281, Out-of-state course offerings; Montana University System, February 6, 1981.

ITEM 60-004-R0788 Delivery of instruction via telecommunications Distributed Learning; Montana University System (REVISION of Board of Regents' Policy 303.7)

BOARD ACTION:  Move ITEM 60-004-R0788 to Action Agenda for January 28-29, 1999 meeting.

Board Policy

SCOPE AND PURPOSE

(a) This policy is designed to encourage the development and use of telecommunications for educational purposes distributed learning in the Montana University System while at the same time ensuring a level of quality equivalent to that of regular on-campus resident credit traditional, classroom-based instruction.

(b) The Board of Regents shall consider an institution's proposed program offerings through electronic delivery to be a change equivalent to a request for a new degree program. A formal request for approval is required. (See Section on Institutional Plan below.) proposal to offer existing programs via distributed learning methodologies to be a request for a Level I approval. Single courses meeting institutional academic standards do not require approval.

(c) The Commissioner of Higher Education shall appoint a member of his the Commissioner's staff to be the Telecommunications Distributed Learning Coordinator and to chair an Advisory Committee on Telecommunication Instruction Distributed Learning and Mediated Instruction. The purpose of the Advisory Committee will be to advise the System and the Board, through the Council of Academic Officers, on the matters related to present and future delivery of distributed education, via communication technologies including the acquisition of large-scale interactive delivery and/or learning systems.

(d) The Commissioner will encourage, facilitate and coordinate the telecommunications distributed learning activities of the institutions by reviewing plans, monitoring progress, and evaluating results as specified under the current policy.

DEFINITIONS

(a) Distributed Learning – A learning environment in which the instructor serves as a designer of the learning environment rather than purveyor of information and in which the constraints of time and place are alleviated to facilitate the learner’s access and autonomy.

(b) Telecommunication Instruction Technology-Mediated Learning -- Any form of instruction that uses an electronic system as a primary mode for delivering instruction to creating the learning environment. for the student at an off-campus location. Delivery systems may include but are not limited to one or more of the following: radio, television, cable television, low-power television, communication and/or direct broadcast satellite, satellite Master antenna system, microwave, video tape, video disc, or telephone line microcomputer programs (including on-line computer access).

(c) The Advisory Committee on Telecommunication Instruction Distributed Learning and Mediated Instruction shall be appointed by the Commissioner and consist of representatives from the four-year, community college and vo-tech segments as well as the Commissioner's office and the Board of Regents. The Telecommunications Coordinator will chair the Committee, which will advise the Commissioner and the Board on telecommunications issues. System campuses, the community colleges, and the Commissioner's office. It will report to the Academic and Student Affairs Committee of the Board through the Council of Academic Officers and will be chaired by the Distributed Learning Coordinator. The Advisory Committee will advise the Commissioner and the System on policy and procedures related to distributed learning and on acquisition of large-scale interactive delivery and/or learning systems, and will assist in resolving concerns that might arise between the campuses.

See section II (b) and II (c).

ROLE AND SCOPE MISSION

1. The role and scope statements for on-campus programs will apply to programs and courses delivered electronically. (See Procedures) In accordance with Regents' policy, each campus of the Montana University System shall have an approved mission statement on file with the Office of Commissioner of Higher Education.

2. All programs and courses offered by the respective campuses of the Montana University System shall be consistent with the approved campus mission statement.

EQUAL ACCESS TO SYSTEM

The Advisory Committee will be responsible for recommending policy for reasonable institutional access to the delivery systems.

REPORTING PROCEDURES

(1) 1. By July 1 of every year, each institution shall file with the Commissioner an Annual Report of telecommunication instruction its distributed learning activity over the preceding twelve months. The Telecommunications Distributed Learning Coordinator shall with the help of the Advisory Committee will provide guidelines for the format and content of this report and will publish an aggregated report on the Worldwide Web for public access.

(2) 2. By July 1 of every year, each institution seeking authority to offer courses through telecommunications shall file with the Commissioner an Institutional Plan. Any institution seeking authority to offer programs through telecommunication instruction must file with the Commissioner an institutional plan for instruction for review by the Advisory Committee on Telecommunication Instruction and approval by the Board of Regents. The plan must reflect institutional policies for offering telecommunication courses and maintaining quality. In addition, the plan must include a description of institutional arrangements for operation and funding of the telecommunication instruction program. An institution previously authorized to offer telecommunication instruction prior to the adoption of this policy shall be required to submit an institutional plan. For credit courses only, by April 15 for Autumn Semester, November 1 for Spring Semester, and March 1 for Summer Session of each fiscal year, each campus will file, with the Distributed Learning Coordinator, a list of credit courses being offered via distributed learning methodologies according to the following criteria:

(3) The institutional plan must include identification of the programs to be offered.  Approval of the plan constitutes Regents' approval for the delivery of these courses and programs specified in the plan.  Any additional programs for offering by telecommunication instruction after the institutional plan has been approved are subject to the Board's established procedures.

(4) The Telecommunications Coordinator with the assistance of the Advisory Committee shall provide guidelines to assist institutions in preparation of institutional plans for telecommunication instruction.

(5) Upon review of the Institutional plans, the Board staff may request additional information.

(6) 3.  The Telecommunications Distributed Learning Coordinator shall, with the assistance of the Advisory Committee, resolve scheduling conflicts among institutions such as unnecessary duplication or areas to be served concerning course and program delivery.  Institutions may appeal such decisions to the Commissioner.

(7) Any institution that intends to obtain, purchase or lease telecommunications transmission equipment, or seeks to plan and enter into consortial relationships with other organizations and agencies that would provide access to telecommunication transmission that would alter its capacity to deliver or extend the range of its delivery equipment must receive approval of the Board of Regents.

Institutions requiring emergency approval to meet grant or contract conditions shall seek that approval from the Telecommunications Coordinator who will report the action to the Advisory Committee.

4.  Campuses considering the acquisition of large-scale interactive delivery systems and/or learning systems to support technology-mediated learning for remote audiences should strive to select systems that are compatible with existing technology and must submit proposals to the Distributed Learning Coordinator for review by the Advisory Committee prior to implementation.

STANDARDS AND CONDITIONS

I. Courses and programs, credit and non-credit Faculty

(a) a. Instructors responsible for credit courses offered through telecommunication instruction distributed learning methodologies must be faculty members or must meet the standards and procedures used by the institution for the appointment of faculty responsible for on-campus resident credit courses. including Provision must be made for the review and approval of faculty at the departmental level in the fields affected.

(b) b. Procedures for evaluation of faculty responsible for credit courses offered through telecommunication instruction distributed learning must be equivalent to those used by the institution for the evaluation of faculty teaching resident credit courses. academic departments.

(c) Procedures for evaluation of the organization and content, of courses offered through telecommunication instruction must be equivalent to those used for resident instruction.

(d) Each course offered through telecommunication instruction must include procedures for monitoring and assessing student performance. These procedures -- such as written exercises, papers, and examinations -- must be equivalent to those used in comparable resident credit courses. Standards for success or failure in telecommunication instruction must be as rigorous as those for resident credit courses.

(e) Each instructor of record in a course offered through telecommunication instruction must provide timely feedback to students regarding their progress and performance by methods equivalent to those used in resident credit courses.

(f) c. Whenever telecommunication instruction distributed learning permits the enrollment of substantially greater numbers of students in a course than would normally be taught in a similar class on campus occur, the institution must provide technical and instructional assistance sufficient to ensure that quality is maintained.

(g) Students enrolled in telecommunication instruction programs must be provided with academic support services appropriate to the program.

II. F.T.E. Funded Credit Courses

Students

(d) a. Students who wish to enroll in programs offered through telecommunication instruction distributed learning must satisfy the same requirements for admission to the institution, to the program of which the course is a part, and to the course itself, as would be expected of students enrolling in the same program taught in the traditional on-campus manner.

b. For students who are located at remote sites and are enrolled in distributed learning courses or programs, the credit hours earned in such courses may be accepted toward the "on-campus" residency requirement for graduation if a student has completed the university’s regular admissions process and has been admitted to degree-seeking status within six months (6 months) of the original enrollment.

c. Students enrolled in distributed learning programs must be provided with academic and student support services appropriate to the program and comparable to those provided other students in like programs, including academic advising, library and computer services, and financial aid services. These may be provided by technology-mediated methods when appropriate.

d. Students who are enrolled in distributed learning courses or programs and who are located at remote sites shall be assessed fees that are directly applicable to the delivery and support of the course or program for which they are enrolled. This will include tuition, a portion of the typical mandatory fees and any special fees for the mode of delivery that have been approved by the Regents.

Mandatory fees that are not applicable to the distributed learning program will not be assessed. At least one month prior to course or program start-up, the campus shall file notice with the Commissioner’s Office of those fees that are applicable to students at remote sites on a course or program basis.

3. Course management and support

a. Standards and procedures for the regular evaluation of the organization and content of distributed learning courses must be equivalent to those used for resident instruction.

b. Standards for student success or failure in distributed learning technology courses must be as rigorous as those for traditional on-campus credit courses and communicated to the students at the beginning of the course.

c. Each course offered through distributed learning methodologies must include ongoing procedures for monitoring and assessing student performance.

d. Each instructor of record in distributed learning courses offered through telecommunications instruction must provide regular, timely feedback to students regarding their progress and performance and make him- or herself available for consultation with students as necessary.

FISCAL PRACTICES

1. State-subsidized F.T.E. Normally, distributed learning courses and programs will be funded by State appropriations under the approved FTE formulas in combination with a campus' resident and non-resident student tuition and approved fees as authorized by the Board of Regents.

History:

Item 60-004-R0788, Telecommunication Instruction Policy, November 4, 1988.

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