Information for Academic Leaders About Distance Education
In addition to their typical curriculum leadership roles, department, program, college, and school leaders whose portfolios include distance courses and/or programs must ensure those offerings meet institutional and external requirements. This page provides an overview of expectations and processes for academic leaders overseeing Saint Louis University distance programs.
Other sections of the Distance Education Office (DEO) website provide related information on the Distance Course Review Process and expectations for faculty members teaching distance courses. For a full summary of information on distance education at SLU and the specific responsibilities of academic leaders overseeing distance programs and courses, please see the downloadable PDF: Distance Education at SLU: A Guide for Academic Leaders.
Requirements for Distance Programs
Distance programs at SLU must meet the expectations outlined in the Checklist for Distance Education Programs. Questions about these expectations may be directed to the DEO at distance.education@slu.edu.
Additionally, like all other academic programs, distance programs are reviewed at the University level through regular processes, such as Academic Program Review, annual assessment reporting, and Viability and Sustainability Review.
Proposing a Distance Program
The DEO plays a partnership role in working with academic units to ensure they understand the University distance education definitions and requirements (see Requirements for Distance Programs above). Academic leaders considering a new distance program are strongly encouraged to set up a meeting with the DEO before the proposal for a new distance program is developed.
New distance programs may be truly new (i.e., SLU does not offer the program in person) or a new distance/online version of existing in-person programs. Decisions about whether to offer distance programs are made in the same way all other curriculum decisions are made: approvals are made first within the governing academic unit (department and/or college/school), then progress through University-level curriculum governance processes (UAAC, GAAC) if applicable.
To learn more about the relationship between curriculum governance processes and distance education processes, see the Guide on New Distance Courses/Programs: Approval Processes and DEO Expectations.
Proposals for a new distance program (or distance version of an in-person program) require a letter of support from the Distance Education Office. This letter typically is prepared after the academic unit meets with the DEO; the letter confirms program leaders understand what is expected of them and affirms that they will work in partnership with the DEO to ensure all expectations are met. Questions about these expectations may be directed to the DEO at distance.education@slu.edu.
Those considering a new distance program are encouraged to talk with the appropriate Provost’s Office contact to ensure understanding of University-level curriculum approval processes:
- For undergraduate-level programs: the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education Lisa Dorsey, Ph.D., convenes the Undergraduate Academic Affairs Committee (UAAC)
- For graduate-level programs: the Associate Provost for Graduate Education April Trees, Ph.D., convenes the Graduate Academic Affairs Committee (GAAC)
For programs with state authorization and/or professional licensure requirements, program leaders also should consult with the associate provost who provides leadership for accreditation and state authorization, Steve Sanchez, Ph.D., as early as possible to ensure smooth approval processes.
Implementing a Distance Program
Once approved, distance programs are expected to meet both program and course level requirements. Academic leaders with newly approved distance programs should set up a meeting with the DEO to develop the timeline for meeting instructor requirements and a plan for reviewing all distance courses.