Proposal to the
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Accrediting Commission for SeniorColleges and Universities
Off-Campus and Substantive Change Committee
for the
Distance Learning Adult Development, Learning and Instruction Program
Master of Arts in Education, Educational Psychology
Prepared by
The Department of Adult Development, Learning and Instruction,
in the MichaelD.EisnerCollege of Education and
the RolandTsengCollege of Extended Learning
February 2006
Table of Contents
1.Overview/Abstract……………………………………………………………………………1
Off-campus programs offered by CSUN……………………………………………………2
2.Institutional Summary Data Form……………………………………………………………3
3.Descriptive Background, History, and Context……………………………………………4
4.Institutional Accrediting History Relevant to Substantive Change………………………5
- Program Need………………………………………………………………………………6
- Planning/Approval Process .……………………………………………………………….. 7
- Program Description………………………………………………………………………….7
- Faculty………………………………………………………………………………………..12
9.Student Support Services…………………………………………………………………...13
10.Library and Information Resources ……………………………………………………….15
11. Technology and Computer Support ……………………………………………………….16
12.Physical Resources………………………………………………………………………….17
13.Financial Resources…………………………………………………………………………17
14.Plan for Evaluating Educational Effectiveness……………………………………………19
15.Plan for Teach-Out Provisions…………………………………………………………….23
16.Appendices:
APPENDIX A –WASC Substantive Change Proposal Preliminary and Final Internal Approval Forms
APPENDIX B – Memorandum of Understanding between CSUN, the Michael D. Eisner
College of Education, and the RolandTsengCollege of Extended Learning
APPENDIX C –DL ADLI Course Development and Program Sequence
APPENDIX D –Sample Syllabi for 5 DL ADLI Courses
APPENDIX E –Distance Learning Online Curriculum Development Procedures
APPENDIX F –Curricula Vitae of Key Faculty for the DL ADLI Program
APPENDIX G –Annualized Budget Narrative, Spreadsheet, and Schedule of Student Fee Payments for the DL ADLI Program
APPENDIX H –Technology Requirements for DL ADLI Students and Faculty
APPENDIX I –DL ADLI Program Evaluation – Methods, Timelines and Assessment Forms
1. Overview/Abstract
A. Degree Program Proposed:Master of Arts Degree in Education, Educational Psychology, Adult Development, Learning and Instruction
B. Location:Delivered through multiple distance learning technologies entirely online
C. Initial Date of Offering:Spring 2007 (ca. January 30, 2007)
D. Projected Number of Students:Cohorts of 20 minimum, 35 maximum
Type of Student:Master’s Degree candidates pursuing careers and certification in adult learning and development.
E. Anticipated Life of Program:Ongoing
Timeframe of Courses:Traditional – Year Round
Two courses per term, (i.e., 2 courses each in spring and fall, 1 in summer)
F. Other Off-Campus ProgramsA list of off-campus and distance
Offered at the Institution:learning programs offered by
CaliforniaStateUniversity, Northridge follows on the next page
G. Prior Distance Learning Experience1998 –Master of Science in Communication Disorders and Sciences—Speech-Language Pathology
2002 - Master of Science in Engineering Management
2006- Master of Arts in Education, Educational Administration with Tier I Preliminary credential
LIST OF OFF-CAMPUS PROGRAMS OFFERED BY
CALIFORNIASTATEUNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE
OFFERED AT THE CHANNEL ISLANDS SITE:[1]
Undergraduate Degree Programs—Offered in Their Entirety:
Bachelor of Arts, Sociology (General Sociology option)
Bachelor of Arts, Sociology (Criminology & Corrections option)
OFFERED ELSEWHERE:
Undergraduate Degree-Completion Program:
Bachelor of Arts in Public Sector Management (a self-supporting, Special Session degree-completion program currently offered in the Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys, California)
Teaching Credential Programs:
Education Specialist Credential—Mild/Moderate Disabilities and Moderate/Severe Disabilities
(Offered at the VenturaCounty Superintendent of Schools Office)
Graduate Degree Program—Offered in Its Entirety:
Master of Arts, Public Administration (a self-supporting, Special Session degree program
offered at the Santa BarbaraCounty site)
Distance Learning Graduate Degree Programs:
Master of Science in Communication Disorders and Sciences—Speech-Language Pathology
(A self-supporting, Special Session program)
Master of Science in Engineering Management (a self-supporting, Special Session program)
Master of Arts in Education, Educational Administration with Tier I Preliminary credential
(A self-supporting, Special Session program)
2. INSTITUTIONAL SUMMARY DATA FORM
Institution:CaliforniaStateUniversity, Northridge
President/CEO:Dr. Jolene KoesterDate: February 1, 2006
- Year Founded:1956
- Calendar Plan:Term Semester Campus
- Degree Levels Offered:Bachelors (60), Masters (41), Professional (51)
- Sponsorship and Control:Public
- Current Enrollment (annualized 2003/04): Headcount% Minority[2]FTES
a.Undergraduate24,81969.6%
- Graduate7,62156.0%
- Non-degree------
TOTALS32,440 66.4%23,655
- Current Faculty (annualized 2000/01):Full-time: 872% Minority: 24.7%
Part-Time[3]: 1,013% Minority: 23.5% (fall 2003)
- Finances
a.Annual Tuition Rate:[4] Undergraduate: $2,778Graduate: $3,264
b.Total Annual Operating Budget (2003-2004 General Fund):$233.1 million
- % from Tuition and Fees:31.2%
- Operating Deficits for Past 3 Years (General Fund):-0-
- Current Accumulated Deficit:-0-
- Governing Board
a.Size:25
b.Meetings a year:6
- Off-Campus Locations
a.Number: 1
b. Total Enrollment (2001-2002 academic year): 1,868
- Distance Learning Degree Programs
- Number: 2
- Total Enrollment: 161 (2004-2005academic year)
- Library (2002-2003 physical collection only)
- Number of Volumes (bound):over 1.2 million
- Number of Periodical Subscriptions:8,000 (over 2,500 current)
3. Descriptive Background, History, and Context
California State University, Northridge (CSUN), a member of the 23-campus California State University (CSU) system, is one of the largest institutions of higher learning in California and the only public university in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley. CSUN is the third largest college or university (2004 enrollment) in Los AngelesCounty, after University of California at Los Angeles and CaliforniaStateUniversity, Long Beach.
The San Fernando Valley campus of the Los Angeles State College of Applied Arts and Sciences was established on the present Northridge site in 1956. Soon after, the campus separated from its parent college and on July 1, 1958, the institution became San Fernando Valley State College. On June 1, 1972, by action of the state Legislature and the Board of Trustees of California State University, the college was renamed CaliforniaStateUniversity, Northridge.
CSUN’s 25-year track record in offering a variety of off-campus baccalaureate, graduate, certificate and credential programs, demonstrates the University’s capacity to implement and sustain successful academic programs and services for students at remote sites. For example: the Roland Tseng College of Extended Learning (ExL) operated the Ventura Learning Center, which was the largest CSUN off-campus site in the CSU; it has now evolved into the system’s newest campus, California State University, Channel Islands.
CSUN presently offers three master’s degree programs entirely online:the Master of Science in Communication Disorders and Sciences, emphasis Speech Language Pathology, the Master of Science in Engineering Management and the Master of Arts in Education, Educational Administration with Tier I Preliminary credential.This substantive change proposal is being submitted for WASC approval to deliver the existing, residential Development, Learning and Instruction (DLI) program for the Master of Arts in Education, Educational Psychology using multiple distance learning technologies. Its working title is the Distance Learning Adult Development, Learning and Instruction (DL ADLI) program.
Offering the DL ADLI program is in keeping with CSUN’s commitment to assist students in realizing their educational goals by accommodating students who would not otherwise have access to the residential master’s degree and coursework necessary for career advancement in the field of adult learning.
The DL ADLI program also addresses the University’s goals of increasing graduation rates and reducing degree completion time while maintaining academic quality. Building on this goal for the undergraduate programs, this DL ADLI program expands this goal to increase student retention rates and on-time graduation rates for graduate programs as well. The DL ADLI Program utilizes the cohort model whereby graduate students complete their degrees within a two-year time-frame.
The DL ADLI program reflects the broader context of the CSU strategic planning framework outlined in its Cornerstones Report: Access to Higher Education. This program satisfies the report’s recommendations that the CSU, in response to emerging and changing needs, utilize extended learning units to implement innovative programs that will: increase the number of graduate and post-baccalaureate programs in financially viable ways, expand education opportunities through both state- and fee-supported programs, and build partnerships with communities, businesses, and government to make education available. This report can be found at: July 25, 2002.
4. Institutional Accrediting History Relevant to Substantive Change
California State University, Northridge (CSUN) received its first accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) during its inaugural year, 1958, and has successfully maintained uninterrupted accreditation. CSUN underwent its last review in 2000 and due to an extremely positive evaluation, the next WASC institutional review is not required until 2010, the maximum 10-year interval allowed. CSUN receives accreditation by the California State Board of Education and its professional degree programs are accredited by a variety of national societies and associations.
In 1998, the WASC Substantive Change Committee approved CSUN and ExL’s first entirely online graduate degree program, the Master of Science in Communication Disorders and Sciences. The fourth, fifth and sixth student cohorts are now in progress with a seventh beginning May 2006. In October 2002, WASC approved a second online program, the Master of Science in Engineering Management; its first cohort of students inaugurated the program in fall 2003, two additional cohorts began fall 2004 and a fourth began fall 2005.
CSUN and the Roland Tseng College of Extended Learning (ExL) have received approval from the WASC Substantive Change Committee to offer three CSUN degree programs held at off-campus sites. CSUN’s Bachelor of Arts in Public Sector Management degree-completion program was approved for offering at the Sheriff’s Office and the North County Fire Training Facility in Lancaster, California, at the Employees’ University of Santa Barbara County in July 2003 and for Santa Maria in July of 2004. The Master of Public Administration was approved for the Santa BarbaraCounty site in August 2004. The Bachelor of Science in Construction Management Technology was approved for NavalBaseVenturaCounty in June 2004.
Because additional degree, university certificate, and/or credential programs are planned for regional sites in the future, ExL will soon undertake a WASC substantive change system review. However, relative to substantive change, there are no known issues previously raised by WASC regarding any of ExL’s distance learning degree programs or those offered at regional sites.
In accordwith concepts raised by WASC, President Koester has called for a renewed commitment to transform CSUN into a more “learning-centered university” by increasing accountability, assessing student learning objectives and outcomes, and enhancing the quality of faculty and student relationships. The president’s statements regarding learning-centered universities can be found in her 2004 convocation address at:
Encouraged by WASC, CSUN conducted a self-evaluation and published a 203-page report titled Becoming a Learning Centered University. This report won praise from WASC for its ”significant contributions” in providing focus for increased educational effectiveness by utilizing technology to enhance learning, promoting student achievement, and assessing student learning in academic and co-curricular programs. The proposed DL ADLI program will be a key component in the realization of these important objectives currently being addressed by WASC and CSUN.
5. Program Need
As our community and nation face escalating shortages of skilled labor to meet the rising complexity of many jobs, employers are increasingly utilizing "in house" or "incumbent worker" training to retrain and thereby retain a quality workforce. As a result, both private sector and public organizations have developed a need for competent experts who are able to design, develop, implement and evaluate training programs. This demand is expected to increase significantly in the next decade.5
In recent years, legislation such as the federal Workforce Initiative Act of 1998, California's Employment Training Panel, and funded programs in 37 states have provided billions of dollars to numerous private businesses and corporations for the implementation of incumbent worker training programs. Identified industries that are experiencing a booming demand and a looming shortage of skilled labor include biotechnology, health care, financial services, skilled trades, and hospitality.
As well as actively advertising and recruiting for trainers and instructional designers, organizations also seek to recruit training and development experts from among their own ranks, utilizing competent and knowledgeable personnel. A need therefore exists for a program in instructional design, learning and adult development, which can be offered to currently working professionals in both our local community and targeted industries nationwide.
To help meet this need, the Educational Psychology and Counseling Department (EPC) and the Roland Tseng College of Extended Learning (ExL) propose offering a Distance Learning Adult Development, Learning and Instruction Masters Degree program (DL ADLI).
It is projected that interest and enrollment in the DL ADLI will be high, owing to the current demand for trained professionals in the field, the uniqueness of the program among CSU offerings, and the flexibility of the program for working adults.
CSUN is well qualified to offer a distance learning ADLI program. The Michael D. Eisner College of Education (COE) is regarded as one of the highest quality venues for preparing teachers and educators, and ExL already delivers three successful distance learning master’s programs. CSUN is the largest teacher training institution in the CSU system, granting a great number of the system’s master’s degrees in education and educational psychology. CSUN’s EPC graduates are in high demand and have reputations as successful leaders in schools, industry and government.
Through its existing residential programs, the EPC Department has been able to provide program access to all interested and eligible students within CSUN’s catchment area. The consensus within the EPC Department is that there is also a considerable need for an adult development learning and instruction program to tap into the market of students who are interested in furthering their current careers yet may be unable to attend an on-campus program due to work conflicts, geographical constraints, physical challenges, and family demands. The option of participating in a distance learning program offers such opportunities.
This proposed DL ADLI program will help government and industry address the needs outlined in the Workforce Initiative Act and the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative by expanding the number of qualified candidates available to business, industry and government. As interest and recruitment for training positions increases, the market of prospective students seeking alternatives to residential programs will continue to grow. Ultimately, the addition of a DL ADLI program will help the University achieve its strategic goals and mission to provide opportunities for individuals to develop intellectually, personally, and professionally, while contributing to long-term economic health in the communities where students work and live.
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5 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition
6. Planning/Approval Process
CSUN uses a formal, structured review and approval process that facilitates strategic planning within its programs. The DLI residential program has successfully met CSUN’s quality standards for graduate-leveleducation since its inception in the academic year XXXX. Because the DL ADLI program is an extension of an existing, residential program at CSUN, it will be included in any subsequent institutional reviews.
Before presentation to the WASC Substantive Change Committee, the proposed DL ADLI program underwent a thorough internal review/approval process established by the University and in accordance with recommended WASC procedures. The proposed DL ADLI program was presented to the ADLI Curriculum Committee and approved by the DLI faculty and the ExL Faculty Advisory Committee and the CSUN Graduate Studies Committee. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was developed and approved by the Michael D. Eisner College of Education (COE) and The Roland Tseng College of Extended Learning (ExL). A Program Summary for Preliminary Internal Approval for WASC Substantive Changewas reviewed and endorsed by CSUN’s WASC accreditation liaison officer, the chair of the Educational Psychology and Counseling Department, the dean of the COE, the dean of ExL, and the University provost. The final WASC Substantive Change Proposal then underwent a second cycle of review and was approved by the parties that previously signed the preliminary approval. These two internal approval forms can be found in Appendix A.
- Program Description
The DL ADLI program—a collaborative effort between the Michael D. Eisner College of Education (COE), Educational Psychology and CounselingDepartment, and the Roland Tseng College of Extended Learning (ExL)—will be offered in addition to (not in lieu of) the residential DLI program and replicates, with minor modifications, the residential program. The same faculty will use the same curriculum, and will meet the same student learning outcomes and accreditation standards as the residential DLI program.
There are two significant differences between the DL ADLI program and its residential counterpart. First, its delivery mode will be through online instruction. Distance learning is well-suited tothe demanding schedules of working adults;students are able to study anytime and anywhere. Online programs are also advantageous to those precluded from traditional programs due to geographic constraints or limited by disabilities. Second, the program will be offered in special sessions through the College of Extended Learning. As authorized by the CSU chancellor’s office (Title 5 of the Education Code, Article 3, Section 40200), special sessions make CSU programs available to matriculated students on a self-support basis, at times and in locations not supported by the state general fund.
Curriculum Requirements:
The DL ADLI, program like the residential program, will deliver to students a breadth of experience in learning that includes case studies, theory, empirical research, and direct experience. Designed to promote reflection, critical thinking, and excellence, the DL ADLI program will produce graduates who are qualified for leadership roles in private and public organizations. These graduates will be well-educated, lifelong learners prepared to practice in an ever-changing, multi-cultural world.