Article 40 - Distance Learning

ARTICLE 40, Distributive/Distance Learning

A. Definitions
1. For the purpose of this Article, Distributive/Distance Learning (D/DL) is defined as stated in the California Education Code Section 66947:

"Distance learning means instruction in which the student and the instructor are separated by distance and interact through the assistance of computer and
communications technology. Distance learning also may include video or audio instruction in which the primary mode of communication between student and
instructor is though a communications medium, including, but not limited to, instructional television, video, or telecourses, and any other instruction that relies on
computer or communications technology to reach students at distant locations." D/DL may be synchronous (requiring primarily concurrent or "real time"
participation) or asynchronous (in which most participation does not necessarily occur at the same time).

2. Course development includes creating a new course or adapting an existing course to use distributive/distance learning as the primary delivery mode.

B. Colleges offering D/DL courses shall:

1. Follow agreed upon curricular development, quality standards and approval processes as developed by the college academic senate in consultation with the administration.

2. Provide technical and instructional support including personnel, services and equipment to assure successful delivery of the course in this learning mode.

3. Encourage faculty who are newly preparing to teach D/DL courses to participate in training sessions in this method of instructional delivery.

3. Insure that faculty who are preparing to teach D/DL courses at the college for the first time must either demonstrate proficiency in Distributive/Distance Learning instructional delivery methods or participate in D/DL training sessions. Proficiency in D/DL shall be determined by an agreed upon method formulated by the D/DL Committee (at the colleges where such a committee exists --see Section 5 below) or by the D/DL coordinator. Faculty may use the training hours as part of their Professional Development (flex) obligation.

4. Evaluate D/DL instructors as specified in Articles 19 and 42 and Appendix

5. D/DL Committee. A D/DL Committee or its equivalent will serve the function of communicating and advising the college in its decision-making regarding D/DL issues. It should report to the college’s Educational Planning Committee or its equivalent and should include D/DL faculty, information technology staff and administrators involved in D/DL course development and delivery. The college curriculum committee and the D/DL Committee or equivalent should address D/DL efficacy as it relates to the total instructional program.

C. Class Size, Assignments, Load, Mileage Reimbursement and Mentoring
1. Article 12, Class Size, applies to D/DL classes; provided, however, that. In addition, the first time a D/DL course is offered at a college, the maximum class size shall be 25 students, unless the assigned faculty member assigned to teach the class permits more students to enroll, but in no event shall the class size exceed 35 permits the class size to reach a maximum of 35. Thereafter D/DL class size shall not exceed 40 students unless the assigned
faculty member permits additional students to enroll.

2. Article 13, Table A, applies to D/DL classes.

3. D/DL classes shall be voluntary.

4. When a college and a faculty member agree on an assignment for the faculty member to develop a D/DL course, the faculty member shall be compensated in one or more of the following ways during the development phase of the assignment, the first time the course is offered at the college, or both, depending on the scope of the assignment: a. An agreed upon amount of reassigned time or hourly rate pay; or b. An agreed upon amount of Load Banking Credits (if the faculty member is eligible to earn Load Banking Credits); or c. Any combination of compensation methods as agreed to in writing between the faculty member and the Vice President of Academic Affairs, with a copy of the written agreement to the faculty member's department chair and the AFT Chapter Chair.

4. The D/DL faculty member may meet his or her D/DL class office hour obligation in part or whole by internet consultation.

5. Any faculty member who is assigned a D/DL class as an extra or adjunct assignment shall be assigned in seniority order as described in Article 16, except that the D/DL competency requirement in section B.3 above shall also be met. To assure that both D/DL competency and adjunct seniority requirements are met, faculty D/DL competency shall be noted on all seniority lists. Only instructors with such notation shall be offered D/DL
classes. If the faculty member so designated declines the D/DL assignment, that decline is counted as a refusal for the purposes of calculating seniority as described in Article 16. Should a faculty member no longer desire to teach D/DL classes, he or she may request in writing that such notation be removed from the seniority list. The request to change one’s D/DL designation will be effective the next term and declining a D/DL assignment in the next and subsequent terms will not be counted as a refusal. The D/DL designation can be reinstated by written request of the faculty member, effective the next term.

6. When a college and a faculty member agree on an assignment for the faculty member to develop a D/DL course or change the platform of an existing D/DL course, the faculty member shall be compensated in one or more of the following ways during the development phase of the assignment, the first time the course is offered at the college, or both, depending on the scope of the assignment:

a. An agreed upon amount of reassigned time or with a fixed stipend of at least $1000 for developing a new D/DL course.

b. An agreed upon amount of reassigned time or sum for substantive changes to a course. A substantive change shall include but not be limited to a change that the college requires the D/DL faculty member to make in response to significant changes in college or district platforms or delivery modes. This stipend constitutes “substantial support” by the District (see Article 41 D); or

c. An agreed upon amount of Load Banking Credits (if the faculty member is eligible to earn Load Banking Credits); or

d. Any combination of compensation methods as agreed to in writing between the faculty member and the Vice President of Academic Affairs, prior to the assignment start date, with a copy of the written agreement to the faculty member's department chair and the AFT Chapter Chair.

7. 5. The instructor of a D/DL class shall receive mileage reimbursement as provided by district policy if he or she is required to travel to various delivery sites as a part of the class.

8. 6. Experienced D/DL instructors selected to mentor or train others may be compensated at the non-teaching hourly rate.

as of 8/26/05
see http://aft1521.org
updated: 10-070-05