The Committee on Educational Policy (CEP) has established a minimum set of academic and technical standards for “distance learning.” Distance learning is defined as courses taught in a conventional manner with some or all of the students participating outside the principal classroom but connected to the instructor, classroom, and other students via a synchronous, two-way video and audio link. These requirements below apply to courses offered to students at remote sites.

Note: Online learning, or the use of computer and internet technology to deliver teaching material without a synchronous and interactive video and audio communication link for all course participants, is not an acceptable instructional model for University-level educational courses. The Committee on Educational Policy and the Graduate Council will not approve requests for courses if the primary instructional-delivery model is online learning. However, inclusion of online components for courses which otherwise meet the usual standards of instructor/student interaction may be approved.

1. Students must be able to both see and hear the instructor and the instruction materials (chalkboard or whiteboard, computer slides, experimental setups, etc.) with sufficient fidelity that no significant information is lost. The experience for students at the remote site must be comparable to that of students participating in the host classroom.
2. Students must be able to interrupt instruction in an appropriate and effective way in order to ask questions. Student should also be able to hear questions asked by students in the host facility and the instructor’s answers.
3. Students must be able to participate in all classroom discussions.

1. Examinations must be held at the host and remote sites simultaneously, with an appropriate proctor at each remote site. The video and audio link must be maintained during the examination so that questions for the instructor can be accommodated. The proctor(s) at the remote site(s) must be nominated by the instructor when the course approval form is submitted for approval.
2. Assignments must be marked and returned to students at the remote site on the same timetable as they are returned to students at the host location.
3. Instructors must make office hours available for remote students. At a minimum, prompt use of email should ensure that remote students are not at a disadvantage to local students for things such as discussion and questions.

The ability of students to effectively participate in the classroom experience is mandatory for a course approved for instructional delivery to a remote site. Courses made available to students in remote sites may only be taught in facilities capable of sustaining a synchronous, two-way video and audio connection between the host and remote sites. The Media Center, with approval of the CEP, will provide an updated list of UCSD facilities equipped to provide such a connection.

Requests to offer courses to students in remote sites via distance learning will be reviewed and approved, as appropriate, by the CEP Subcommittee on Undergraduate Courses and the Graduate Council. The request must list the UCSD facility that will serve as the host site (the site must be on the CEP-approved list provided by the Media Center) and the appropriate exam proctor. The CEP Subcommittee on Undergraduate Courses and the Graduate Council will track and assess courses requesting distance or online instructional delivery.