Deans & Faculty
As the stewards of academic quality in your college, you are caught between shrinking budgets and strict accreditation standards. You know that you need to increase enrollments, but not at the expense of exemplary academic outcomes and faculty good will. At Compass we are academicians who understand faculty concerns and regulatory requirements. Here are some common questions we hear from your colleagues.
Do faculty members design their own courses, select their own textbooks, and maintain academic freedom?
The institution and its duly appointed representatives are responsible for the academic integrity of the program. Their regional and professional accrediting bodies determine the academic standards of all programs, including online programs. Faculty are responsible for creating the course curriculum, selecting materials, designing learning activities, and assessing student learning. Compass can support faculty in the instructional design of the course, selection of appropriate technologies and multi-media, and of course sites.
What is your academic model? Do we have to conform to that model?
Obviously, courses delivered completely online have certain requirements that are different from courses delivered on campus. The difference is not one of academics, but one of delivery format. Compass’s e-learning experts work closely with your faculty to understand your program’s curricula and recommend a model that meets your academic requirements. Ultimately, academic decisions are yours and we will support the model you choose. Our partners appreciate the e-learning pedagogy expertise of our e-learning professionals.
Who builds and maintains the online classroom?
If the institution does not have dedicated instructional design and technology support for faculty, Compass can provide this service. Compass has a team of instructional designers and technologists who are well-versed in online pedagogies. They will work closely with faculty members to design, develop, and deploy online courses. They can provide on-demand design and technology consultation as well as personalized training in managing the virtual classroom.
Who hires and manages faculty?
In most situations, institutions hire and manage their own faculty. In situations where the program grows quickly and/or the institution does not have the administrative capacity to do handle this function on their own, Compass will upon request, find, train, manage faculty, and act as your fiscal agent. We do so only in close collaboration with the institution, using the institution’s recommended qualifications and other standards they deem critical. Anyone hired to instruct or facilitate should hold at least an adjunct appointment to the institution.
How are faculty found and compensated?
The institution maintains full responsibility for selecting and managing qualified faculty. They will want to identify potential faculty and facilitators from within their own institution and professional networks. Compass can also assist in the identification of qualified candidates and act as the Institution’s fiscal agent, if requested. The final hiring decision rests with the university’s Program Director. All faculty should hold at least an adjunct appointment to the institution as required by your regional accrediting agency.
Who maintains intellectual property rights to courses if Compass helps with course development?
Compass honors the intellectual property policy of the University. The content of a particular course is owned by the faculty developer or institution, depending upon the institution’s intellectual property policy.
Do you provide any faculty support?
Yes, Compass retention advisors support both faculty and students by providing training on course management system tools, responding to common technical issues posed by students, assisting students with textbook acquisition, posting announcements, monitoring student participation, and making student referrals. They provide a one-stop link to the critical services of the university so faculty can focus exclusively on teaching and learning, free from program and course logistics.
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