Director of Distance Education - Responsibilites
Office of Distance Education
Through collaboration and cooperation with relevant University organizational units,
the Director of Distance Education will:
- work with MUSC colleges and departments to ensure effective coordination, appropriate use, and equitable scheduling of DE classrooms,
- encourage the appropriate use of distance education technology to further the mission of the University,
- assist with the integration of technology into course development and delivery,
- implement distance education courses and initiatives as defined and generated by University and external organizations,
- identify and coordinate the appropriate resources (personnel and technical) at sending and receiving sites to support the delivery of courses,
- ensure the operational readiness and periodic maintenance of distance education technology,
- coordinate the marketing of University distance education capabilities to external organizations,
- provide training to ensure proper incorporation of distance education into University programs,
- evaluate the use of distance education in course delivery and utilize the resultant data to achieve distance education goals and objectives,
- advise the University on the fiscal, equipment, and personnel resources to support distance education initiatives,
- serve on relevant University committees,
- represent the University on appropriate statewide committees,
- remain current with research and development in the fields of educational technology and distance education.
8/1/98
* The Director of Distance Education reports to the Associate Provost for Educational Programs.
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Priorities for Use of Distance Education Classrooms
Introduction
Instructional space on the MUSC campus is at a premium. Academic entities should share such space when feasible.
Policy
Distance education classrooms will be shared based on the following priorities:
- MUSC distance education academic courses and programs
- MUSC fee for service distance education activities and programs (MUSC CE programs, research or administrative videoconferencing)
- Non-MUSC fee for service distance education activities and programs
- MUSC regular (non-DE) academic classes, programs and events
Guidelines and Procedures
- Changes in the priority use of distance education classrooms may be requested through
the Office of Distance Education, which will be forwarded to the Office of the Associate Provost
for Education for appropriate action.
- Requests for one-time or short-term special use of distance education classrooms may be made
to the Office of Distance Education. If such a request conflicts with a regularly scheduled non-distance
education class, every effort will be made to accommodate the one-time or short-term use request if alternate
space can be found for the regularly scheduled class.
Approved by the MUSC Board of Trustees - December 11, 1998
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Scheduling of On-Campus Classrooms for Distance Education Use
Introduction
When scheduling distance education classrooms, the technologies in the classroom must
be matched to the instructional needs of the course or program offered. Not only should
these specially equipped classrooms be reserved for distance education use, they should
be prioritized for such utilization. The required technical support must be specified and
available. Room availability must be verified by the Central Reservations Office in the
Office of Enrollment Services
Policy
The use of the MUSC distance education facilities will be coordinated with the Office of
Distance Education to match the facilities with instructional requirements and to assure
appropriate technical support. Distance education facilities will be synchronized with
the Central Reservations Office in the Office of Enrollment Services.
Guidelines and Procedures
- If the requested DE classroom is available and is consistent with the specified delivery
strategy, the room will be scheduled and confirmation sent to the requesting party and the Central
Reservations Office within two working days following receipt of the request.
- For other than regularly scheduled academic classes, a reservation request form must be
received in the Office of Distance Education (49 Bee Street) no later than 5 pm of the
Wednesday preceding the week in which the event is to be scheduled. This request form may be
submitted electronically or via hard copy.
- If the requesting party has not previously used the distance delivery equipment,
a training/orientation session must be scheduled with the Office of Distance Education
at least 24 hours in advance of its scheduled use.
Approved by the MUSC Board of Trustees - December 11, 1998
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Timeframes for Advanced Scheduling of Distance Education Classrooms for Regularly Scheduled Credit-Bearing Academic Courses
Introduction
To maximize use of distance education classrooms, provide equitable access, and allow advance planning for
technical support, distance education classrooms (BSB 202, Nursing 220) should be scheduled well
in advance for regular credit-bearing academic courses.
Policy
Written requests for scheduling of distance education classrooms for regular credit-bearing
academic courses should be submitted to the Office of Distance Education according to the following timeline:
| Fall Semester |
May 15 |
| Spring Semester |
February 15 |
| Summer Term Semester |
September 15 |
All requests received by the specified deadline will be approved, assuming
there are no duplicate
requests for the same room at the same time. In the case of duplicate requests, the Director of
Distance Education will consult with the requesting department to resolve the issue in a fair and
objective manner, taking into consideration schedule availability and technical needs at the receiving site(s).
If one department must make a schedule change to accommodate a conflicting request from another department,
the former shall be given priority if and when a similar conflict occurs in the future.
If circumstances require that a DE classroom be confirmed before the above deadlines,
the requesting department should submit a written request, outlining the special circumstances,
to the Director of Distance Education.
Requests received after the specified deadline will be handled on a space available basis.
Approved by the MUSC Board of Trustees - December 11, 1998
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Timeframes for Scheduling of Distance Education Facilities
(for Other Than Regularly Scheduled Academic Courses)
Introduction
To maximize effective use and manage costs (set up and line charges, personnel), scheduling of
distance education facilities (BSB 202, Nursing 220) must allow sufficient lead time to
ensure necessary planning and technical support.
Policy
Written requests for scheduling of distance education facilities for other than regular academic
term classes must be submitted to the Office of Distance Education by 5:00 p.m. of the Wednesday
preceding the week in which the DE facility is to be used. Requests received after this deadline
will be handled on a space and personnel available basis, and may not be able to be accommodated.
Approved by the MUSC Board of Trustees - December 11, 1998
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Cancellation of Previously Reserved Distance Education
Facilities
Introduction
To maximize effective use and manage costs (set up and line charges, personnel), scheduling of
distance education facilities (BSB 202, Nursing 220) should allow sufficient lead time to ensure necessary
planning and technical support.
Policy
Cancellation of a distance education event (other than regularly scheduled DE classes) must be done
at least 24 working hours in advance of the scheduled event (e.g., an event that is scheduled for
Monday at 4 p.m. must be cancelled the previous Friday at 4 p.m., an event scheduled for Wednesday
at 10 a.m. must be cancelled by Tuesday at 10:00 a.m.).
Should an event be cancelled less than 24 working hours in advance of its scheduled time, a $200
cancellation fee will be charged to the requesting department to cover incurred personnel, line
access and set up fees. [This policy will take effect July 1, 1999.]
Scheduled users will not be charged a cancellation fee when cancellation is due to equipment or
transmission technical difficulties.
Approved by the MUSC Board of Trustees - December 11, 1998
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Scheduling of On-Campus Classrooms for Distance Education Use
by External Agencies
Introduction
From time to time, the Office of Distance Education receives both internal and external
requests from external MUSC agencies to use the MUSC distance education facilities.
Technical requirements for the distance education facilities must be specified and rooms
must be scheduled in ways that do not interfere with MUSC instructional programs.
Room availability must be verified by the Office of Distance Education.
Policy
Distance education facilities may be used by external agencies for distance education
purposes only. The use of distance education facilities by external agencies will be
coordinated by the Office of Distance Education and will be governed by the availability
of both the facility requested and the appropriate technical support.
A fee for service will be charged commensurate with the use requested and the
technical support required, according to the approved Distance Education Fee Policy.
Program or instructional system development assistance will not
be provided to external agencies by the Office of Distance Education.
Guidelines and Procedures
- External agencies requesting to use MUSC distance education facilities must
submit a distance education facility request form to the Office of Distance
Education no later than 5 pm of the Wednesday preceding the week in which the event is to be scheduled.
- After determining the date and time requirements as well as the technical support
needs, the Office of Distance Education will verify the availability of the
requested facility with the Central Reservations Office. The Office of Distance Education
will confirm the reservation with the non-MUSC agency within two working days of receipt of the request.
- Training of external agency personnel in the use of distance education
facility is required and will be arranged by the Office of Distance Education.
- External agencies are expected to adhere to all policies governing the use
of DE facilities, including the "No Food or Drink" policy. Failure to do so will
result in forfeiting future use of MUSC DE facilities.
Approved by the MUSC Board of Trustees - December 11, 1998
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Scheduling of MUSC Off-Campus Distance Education Classrooms
Introduction
When scheduling MUSC off-campus distance education classrooms for MUSC use (i.e., University Center in Greenville),
the technologies in the classroom must be matched to the instructional needs of the course or program being
offered at the off-campus site. Reservation of off-campus DE classrooms will take into consideration the
relevant policies at the remote site. Not only must these classrooms be assigned based on established use
priorities, but the required technical support must also be available.
Policy
The use of off-campus MUSC distance education facilities will be coordinated and scheduled
by the MUSC Office of Distance Education to match facilities with instructional requirements
and to assure appropriate technical support.
Guidelines and Procedures
- After specifying the instructional delivery strategy for the course with the
Office of Distance Education, the program sponsor must submit a completed
room reservation form (electronically or hard copy) to the Office of Distance
Education no later than 5 pm of the Wednesday preceding the week in which the event is to be scheduled.
- The Office of Distance Education will coordinate the scheduling of the requested
remote MUSC distance education facility, and will notify the program sponsor of the
confirmed room reservation with two working days of receiving the written request.
Approved by the MUSC Board of Trustees - December 11, 1998
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Scheduling of Affiliated Agency Remote Distance
Education Classrooms for Collaborative and Other Programs
Introduction
When scheduling distance education classrooms, the technologies in the classroom must be matched
to the instructional needs of the course or program being offered at the remote site. Reservation
of affiliated agency remote site classrooms (e.g., Francis Marion University, Winthrop University,
Richland Memorial Hospital) will be governed by the relevant policies of the affiliated agency.
Not only must these classrooms be assigned in accordance to established use priorities, but the
required technical support must also be available.
Affiliated agencies include government, non-profit, educational or other institutions having an
established or contractual working relationship with MUSC. The relationships may fall into two
categories collaborative and non-collaborative. Collaborative programs include participation
by all parties in the delivery of the program and a sharing in the benefits. Non-collaborative
programs are where there is no active participation in the delivery of the program by any party other than MUSC.
Policy
When the distance education course is part of a collaborative program with an affiliated agency,
the MUSC program sponsor will develop the collaborative agreement and ensure the room availability
with the affiliated agency. After being informed by the MUSC program sponsor of the agreement,
the Office of Distance Education will confirm the availability of the room and the technical
feasibility of the delivery strategy.
When the distance education course is not part of a collaborative program with an affiliated agency,
the Office of Distance Education will coordinate the location of the remote site.
Guidelines and Procedures
Collaborative Programs
- After specifying the instructional delivery strategy for the course with the
Office of Distance Education, the program sponsor will contact the affiliated
agency and reserve the remote site in accordance with the policies of the
affiliated agency.
- The program sponsor will notify the Office of Distance Education that the
agreement has been completed with the affiliated agency.
- The Office of Distance Education will confirm the technical feasibility of
the delivery strategy with the remote site and notify the program sponsor.
Non-Collaborative Programs
- After specifying the instructional delivery strategy for the course with the
Office of Distance Education, the program sponsor will submit a room
reservation form to the Office of Distance Education.
- The Office of Distance Education will locate a remote site and confirm the
agreement with the remote site.
- The Office of Distance Education will notify the program sponsor of the
remote site location.
Approved by the MUSC Board of Trustees - December 11, 1998
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Distance Education Facility Rental Policy and Fee Schedule
- Rental of Distance Education facilities must be arranged through the Director of Distance Education (843-792-4971).
- A required training fee of $35 will be charged for all first time users.
- On site technical support will be provided 30 minutes prior to the conference and for 15 minutes into the conference. If the user wishes to have a technician remain in the room or operate the equipment during the conference, an additional hourly on-site technical support charge will apply.
- The user must sign a rental agreement in advance.
- The fee schedule below applies to MUSC users of the DE facilities for any event or conference other than regularly scheduled MUSC credit-bearing distance education classes, and to non-MUSC users (individuals or agencies). Conferences or events originating from or sponsored by non-MUSC entities or agencies are considered non-MUSC users even if they are arranged through an MUSC user (e.g., a videoconference sponsored by a pharmaceutical company, a continuing education program offered by a CE provider organization, etc.). MUSC users (departments, continuing education divisions, faculty, staff, students) will receive a 25% discount. State of South Carolina colleges/universities, state agencies, and non-profit entities will receive a 10% discount. All other non-MUSC users will be charged full fees.
- Fees may be paid by Interinstitutional Transfer (IIT) or by check (payable to "MUSC Distance Education").
- Additional fees may be charged by the receiving site(s) and are the responsibility of the originating user.
|
Type of Service
|
Rate: 7:30 am — 7 pm Monday-Thursday and 7:30 am — 5 pm Friday1
|
NON-MUSC or International
128 to 364 Kbps ISDN or IP connection (includes set up, site-to-site testing fees, & technical support as described in #3 above)
|
$150 per hour, or fraction thereof
|
MUSC
ISDN Videoconferencing (includes set up, site-to-site testing fees, & technical support as described in #3 above)
|
$50 per hour, or fraction thereof
|
MUSC
IP Videoconferencing (includes set up, site-to-site testing fees, & technical support as described in #3 above)
|
$35 per hour, or fraction thereof
|
|
On site technical support after the first 15 minutes of the scheduled conference2
|
$35 per hour, or fraction thereof [optional]
|
1 At the present time, DE facilities are not available for use on weekends or after 7 pm weekdays (after 5 pm Fridays).
2 In the event of equipment or transmission malfunction, on call technical support is provided at no additional charge.
Distance Education charges are assessed under these
conditions:
- Requests for use must be filed through the office of
enrollment services.
- Use must be approved through the director of distance
education.
- A set-up fee is charged for each broadcast
- A one-hour minimum training fee is charged to each
first-time user.
- Continuous on-site technical support for the duration of
the broadcast is required evenings and weekends.
- Users must sign a rental agreement with the university
director of distance education detailing the responsibilities
of all parties.
- State agencies, educational institutions, and other
non-profit entities receive a 15% discount for one-time use and
an additional 15% discount for a long-term or recurring
program.
- Refunds are subject to the extent of prior commitment the
university must make to the line provider. For specific
details, consult with the Director of Distance
Education.
[11/9/98]
Approved by the MUSC Board of Trustees - December 11, 1998
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