Department of Education Online Course Reviews

[kmeeusen]

Our state system of community and technical colleges has recently experienced two colleges being reviewed by the Department of Education, and while supposedly the survey was full school, the entire focus of the review was our online courses.

Is or have any of you also experienced this?

Thank you,

Kelley

[laurakgibbs]

Argh! I haven't heard about anything at my school, but if I do, I will let you know.

[kburkes]

This is my guess:  Usually the feds get involved when it's something related to student financial aid.  There are specific requirements for online courses related to the degree of interactivity instructor-to-student and student-to-student.  If there is not enough interactivity, then it is considered a 'correspondence course'.  See more info here: Is Your Distance Education Course Actually a Correspondence Course? « WCET Frontiers 

[kmeeusen]

Thanks, kburkes‌

Most of this I know, but perhaps you could help me with one thing - Where are those "specific requirements" listed on the DOE site?

Thank for your help,

Kelley

[kmeeusen]

Kate:

I answered my own question, have reviewed the appropriate CFRs, and have forwarded that info out to our system colleges.

Thank you for your help!

Now I hope others respond so that I can get a good feel for the scope/extent of this.

Kelley