Technology

Distance Education Regulations

Whereas, Existing Title 5 Regulations concerning distance learning language sunset in January 2002;

Whereas, If the language sunsets, distance education regulations will return to 1994 guidelines that will adversely affect distance learning programs; and

Whereas, The consultation process to recommend re-issuing this Title 5 Regulation regarding distance education is not yet complete;

Resolved, That the Academic Senate support, if necessary, a six-month extension (until 2002) of the current trial period for Title 5 Regulations regarding distance education.

Computers in Faculty Offices

Whereas, Email is critical for faculty-student and faculty-administration communications in an increasingly technological environment;

Whereas, Internet access is an important tool for faculty to remain current in their discipline and profession; and

Whereas, Ready access to computers equipped with appropriate software for word processing, analyzing data, maintaining records, updating files, and preparing classroom presentations maximizes effective use of instructor time;

Access to Technology

Whereas, Students in California community colleges need access to technology;

Whereas, Most campuses do not have sufficient funding to meet the growing technology needs of their students; and

Whereas, The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges supports the allocation of adequate funds from the Technology II Plan to fund local districts for computer laboratories, equipment, extended hours of service, technical support, and other aspects of the total cost of ownership;

Resolved, That the Academic Senate support the Technology II Plan; and

Use of Technology II Planning Funds

Whereas, The Chancellor's Office of the California Community Colleges provided each campus in the 2000-2001 year with $25,000 in order to prepare a technology plan for expenditures requested under the Technology II Plan;

Whereas, The development of a technology plan involves the establishment of educational goals and the incorporation of technology in instructional planning, both academic and professional matters requiring collegial consultation with the local academic senate; and

Class Size in Distance Education Courses

Whereas, Pedagogical concerns should be considered in determining class size;

Whereas, Local curriculum committees have the primary responsibility to review course outlines, which include recommended class sizes; and

Whereas, Distance education courses should be reviewed with the same rigor and with the same concerns for student success as traditional courses;

Resolved, That the Academic Senate urge curriculum committees to invoke Title 5 55352 to review class size as part of their separate review of all distance education courses.

4CNET

Whereas, Faculty rely on electronic and digital communications to fulfill their responsibilities at work;

Whereas, The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges adopted a position paper protecting academic freedom and individual privacy rights, "Academic Freedom, Privacy, Copyright and Fair Uses in a Technological World [1999];"

Direction for DETAC

Whereas, The proposed Title 5 Regulation changes concerning distance education do not address all funding questions, including the areas of online tutoring and distance delivery of noncredit and work experience courses;

Distance Education Title 5 Language

Whereas, Temporary Title 5 distance education regulations have enabled careful, faculty-driven growth in distance education during the trial period since 1995;

Whereas, Strong academic integrity language, in contrast to national moves towards non-faculty instruction, remains crucial to the excellence and rigor of distance education courses and the resultant ability to articulate such courses for transfer; and

Digital Divide

Whereas, There is growing national concern regarding the digital divide and differential access to technology, which adversely impacts students of various ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds as well as those with disabilities;

Whereas, The availability of technology is a student access and equity issue; and

Whereas, The ability to understand and utilize information technology and tools is an essential skill for all students;

Web Accessibility

Whereas, An ever-increasing number of California community college students access educational information on the World Wide Web;

Whereas, The California Community College Chancellor's Office recently released the report "Distance Education: Access Guidelines for Students with Disabilities" in response to an Office of Civil Rights action; and

Whereas, Organizations such as the Web Accessibility Initiative are committed to developing the World Wide Web to its full potential by promoting a high degree of usability for people with disabilities;

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