Members present: Shel Cohen, Bob Boncella, Bill Radcliffe, Brenda White, Gary Forbach, Becky Bostian, Cecil Schmidt, David Bainum, Ross Friesen, Oscar Plaza, Kandy Ockree, Chuck Tumlinson, Scott Johnson, John Christensen, Vance Laine, Susan Hsia, Cindy Hornberger, Teresita Leyell, Robin Kruschinska, Thimios Zaharapolous, Ron Wasserstein, Chair.

Staff present: Jack Sunderland, Shawn Fraker(for Jim Evans) and Rugena Hall

Guests present: Dr. Jerry Farley and John Moore

Minutes of the November 4, 1998 meeting were approved as amended.

The Distance Education Strategic Plan was approved by e-mail vote with no objections.

Wasserstein thanked Forbach and Bostian for their work on the electronic technology presentation to the Washburn Board of Regents.  The presentation was a success.

Wasserstein indicated that the Computer Subcommittee was nearing completion of a Computer Lab Policy.

Wasserstein introduced John Moore, Vice President for Administration and Treasurer.  Moore gave an overview of technology in his area.  The VPAT area was in need of technology updating when Moore arrived early in 1998.    Moore appointed a team to form a plan to implement an electronic communications network within the VPAT area and to begin to integrate this network and the Administrative Data Processing system into the campus system.  These systems are not integrated into the campus system to the extent Moore would like them to be.  However, steps have been made in that direction.  Moore thanked Bainum and his staff for their hard work with him and the ADP staff to accomplish the initial components of this goal.  The current administrative system and processes are control-based.   Moore's area is presently working to change to a service-based system that includes the necessary checks and balances, and is in the process eliminating some of the paper flow.  In the immediate future, Moore hopes to expand his area's use of the IT network, using technology to cut operating costs and achieve greater efficiency.  One example given is to create a "procurement card."  Long range, he hopes to acquire an administrative system to integrate all areas (i.e. business office, financial aid, personnel etc.) into one system in the next 3-4 years.  Moore answered questions from the committee members.

President Jerry Farley was introduced by Wasserstein.  Farley expressed his deep commitment to technology, believing that technology will make us successful in the future.  He wants the Electronic Technology Committee to report directly to him.  This will send a message to the entire campus on how important he thinks technology is to the University.  Washburn has been fortunate in the last few years obtaining funds for technology, but that money may not always be there. The high cost of technology makes it important for us to not make mistakes.  We must target the areas where we will get the most for our investment.  However, we don't need to push technology on those who don't want it.  Every classroom doesn't need to be totally "wired" for technology.   Our technology must make sense to everyone from potential students through alumni; if it does, they will keep in touch with us, and we with them.  Farley suggested that, as we plan, we dream what we want to do, but then look at what we can reasonably do or best do.  We need to plan, but we also need to be flexible.  Planning needs to be mindful of what resources are and where they come from.  Farley fielded questions from the committee.

Wasserstein thanked Moore and Farley for their presentations.  He thanked the committee members for their hard work and said he would be sending out dates for spring semester meetings soon.

Meeting adjourned at 5:17pm.

attached: Distance Education Strategic Plan Washburn University
Distance Education Strategic Plan
approved by the Electronic Technology Committee
November, 1998
Mission Statement
Washburn University distance education offerings help meet the educational needs of Kansans, increase access to Washburn's instructional programs, and enhance the quality of academic and continuing education programs via the appropriate use of technology.  All distance education programs reflect the institutional mission of the University, particularly the dedication to teaching excellence.

Background
Washburn University has offered telecourses for many years.  The University has also offered off-campus courses and programs, both credit and noncredit, for several years.  More recently, several faculty have begun to experiment with online and interactive video courses.  Beginning in the Spring of 1999, the University will offer several new distance education programs including a master's degree in education and several bachelor degree completion programs.  These programs are managed by different administrative units, paid for by separate budgets, and have been loosely coordinated in the past.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, more than a third of all accredited colleges and universities now offer some form of distance education program.  Several Kansas Regents
Universities have already developed complete "virtual" degree programs (e.g., an M.S.N. at KU and a B.G.S. at ESU).  In order to compete effectively in the distance education market,
Washburn University needs a comprehensive strategic plan to guide its future efforts and investments.  The plan should begin with some environmental scanning and data collection, identify potential opportunities and threats, establish key programmatic priorities, and  recommend a strategy for the successful development and delivery of quality distance education programs.  Quality programs are defined as those that have strong institutional support, substantive faculty involvement, and documented student learning outcomes.  The plan should also include a strategy for assessing its impact and outcomes.

Needs Assessment/Market Research
Goal: To identify and document unmet needs that are clearly related to Washburn's mission and purpose.  Completion Date: Fall 1998 - Spring 1999.

A research team comprised of Distance Education Subcommittee members and other appropriate representatives from the Faculty, Continuing Education, the Media Center, KTWU, the ACC, the Library, University Relations, and Institutional Research will investigate the educational needs of key constituencies in Topeka, Shawnee County, and Kansas.  In assessing these needs, the research team must focus on markets not adequately served by current delivery methods as well as markets in which quality and access will be enhanced via distance education.   The market segments to be explored are:

        Community Colleges
        High Schools
        Employers
        State Government
        General Public
        Current on-campus students
        Potential on-campus students for whom limited access is a barrier
        Professional Associations

Needs Assessment Activities and Completion Dates:

• 1.  Interview KSDE and KACCT officials - February 1999.
• 2.  Meet with community college presidents/deans - March 1999.
• 3.  Meet with area high school principals & counselors - October 1998.
• 4.  Interview representatives of the WU Development Office, Topeka Chamber of    Commerce, and Downtown Topeka, Inc. - December 1998.
• 5.  Interview, meet with, and/or survey state and local government staff and company         representatives - December 1998.
• 6.  Survey the needs (or conduct focus groups) of WU alumni, community groups, current students, and the general public - February 1999.
• 7. Survey or meet with the executive directors of local and state professional associations - February 1999.

Internal Program Assessment
Goal: To identify the programs that have the capacity for meeting the identified needs. Completion Date: Spring 1999.

The University must have an accountable entity with incentives to succeed in developing, coordinating, and maintaining distance education offerings to meet identified needs through any of the following venues:

       credit courses
       credit certificate programs
       degrees, majors, minors, and emphasis areas
       non-credit programs, both one-time and ongoing

Academic and support departments within the university will be consulted about ways in which they have already attempted to address identified needs.  This process will begin with the development of internal partnerships with faculty.

Internal Program Assessment Activities and Completion Dates

     1.  Identify technical capabilities of current and future delivery systems on campus -
          Summer 1998.
     2.  Identify current incentives for individuals and departments to develop distance
          education programs - Fall 1998.
     3.  Identify current efforts underway at WU to meet the needs identified in the needs
          assessment - Fall 1998 - Spring 1999.
     4.  Identify current abilities of university services to facilitate distance learning with
          emphasis on flexibility in time and place for delivery of services - Fall 1998.

Program Development
Goals: To prepare the requisite budget request and seek external resources to prepare the programs for delivery via distance education.  Completion Date: Spring 1999.

     To prepare cost/benefit analyses for all programs identified as potential distance education programs.  Identify required financial, technical, data, and human resource requirements for
quality programs.  Analyze costs/benefits of handling the various tasks of developing and delivering distance education in-house vs. outsourcing some tasks.  Completion Date: Spring
1999.

     To recommend an organizational structure that will provide a coordinated and comprehensive administration of all distance education offerings.  Completion Date: Spring 1999.

Program Development Activities and Completion Dates.

 1. Study and recommend optimum organizational/coordination structure for development and delivery of distance education - Spring 1999.
     2.    Analyze costs/benefits over reasonable time frames for distance education programs -
           Spring 1999.
     3.    Identify resource requirements - Spring 1999.
     4.    Identify several possible sources to meet resource requirements - Spring 1999.

Process and Procedure.  Requests for institutional support for the development of distance education courses and programs should be submitted to the Distance Education Subcommittee of the Electronic Technology Committee.  Requests for support should be made by completing the form contained in Appendix A of the strategic plan accompanied by a course syllabus.

Internal/External Partnership Development
Goal: To develop and enhance partnerships that can help achieve program and institutional goals.  Completion Date: Fall 1998 and Spring 1999.

     The first step will be to develop internal partnerships in what has been a fragmented approach to distance education at WU in the past.  Coordination between faculty, Continuing
Education, Media Center, KTWU, Mabee Library, and the ACC will be crucial to the growth of quality distance education programs.  A partnership with the Washburn Endowment Association for solicitation of outside funds to develop distance learning programs could provide important start-up resources. Partnerships with the Registrar, Bookstore, Business Office and Financial Aid will be critical in making credit courses and degrees truly accessible beyond the borders of the physical campus.

At least three types of external partnerships exist in distance education.

1. Partnerships that connect WU to the market.

     Example:  Agreements with community colleges, high schools, employers, and community groups in need of credit and non-credit education (e.g., the PLAN 2+2 programs).
 Partnerships with high schools to meet the needs of honors students who have surpassed the offerings of their high school would increase accessibility to college level coursework (e.g., the Washburn Early College Enrollment Program).

2. Partnerships that enable curriculum development.

     Example:  Programs such as PBS' "Going the Distance" and license agreements to take advantage of video, graphics, etc. that would not be cost efficient for WU to develop.

3. Partnerships that enable instructional delivery.

     Example:  Possible outsourcing agreements for massive duplication of instructional CDs and videotapes developed by WU faculty.

     The entity accountable for the success of distance education endeavors should take the lead in initiating and maintaining all of these internal and external partnerships.  Appropriate
resources should be provided.

Internal/External Partnership Development Activities and Completion Dates:

 1. Identify current abilities of all WU offices that would be needed for a smooth delivery of quality distance education - Fall 1998
       2. Identify current and future potential of all three types of external partnerships - Fall 1998 and Spring 1999
     3.    Develop ongoing relationships with potential partners - Ongoing

Program Evaluation and Revision
Goal: To continuously revise and enhance distance education courses and programs to maintain a reputation of quality.  Completion Date: Ongoing.

Exploration of Growth Opportunities
Goal: To evaluate new market opportunities, possible partnerships with public and private sector organizations, and to obtain external funding for distance education programs as needed. Centralized accountability for such exploration, coupled with adequate resources, will be key to taking advantage of future opportunities.  Completion Date: Ongoing.

Exploration of Growth Opportunities Activities and Completion Dates:
 

 1.  Continually analyze market needs, WU's ability to meet those needs, and the costs/benefits of potential areas of growth for distance education - Ongoing.

 2.  Identify potential sources of funding and other resources for future growth - Ongoing.

Appendix A

Washburn University Distance Education/Mediated Course
Development and Support Request

Course No. and Title ________________________________ Credit Hours ______________

Date of Proposal _____________________________________

Instructor(s) ______________________ E-mail _____________  Office Phone _________                       _______________________ E-mail ____________  Office Phone _________

Development Semester _________  First Delivery Semester ________

I. Basic course information (description, objectives, requirements, evaluation methods, etc.). Please attach a copy of the course syllabus and add any additional pages as needed.
 
 
 

II. Students to be served by the course (anticipated age range, locations, and media requirements).

   ___ PLAN 2+2 degree program students
   ___ WECEP students
   ___ other students (please identify or describe them)
 

III. Instructional resources required (textbooks, audio/visual materials, text documents/files, web resources, databases, statistical or other computer resources, laboratory equipment, and library resources).
 
 
 

IV. Delivery methods (face-to-face, Internet/www, audio/video tapes, broadcast video, interactive video, etc.).
 
 
 

V. Instructor training and technical support required (e-mail, Netscape, www training, video tape production, ITV operation, etc.)

                                                                  11.16.98