DESC Principles of Good Practice

DESC.info

Principles of Good Practice

The Principles of Good Practice serve to assure students of the quality of higher education courses and degree programs listed on DESC.info. The principles were developed by the Southern Regional Education Board, drawing upon the work of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education and other organizations. All higher education courses and degree programs to be listed in DESC.info must be reviewed against the Principles of Good Practice by the offering institutions and meet the criteria outlined herein. The offering institution is responsible for quality control.

Basic Assumptions
Several assumptions are central to these principles:

The program or course offered is provided by or through an institution that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body and is authorized to operate in South Carolina where the program or course originates.
The institution's programs and courses holding specialized accreditation meet the same requirements when offered via distance education.
The institution may be a single institution or a consortium of institutions.
These principles are generally applicable to degree or certificate programs and to courses offered for academic credit.
It is the institution's responsibility to review educational programs and courses it provides via distance education and to ensure continued compliance with these principles.
Institutions offering programs or for-credit courses are responsible for satisfying all in-state approval and accreditation requirements before students are enrolled.
Participants agree to accept the listing on DESC.info as assurance that courses and programs meet the Principles of Good Practice.
Institutions should give priority for enrolling in DESC.info courses and programs to qualified residents of the state.

Curriculum And Instruction

Each program or course of study results in learning appropriate to the rigor and breadth of the degree or certificate awarded.
A degree or certificate program or course offered via distance education is coherent and complete.
The course or program provides for appropriate interaction between faculty and students and among students.
Qualified faculty provide appropriate supervision of the program or course that is offered via distance education.
Academic standards for all programs or courses offered via distance education are the same as those for other courses delivered at the institution where the programs originate.
Student learning in programs or courses delivered via distance education should be comparable to student learning in programs or courses offered at the campus where the programs originate.

Institutional Context and Commitment

Role and Mission

The program or course is consistent with the institution's role and mission.
Review and approval processes ensure the appropriateness of the technology being used to meet program or course objectives.

Students and Student Services

The program or course provides students with clear, complete and timely information on the curriculum, course and degree requirements, nature of faculty/student interaction, prerequisite technology competencies and skills, technical equipment requirements, availability of academic support services, financial aid resources, and costs and payment policies.
Enrolled students have reasonable and adequate access to student services and resources appropriate to support their learning.
The institution has admission/acceptance criteria to assess whether the student has the background, knowledge and technical skills required for undertaking the course or program.
Advertising, recruiting and admissions materials clearly and accurately represent the program and the services available.

Faculty Support

The program or course provides faculty support services specifically related to teaching via distance education.
The institution ensures appropriate training for faculty who teach using technology.
The program or course provides faculty with adequate equipment, software and communications for interaction with students, institutions and other faculty.

Resources for Learning

The program or course ensures that appropriate learning resources are available to students.
The program or course evaluates the adequacy of access to learning resources and the cost to students for access to those resources. It also documents the use of distance education resources.

Commitment to Support

Policies for faculty evaluation include appropriate recognition of teaching and scholarly activities related to programs or courses offered via distance education.
The institution demonstrates a commitment to ongoing support, both financial and technical, and to continuation of the program or course for a period sufficient for students to complete a degree or certificate.

Evaluation and Assessment

The institution evaluates program and course effectiveness, including assessments of student learning, student retention and student and faculty satisfaction.
At the completion of the program or course, the institution provides for assessment and documentation of student achievement in each course.
Program or course announcements and distance education catalog entries provide appropriate information.

07/2002