15. Distance Education

This section provides information that scheduling contacts need to know about distance education including:

• How to indicate a distance education section on the schedule
• Distinguishing between the different distance education labels
• Fees associated with distance learning
• Differences between distance learning and off-campus locations

Ohio State Distance Education Definitions

The consistent use of labels with distance education programs and courses is critical for compliance requirements, accreditation, reporting, and clear and effective consumer information.

Distance Education at Ohio State

• Distance course: 75% or more of instruction is offered by distance
  • Ohio State defines distance courses by two instruction modes:
    • Distance Learning (DL) 100% of instruction is offered by distance
    • Distance Enhanced (DH) 75-99% of instruction is offered by distance
• Distance program: 50% or more of the courses offered in a program are distance courses

  • Students in Ohio State Online programs are enrolled in the ONL (Online Learning) Subplan

     

    Helpful Note

    OSU interprets instruction as formalized instruction

In order to serve a larger set of potential students and to meet university goals, ODEE advocates distance programs that comprise Distance Learning (DL) courses only.

Distance Course

A distance course is one where 75% or more of instruction (synchronous or asynchronous) uses one or more of the following technologies: the Internet; one-way and two-way transmission through open broadcast, closed -circuit cable, microwave, broadband lines, fiber optics, satellite, or wireless communication devices; audio-conferencing or videocassettes, DVDs, and CD-ROMs used in conjunction with any of the other technologies.

Distance Program

A distance program is a postsecondary educational program offered by an institution of high education that leaders to an academic or professional degree, certificate, or other recognized education credential.

eLearning

eLearning is broadly inclusive of all forms of educational technology in learning and teaching. eLearning occurs when learning opportunities are directed via electronic media, typically on the Internet. eLearning can occur in or out of the classroom and is particularly suited to distance learning and other technology-empowered learning models, such as Hybrid, Flipped, and HyFlex.

SIS Instruction Mode Labels

Class Delivery Method Labels (For DL and DH Instruction Modes only)

Class Attribute Value

Considerations

Fees:

Any student who is enrolled in only Distance Learning (DL) courses throughout  a term is charged a $100 distance education administration surcharge. A $5 non-resident distance education fee will replace any applicable non-resident fees, and all university site-based fees will be waived. If a student has any Distance Enhanced (DH), Hybrid (HY), or In-Person (p) courses scheduled, all regular fees will be assessed.

Distance Education funding model:

The distance education funding model is student-centered. If a student is enrolled in an Ohio State Online program (identified by the ONL Subplan), the distance education funding model will be applied to all Distance Learning (DL) and Distance Enhanced (DH) credit hours for that student.

Course Sections:

Course instruction mode is determined one section at a time. Many courses have a lecture section and a recitation or lab section. It is entirely possible to have a course that comprises both a Distance Learning (DL) lecture section and In-Person (P) lab or recitation section.

DH vs DL:

For Distance Enhanced (DH) courses, consider opportunities for student to complete the in-person requirements at a distance so the course can be considered Distance Learning (DL), thus opening the course to a wider audience. If students are permitted to find alternative means to complete all in-person requirements at a distance, the course should be labeled Distance Learning (DL), not Distance Enhanced (DH).

instruction time:

The Ohio Board of Regents defines one semester credit hour as a minimum of 750 minutes of formalized instruction, typically requiring students to work on out-of-class assignments an average of twice that amount of time.

The following chart may assist you in calculating percentages for the instruction mode:

Indicating a Distance Education Section

The Instruction Mode on each section will automatically default to In Person Instruction. To adjust the Instruction Mode to indicate a type of distance education, click on the magnifying glass and select one of the other three options.

• The Instruction Mode that you select will roll forward to the next year, so be sure to check that they are accurate after each term roll.
• Changing Instruction Mode either to or and the recitation section DL (Distance Learning) after enrollment could alter student fees

• The Instruction Mode should be selected based on that section only. For example, if a lecture is 100% online and the corresponding recitations meet In Person, the lecture section should be listed as 'DL' and the recitation sections should be listed as 'P'. Each individual section should accurately identify where the instruction is occurring.
   

  

Off-Campus Location Codes

A section requires an off-campus location code if instruction is occurring In Person in a location other than the Columbus campus. The Instruction Mode should always be 'P' for these situations.

• Only our office can adjust the Location code on the Basic Data tab--contact us when this needs to be changed
• The most common off-campus location codes are CS-COLOFF and CS-OFFCAMP
  • CS-COLOFF (Columbus Off Campus Location): Use this when the instruction occurs outside of the Columbus campus, but within Franklin and the six contiguous counties

  • CS-OFFCAMP (Off Campus Location): Use this when the instruction occurs outside of Franklin and the six contiguous counties --classes with this code are exempt from Columbus campus site-based fees