Establishing Consistent Establishing Consistent Standards Across Standards Across

Campuses and ModalitiesCampuses and Modalities

AMATYC 33AMATYC 33rdrd Annual Conference Annual Conference

Clark Brown, Mohave Community CollegeClark Brown, Mohave Community College

Mark Marino, Erie Community CollegeMark Marino, Erie Community College

Consistent Academic StandardsConsistent Academic Standards

Essential to Retention in Essential to Retention in MathematicsMathematics

Challenges to obtaining:Challenges to obtaining:• Multi-campus environmentMulti-campus environment• Onground vs. Online coursesOnground vs. Online courses• Heavy dependence upon adjunct Heavy dependence upon adjunct

facultyfaculty

Consistent Academic StandardsConsistent Academic Standards

In this presentation we will In this presentation we will explore strategies implemented explore strategies implemented at Mohave Community College in at Mohave Community College in Arizona to promote consistent Arizona to promote consistent standards among all faculty standards among all faculty across campuses in both across campuses in both onground and online offerings.onground and online offerings.

The Need For Consistent Standards The Need For Consistent Standards At Mohave Community CollegeAt Mohave Community College

Rural Community CollegeRural Community College 55thth Largest County in U.S. Largest County in U.S. 13,500 sq. miles13,500 sq. miles 4 Main Campuses 4 Main Campuses

• Lake HavasuLake Havasu• Bullhead CityBullhead City• KingmanKingman• Colorado CityColorado City

Lake Havasu

Bullhead City

Kingman

Colorado City

Service area is 1/3 larger than the state of Massachusetts

Rapid Population Growth in CountyRapid Population Growth in County• Population has doubled in past 15 yearsPopulation has doubled in past 15 years

Diverse PopulationDiverse Population• 12.9% Hispanic12.9% Hispanic• 4 Indian Reservations4 Indian Reservations• 15.4% Below Poverty Level15.4% Below Poverty Level

Educational LevelEducational Level• 9.9% of population has a bachelor’s 9.9% of population has a bachelor’s

degree or higher, compared with 24.4% degree or higher, compared with 24.4% of U.S. (2000 census)of U.S. (2000 census)

The Need For Consistent Standards The Need For Consistent Standards At Mohave Community CollegeAt Mohave Community College

Heavily Dependent Upon Adjunct Heavily Dependent Upon Adjunct FacultyFaculty• 58.8% of onground math courses taught 58.8% of onground math courses taught

by adjunct faculty (spring 2007)by adjunct faculty (spring 2007)• 91.7% of online math courses taught by 91.7% of online math courses taught by

adjunct faculty (spring 2007)adjunct faculty (spring 2007) Rural area contributes to shortage of Rural area contributes to shortage of

local adjunct faculty meeting local adjunct faculty meeting minimum qualifications. minimum qualifications.

The Need For Consistent Standards The Need For Consistent Standards At Mohave Community CollegeAt Mohave Community College

Increasing demand for distance Increasing demand for distance education education • Make higher education accessible Make higher education accessible

to rural constituents.to rural constituents.• 15% of math sections offered 15% of math sections offered

online spring 2007.online spring 2007.

The Need For Consistent Standards The Need For Consistent Standards At Mohave Community CollegeAt Mohave Community College

Establishing Consistent StandardsEstablishing Consistent Standards

To promote consistent standards To promote consistent standards and enhance student retention the and enhance student retention the math faculty began standardizing math faculty began standardizing curriculum:curriculum:• Common TextbookCommon Textbook• Common Topics to be coveredCommon Topics to be covered

Specify for each course what sections Specify for each course what sections from the textbook are required and from the textbook are required and which are optional.which are optional.

Establishing Consistent StandardsEstablishing Consistent Standards Common Final Exams and Exam Common Final Exams and Exam

ReviewsReviews• All online and any course taught by more All online and any course taught by more

than one instructor.than one instructor.• Use publisher’s test-generating software to Use publisher’s test-generating software to

easily update from semester to semester.easily update from semester to semester. Common Grading ParametersCommon Grading Parameters Common Graphing Calculator Common Graphing Calculator

Requirement.Requirement.

Over time this information developed Over time this information developed into a “Math Faculty Guidelines” into a “Math Faculty Guidelines” document that also included:document that also included:• Syllabus requirementsSyllabus requirements• Information about examsInformation about exams• Grading standardsGrading standards• Calculator usage at different levelsCalculator usage at different levels• Class preparation, delivery, organization Class preparation, delivery, organization

and management and management

Establishing Consistent StandardsEstablishing Consistent Standards

These guidelines now folded into These guidelines now folded into college wide standardized “Course college wide standardized “Course Packages”. Packages”. • Detailed course outline Detailed course outline • Teachers guide to assist new and Teachers guide to assist new and

adjunct facultyadjunct faculty• Common course materials Common course materials • Common grading rubricsCommon grading rubrics• Common Syllabus TemplateCommon Syllabus Template• Common Online PlatformCommon Online Platform

Establishing Consistent StandardsEstablishing Consistent Standards

Mohave Distance EducationMohave Distance Education

Institution Faculty

Students

Background of Online Math Background of Online Math CoursesCourses

Majority of mathematics courses are Majority of mathematics courses are offered onlineoffered online

Courses are offered during the Fall, Spring Courses are offered during the Fall, Spring and Summer termsand Summer terms

Primarily taught by adjunct faculty from Primarily taught by adjunct faculty from around the United Statesaround the United States

Consistent standards, policies and Consistent standards, policies and procedures ensure high levels of quality procedures ensure high levels of quality for online coursesfor online courses

Online Mathematics Faculty Online Mathematics Faculty GuidelinesGuidelines

Syllabi InformationSyllabi Information Material to be coveredMaterial to be covered Information about ExaminationsInformation about Examinations Grading StandardsGrading Standards Instructional Strategies/TechniquesInstructional Strategies/Techniques Calculator UsageCalculator Usage Outcomes AssessmentOutcomes Assessment HomeworkHomework Class preparation, delivery, managementClass preparation, delivery, management Resource contact informationResource contact information

Standard Grading PolicyStandard Grading Policy

All online math courses use a standard All online math courses use a standard grading policy: grading policy:

On-Campus Proctored Final Exam (35%)*On-Campus Proctored Final Exam (35%)* On-Campus Proctored Midterm Exam On-Campus Proctored Midterm Exam

(30%)(30%) Online Objective Weekly Quizzes (15%)Online Objective Weekly Quizzes (15%) Online Homework (15%)Online Homework (15%) Discussions (10%)Discussions (10%) *Students must score > 50% on the final *Students must score > 50% on the final

exam in order to receive a satisfactory exam in order to receive a satisfactory grade in the course grade in the course

On-Campus ExamsOn-Campus Exams On-Campus Proctored Final Exam and On-Campus Proctored Final Exam and

Midterm are offered on all four campusesMidterm are offered on all four campuses 65% of the final grade is determined by 65% of the final grade is determined by

the on-campus midterm and final examthe on-campus midterm and final exam Maintains integrity of the courseMaintains integrity of the course Offered over two-days (Friday & Saturday) Offered over two-days (Friday & Saturday)

with 2-hour time slotswith 2-hour time slots Photo-ID is requiredPhoto-ID is required Students living outside the Mohave service Students living outside the Mohave service

area must obtain an exam proctor in their area must obtain an exam proctor in their area and seek approval from the DE Officearea and seek approval from the DE Office

Midterm and Final Exam Grading Midterm and Final Exam Grading ProceduresProcedures

Exams from all four campuses are Exams from all four campuses are collected at the DE office which sends collected at the DE office which sends them to the facultythem to the faculty

Exams are sent priority shipping with Exams are sent priority shipping with tracking tracking

Students typically receive their grades 1-2 Students typically receive their grades 1-2 weeks after taking the examsweeks after taking the exams

Graded Midterm exams may be returned Graded Midterm exams may be returned to the students to the students

Graded Final exams are mailed back to the Graded Final exams are mailed back to the DE office DE office

Collaboration Between Resident Collaboration Between Resident and Adjunct Facultyand Adjunct Faculty

Team environment between resident and Team environment between resident and adjunct faculty that promotes student adjunct faculty that promotes student successsuccess

Frequent communication on all aspects of Frequent communication on all aspects of the coursethe course

Midterm and Final Exam collaboratively Midterm and Final Exam collaboratively developed developed

Adjunct faculty share unique perspectives Adjunct faculty share unique perspectives which enhance the courseswhich enhance the courses

Support of the Distance Education Support of the Distance Education TeamTeam

Outstanding Distance Education Outstanding Distance Education Office supports adjunct faculty in all Office supports adjunct faculty in all aspects of online coursesaspects of online courses• Technical supportTechnical support• Pedagogical supportPedagogical support• Student service supportStudent service support• Administrative supportAdministrative support

Portal of Support MaterialsPortal of Support Materials

A portal was developed with a great A portal was developed with a great resources for online math instructors:resources for online math instructors:

StandardsStandards PoliciesPolicies ProceduresProcedures Pedagogical Pedagogical Course MaterialsCourse Materials

Increasing Student RetentionIncreasing Student Retention

Phone card provided to all faculty Phone card provided to all faculty teaching onlineteaching online• Introductory phone callIntroductory phone call• During the semester phone callsDuring the semester phone calls

Distance Education CounselorDistance Education Counselor Early Academic Alert ProgramEarly Academic Alert Program Technical SupportTechnical Support

Early Academic Alert ProgramEarly Academic Alert Program

Key to Retention = Early Key to Retention = Early Intervention!Intervention!

Student Success FormStudent Success Form• Electronic Form that instructors submit Electronic Form that instructors submit

after the first 3 weeks of the courseafter the first 3 weeks of the course• Student Results Student Results • Student RecommendationStudent Recommendation• Intervention suggestionsIntervention suggestions• DE Counselor interventionsDE Counselor interventions

Technical Support for StudentsTechnical Support for Students

MCC offers 24/7 Technical Support!MCC offers 24/7 Technical Support! Portal of technical help resourcesPortal of technical help resources Extensive distance education resourcesExtensive distance education resources RU Ready AssessmentRU Ready Assessment

• Assessment to determine if a student has the Assessment to determine if a student has the technical skills, hardware, software and technical skills, hardware, software and resources to be successful in an online resources to be successful in an online mathematics coursemathematics course

• Opens a dialogue up between the student and Opens a dialogue up between the student and instructorinstructor

LinksLinks

Mohave Community CollegeMohave Community Collegehttp://www.mohave.eduhttp://www.mohave.edu

Distance Education OfficeDistance Education Office

http://www.mohave.edu/pages/150.asphttp://www.mohave.edu/pages/150.asp Course PackagesCourse Packages

http://www.mohave.edu/pages/438.asphttp://www.mohave.edu/pages/438.asp

Contact InformationContact Information

Clark BrownClark Brown

Mohave CCMohave CC

Neal Campus - KingmanNeal Campus - Kingman

1971 Jagerson Avenue1971 Jagerson Avenue

Kingman, AZ 86401Kingman, AZ 86401

(928) 692-3033(928) 692-3033

cbrown@mohave.educbrown@mohave.edu

Mark MarinoMark Marino

Erie CCErie CC

North CampusNorth Campus

6205 Main Street6205 Main Street

Williamsville, NY 14221Williamsville, NY 14221

(716) 270-5967(716) 270-5967

marinom@ecc.edumarinom@ecc.edu