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OCICU Frequently Asked Questions
What is accelerated online learning?
It is a proven methodology to deliver asynchronous content to adult learners any time, any place, and at their convenience. With the progress of technology, accelerated online learning opens a new venue for course delivery to current and potential students.
Will online offerings increase enrollment?
OCICU offerings can supplement current curriculum and create more flexibility for your students. At Regis, online enrollments have been key to our continued growth. In 2004, 53% of our students took at least one online course.
How can we transcript academic credit when we didn’t teach the course or design the curriculum?
Your institution selects OCICU courses to be advertised to students based on your review of content and faculty qualifications. Access to syllabi and faculty vitas and or resumes is provided to member institutions to aid in the selection process.
Is online learning affordable for the students?
You set the online tuition rate for your institution based on your local market. In general, online courses are slightly more expensive than ground-based courses. However, students find that the advantages of the online option exceed the additional cost.
How much does the OCICU cost?
Membership in the OCICU requires a one time enrollment and a small annual commitment fee. Members then pay a per-enrollment fee based on current tuition rates found in the Online Consortium section of this Website.
What is the term of the contractual arrangement with the OCICU?
There are no strings attached with the OCICU. You can choose to discontinue at any time. To remain a member in good standing, the Member Institution must actively advertise and market their selected OCICU courses to its students, enroll a minimum of five (5) students per academic year in OCICU courses and remain current on OCICU fees.
Do you offer exclusivity in the area where the member institution is located?
No. The online environment transcends all geographic boundaries.
What type of resources do I need?
Minimal resources are needed to participate in the OCICU. Your students need basic computer skills and to have completed the published pre-requisites for each OCICU course in which they enroll. In addition, your institution will need to assign a liaison with whom Provider Institutions can coordinate OCICU student and administrative services.
What technical equipment is necessary for students taking online courses?
Student computers must be equipped with a Pentium processor and Internet access.
During what hours is technical support available?
Technical support is available seven days per week; Monday through Friday 8 AM - 8PM MST, Saturday and Sunday 9AM - 4 PM MST.
Who manages the OCICU courses?
Regis University will serve as the hub for the OCICU. In this role Regis will oversee hosting processes and the development, design and update of OCICU courses. Courses accepted by the OCICU will meet strict OCICU standards.
Whose academic policies govern the courses?
Students enrolled in OCICU courses will follow the grading policy of the Provider Institution. Conversely, these students will follow the drop and withdrawal policies of the Member Institution. To avoid grades being awarded for dis-enrolled students, the Member Institution must immediately notify the Provider Institution's Registrar when a student is dis-enrolled from any OCICU course.
Who pays, selects, and manages the faculty for OCICU courses?
Provider Institutions are responsible for selecting, developing, and managing faculty who facilitate OCICU courses offered by their institution.
How are your faculty selected and developed?
Affiliate Faculty selection is based on excellent academic credentials and outstanding professional qualifications. Requirements for Affiliate Faculty include, at a minimum, a Masters degree in a relevant field from a regionally accredited institution and sufficient teaching experience related to the discipline being taught. Preference is given to an earned doctorate in a relevant discipline. Those who are accepted must participate in an online assessment workshop. Applicants must pass the assessment and complete an online orientation and mentoring experience prior to being assigned a course.
Can we review the faculty credentials and approve the faculty?
Faculty credentials and qualifications are currently available in hard copy form. However, Regis University is working on a process to make them available to Member Institutions through a secured website. Although faculty selection is the responsibility of the Provider Institution, your institution can choose whether or not to advertise a course based on teaching faculty.
How do we know that the courses are of high quality?
All courses selected for inclusion in the OCICU must meet strict guidelines as established by the OCICU Provider Institutions. At Regis, the Enterprise Model, a team of 10-12 highly qualified individuals in instructional design and Web development is employed to manage the complete cycle of online courseware development. The Regis Distance Learning Group and affiliate Regis faculty members, along with guidance from the academic leadership, collaborate to develop appropriate learning outcomes supported by content, activities, and assessment tools.
What are the criteria for approved Consortium courses?
Courses accepted for use by OCICU members must meet the following criteria:
- Content is current, relevant and has been updated within the last 12 months.
- Proper learning strategies and assessment tools are applied throughout the course.
- Learning outcomes are well-defined.
- Activities and assessment tools are directly mapped toward the learning outcomes.
- Content is clear and comprehensive.
- Courses are Accessibility Compliant (W3C) to meet 2006 Federal mandate for all National colleges & universities.
- Descriptions are included on all graphics to assist vision-impaired students.
- Courses include color-contrast, sensitive design to accommodate color-blind students.
- Is designed to accommodate Screen Reader for the visually impaired.
How often do you update courses/programs?
It depends on the Provider Institution and subject area. Courses are updated according to a pre-set schedule coordinated by New Ventures of Regis University. Courses approved for the OCICU have all been updated within the last 12 months.
Can we alter course start dates to correspond to our academic calendar?
The academic calendar for the OCICU is preset by the Provider Institutions and cannot be modified.
What will students see when they log on the OCICU Website?
Students will be routed to an introductory portal for the OCICU. By selecting their home institution students can obtain information about the course(s) in which they have registered through their local institution.
How can our institution be assured that students will not be recruited for enrollment by OCICU providers?
Our research indicates, when given a viable option, students prefer their local institutions to distant or national institutions; so, the potential for Provider Institutions attracting your institution’s students is minimized. From an ethical standpoint, OCICU Providers will not actively recruit students enrolled in OCICU courses.
Can our traditional students enroll in OCICU courses?
Yes. However, while other provider courses are designed for all student types, many Regis courses are developed with the working adult in mind. Members have access to online syllabi and may review course requirements prior to enrolling traditional students in Regis OCICU courses.
How are pre-requisites handled?
Pre-requisites are listed in the course descriptions. To enable participating students to get the most out of their online course, it is important that Member Institution advisors determine if their students have taken the necessary pre-requisites to be successful in a selected OCICU courses. Additionally, evidence of mal-practice insurance is required for some nursing courses. In these cases, a copy of the insurance policy must be sent to the New Venture’s Liaison prior to registration.
How soon can I implement online curriculum in my institution?
Access to the OCICU can be implemented within 30 days of an institution’s enrollment in the Consortium. Once the Member Institution has identified its unique registration process, students can begin enrolling at their home institution almost immediately.
Can we try the Consortium to see if our students like it?
Yes, that’s one of the big advantages to the OCICU. You are in control the courses you make available to your students. You can offer as few or as many as you choose.
Can we (faculty or chair) audit a course?
Absolutely, we can arrange for you up to audit a course or to survey the content of particular courses. Just contact your New Ventures Liaison to get started.
What other services can you provide to assist us in developing online courses?
New Ventures of Regis University has an extensive array of consulting services that can be customized to meet the needs of your institution. Contact New Ventures Liaison for assistance and a list of services and prices.