WIU/UPI Agreement 2007-2011

Article 16: Distance Education
Units A & B

16.1. Definition

Distance Education refers to distance teaching and learning where the faculty member and the students are not in the same classroom or location. The course may be synchronous or asynchronous. Delivery of instruction is accomplished by one or more technological media or can be print-based materials, sent through the mail. Technology media include live or recorded satellite broadcasts, live 2-way video (CODEC), computer or internet technology (such as web-based instruction), digital and/or analog videotape, CD-ROM, or other electronic means, now known or hereafter developed, utilized to provide instruction.

16.2. Assignment of Distance Education Duties, Training, Support, and Ownership

The following considerations apply to all Distance Education delivery methods:

  1. No faculty member shall teach a Distance Education course using technology with which they are unfamiliar without the opportunity to be trained in the effective use of those technologies prior to the actual teaching of the course.
  2. Only those faculty who have the skills, training, and experience to design or teach a Distance Education course will be assigned to do so by the department chair in consultation with the faculty member.
  3. The faculty member shall be assigned to teach a Distance Education course using new technologies at least one semester prior to the actual teaching of the course to allow adequate opportunity to prepare materials required for those technologies.
  4. Faculty members who teach a Distance Education course will receive necessary instructional, logistical, and technical support and assured use of appropriate equipment in good working order.
  5. For the development or teaching of a Distance Education course, priority will be placed upon assigning such duties to appropriate departmental faculty members in the Union bargaining unit. It is only when personnel resources are inadequate, per Article 16.2.b., that assignment of these duties will be made to individuals not in the Union bargaining unit.
  6. Ownership, control, and use of the materials developed for web-based, videotaped, and digitally recorded courses will be consistent with the University’s Policy Statement on Intellectual Property as it exists at the time of ratification of this Agreement.

16.3. Distance Education Committees

  1. The University and the Union mutually agree that they will enter into ongoing discussion on Distance Education which shall include, but not be limited to, matters of support, training, quality, and workload issues. Any committees charged in part or in whole with the responsibility of addressing issues related to Distance Education will have at least two Union-appointed representatives.

16.4. Workload

  1. Course Development
    Pursuant to Article 16.2.b., a faculty member assigned to develop a Distance Education course, which requires substantial time and effort to learn new technologies and to develop or adapt materials, will be given appropriate ACEs during the semester of development as follows:
    1. A faculty member developing a CODEC or satellite course shall receive two ACEs for initial compilation of materials such as a workbook to support the class consisting of handouts, assignments, and supplemental materials.
    2. A faculty member assigned to develop a web-based class shall receive either a minimum of three ACEs for initial development of the course or a stipend of $5,000, subject to department chair’s approval and availability of ACEs to be assigned or availability of funds (no Professional Achievement Award [PAA] points are to be awarded for course development if the stipend is awarded).
      The department chair may award more than three ACEs based on the amount of time and effort put forth in the development of the course.
      The department chair may award a faculty member ACEs for revising or converting (to a new platform) an existing course, the number of ACEs to be determined based on the amount of time and effort put forth in revising or converting the course.
      Departments may also award points toward a PAA for the development, revision, or conversion (to a new platform) of Distance Learning courses.
  2. Enrollment and Teaching ACEs
    1. Determination of the standard class size for a Distance Education class shall be reasonable and based on pedagogical considerations, determined by the appropriate administrator in collaboration with the instructor. Large sections will be compensated by additional ACEs as specified below.
      Total enrollment for all sites for CODEC and satellite delivered classes, including the on-campus site, will be capped at previously established enrollment levels for the equivalent on-campus course.
      Total enrollments for web-based courses will be capped at previously established enrollment levels for the equivalent on-campus class.
    2. If total enrollments exceed the caps for CODEC, satellite, or web-based courses as specified above, an additional .5 ACEs will be assigned for every 25% by which the enrollment cap is exceeded.
    3. An exception to Article 16.4.b.(2) is when grading and evaluation support is provided so that there is no additional effort required by the faculty member, or the grading/evaluation instruments themselves do not require substantial effort from the faculty member, in which case no additional ACEs will be assigned.
    4. A faculty member assigned to teach a web-based course shall receive ACEs at the rate of one ACE for each semester hour.
    5. Web-based courses taught outside the regular academic year (after spring and before fall semester) will be paid at the Summer Session rate.

16.5. Classes Recorded on Video

This Article applies when a regular on-campus course is videotaped or recorded using digital technologies for use at a future time or date by either the department or the faculty member. This Article applies only to materials that are not delivered via the internet.

A faculty member using videotapes or digitally produced recordings and materials produced by the faculty member him- or herself, by another faculty member, or purchased from an outside source to teach an entire course will receive ACEs at the rate of one ACE for each semester hour.

16.6. Distance Education Courses from Other Institutions

A live, interactive Distance Education course transmitted by another institution may not be offered at a Western Illinois University site without the prior approval of the Academic Vice President if the same course is being taught that same semester at any WIU site.

16.7. Combining Courses

A regularly scheduled on-campus class with sufficient enrollment will not be canceled for the purpose of transferring or directing students into a similar Distance Education class.

16.8. Cross Reference of Other Distance Education Articles of This Contract

  1. Evaluation: For evaluation of Distance Education courses, see Article 20.16.
  2. Compensation: For compensation of Distance Education courses, see Article 29.10.