Delivery Mode

Distance Education Definitions
Andrews University definitions of distance education are aligned to the 2009 federal distance education definitions and the North Central Association Higher Learning Commission definitions of distance education.

Distance Education Programs are those certificate or degree programs in which 50% or more of the required courses may be taken as distance-delivered courses.

Distance Education Courses: Distance-delivered courses are those in which all or the vast majority (75% or more) of the instruction and interaction occurs via electronic communication, correspondence, or equivalent mechanisms, with the faculty and students physically separated from each other.

Andrews University has three main categories of distance education course formats that are in harmony with the Federal Definition listed in 34 Code of Federal Regulations 602.3.

• Correspondence: Correspondence education is offered where instructional materials and examinations are provided by mail or electronic transmission to students who are separated from the instructor. Interaction between the instructor and the student is limited and is primarily initiated by the student. Correspondence courses are typically self-paced. Correspondence courses may be delivered via paper; via electronic means such as email or a learning management system, or via DVDs, podcasts, streaming or similar one way media transmission.
• Interactive Online: Interactive online courses use the Internet to deliver instruction to students who are separate from the instructor. Interactive online courses use the Internet to support regular and substantive interaction between the students and the instructor. This regular substantive interaction includes a significant amount of interaction initiated by the instructor.

Interactive online courses may use synchronous (real-time) meetings, or an asynchronous paced format. Technologies may include: the Internet, satellite or room-based videoconferencing, web-conferencing, audio-conferencing, or web-based videoconferencing. DVDs, podcasts, streaming and similar one way media may be used only if they are used in conjunction with another technology that facilitates regular and substantive interaction between students and the instructor. (This matches the federal definition for distance education.)

• Blended Learning: A blended learning course includes some time where the faculty and students are physically separated from each other and additional time where the faculty and students are in the same location. Blended learning scenarios include a face-to-face class that has reduced face-to-face time replaced with extended online assignments or a short intense face-to-face time supplemented with online learning activities. The blended learning course format uses the online activities to ensure that the course meets the credit hour definition requirements. The online portion of this type of course must meet the description of interactive online courses listed above. (This matches the federal definition for distance education.)

Andrews University has two types of distance course enrollment:

• Open enrollment allows students to enroll at any time and complete the course within a set amount of time.
• Fixed Enrollment has specific start and end dates. Typically courses offered within fixed enrollment follow a semester or similar schedule, but may have other defined start and end times.