Section 2: CORE REQUIREMENTS

The institution has a governing board of at least five members that is the legal body with specific authority over the institution. The board is an active policy-making body for the institution and is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the financial resources of the institution are adequate to provide a sound educational program. The board is not controlled by a minority of board members or by organizations or interests separate from it. Neither the presiding officer of the board nor the majority of other voting members of the board have contractual, employment, or personal or familial financial interest in the institution.

A military institution authorized and operated by the federal government to award degrees has a public board in which neither the presiding officer nor a majority of the other members are civilian employees of the military or active/retired military. The board has broad and significant influence upon the institution’s programs and operations, plays an active role in policy-making, and ensures that the financial resources of the institution are used to provide a sound educational program. The board is not controlled by a minority of board members or by organizations or interests separate from the board except as specified by the authorizing legislation. Neither the presiding officer of the board nor the majority of other voting board members have contractual, employment, or personal or familial financial interest in the institution.  (Governing Board)
 

Additionally, TTU participates in the U.S. Department of Education Demonstration Program for Distance Learning.  One element of this program involved participating in the ED annual Distance Education Survey. In the fall of 2002, Texas Tech University surveyed 3,682 students and received 927 survey responses, yielding a 24.80% response rate for students enrolled in both print-based and electronic distance learning courses and a 36% response rate for students enrolled in a distance learning program.  This survey included students enrolled in courses through OES.  The response rate from 2001 was 17.80% for students enrolled in distance learning courses and 23.70% for students enrolled in distance learning programs.   For additional information about the survey and the results, see pages 41-43 of the Texas Tech University Institutional Plan for Distance Education and Off-Campus Instruction, at http://www.irim.ttu.edu/SACS/TTUInstitutionalPlanfinal.pdf,  or at  http://www.de.ttu.edu/content/pdf/TTU%20Institutional%20Plan%20final.pdf. (this link requires Adobe Acrobat Reader version 6.0 or higher.)

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These standards are not applicable to OES.

OES is not a degree-granting entity.  OES does administer a distance learning degree program for the College of Arts and Sciences; however, the responsibility for the quality, content, and evaluation of the degree program resides with the program faculty and the college. 

OES is in compliance with this requirement.

Faculty who teach independent study courses through OES are TTU faculty or instructors approved by the academic department for which they are teaching.  These individuals do not hold faculty appointments through OES, but through the academic department.

All faculty teaching through OES are approved by the respective academic department, which reviews and assures their qualifications. 

The institution has a sound financial base and demonstrated financial stability, and adequate physical resources to support the mission of the institution and the scope of its programs and services.

The member institution provides the following financial statements: (a) an institutional audit (or Standard Review Report issued in accordance with Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services issued by the AICPA for those institutions audited as part of a systemwide or statewide audit) and written institutional management letter for the most recent fiscal year prepared by an independent certified public accountant and/or an appropriate governmental auditing agency employing the appropriate audit (or Standard Review Report) guide; (b) a statement of financial position of unrestricted net assets, exclusive of plant assets and plant-related debt, which represents the change in unrestricted net assets attributable to operations for the most recent year; and, (c) an annual budget that is preceded by sound planning, is subject to sound fiscal procedures, and is approved by the governing board.

Audit requirements for applicant institutions may be found in the Commission policy entitled "Accreditation Procedures for Applicant Institutions.  (Resources)

OES is in compliance with this requirement.

Routes of compliance:

•  OES is a self-support unit; the combined FY 03 year-end fund balance represented a reserve of approximately 5.6 months of operating expenses.

(Not applicable for the Compliance Certification submitted by institution).

Section 3:  COMPREHENSIVE STANDARDS

Institutional Mission, Governance, And Effectiveness

The mission of the institution was approved by the TTU Board of Regents in November 2001.  The BOR does not review the mission statements of areas or units. 

Outreach and Extended Studies (OES) has incorporated a mission statement as part of its strategic plan, which may be found at: http://www.dce.ttu.edu/STRATEGIC%20PLAN.pdf

The OES organization and organizational duties may be found in the OES organizational chart, which is posted on the OES Web site in the employee handbook, http://www.dce.ttu.edu/empbook/es_orgchart.htm.

The area has qualified administrative and academic officers with the experience,
competence, and capacity to lead the institution.

OES is in compliance with this standard. 

A summary of the qualifications of the vice provost may be found at http://www.depts.ttu.edu/provost/rsmithbio.php, and a summary of the qualifications of the OES directors may be obtained from the vice provost in the east wing of the OES building at 6901 Quaker Ave.

The institution defines and publishes policies regarding appointment and employment of
faculty and staff.

OES is in compliance with this standard.

All directors within the Division report to the vice provost and are evaluated periodically by the vice provost.  (Documentation available in Personnel Office, Drane Hall, Room 155 and in the east wing of the OES building at 6901 Quaker Ave.).

The vice provost is evaluated periodically by the provost.  (Documentation available in the Office of the Provost, Administration Building, Room 104.)

Not applicable to unit level.

The institution’s policies are clear concerning ownership of materials, compensation,
copyright issues, and the use of revenue derived from the creation and production of all
intellectual property. This applies to students, faculty and staff.

OES participates in the ongoing, integrated TTU-wide research-based planning and evaluation process, also known as the TTU strategic plan.  The strategic plan for OES may be found at: http://www.dce.ttu.edu/STRATEGIC%20PLAN.pdf.

PROGRAMS

OES does not offer any degree programs; the College of Arts and Sciences determines the outcomes and assessments for the distance learning degree program administered on its behalf by OES.

Non-credit programs for which continuing education units (CEUs) are awarded follow the Continuing Education Unit Criteria and Guidelines of the SACS Commission on Colleges’ and the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).  Programs also follow the established criteria and rules for continuing education of professional state boards and associations.  In general, program criteria include needs identification, learning outcomes, instruction, content and methodology, requirements for satisfactory completion, assessment of learning outcomes, and program evaluation.  The institution maintains a permanent record of CEUs awarded.
 

This standard is not applicable to OES. 

OES administers one undergraduate degree program for the College of Arts and Sciences.  This program has gone through all college and institutional academic approval processes, and the program and learning outcomes are determined by the faculty and administrators within Arts and Sciences, not OES. 

OES is in compliance with this standard. 

Continuing education and outreach are part of the core mission of the Division of Outreach and Extended Studies, as noted in the OES strategic plan, http://www.dce.ttu.edu/STRATEGIC%20PLAN.pdf.

A complete list of OES non-credit programming can be found at http://www.dce.ttu.edu/Outreach/  including, for example, short courses, personal enrichment, the TTU Lifelong Learning Community, customized training, professional development and career skills.

This standard is not applicable to OES.  OES does not admit students to degree programs.

OES is in compliance with this standard. 

OES publishes an Authors’ handbook with detailed instructions for course authors, including admonitions about copyright and principles of good practice.  A copy of the handbook can be found at http://www.dce.ttu.edu/faculty_resources/.   Additionally, OES documents compliance with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Principles of Good Practice with a completed compliance form in each course file, available from the Director of Curriculum.   Additional academic policies specific to OES are found in the OES catalog section dealing with policies and procedures, http://www.dce.ttu.edu/AboutUs/policies.asp.

This standard is not applicable to OES since OES does not evaluate credit.

OES is in compliance with this standard. 

OES does not offer credit programs through consortia or contractual arrangements.  The division has offered courses through Western Governors’ University, which is itself accredited by four different bodies, but that agreement expired in the summer of 2004.  No students from Western Governors’ University are currently enrolled. 

OES is in compliance with this standard. 

OES offers academic advising to students enrolled in the Bachelor of General Studies (http://www.dce.ttu.edu/CollegeOptions/AppProc.asp), and students also have access to other services such as the Library, the High Tech Computer Store, the IT Help Desk, and AccessTech AccessTech (http://www.dce.ttu.edu/AboutUs/policies.asp).  Additional information may be found in the OES Web site at, http://www.dce.ttu.edu/CurrentStudents/SupportServices.asp and http://www.dce.ttu.edu/Bookstore/bookstoreGI.asp.

OES is in compliance with this standard.

The requirements for the distance learning Bachelor of General Studies, administered by OES on behalf of the College of Arts and Sciences, are published in the OES catalog, http://www.dce.ttu.edu/03_04%20Catalog.pdf pp. 67-69, and in the general university catalog, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/AS_und_programs.html#generaldegree.  Both catalogs are updated annually to reflect any changes in program requirements.

OES is in partial compliance with this standard.

Electronic copies of student records are secured on the OES server.  However, paper copies of student records are stored in filing cabinets, the majority of which are lockable.   The Division has recently implemented document imaging, with all appropriate security measures, which should ensure the security and confidentiality of student data.  Old paper records are held in a storage area for a period of time consistent with the state records retention requirements until such time as they may be shredded.

OES is in compliance with this standard. 

All credit courses offered through OES are written by approved faculty, who have the primary responsibility for content, quality, and effectiveness of instruction.  Prospective authors for independent study courses offered through Extended Studies may contact Extended Studies to express interest, or Extended Studies may contact department chairs for a recommendation for an author for a particular course.  Before a contract is established with an author to develop a new course or revise an existing course, the departmental chairperson must approve both the course and the prospective author. After the course is written but prior to offering it, Extended Studies submits a copy of the course to the department chair for approval.  If the course is approved at the departmental level, all necessary compliance documentation is completed and routed for signature.  Each fall semester, Extended Studies sends copies of course guides to department chairs for review and continuing approval.

Non-credit academic short courses are taught by faculty in the departments offering the short course.  Instructors in non-credit professional development programming are working professionals in the field and are recommended by the advisory board overseeing the program.

The area’s use of technology enhances student learning, is appropriate for meeting the
objectives of its programs, and ensures that students have access to and training in the use
of technology.

OES is in compliance with this standard. 

As print-based correspondence courses are converted to Web-based courses, and as new Web-based courses are developed, OES works with the Teaching, Learning, and Technology Center to ensure that courses are pedagogically sound and technologically appropriate.  OES is working with the Information Technology Division to ensure appropriate access to courses and other electronically delivered support services.  Students enrolled in online courses through OES pay the IT fee in order to assure access to these services.

OES is in compliance with this standard.

OES has created a faculty listing for the 03-04 academic year (http://www.irs.ttu.edu/SACS/Faculty/OutreachAndExtendedStudies.pdf).  All faculty teaching through OES are either approved by their respective academic department, which reviews and assures their qualifications, or satisfy OP32.02 of Texas Tech University (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP32.02.pdf). One possible exception is Vanessa Robison, who does not satisfy the 18-hour rule, but is otherwise qualified to teach accounting because of her status as self-employed CPA since 1990.

OES is in compliance with this standard. 

Students are asked to complete an evaluation upon completion of courses taken through OES, and there is a response rate of approximately 80-90%.  These evaluations are reviewed by the Director of Student Services before being submitted to the faculty member.  Any concerns are referred to the chairperson of the appropriate academic department.

This standard is not applicable to OES. 

Almost all of the faculty who teach courses through OES are regular TTU faculty or graduate part-time instructors; non-TTU personnel teaching through OES are former TTU faculty or are approved by the academic departments.  Ongoing professional development would be documented through the academic department.  All faculty have access to the instructional development opportunities offered through the Teaching, Learning, and Technology Center, (www.tltc.ttu.edu) as well as departmental resources.

The academic departments with which OES works assure that the TTU library meets this standard with regard to courses offered through OES.

The Library provides online help/FAQs at http://library.ttu.edu/ul/help/; distance learning students may also access additional assistance and instruction online at http://library.ttu.edu/distance/.

RESOURCES

Section 4:  FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS