Policies and Procedures
These policies and procedures are targeted to NMSU faculty and staff and explain the following:
- Definition of a distance education course
- Distance education administration
- Admissions
- Distance education fees
- Delivery methods
- Scheduling distance education courses
- BANNER distance location codes
- Programs supported by an outside agency
- Funding for distance education programs
- Forms
Definition of a distance education course
Distance Education (DE) at NMSU is defined as "the formal educational process of delivering instruction so that students physically remote from the campus of program origin and/or instructor may participate" (NMSU Policy Manual, 5.25.30). A distance education course may allow participation from a remote computer or a remote location, or may be a face-to-face course taught in a remote location. Distance education courses can serve on-campus students, but they must allow remote participation.
The following courses are considered distance education courses and should be scheduled through the Office of Distance Education:
- Asynchronous courses offered through the university learning management system with fewer than five days of required campus time.
- Synchronous courses offered through web conferencing.
- Face-to-face courses offered at a location other than the Las Cruces campus.
- Interactive television courses at NMSU community colleges or locations.
Distance education administration
Distance Education is coordinated by the College of Extended Learning in collaboration with Distance Education Directors (contact information below) in the six academic colleges.
| College | Coordinator | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture and Home Economics | Academic Associate Dean | (575) 646-1807 |
| Arts and Sciences | Academic Associate Dean | (575) 646-2001 |
| Business | Academic Associate Dean | (575) 646-5431 |
| Education | Academic Associate Dean | (575) 646-5972 |
| Engineering | DE Director | (575) 646-2730 |
| Health and Social Services | Academic Associate Dean | (575) 646-3526 |
The Director of the Office of Distance Education coordinates distance learning programs; a program facilitator schedules all DE classes in the Banner system. In addition, staff members in distant locations recruit, advise, and coordinate DE Programs throughout New Mexico.
| Coordinator | Phone |
|---|---|
| Director, Distance Education | (575) 646-5872 |
| DE Program Facilitator | (575) 646-4692 |
| DE Coordinator, Albuquerque Center | (505) 883-9308 |
| DE Coordinator, Carlsbad Campus | (575) 234-9256 |
| DE Coordinator, Grants Campus | (575) 287-6693 |
Admissions
Any student enrolling in a class at NMSU must be admitted to NMSU See Prospective Students - Apply Online for information.
Distance education fees
Distance education courses carry an additional charge of $25.00/credit hour. Therefore, a student enrolling in a three-hour course will pay a DE fee of $75.00 in addition to course tuition. Distance education fees are used entirely to support and maintain distance education degree and certificate programs. The fees are periodically reviewed and revised by the University Budget Committee.
Delivery methods
A number of synchronous and asynchronous tools are available to faculty and students at NMSU. While synchronous tools provide for more traditional interaction with students, asynchronous tools provide for time-flexible interactions. Faculty members choose one or more delivery methods that are appropriate for their courses, students, programs, and desired learning outcomes.
Delivery options include:
- Asynchronous web-based delivery using campus learning management system
- Synchronous web-based delivery using audio conferencing software
- Two-way interactive audio and video (ITV)
- Face-to-face interaction at a remote site
- Face-to-face interaction at a remote site
- Print, CD, DVD, or videotape delivery
Scheduling distance education courses
Any department seeking to offer a distance education course must complete a course authorization form. Incomplete forms will be returned, which could delay course scheduling.
Deadlines for scheduling distance education courses are the same as those for other courses; these are announced by the Registrar's Office each semester by email. Course authorization forms are due at the Office of Distance Education by then.
Please enter all requested information on the course authorization form Additional information:
- Distance education course sections are numbered 70 through 89 For ITV courses, instructors may choose to create a section numbered between 60 and 69 that does not have distance education fees attached for enrollment by Las Cruces campus students only.
- An online course should be cross-listed with any course that will share the same WebCT course for online delivery of class lists.
- Meeting days and times are for courses that meet face-to-face or use ITV or CENTRA If a course is 100% WebCT, check Asynchronous.
- Additional course fees must be approved by the Provost.
- Instructor salaries are the responsibility of the originating college.
- An email address must be included for WebCT courses so students can contact the instructor with any questions regarding the course.
- All signatures are required and must be dated. Unsigned forms will be returned to the college.
BANNER distance location codes
These codes are used on the course authorization form.
| BLDG Code | Location |
|---|---|
| S-BR | Albuquerque |
| S-CH | Roswell |
| S-CI | Grants |
| S-DA | Las Cruces |
| S-ED | Carlsbad |
| S-GR | Silver City |
| S-LA | Los Alamos/LANL |
| S-OT | Alamogordo |
| S-RA | Chama |
| S-SJ | Farmington |
| S-WSC | White Sands Missile Range |
| S-US | Study Abroad/Outside NM |
| S-MA | WebCT/Online |
Programs supported by an outside agency
Outside agencies (e.g., school districts, private companies, government agencies) may request that a program be available for their constituents. These agreements can be negotiated through the Office of Distance Education Contact the DE Director (575 646-5872) for information.
Funding for distance education programs
Distance education provides financial support for the development of certificate and degree programs, including degree completion (2+2) programs. Funding for new programs is typically awarded for two years to support the program until funding for generated student credit hours is returned to the university.
To request funding for distance education programs, complete the Request for Distance Education Program Funds form and send it to the Office of Distance Education, MSC 3CEL, in Milton Hall 185.
Questions? Contact us, or call the Office of Distance Education at 575 646-5872.
Forms
- NMSU College of Extended Learning: Distance Education
- (575) 646-4692 or (800) 821-1574 | Fax: (575) 646-2044
- Milton Hall 185
- MSC 3CEL / P.O. Box 30001, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001