The Office of Distance Education and Online Learning (ODEOL), consisting of administrative, academic, and technological personnel, coordinates the scheduling, infrastructure, and delivery of distance learning courses and works closely with academic departments to ensure the quality of distance education at Tuskegee University. Its primary focus is on designing and implementing best practices for students and faculty, providing eLearning training for faculty, students, and administrative personnel, offering technical assistance, and providing general information for all issues related to eLearning.
ODEOL also provides support in distance education by offering the following services:
- Professional development opportunities in teaching and learning
- Workshops, information sessions, discussions, and webinars on distance education topics
- Instructional and technical support for electronic learning
- Production of audio, video, photographic, and graphic media for instructional use
- Assistance with the pedagogical use of technologies
- Acquisition and loaning of software and hardware for faculty creating multimedia materials
- Training opportunities
Faculty Workload
This proposal does not add or expand academic courses or programs. Instead, it involves offering existing Environmental Sciences and Environmental Management master’s courses online. Faculty load impact is equivalent to adding face-to-face sections. This process is managed by division chairs and deans, using full-time and adjunct instructors, and hiring full-time faculty as programs grow.
Course Load, Compensation, Ownership of Materials, and Copyright
Distance learning courses are typically part of a faculty member's regular teaching load, with the same rate of compensation as traditional courses. They may also be taught as overloads, at the same rate of compensation as traditional overloads.
Exceptions (e.g., reassigned time for developing courses with new technologies) are reviewed case by case and must be approved by the department head, dean, and provost.
Tuskegee University follows its Intellectual Property Policy for ownership of materials and revenues derived from intellectual property.
Faculty must respect copyright, trademark, and licensing issues when designing online courses. Examples include using copyrighted photos, graphics, text, audio, or video. Permissions must be acquired and documented. If permission cannot be obtained or ownership is uncertain, substitute public domain or licensed resources.
Faculty Training
Developing distance learning courses requires training, preparation, and time. Faculty may need to adapt their teaching methods, engage students with new activities, and prepare contingency plans for communication issues.
To ensure quality, ODEOL provides training, instructional design support, and development opportunities (virtual and in-person). Faculty developing online courses are identified by their academic dean, with most being full-time faculty. All must complete a four-week training course.
ODEOL has established an e-Learning Program Review Committee to review the Online Learning Consortium Scorecard for Excellence and provide recommendations for online program quality. Meetings are held monthly.
Peer Review includes standards (Rubric) for course design, a peer review process, and professional development for faculty.
Curriculum Development and Peer Review Process
The Provost, Academic Deans, and ODEOL collaboratively developed a course development process aligned with institutional policies. ODEOL provides training in course design and implementation through online sessions, onsite workshops, and consultations. Courses must align with Quality Matters standards at Tuskegee University.
Faculty collaborate with Instructional Designers, peer mentors, subject matter experts, Campus Technology, Admissions, Student Services, T-CAEIL, and Library staff to design courses using the university’s LMS template. Online courses must reflect contact hours and outcomes equivalent to face-to-face versions.
The e-Learning Program Review Committee also ensures continuous improvement of online programs through monthly meetings and peer review standards.
Certificate for Online Teaching
ODEOL offers workshops for faculty, teaching assistants, staff, and administrators to build a cadre of well-trained online educators. Contact Dr. Moses Ntam at mntam@tuskegee.edu for information.
Three-Day BootCamp (in-person)
Asynchronous Course
This is an 8-week fully online course on how to build and teach an effective online course.
ODEOL also offers face-to-face workshops on instructional technology, course design, and related topics. Contact us for current offerings or to schedule group training for your department.
Instructional Technology Training
Information and training videos are available.
Policies for Distance Education at Tuskegee University
Distance Learning
Faculty Course Development Process
Online Course Development
