Number 8 May 1, 2001	A publication of Project Eagle, St. Petersburg College

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For a subscription to BEEP, contact the Project Manager: lechnerj@spcollege.edu

Benchmarking St. Petersburg Junior College:
A Report to Leadership

Faculty Issues in an E-Learning Environment

"Creating lessons and courses for distance learning is not a trivial activity."
(Lynne Schrum, Former president, International Society for Technology in Education)

General Issues and Guidelines

American Association of University Professors. Report on Distance Learning, 11/14/97. Comprehensive recommendations by Committee R on Government Relations that include academic freedom, intellectual property rights, faculty workload and compensation. Supplementary suggestions and guidelines on these subjects, faculty technical support, and working conditions appeared in a later report (2000) by the AAUP's Special Committee on Distance Education and Intellectual Property issues.
Brevard Community College (FL). Faculty Guidelines for Teaching Distance Learning Courses. An online manual for e-structors that includes college policies related to curriculum, course size compensation formula, and faculty responsibilities.
Indiana Higher Education Telecommunication System. Guiding Principles for Faculty in Distance Learning. A unique document that addresses e-learning and the use of technology in the classroom from the faculty perspective of teaching and learning. Includes areas of training, technical support, workload, and compensatory issues.
Oregon University System. OUS Distance Education Policy Framework. Comprehensive policy manual that includes a section on faculty issues like compensation and recognition; responsibility; training; intellectual property; and copyright.
Palm Beach Community College (FL).Faculty Distance Learning Handbook. Offers general information, online resources, tips on teaching in various e-modes, and training opportunities.
Texas Higher Education Distance Learning Master Plan. Section in a larger document that deals with faculty and staff training and development, as well as release time, compensation, intellectual property rights, promotion, and tenure.
Utah Valley State College. Distance Learning Policy and Procedures. Includes procedures and guidelines for course development, faculty compensation, and intellectual property rights.

Instructional Issues - Studies and Surveys

"Faculty Education, Assistance and Support Needed to Deliver Education via Distance." Article by University of Nebraska staff in Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration 3(2), Summer 2000, that reports the results of a faculty survey at the university. The same team published a similar report, "Incentives and Obstacles Influencing Higher Education Faculty and Administrators to Teach via Distance," in OJDLA 2(4), Winter 1999.
"An Institutional Overview: Factors Influencing Faculty Participation in Distance Education in Postsecondary Education in the United States." Article by Kristen Betts of George Washington University (DC) in Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration 1(3), Fall 1998, on the concerns of both GWU faculty who participated in e-struction and those who did not.
National Education Association. Results of a poll of more than 400 e-structors, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of e-teaching and e-learning from a faculty point of view.
"Needs, Concerns, and Practices of Online Instructors." Article by faculty at State University of West Georgia in Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration 3(3), Fall 2000. Identifies major faculty concerns relating to training, time, technical support, and faculty incentives.
"What Do Faculty Want?" Article by John F. Chizmar and David B. Williams of Illinois State University in Educause Quarterly 24(1), 2001. Reports the results of a faculty survey on needs and attitudes for instructional technology (.pdf file).

Compensatory Issues

"Compensation Models in Distance Education." Article by Catherine C. Schifter of Temple University (PA) in Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration 3(1), Spring 2000. Examines survey results of how institutions from 45 states compensate faculty for course development, course teaching, and related activities.
"Early Patterns of Faculty Compensation for Developing and Teaching Distance Learning Courses."Article by Gary A. Berg of Chapman University (CA) in Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks 4(1), June 2000. Analyzes various national surveys to create a detailed picture of how schools compensate faculty for development and teaching of e-courses.
"Faculty Rewards in Digital Instructional Environments." A Syllabus Institute Report that appeared in Syllabus, January 2001. Looks at the need to develop a reward structure for online scholarship.
"Moving Toward a More Inclusive Reward Structure." Article by Erwin Boschmann of Indiana University in The Technology Source, October 1998. Offers a ten-step process to ensure that reward decisions for e-structors are made on identified common ground.
Wytheville Community College (VA). Distance Learning Faculty Load Policy. Detailed policy of one institution's approach to workload and compensation.

Intellectual Property Issues

American Association of University Professors. Ownership of Intellectual Property. Suggestions and Guidelines. Provides models of components to be included when negotiating contract language or a policy on ownership of intellectual property.
Brigham Young University (UT). The BYU Intellectual Property Policy. In-depth manual that distinguishes technical works and creative works.
Indiana University. Intellectual Property Policy. Detailed policy manual for both traditional and electronic materials.
"Ownership Issues in Online Use of Institutional Materials." Article by Dan L. Burk of Seton Hall University (NJ) in Cause/Effect, 21(2), Summer 1998. Examines the scope of institutional rights related to transfer of previously published material to the Internet. The author has written a similar article, "Ownership of Electronic Course Materials in Higher Education," in Cause/Effect 20(3), Fall 1997, which investigates ownership issues for original material in electronic format.
University of North Carolina. Intellectual Property, Copyright and Distance Learning. A Horizon Web site with many links to outstanding Web resources on these subjects.
University of Texas System. Intellectual Property Policy in Plain English. One state's policies, including specifics for distance learning, telecourses, and software.
"Who Owns Online Courses and Course Materials?" Report by Carol A. Twigg for the Pew Learning and Technology Program. Lengthy and comprehensive look at the development and ownership of online courses and course material by full-time faculty teaching credit courses. Includes case studies, discussion, and resulting recommendations.

Training Issues

"Building a Faculty Development Institute: A Case Study." Article by Robert J. Van der Velde and Carolyn D. Rawl of Auburn University (AL) in Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration 3(3), Fall 2000. Describes the development of a faculty technology training program, modeled after similar ones at Virginia Tech and the University of Central Florida.
"Development of Training and Support Programs for Distance Education Instructors." Article by Melanie Clay, State University of Georgia, in Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration 2(3), Fall 1999, on the need for training and support for e-structor success.
Rochester Institute of Technology (NY). Educational Technology Center. A look at what a small institution with twenty years of offering e-learning has prepared for its faculty, including online modules and workshops for instructional development.
Thomas Edison State College (NJ). Certificate in Distance Education Program. A newly created program that offers a certificate program for faculty involved in e-struction.

The contents of BEEP were developed under a grant from the U. S. Department of Education (DOE). However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the DOE, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.