1. Establishing Consistent Standards Across Campuses and Modalities AMATYC 33 rd Annual Conference Clark Brown, Mohave Community College Mark Marino, Erie Community College

2. Consistent Academic Standards Essential to Retention in Mathematics Essential to Retention in Mathematics Challenges to obtaining: Challenges to obtaining: Multi-campus environmentMulti-campus environment Onground vs. Online coursesOnground vs. Online courses Heavy dependence upon adjunct facultyHeavy dependence upon adjunct faculty

3. Consistent Academic Standards In this presentation we will explore strategies implemented at Mohave Community College in Arizona to promote consistent standards among all faculty across campuses in both onground and online offerings. In this presentation we will explore strategies implemented at Mohave Community College in Arizona to promote consistent standards among all faculty across campuses in both onground and online offerings.

4. The Need For Consistent Standards At Mohave Community College Rural Community College Rural Community College 5 th Largest County in U.S. 5 th Largest County in U.S. 13,500 sq. miles 13,500 sq. miles 4 Main Campuses 4 Main Campuses Lake HavasuLake Havasu Bullhead CityBullhead City KingmanKingman Colorado CityColorado City

5. Lake Havasu Bullhead City Kingman Colorado City Service area is 1/3 larger than the state of Massachusetts

6. Rapid Population Growth in County Rapid Population Growth in County Population has doubled in past 15 yearsPopulation has doubled in past 15 years Diverse Population Diverse Population 12.9% Hispanic12.9% Hispanic 4 Indian Reservations4 Indian Reservations 15.4% Below Poverty Level15.4% Below Poverty Level Educational Level Educational Level 9.9% of population has a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared with 24.4% of U.S. (2000 census)9.9% of population has a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared with 24.4% of U.S. (2000 census) The Need For Consistent Standards At Mohave Community College

7. Heavily Dependent Upon Adjunct Faculty Heavily Dependent Upon Adjunct Faculty 58.8% of onground math courses taught by adjunct faculty (spring 2007)58.8% of onground math courses taught by adjunct faculty (spring 2007) 91.7% of online math courses taught by adjunct faculty (spring 2007)91.7% of online math courses taught by adjunct faculty (spring 2007) Rural area contributes to shortage of local adjunct faculty meeting minimum qualifications. Rural area contributes to shortage of local adjunct faculty meeting minimum qualifications. The Need For Consistent Standards At Mohave Community College

8. Increasing demand for distance education Increasing demand for distance education Make higher education accessible to rural constituents.Make higher education accessible to rural constituents. 15% of math sections offered online spring 2007.15% of math sections offered online spring 2007. The Need For Consistent Standards At Mohave Community College

9. Establishing Consistent Standards To promote consistent standards and enhance student retention the math faculty began standardizing curriculum: To promote consistent standards and enhance student retention the math faculty began standardizing curriculum: Common TextbookCommon Textbook Common Topics to be coveredCommon Topics to be covered Specify for each course what sections from the textbook are required and which are optional. Specify for each course what sections from the textbook are required and which are optional.

10. Establishing Consistent Standards Common Final Exams and Exam Reviews Common Final Exams and Exam Reviews All online and any course taught by more than one instructor.All online and any course taught by more than one instructor. Use publisher’s test-generating software to easily update from semester to semester.Use publisher’s test-generating software to easily update from semester to semester. Common Grading Parameters Common Grading Parameters Common Graphing Calculator Requirement. Common Graphing Calculator Requirement.

11. Over time this information developed into a “Math Faculty Guidelines” document that also included: Over time this information developed into a “Math Faculty Guidelines” document that also included: Syllabus requirementsSyllabus requirements Information about examsInformation about exams Grading standardsGrading standards Calculator usage at different levelsCalculator usage at different levels Class preparation, delivery, organization and managementClass preparation, delivery, organization and management Establishing Consistent Standards

12. These guidelines now folded into college wide standardized “Course Packages”. These guidelines now folded into college wide standardized “Course Packages”.Course PackagesCourse Packages Detailed course outlineDetailed course outline Teachers guide to assist new and adjunct facultyTeachers guide to assist new and adjunct faculty Common course materialsCommon course materialsCommon course materialsCommon course materials Common grading rubricsCommon grading rubricsCommon grading rubricsCommon grading rubrics Common Syllabus TemplateCommon Syllabus TemplateCommon Syllabus TemplateCommon Syllabus Template Common Online PlatformCommon Online Platform Establishing Consistent Standards

13. Mohave Distance Education InstitutionFaculty Students

14. Background of Online Math Courses Majority of mathematics courses are offered online Majority of mathematics courses are offered online Courses are offered during the Fall, Spring and Summer terms Courses are offered during the Fall, Spring and Summer terms Primarily taught by adjunct faculty from around the United States Primarily taught by adjunct faculty from around the United States Consistent standards, policies and procedures ensure high levels of quality for online courses Consistent standards, policies and procedures ensure high levels of quality for online courses

15. Online Mathematics Faculty Guidelines Syllabi Information Syllabi Information Material to be covered Material to be covered Information about Examinations Information about Examinations Grading Standards Grading Standards Instructional Strategies/Techniques Instructional Strategies/Techniques Calculator Usage Calculator Usage Outcomes Assessment Outcomes Assessment Homework Homework Class preparation, delivery, management Class preparation, delivery, management Resource contact information Resource contact information

16. Standard Grading Policy All online math courses use a standard grading policy: On-Campus Proctored Final Exam (35%)* On-Campus Proctored Final Exam (35%)* On-Campus Proctored Midterm Exam (30%) On-Campus Proctored Midterm Exam (30%) Online Objective Weekly Quizzes (15%) Online Objective Weekly Quizzes (15%) Online Homework (15%) Online Homework (15%) Discussions (10%) Discussions (10%) *Students must score > 50% on the final exam in order to receive a satisfactory grade in the course *Students must score > 50% on the final exam in order to receive a satisfactory grade in the course

17. On-Campus Exams On-Campus Proctored Final Exam and Midterm are offered on all four campuses On-Campus Proctored Final Exam and Midterm are offered on all four campuses 65% of the final grade is determined by the on-campus midterm and final exam 65% of the final grade is determined by the on-campus midterm and final exam Maintains integrity of the course Maintains integrity of the course Offered over two-days (Friday & Saturday) with 2-hour time slots Offered over two-days (Friday & Saturday) with 2-hour time slots Photo-ID is required Photo-ID is required Students living outside the Mohave service area must obtain an exam proctor in their area and seek approval from the DE Office Students living outside the Mohave service area must obtain an exam proctor in their area and seek approval from the DE Office

18. Midterm and Final Exam Grading Procedures Exams from all four campuses are collected at the DE office which sends them to the faculty Exams from all four campuses are collected at the DE office which sends them to the faculty Exams are sent priority shipping with tracking Exams are sent priority shipping with tracking Students typically receive their grades 1-2 weeks after taking the exams Students typically receive their grades 1-2 weeks after taking the exams Graded Midterm exams may be returned to the students Graded Midterm exams may be returned to the students Graded Final exams are mailed back to the DE office Graded Final exams are mailed back to the DE office

19. Collaboration Between Resident and Adjunct Faculty Team environment between resident and adjunct faculty that promotes student success Team environment between resident and adjunct faculty that promotes student success Frequent communication on all aspects of the course Frequent communication on all aspects of the course Midterm and Final Exam collaboratively developed Midterm and Final Exam collaboratively developed Adjunct faculty share unique perspectives which enhance the courses Adjunct faculty share unique perspectives which enhance the courses

20. Support of the Distance Education Team Outstanding Distance Education Office supports adjunct faculty in all aspects of online courses Outstanding Distance Education Office supports adjunct faculty in all aspects of online courses Technical supportTechnical support Pedagogical supportPedagogical support Student service supportStudent service support Administrative supportAdministrative support

21. Portal of Support Materials A portal was developed with a great resources for online math instructors: Standards Standards Policies Policies Procedures Procedures Pedagogical Pedagogical Course Materials Course Materials

22. Increasing Student Retention Phone card provided to all faculty teaching online Phone card provided to all faculty teaching online Introductory phone callIntroductory phone call During the semester phone callsDuring the semester phone calls Distance Education Counselor Distance Education Counselor Early Academic Alert Program Early Academic Alert Program Technical Support Technical Support

23. Early Academic Alert Program Key to Retention = Early Intervention! Key to Retention = Early Intervention! Student Success Form Student Success Form Electronic Form that instructors submit after the first 3 weeks of the courseElectronic Form that instructors submit after the first 3 weeks of the course Student ResultsStudent Results Student RecommendationStudent Recommendation Intervention suggestionsIntervention suggestions DE Counselor interventionsDE Counselor interventions

24. Technical Support for Students MCC offers 24/7 Technical Support! MCC offers 24/7 Technical Support! Portal of technical help resources Portal of technical help resources Extensive distance education resources Extensive distance education resources RU Ready Assessment RU Ready Assessment Assessment to determine if a student has the technical skills, hardware, software and resources to be successful in an online mathematics courseAssessment to determine if a student has the technical skills, hardware, software and resources to be successful in an online mathematics course Opens a dialogue up between the student and instructorOpens a dialogue up between the student and instructor

25. Links Mohave Community College http://www.mohave.edu Mohave Community College http://www.mohave.edu Distance Education Office Distance Education Officehttp://www.mohave.edu/pages/150.asp Course Packages Course Packageshttp://www.mohave.edu/pages/438.asp

26. Contact Information Clark Brown Mohave CC Neal Campus - Kingman 1971 Jagerson Avenue Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 692-3033 cbrown@mohave.edu Mark Marino Erie CC North Campus 6205 Main Street Williamsville, NY 14221 (716) 270-5967 marinom@ecc.edu