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Resolution on Online Courses
Presented April 17, 1999; Passed April 17, 1999
A variety of unresolved issues surrounding the University of Southern Mississippi's initiation of online courses must be addressed with thoughtful and urgent attention, with a primary goal of establishing policies that preserve the academic integrity and quality of the curriculum.
The Continuing Education Advisory Committee on March 29, 1999, recommended that the University Provost form a task force, with broad representation, to examine and provide recommendations on issues surrounding online courese, including [but not limited to] intellectual property rights, online course evaluation, faculty compensation, and infrastructure support, among others.
The Faculty Senate endorses the examination of issues and the development of policy recommendations related to online courses. Moreover, the Faculty Senate reiterates the long-standing principle of academic governance that oversight of the content, quality, and rigor of the USM curriculum is an essential faculty responsibility.
The Faculty Senate believes that the Academic Council and the Graduate Council, both comprised of elected members of the faculty, are the appropriate and duly constituted bodies to take leadership roles in addressing those issues and in developing policy recommendations governing online courses.
Therefore, the Faculty Senate recommends:
- The Academic Council and the Graduate Council be charged with the examination of academic issues surrounding online courses and the recommendation of policies governing online courses; and
- All online courses undergo the oversight, review, and endorsement of appropriate college councils and the Academic Council or Graduate Council before being implemented.