POLICY: Spoon River College (SRC) has developed procedures for the general operations of the College as it relates to instruction.
SCOPE:
This policy applies to all Spoon River College faculty, staff, and students.
DEFINITIONS:
In-person Courses: Courses that meet in a physical classroom 1-4 times a week at one of the college’s four locations: Canton, Macomb, Havana, or Rushville. In-person courses also utilize the College’s learning management system (LMS) with access to the course syllabus, content, assignments, and grades.
Hybrid Courses: Courses that are a blend of in-person and online instruction. About one half of the coursework is completed though the College’s LMS. As a result, the amount of in-person classroom time is reduced. For example, a 3-credit hour course that typically meets twice a week in-person would only meet once a week in the classroom and then complete activities, such as assignments and discussions online.
Online Courses: Courses that are completed through the College’s LMS and require an internet connection. These courses typically involve the use of various technologies such as multimedia presentations, interactive simulations or projects, discussion forums, and online assessments. They are not independent study courses. Students will interact with faculty and each other through a variety of methods.
Independent Study Courses: Courses that are completed by individual students with the guidance of a qualified faculty. Methods of delivery may vary from in-person lectures to full independent learning while meeting all master course objectives. Independent study courses are generally taken as a last resort to meet the student’s needs and graduation requirements. All independent study courses must receive prior approval from the appropriate Instructional Administrator and mutual consent of the faculty member.
DETAILS:
Academic Calendar: The Academic Calendar is developed in accordance with the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) guidelines and contractual agreements. The purpose of the Academic Calendar is to ensure that students are well-informed about important dates throughout the academic year.
Course Schedules: An Instructional Administrator (or designee) develops a schedule of courses for each term to meet the needs of students and the College in accordance with the Academic Calendar and the ICCB regulations.
Instructional Resources Selection: Instructional resources, including but not limited to textbooks, open educational resources (OER), eBooks, lab kits, etc. are selected by faculty and the appropriate Instructional Administrator.
Class Performance Records: Each faculty member is required to keep a performance record for each student in their classes. At the conclusion of a course, the faculty member submits final grades which are included in each student’s permanent record and official transcript.
Assessment of Student Learning: The College has a comprehensive general education assessment plan for assessing student learning which includes general education competencies, course-level assessments, and co-curricular activities.
Concentration and Program Reviews: Concentration and Program Reviews are conducted by the Office of the Vice President of Educational and Student Services on a five-year cycle. Review reports are presented to the SRC Curriculum Committee as an information item only. In addition, scheduled Program Reviews are submitted to the ICCB annually.
Instructional Data: Instructional data is reported to ICCB as required.
Student Progress: Student progress is monitored. Follow-up studies are conducted for students completing programs, certificates and degrees.
Academic Committees: The instructional program is assisted by the work of the following academic committees:
College Governance Committees: Curriculum, Student and Academic Affairs, Instructional Resources, and College Senate.
Advisory Committees: Advisory Committee members are appointed by the President or designee and will serve for three-year terms and are arranged that one-third of the terms expire each year. Members may be asked to serve additional three-year terms when they possess a particular type of expertise not found in other available candidates. Career and technical education programs will have an Advisory Committee. Per the Advisory Committee Guidebook provided by the ICCB, Advisory Committees are required to conduct a minimum of one (1) meeting each academic year. Meetings will focus on continuous quality improvement of the programs. If necessary, the Advisory Committee may meet more often to accomplish special projects or participate in accreditation activities. Other certificate/degree programs are encouraged to develop and implement advisory committees.
Standard Requirements for Teaching a Course: SRC Faculty (both full-time and part-time) must meet the following requirements:
Faculty assigned to the course must meet the qualifications described in the applicable job description. New faculty must complete a new faculty orientation, LMS training, and subsequent instructional training prior to teaching.
Faculty must complete a working syllabus using the college-approved template within the syllabus management system. All working syllabi are accessible for students within the LMS and are archived as required by the ICCB regulations.
Faculty contact information must be available for the students to access within the LMS course.
Grades will be maintained within the LMS course for student access and archiving.
Financial Aid and Midterm Rosters must be completed by the due date provided.
Final course grades must be submitted by noon on Monday after the course ends.
Faculty are required to respond to college-provided email and LMS messaging system, in a timely manner. NOTE: All other responsibilities/requirements are provided in the appropriate job description.
Class Enrollment:
In-person and Hybrid Courses: Class enrollment is determined by the appropriate Instructional Administrator. Academic quality, safety issues and regulatory issues will be taken into consideration when class enrollment is determined.
Online Courses:
Enrollment in an online course will be limited to 25 (except for English courses which will be capped at 22).
If an online course reaches enrollment beyond normal limits for that class, additional students may be added with the mutual consent of the faculty member and Instructional Administrator. The faculty member may make consent contingent upon assignment of additional staff or resources. If a class section exceeds eight (8) students above the current maximum size limits, the faculty member will receive compensation equal to one credit hour.
Technical Support for Instruction: Instructional and technical support for faculty shall be provided by the College when teaching college-approved courses.