Questions often arise about arranging for and the setting up of online courses. The information offered here attempts to clarify some of the confusion. Online courses fall into one of two categories:

1. Online courses offered as part of an authorized distance education program
2. Online courses offered on an Ad hoc basis

Online courses are divided into two categories for many reasons (among them: main campus and distance education credit hours are reported and funded in different ways, students in distance education sections do not pay campus fees that support on-campus student services, and students in D.E. course sections are not eligible to participate in the textbook rental program). The section numbers assigned to and reserved for distance education courses insure that reporting, funding, and services are appropriately handled.

In both categories, requests for stipends for development and delivery of online courses should be directed to the Office of Dr. Tim Burwell, Vice Chancellor for Resource Management. The most efficient way to request a stipend is to send the request through the department chair's office and then through the dean's office so that Dr. Burwell knows the department and college approve the conversion of the course to online delivery and support the request for the stipend. The Distance Education office does not play a role in the request process unless someone (the department chair, dean, or Dr. Burwell) asks if we support the request if the course is intended to be delivered as part of a distance education effort.

Online Courses in Authorized Distance Education Programs:

Students and faculty in online courses offered within the context of SACS approved and G.A. authorized distance education programs are supported by the Office of and Distance Education and other campus support units in whatever ways have been arranged for the distance education program. These online courses may be part of programs authorized as "online" or as "site-based."

Online courses offered as part of an "online" distance education program are assumed to be 100% online (require no classroom attendance for instruction or examinations). Any departure from this understanding should be discussed, in advance of the SACS approval/GA Authorization requests, with the Academic Program Coordinator & the Distance Education Program Manager for the program/cohort and must be identified before the marketing for the program begins so that applicants can make informed decisions about whether or not they can meet the "physical presence" requirement.

Online courses offered as part of programs designated as "site-based" may hold one or more classroom meetings, but the faculty member should indicate the specific dates a classroom is needed via the Course Request form and should request that a note be placed on the course in Banner so that students will be aware of the technology access requirement. Classroom space rental costs are charged to ASU Distance Education based on the number of times the site's classroom has been booked (per the faculty member's request); faculty teaching online classes are asked to be diligent in notifying the Distance Education Office when they will either need a classroom or will not need one (if one was requested).

Online Courses Offered on an Ad Hoc basis:

Courses not offered as part of officially SACS approved and G.A. Authorized distance education programs are considered to be campus courses offered via the web. Such courses are not eligible for support by Distance Education or other services funded by Distance Education for distance education faculty and students, and the general assumption should be that they will be set up by whomever is responsible for setting up other main campus courses. They should not be coded "ext," and they should not be given one of the assigned section numbers reserved for distance education course sections as this will result in student confusion & problems with textbook purchases, erroneous tuition and fee charges to the students, and errors in student credit hour reports.