Table 2 Topic Areas,... | Emerald Publishing

Table 2

Topic Areas, Institutionalization Factors and Application Items

Topic Area	Factor	Item	Factor	Item
Planning	Institutional mission	Distance learning is compatible with institution mission/vision statements	Master plan	There is a specific master plan for distance learning
	Policies and procedures	Formal policies and procedures for distance learning have been adopted	Marketing	There is an aggressive marketing plan to promote distance learning
	Needs assessment	There is periodic assessment of faculty, student and institutional distance learning needs	Evaluation	There is a formal plan for ongoing evaluation of distance learning
Organization	Campuswide function	Distance learning is a campuswide function, not a dependent unit of a particular school, department or discipline	Centralized	Distance learning is coordinated by a single central entity, rather than run from many different departments.
	Collaboration	Distance learning staff collaborates regularly with other entities on campus to insure broad base support.	DL leadership authority	Distance learning director/ coordinator has decision making authority
	Visibility	Distance learning is visibly recognized on the institution’s web site, catalogue, bulletins or organizational chart	Communication	There is a formal mechanism for informing the campus community about distance learning activities
Resources	Instructional design support	Instructional design help to assist faculty to develop distance learning courses is available	Faculty tech support	The institution provides technical support for distance learning faculty
	Staff development	Comprehensive and ongoing staff development in distance education is provided	Funding	The distance learning program and staff are permanent budget items funded by hard money
	Infrastructure	The campus hardware and software infrastructure can support distance learning systems	Course Management System	Distance learning utilizes a course management system such as Blackboard
Personnel	DL director	There is a director/ coordinator whose primary responsibility is distance learning	Permanent staffing	Distance learning staff consists of permanent, rather than temporary, employees
	Full-time staff	Distance learning staff are assigned full-time to distance learning	Faculty participation	Faculty (especially faculty leaders) are actively recruited to teach distance learning courses
	Professional incentives	Professional incentives for teaching distance learning courses (e.g. positive evaluation for promotion/ tenure) available	Financial incentives	Financial incentives for teaching distance learning courses (e.g. course development fees, royalties) are available
Student Services	Online registration	Students can register for, add and drop courses on line	Online Library/ research	Students can access a full range of library/research services on line
	Advising & counseling	Students have access to counselors and advisors without having to come to campus	Student tech support	The institution provides technical support for distance learning students
	Online degree	Students can complete an entire degree program via distance learning	Multiple disciplines	Distance learning courses are available in multiple disciplines

Topic Area	Factor	Item	Factor	Item
Planning	Institutional mission	Distance learning is compatible with institution mission/vision statements	Master plan	There is a specific master plan for distance learning
	Policies and procedures	Formal policies and procedures for distance learning have been adopted	Marketing	There is an aggressive marketing plan to promote distance learning
	Needs assessment	There is periodic assessment of faculty, student and institutional distance learning needs	Evaluation	There is a formal plan for ongoing evaluation of distance learning
Organization	Campuswide function	Distance learning is a campuswide function, not a dependent unit of a particular school, department or discipline	Centralized	Distance learning is coordinated by a single central entity, rather than run from many different departments.
	Collaboration	Distance learning staff collaborates regularly with other entities on campus to insure broad base support.	DL leadership authority	Distance learning director/ coordinator has decision making authority
	Visibility	Distance learning is visibly recognized on the institution’s web site, catalogue, bulletins or organizational chart	Communication	There is a formal mechanism for informing the campus community about distance learning activities
Resources	Instructional design support	Instructional design help to assist faculty to develop distance learning courses is available	Faculty tech support	The institution provides technical support for distance learning faculty
	Staff development	Comprehensive and ongoing staff development in distance education is provided	Funding	The distance learning program and staff are permanent budget items funded by hard money
	Infrastructure	The campus hardware and software infrastructure can support distance learning systems	Course Management System	Distance learning utilizes a course management system such as Blackboard
Personnel	DL director	There is a director/ coordinator whose primary responsibility is distance learning	Permanent staffing	Distance learning staff consists of permanent, rather than temporary, employees
	Full-time staff	Distance learning staff are assigned full-time to distance learning	Faculty participation	Faculty (especially faculty leaders) are actively recruited to teach distance learning courses
	Professional incentives	Professional incentives for teaching distance learning courses (e.g. positive evaluation for promotion/ tenure) available	Financial incentives	Financial incentives for teaching distance learning courses (e.g. course development fees, royalties) are available
Student Services	Online registration	Students can register for, add and drop courses on line	Online Library/ research	Students can access a full range of library/research services on line
	Advising & counseling	Students have access to counselors and advisors without having to come to campus	Student tech support	The institution provides technical support for distance learning students
	Online degree	Students can complete an entire degree program via distance learning	Multiple disciplines	Distance learning courses are available in multiple disciplines