Standard 2.G.1 - Continuing Education and Special Learning Activities

Off-Campus Other Special Programs Providing Academic Credit
The core purpose of MSU Billings is “to assure that all members of the University community reach their individual potential.” Students pursuing their post-secondary education in the traditional way are served through five of the six University colleges— Allied Health Professions, Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, and Technology. The College of Professional Studies and Lifelong Learning is the outreach arm of the campus. The CPSLL has served as the incubator of Health Administration, a graduate program that transitioned to the CAHP. The mission of the College of Professional Studies and Lifelong Learning is:

To respond to the needs of changing academic expectations in higher education. Specifically, the College was developed to support new ventures and interdisciplinary programs of study, pursue innovative and entrepreneurial programs, promote lifelong learning opportunities, and provide a number of University-wide functions. The educational programs offered through the College are tailored to the economic, social, and cultural needs of the University’s constituents. The educational activities may occur on campus, throughout the state of Montana, elsewhere in the United States, and worldwide.

All programs offered through the College of Professional Studies and Lifelong Learning address the University’s mission of providing students with academic excellence and exposure to an intellectual community of learners. The College works in partnership with other colleges and administrative divisions to offer programs that are designed, approved, administered, and evaluated using established and approved institutional procedures.

The fundamental challenge is accomplishing the college’s broad mission statement in a community where the general public does not necessarily understand or value higher education. To achieve this goal, the college must continually look for ways to meet the needs of its constituents, needs they may not even realize exist. The College identifies opportunities, explores niche markets in which the University has traditionally not engaged and creates original programming designed to extend University resources into the community. This requires the outreach team to be actively engaged in an ongoing dialogue with the community at large.

The unique nature of the College of Professional Studies and Lifelong Learning, coupled with its location in the heart of downtown Billings, affords the College an opportunity to interact with the community much more intimately than is typical of the academic colleges. Through its conference center, niche market programming and community events, the college has made significant progress in positioning the University as an integral community partner.

Evidence: 1.1 Mission Document

Standard 2.G.2 - Continuing Education Course Offerings

MSU Billings retains responsibility for and control of course offerings, evaluations of students, and the fiscal integrity of its programs. Established academic processes of program and course approval are managed by the faculty, department heads and Deans of the respective colleges. Many of the courses offered through CPSLL are taught by MSU Billings faculty as part of their regular teaching load, for extra-compensation or on self-support. The CPSLL serves as the designated fiscal manager for extra-compensation courses, but individual departments are responsible for the academic management of these courses. As part of the overall strategic planning process, CPSLL goals and initiatives align with the University’s Mission to ensure that ongoing as well as new program initiatives further the mission and goals of the campus. Contractual arrangements are consistent with Montana Board of Regents Policy, are recorded and are regularly reviewed.

Evidence:

• 2.8 CPSLL Operations Guide;
• 7.13 CPSLL Budget;
• 2.12 Articulation Arrangements

Standard 2.G.3 - Continuing Education Extension Programs

The creation of extension programs results from a process involving full-time faculty of the appropriate disciplines and fields. In accord with University policy, no unit other than an academic department is authorized to approve awarding of credit. Therefore, CPSLL works closely with the faculty, department chairs and deans of the accrediting college to ensure credit-awarding programs go through a process review from the proposal stage and design through program evaluations.

Evidence:

• 2.8 CPSLL Operations Guide;
• 6.10 By-laws of University Curricular Committees;
• 4.4 CBA/VTEM contract

Standard 2.G.4 - Continuing Education Organization

MSU Billings extension programs are administered through the College of Professional Studies and Lifelong Learning. The College’s educational programs are not only compatible with the University’s mission but extend the University’s mission by making education available to all who seek it through providing access to training and continuing education opportunities for the region and state via the following:

• Online Program Delivery (transferred to Colleges delivering the courses/ programs)
• Summer Session
• 2+2 Degree Completion Program (online)
• MetNet and MidRivers ITV
• Educators on Campus
• Kids on Campus
• Continuing Education (university credit, extension credit, and noncredit)
• Personal Enrichment
• Customized Training
• Workforce Development
• Elderhostel
• Senior Academy
• Conferencing Support Services

The College has 14 staff members who, under the direction of the Dean, coordinate the different sites, programs, courses and outreach efforts undertaken by CPSLL. The College also has an advisory committee. The purpose of this committee is to keep the College closely attuned to economic, social, and cultural needs of the University’s communities and constituents, and assist in ensuring that the programs and activities of the College of Professional Studies and Lifelong Learning are productive and of high quality. Currently the committee has representation from the Billings Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Billings Association, non-profit organizations, the hospitality industry, the banking industry and faculty members.

Evidence:

• 2.8 CPSLL Operations Guide;
• 6.2 Organizational Charts

Standard 2.G.5 - Accessibility of Programs

By combining the commitment to Access and Excellence with technology, students of electronically-mediated and distance delivery programs (such as 2+2 degree completion program) are ensured the opportunity to achieve personal, professional and academic goals. Ready access is provided to learning resources including Library Services for MSU Billings Online Students, Academic Advising, Financial Aid and Scholarships, University Bookstore, Career Services and Online Resource Directory. Additionally, because many faculty have laptops or home computers, interaction between student and instructor can take place after office hours.

Matching a Montana University System grant with institutional funds, MSU Billings will pilot an online tutoring program for the 2008-2009 academic year. The Academic Support Center (ASC) will identify between four and six high-risk courses and recruit and train tutors to provide help in an online environment. Students will receive help synchronously through web conferencing software and asynchronously through email and accessing online tutorials. Online tutoring will be available to all students. This project is ac ollaboration between the ASC staff on the East and West campus and the E-Learning Hub.

Evidence: 2.28 http://www.msubillings.edu/msubonline

Standard 2.G.6 - Continuing Education Fee Structure

Fee structures for extension offerings differ from those of the main campus. Extension courses are offered on a self-support basis, bearing all expenses and a portion of departmental overhead from generated revenues. Consequently, fees are calculated based on projected expenses, and minimum enrollments are established and enforced to cover all direct costs associated with course delivery.

Concurrently, the extension program’s refund policy has been developed to support the self-support model and differs significantly from that of the main campus, the primary difference being chronology. In order to receive a full refund for an extension course, participants must cancel their registration two full business days prior to the start of the course. This policy is clearly articulated to all students at the time of registration, is included in printed material distributed to enrolled students and online and is explained in the outreach catalog.

Evidence:

• 7.13 CPSLL Budget;
• 2.8 CPSLL Operations Guide

Standard 2.G.7 - Continuing Education Credit Policies

The granting of credit for all continuing education courses is based on a consistent policy and follows the standard of 15 hours of direct instructional contact per one semester credit hour. This meets/exceeds the Carnegie units for internships and practicums. The initial course proposal used to create courses is approved through academic channels. Each approval includes a course syllabus outlining course outcomes, schedule and student requirements. The University expects course instructors to maintain these standards.

Evidence: 2.8 CPSLL Instructor Guide

Standard 2.G.8 - Continuing Education Review Procedures

All credit-bearing extension offerings are approved in advance by the appropriate University department. Each course is reviewed each time it is offered for academic rigor, student outcomes assessment, and instructor qualifications by the department chair and dean of the academic college and is approved for delivery by the Provost and Director of Graduate Studies, if at the graduate level. Additionally, when appropriate, the department chair will solicit the input of faculty members when reviewing a new offering.

There are challenges the College encounters with this process. For example, when a course approval file leaves the CPSLL office, there is no standard time frame for each step in the process to be completed, and there is no system for tracking where in the process a file is at any given time. During high volume times like summer there is an added strain by both the academic colleges and CPSLL to complete the process in a timely manner. Additionally, the perception of “timely” varies dramatically between the academic college and the community at large. The College’s constituents often expect near immediate response to inquiries that can take weeks to navigate through the approval process. These challenges are amplified
when approval is requested of a department that infrequently reviews extension offerings or departments with turnover at the chair level.

To meet these challenges, CPSLL has worked closely and continually with the academic units to improve communication. Of particular note is the relationship that has been forged with the College of Education, which sees the highest volume of course-approval requests. Key factors of this relationship include dynamic two-way communication, pre-notification of offerings that fall outside the norm or include potential red flags, and commitment to timely responses from the department chairs and the dean. Additionally, the College is currently working with the University’s Information Technology department to create an electronic system that would allow this approval process to be significantly streamlined and provide immediate tracking ability.

Evidence: 2.8 CPSLL Operations Guide

Standard 2.G.9 - Prior Learning Assessment

The University offers students the opportunity to earn credit through Prior Learning Assessment in accordance with NWCCU Policy 2.3 only at the undergraduate level. This assessment will take into account work experience or other learning experiences that can be assessed through the development of a portfolio. The University offers individual instruction for students throughout the process of preparing this portfolio. The portfolio is reviewed by the faculty member who teaches the course and also approved the student for this method of requesting credit for prior learning. Typically, the faculty member will meet with/interview the student to authenticate the portfolio. One section of the portfolio requires the student to submit proof of learning (i.e. certificate of completion).

Evidence:

• 2.11 General Bulletin/COT Catalog;
• 2.5 Graduate Catalog

Standard 2.G.10 - Transfer and Articulation Agreements

MSU Billings maintains Articulation Agreements with two-year regional institutions to facilitate four-year degree completion by students transferring from those institutions. Transfer students are held to the same standards of quality as students who begin their post-secondary education at MSU Billings. The General Bulletin and COT Catalog specify the number of credits that can be transferred and policies for credit by examination and limit the number of credits to be earned toward a Bachelor degree through prior experience. These policies are in compliance with BOR policies related to transferred credit.

Evidence:

• 2.12 Articulation Agreements;
• BOR Policies and Procedures Manual (§301.5).

Standard 2.G.11 - Student Learning Assessment

Determinations of student learning and achievement are made only by qualified faculty. As part of the course-approval process, academic chairs evaluate the learning outcome measures to establish comparability with traditional instructional practices. The process of determining student knowledge, skills and competencies may involve the evaluation of portfolios, development of lessons plans, self-assessments, essays or exams. Credit is awarded only for that which constitutes academically credible and verifiable University-level learning.

Evidence: 2.8 CPSLL Operations Guide

Standard 2.G.12 - Travel/Course Study Policies

Travel/study courses offer credit through the extension program in conjunction with a sponsoring academic department and follow the same approval process as outlined in 2.G.8. Student performance and achievement are expected to be comparable to similar credit offerings of the sponsoring department.

Evidence: 2.8 CPSLL Operations Guide

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