Handbook Introduction

The Distance Education Faculty Handbook for Online Teaching and Learning at Angelo State University is a resource for faculty members and departments interested in promoting teaching excellence, improving student learning outcomes, and encouraging ongoing professional development. Distance education promotes and supports the innovative use of technology in teaching, advising, and mentoring students while emphasizing academic excellence within a supportive environment.

The Distance Education Handbook is intended to serve as a guide for faculty teaching hybrid or online courses. They are defined by through the Texas Administrative Code as:

1. Hybrid courses - A hybrid course, is a distance education course in which more than 50 percent but less than 100 percent of instructional activity takes place when the student(s) and instructor(s) are in separate physical locations.
2. Online courses - A distance education course in which 100 percent of instructional activity takes place when the student(s) and instructor(s) are in separate physical locations. Requirements for on-campus or in-person orientation, testing, academic support services, internships/fieldwork, or other non-instructional activities do not exclude a course from this category.

While this handbook is designed to assist faculty in developing and teaching distance education and blended courses, it does not replace or supersede Angelo State Policies and Procedures. If you have any questions about the policies and procedures for distance education, please feel free to contact the Center for Digital Learning and Instruction (CDLI) for further clarification or information.

Distance education at Angelo State University adheres to the following policies and best practices:

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) policy statement for Distance and Correspondence Education
• Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) Approval of Distance Education, including Off-Campus Courses and Programs including the Principles of Good Practice

Angelo State University, through the Center for Digital Learning and Instruction and Faculty Learning Commons, provides training and other professional development opportunities to enhance the additional skills required for faculty members teaching distance education courses. Professional development incorporates best practices and technology tools often used in distance education.

Faculty members are encouraged to actively participate in training and professional development to continually enhance their skills. As regulatory requirements for digital learning evolve, staying updated is essential to effectively support our students.