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System Operations Manual 

Provost

  1. Continuing Education Programming at Mountain Grove
    1. The West Plains Campus may offer lower division courses in Mountain Grove, Houston, and Dalian, with the Springfield Campus offering upper division and graduate courses. All courses utilizing the BearNet interactive video system are subject to guidelines indicated in section IV.  below, "Distance Learning and Media-Based Instruction." The Springfield Campus may also offer those lower division courses which are uniquely available through the Springfield Campus and/or have been explicitly approved for Mountain Grove by the Administrative Council.
    2. The division of Continuing Education and the Extended campus will have "first rights of refusal" in addressing noncredit programming needs in Mountain Grove, but the West Plains Campus may also offer specialized noncredit programs which are logical extensions of West Plains degree programs. (Springfield Campus). (See additional guidelines below regarding noncredit programming.)
  2. Dual Credit Offerings
    1. The West Plains Campus will be the provider of off-campus dual credit courses throughout their seven county service area, while the Springfield Campus will provide dual credit courses throughout the remaining portion of the University's twenty-four county service area. In cases where the need for dual credit requires academic program support not found on the West Plains Campus, the Director of Academic Outreach and Distance Learning will be contacted to determine the best method of providing dual credit instruction.
  3. Off-Campus Credit Courses
    1. The Springfield Campus may offer lower division, upper division and graduate courses throughout the twenty-four county service area, with the exception of Mountain Grove and the seven county service area of the West Plains Campus where lower division courses will normally be provided by the West Plains Campus as indicated above.
    2. The West Plains Campus will continue to provide support services for Springfield Campus courses offered in West Plains, such as registration assistance, classroom space, bookstore services, and library services.
  4. Distance Learning and Media-Based Instruction
    1. Needs Assessment, the Planning Process, and Future Locations--The West Plains Campus will conduct its own distance learning and media-based instruction assessment to identify local needs. The Mountain Grove Campus is encouraged to work cooperatively with both the West Plains and Springfield Campuses in handling the needs assessment process for its region. When appropriate and feasible, needs assessments designed for the West Plains and Mountain Grove service areas should also include elements which may help in identifying needs for upper division and graduate courses which could potentially be provided by the Springfield Campus. When needs assessments are completed, the results should be provided in a timely manner to the Director of Academic Outreach and Distance Learning (Springfield Campus) for review.

      Plans for offering interactive video classes at various sites on the BearNet System should be coordinated through the Director of Academic Outreach and Distance Learning (Springfield Campus) or his/her designee in advance of making scheduling commitments. Where possible, the planning of interactive video courses should be done from a comprehensive and programmatic perspective so that students can work toward completion of total programs in addition to taking individual courses.

    2. Interactive Video: Scheduling of BearNet Classrooms- The Director of Academic Outreach and Distance Learning (Springfield Campus) or his/her designee will manage and approve the scheduling process for all interactive video classrooms which have been developed as part of the Missouri State BearNet System. With the continued expansion of BearNet classrooms, it is important that written guidelines and procedures be established and regularly updated regarding the scheduling of BearNet rooms. In updating these guidelines, input will be solicited from representatives of the West Plains, Mountain Grove, and Springfield Campuses.

      Courses offered in interactive classrooms by the West Plains or Mountain Grove Campuses will be advertised only after approval of a classroom schedule.

      It is understood that interactive classrooms are also used for administrative meetings, in-service training of faculty, and other uses in addition to typical classes. Each campus retains a level of autonomy to employ these rooms for special purposes when these uses do not conflict with the time and technical requirements involved in delivering scheduled coursework and in assuring the smooth operation of the BearNet System.
    3. Interactive Video: Lower Division Course Preparation, Conduct, and Scheduling-The West Plains Campus will design, develop, and implement its own interactive video and internet –based courses at the lower division level. All administrative functions for West Plains students (admission, registration, records, etc.) will remain with the West Plains Campus. To schedule interactive classrooms, the West Plains Campus will request dates and times through Continuing Education on the Springfield Campus as described above.
    4. Interactive Video: Upper Division and Graduate Courses-Upper division and graduate level interactive video courses will be initiated by the Springfield Campus, assisted by needs assessment data referred to above. Administrative support for registration, building and room access, parking, etc. will be handled by the respective campuses. Admissions, fees, records, etc. will remain with the Springfield Campus.
    5. Interactive Video: Programs Involving Other "Subnets"-The West Plains Campus will be responsible for procedures related to the offering of courses on "subnets" associated with their campus. This includes curriculum planning, class scheduling, and overall program implementation in cooperation with elementary and secondary school districts within the Missouri State-West Plains service area. As indicated above, however, the scheduling of those interactive classrooms which have been developed as part of the BearNet System should follow the procedures outlined in section B so that maximum utilization of interactive facilities can be achieved and a smooth operation of the total system can be assured.
    6. Interactive Video: Modifications of BearNet classrooms--Please refer to the "Distance Learning" portion of the "Information Services" section of this manual.
    7. Telecourses and Other Media-Based Instruction-The West Plains Campus may utilize whatever resources are appropriate to obtain and offer telecourses, Internet-based and other multi-media formats in delivering lower division courses. This includes but is not limited to utilizing telecourses and other formats developed by or acquired through Continuing Education on the Springfield campus.  All administrative functions for admissions, registration, room and time schedules, records, etc. will remain with the West Plains Campus.

      For upper division and graduate courses provided on the West Plains Campus by telecourses, Internet-based and other multi-media-based formats as indicated above, the two campuses will share responsibility for making course arrangements. For example, the Springfield Campus will handle admissions, fees, records, etc., while the West Plains Campus will support registration services, scheduling of facilities, building and room access, parking, etc.
  5. Noncredit Programs and Professional Development Activities
    1. The West Plains Campus is encouraged to be responsive to the continuing education needs of its seven county service area through the offering of noncredit programs, but it is also important for the campuses to function effectively as a System. To facilitate this process, it is important to take into consideration that through the Jim D. Morris Center for Continuing Education,  Continuing Education and the Extended campus has established a successful track record of providing noncredit professional development programs throughout the University's service area (including offerings in West Plains), as well as at a variety of locations throughout this region of the country. It has been awarded official "approved provider" status by numerous national, state, and professional organizations who must approve professional development credentials. It is also the designated University unit for implementing the nationally standardized Continuing Education Unit (CEU) system.
    2. As the West Plains Campus continues to grow and to offer its own noncredit programs, it is important that steps be taken to avoid duplication and competition between the campuses, to encourage coordination and cooperation, and to utilize approved systems of noncredit credentialing. To help accomplish this, the West Plains campus will coordinate with the division of Continuing Education (Springfield Campus) before initiating any noncredit courses to ensure there is no unnecessary duplication.. This includes any noncredit program which is offered in conjunction with another institution of higher learning outside the Missouri State System, whether the program is to be physically conducted on site or offered through distance learning technologies. It will be the responsibility of the Associate Provost for Public Affairs and the Extended campus or his/her designee to provide prompt and timely feedback concerning the planned course offerings so that steps can be taken within a reasonable time period to complete the course development process.
  6. Cooperative Arrangement for Offering Bachelor of Science Programs on the West Plains campus
    1. Representatives from numerous academic and administrative units representing the Springfield and West Plains Campuses have worked together to establish procedures whereby West Plains students can complete a Bachelor of Science degree on the West Plains Campus. Students who have completed an Associate degree and fulfilled enrollment requirements can also complete a selected Bachelor’s degree by taking classes delivered by the Springfield Campus. Students taking 12 hours each semester and 6 hours in the summer can complete the program in two and one-half years.
    2. The Academic Outreach and Distance Learning Department within Continuing Education on the Springfield campus assists with the overall coordination of the programs, but many specific services and administrative procedures are provided by a variety of units on both campuses. For a summary of the administrative procedures which have been established for the programs, please review the West Plains—Springfield Coordination document at http://www.missouristate.edu/enrollmentmanagement/secure/transfer.asp.
    3. As outlined in the West Plains—Springfield Coordination document at http://www.missouristate.edu/enrollmentmanagement/secure/transfer.asp, the Academic Outreach and Distance Learning Department provides orientation information to new students, monitors student enrollment levels, and works in cooperation with representatives from the West Plains Campus to implement effective marketing strategies.