Definition

The Tennessee Board of Regents technology centers, community colleges, and universities have joined in a collaborative, strategic planning effort to offer the Regents Online Degree Programs (RODP) and the Regents Online Continuing Education and Workforce Development (ROCE). All thirteen two-year community colleges deliver and award four associate degrees, while the six TBR universities deliver and award two bachelor degrees and the Master of Education, Master of Professional Studies and Master of Science in Nursing. Courses completed in the Regents Online Degree Programs are entirely online and transferable among all the participating institutions. Students are able to choose the college or university (home school) for their admission, registration, and the award of their degree.

Faculty wishing to participate in the RODP may find information regarding course proposals, contracts, training, development and course development fees at the TBR website at www.rodp.org, the MTSU RODP website at www.mtsu.edu/mtsurodp, or they may call the MTSU Distance Learning Faculty Services Office at 615/904-8276.

Special Notes

• Courses proposed for RODP development which are new to MTSU must first receive approval from the MTSU Curriculum Committee or the MTSU Graduate Council prior to submission to the TBR Curriculum Committee
• Submission of a Course Proposal to the RODP does not gurantee course development approval.
• Faculty must have an approval contract on file in the Distance Learning Faculty Services Office prior to course development in order to receive compensation.
• Departments offering RODP courses will be compensated at the overload rate for each section delivered.
• Academic departments are responsible for hiring adjuncts to teach courses otherwise taught by their RODP instructors.
• Adjuncts are required to attend Learning Management System (LMS) training prior to teaching RODP courses.
• RODP courses are accessed through the RODP website instead of through the MTSU server or PipelineMT.
• RODP and MTSU courses share a common academic calendar with one exception: RODP summer courses are taught in a single session which lasts from early June to mid-August.
• Two semesters, minimum, should be allotted for course development or revision, the review process, approval, and course scheduling.
• Textbook orders should be placed through the virtual bookstore on the RODP website.

Undergraduate and graduate RODP courses developed by MTSU faculty:

• Undergraduate Courses
• Graduate Courses

Getting Started

1. Deadlines for completion of course materials are as follows:

• November 1 - Spring Semester courses;
• April 1 - Summer Semester courses;
• July 1 - Fall Semester courses.

2. Ready to Teach Online?

Criteria for course development and other valuable information may be found at the RODP website.

3. TBR/RODP ElectronicCourse Development Proposal Form

A Course Development Proposal Form is completed and submitted for approval. A draft syllabus (using the syllabus template required by the RODP must accompany each proposal. After campus approval is received, the Course Proposal Form and draft syllabus are submitted per instructions at the top of the proposal form. A copy of each document should also be sent to the Distance Learning Faculty Services Office at cladams@mtsu.edu or MTSU Box X109.

4. Course Acceptance/Approval by RODP

Depending upon the course and the program for which it is being submitted, the proposal is reviewed by the appropriate subcommittee of the TBR/RODP Curriculum Committee. If the course is accepted for development, the instructor is notified and will then complete and submit the appropriate course development contract. Please see number 7 below and Course Approval Section for additional information.

5. Course Development Shell

When a course is accepted for development, a course shell is provided by the RODP.

6. Training on Learning Management System (LMS)

Training on the learning management system is required in order to develop and teach RODP courses. Training (workshop or one-on-one consultation) may be scheduled with the MTSU Faculty Instructional Technology Center (FITC) staff by calling 615/904-8189. The FITC also supports MTSU course designers/instructors in the development and delivery of RODP courses.

Additional technical training opportunities are available through the RODP. The Faculty Training Schedule may be found at www.rodp.org/faculty/training.htm.

7. RODP Course Development Agreement

Prospective course designers are notified by the RODP when their courses are accepted for development. The course designer should contact the Distance Learning Faculty Services Office, and a course development contract is emailed to him/her. After approval is granted by the department chair and college dean, the document must be returned to the Distance Learning Faculty Services Office for final signatures and will then be mailed to the TBR. A copy is kept on file in the Distance Learning Faculty Services Office.

The agreement outlines course development and instruction expectations as well as the terms for compensation. A copy of the approved document will be provided upon request by contacting Cindy Adams at cladams@mtsu.edu or 615/904-8276.

8. Final Course Reviews/Approval

Information about the course development review process for RODP courses may be found at the RODP website at www.rodp.org/faculty/review_process.htm.

9. Course Scheduling

The RODP expects most courses developed for the program to be offered every semester. The number of sections offered is dependent on the history of the course. If MTSU cannot staff a course it developed, it is offered to other four-year institutions for staffing.

10. Exam Proctoring

Some faculty who teach RODP courses require that their course exams be proctored. RODP students are responsible for obtaining approved proctors in these instances. Proctoring information for RODP courses is located at: www.rodp.org/students/proctor.htm.

RODP Course Development Fees
Effective June 1, 2005

When notified by the RODP that a course is approved for development, the Distance Learning Faculty Services Office orders a laptop computer for the course designer, if that pay option is selected. When the laptop computer arrives, appropriate software is installed and the unit is transferred to the inventory of the course designer’s department.

RODP Course Development Resources

ADA

• ADA Compliance
• ADA Home Page

COPYRIGHT POLICIES

• The TEACH Toolkit – an Online Resource for Understanding Copyright and Distance Learning (legislation enacted in November 2002)
• TBR Copyright Policy (last updated 2001)

MTSU

• Academic Calendar
• Adaptive Technology/Disabled Student Services
• Computer and Network Acceptable Use Policy
• ITD
• ITD Resources Policy
• Technical Support
• Walker Library Distance Education Page
• Walker Library Resources for Distance Instructors

RODP Resources

• Calendar
• Content Mentors
• Course Development Process
• Criteria for Evaluating an Online Course
• Faculty Support
• Instructor Survey
• Online Pedagogy: Theories and Best Practices
• Required Course Development Training
• Sitemap
• Standards and Template Guidelines
• What is Expected of Online Faculty