Office of Academic Affairs VCAA News October 2007

Dear Colleagues, Thanks to the leadership of Jackie Neuman in Extended Learning Services and of Jenni Klein in the University Center for Excellence in Teaching (UCET), IU South Bend is ready to embark on a journey that will introduce the campus to new opportunities in distance education.   A short time after her arrival to campus in May 2005, Jackie was given the charge of developing a strategic plan.  That plan can be viewed at http://www.iusb.edu/~extendsb/Distance_Learning_Strategic_Plan.pdf.   To remain competitive in the marketplace in the recruitment and retention of students, public universities like IU South Bend must adapt to the new options for teaching and learning that technology offers, while still providing the highest quality of educational service.  For two years now, groups of faculty and staff from Extended Learning Services, Information Technologies, and UCET have been engaged in the planning and implementation of distance learning.  The analysis has been done, the needs have been identified, and the plan of action has been developed.  Faculty input and support have been a part of this effort, every step of the way. The goals of distance learning at IU South Bend include, but are not necessarily limited to, increasing accessibility, providing options for students and faculty, increasing enrollment, improving retention, using technology to enhance teaching and learning. Chancellor Reck has supported the faculty efforts by providing start-up funding.  She has renewed that commitment by continuing to provide the necessary funds for implementation.  This spring the campus will unveil three newly developed distance learning courses: Introduction to Programming (Professor Hossein Hakimzadeh), Business Career Planning (Professor Mark Fox) and Introductory Math (Professor Dennis Wolf).   Within five years, the institutional goal is to develop thirty additional distance education courses. One of the major functions of distance education is the expansion of options for students.  Through this additional choice, it is anticipated that individual students will enroll in more credit hours and be able to access  additional options for courses that fill quickly.  It is also anticipated that distance education may aid in retention.  Research has demonstrated that students in distance education often perform as well, and in some cases achieve higher grades, than those in standard classrooms.  This has certainly proven to be true for those students enrolled in the distance Information Literacy course, Q110.  These students earned a higher GPA and were retained in larger percentages.    Currently, the Distance Learning Advisory Board, comprised of faculty and staff, working in the following sub-committees: Administrative Policy (Jackie Neuman, Chair); Faculty Support (Jennifer Klein, Chair); Program Development (Marianne Castano Bishop, Chair); Technology (Jim Yocom, Chair).  An evaluation sub-committee will be formed soon.   To assist faculty in the development of distance courses and to introduce them to teaching via distance, UCET, IMS and IT are working together to provide support.  Faculty may also seek individual help from the UCET staff members, Dr. Marianne Castano Bishop (Instructional Strategies Consultant) and Amy Pawlosky (Instructional Technology Specialist).  Amy recently joined the UCET staff and is a specialist in distance education course coordination and delivery. Some funds from the Distance Learning initiative have been used to upgrade technology in UCET, and provide staff training in using these new systems. UCET will be offering a series of open discussions and workshops for those who are interested in learning more about the options available to them, and how to apply for support of their efforts. No new initiative is without its challenges. A comprehensive distance education program is a new venture for our campus and it will take time for its complete integration into our campus culture.  To assist us with this transition, David Wood, formerly the Director of Distance Learning at Indiana Purdue University Fort Wayne spent two days in August on campus consulting and working with faculty and staff.  David met with the chancellor’s cabinet, the deans, the UCET and Extended Learning staff, the distance learning advisory board, and with individual faculty.  His time with us was well-spent as we all learned more about best practices and how best to prepare for and deliver distance education.  He generated excitement and enthusiasm.  According to him, we are well positioned to begin our own successful journey into distance education.  No doubt there will be challenges and bumps in the roads; however, I am confident that we have prepared well and are ready to begin. This effort has my complete support, and endorsement. With cooperation, sharing of resources, and a vision for future success, we will move ahead in a positive direction on this exciting journey. For more information, please contact Jackie in ELS (jab5@iusb.edu) or Jennifer in UCET (jklein@iusb.edu). It is commonly known, that this year’s campus theme centers on issues of sustainability.  Deborah Marr and her committee have put together an impressive list of activities.  I encourage you and your students to participate in as many of these as you can.  The calendar of events is linked here and under "Campus Theme" on the Academic Affairs homepage.  Associate Faculty and Lecturer Conference The 12th Annual FACET sponsored Associate Faculty and Lecturer conference will be held at the University Place Conference Center and Hotel at IUPUI on Friday, October 19 and Saturday, October 20.  The theme for the 2007 conference is “The Millennials:  When One Generation Meets Another.”  The conference is designed to be pedagogically general so that participants from all disciplines can focus on their common interests and can share their successful teaching strategies.  The following Associate Faculty members and Lecturers will represent IU South Bend at this conference.  CONGRATULATIONS to each of them for their selection for this conference. Nancy Belzowski, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Mark Bradford, School of Business and Economics John Davis, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Joanne Detlef, Writing Center Marcia Good, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Robert Guthrie, School of Business and Economics Angela Huettl, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Deb Inglefield, Raclin School of the Arts Ken Klimek, Raclin School of the Arts Jeffrey Langan, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  John Pankow, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Diane Persin, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Nancy Troeger, College of Liberal Arts and Science Assessment The Assessment Committee conducted Third Year Reviews of fourteen programs last spring.  Most programs demonstrated their strong commitment to assessing student learning through their learning goals, assessment measures and program improvements.   To look at the reports submitted and the Assessment Committee response, please see:   http://www.iusb.edu/~sbassess/Third%20Year%20Reviews/trdyrhom.shtml   Seventeen programs will be completing a review in Spring of 2008. The Assessment Committee is offering grants for new assessment related projects.  They would like to encourage faculty to apply for these grants of up to $3000 to fund improvements to their assessment programs.  Attend an assessment conference, develop an alumni survey, try a new assessment instrument or undertake one of many other projects that can enhance your understanding of student learning. For grant application instructions and forms, visit: http://www.iusb.edu/~sbassess/grants/grappli.shtml   If you have any questions, please contact rculbert@iusb.edu Kudos to Becky Torstrick for being selected to chair the system-wide University Teaching Awards Committee.  Kudos to Jim Wolfer for being elevated to the grade of Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Best wishes, Alfred J. Guillaume, Jr.