Committee on Online Learning

Minutes for Meeting: March 16, 2010

(Attendees: Ramona Silver(chair), Kathleen Allen, Norman Buchwald, Bob Buell, , Tom Clark, Desmond Chun, Richard Dinwiddie, Mary Dermody, Jan Novak, Lisa Ulibarri, Lani Wilson, Minta Winsor, Wanda Wong and Sherri Yeager.)

1). The committee discussed the first set of the online proposal reviews for this Spring 2010 semester. The COOL approved the written proposals of the following faculty: Jan Novak (ENTR-20), Caren Parrish (French 1B, 2A, 2B, 50A, 50B); Hilal Ozdemir (ECD-90); Carmen Johnston (Eng. 1A); Miguel Colon (ENTR-10 & ENTR-1); Catherine Pinkas & Norberto Ruiz (BUS-45); T. J. Pucket (Eng. 4). We are waiting for the rest of the first group of proposers to respond to our feedback--those are: Linda Rhodes Film-60 and Matt Davis Math-55 & 65. The review teams will offer feedback to the second set of online proposals no later than March 22, 2010.

2). Tom Clark presented a business plan for an "Institute For Online Learning" idea where students could enroll in courses and pay "extension" fees similar to what the CSU and UC systems offer but at a much lower cost. Tom presented two Education Codes: 78021 and 78022 that provide support for offering this alternative to community college students. Tom researched both professional online schools such as, University of Phoenix to see what their fees were. Additionally he looked at the extended learning program courses and fees through the CSU system and the U.C. system. The concept is to enable students who are willing to pay a full extension fee to enroll in the same courses offered through the regular campus to aid them in meeting their transfer and certification needs. Tom suggested that since students are having such a difficult time even getting courses to attend for their degrees, transfer goals, and certification, this provides a viable alternative. The following is a highlight of some of the committee responses:

a). Sherri Yeager argued that this was in fact, fostering a "class" system of education, and she suggested that this would only deflect from addressing the real issue in the state; that we need to provide more funding for education for all. She emphasized the need to investigate this idea carefully and to continue the discussion so that we can determine what the consequences of this would be for the student body.

b). Lani Wilson asked about how the funds that were generated would be used. For example could they be used to offer online counseling? She also suggested that Tom Clark discuss this idea with Financial Aid to determine how students would receive funding.

c). Lisa Ulibarri recounted that as a student having an option like this would be very useful to students. She spoke from her own experience of feeling frustrated when there were no options for her to attend certain courses.

d). Jan Novak pointed out that this would give more opportunities to all students, in that at least we would be able to offer alternatives.

e.) Michael Langdon discussed that this would offer more options for the students in obtaining important transfer courses.

f). Bob Buell stated that he felt that this would finally provide more courses for Fire, Safety and Law Enforcement training. This training is in high demand and we cannot meet the need. Thus offering these courses this way would make a huge difference in being able to expand training opportunities.

Finally, the committee will continue to examine this idea in subsequent meeting discussions.

3). The Chair submitted a list of potential Blog topics for the year 2010 and also informed the committee that she was in the process of setting up the COOL Blog.

Next COOL Meeting is Scheduled for Tuesday March 30, 2010 at Noon in IOB Room 405!