Distance Learning Administration Survey
Administered August 2008
Date opened 8/13/08
Date closed: 8/22/08
Total respondents: 17
1. What was the total number of distance learning course enrollments at your institution in Fall 2007?
Total DL enrollments |
Response % |
Response count |
0-1,000 |
35.3% |
6 |
1,001-3,000 |
41.2% |
7 |
3,001-6,000 |
11.8% |
2 |
6,001-10,000 |
0% |
0 |
10,001 and above |
11.8% |
2 |
Answered question |
100% |
17 |
Skipped question |
0% |
0 |
2. What was the percentage of distance learning enrollments to total enrollments?
DL enrollments to total enrollments |
Response % |
Response count |
< 5% |
6.3% |
1 |
5-9% |
12.5% |
2 |
10-14% |
18.8% |
3 |
15-19% |
31.3% |
5 |
20-24% |
25% |
4 |
25% or > |
6.3% |
1 |
Answered question |
94.1% |
16 |
Skipped question |
5.9% |
1 |
3. How many employees DIRECTLY support distance learning activities at your institution?
# of positions directly supporting DL |
Response % |
Response count |
0 |
0% |
0 |
1 |
5.9% |
1 |
2 |
17.6% |
3 |
3 |
47.1% |
8 |
4 |
5.9% |
1 |
5 |
5.9% |
1 |
Greater than 5 |
17.6% |
3 |
Answered question |
100% |
17 |
Skipped question |
0% |
0 |
4. What positions report DIRECTLY to the distance learning administrator?
Position titles reporting directly to DL |
Response % |
Response count |
Administrative Asst. |
62.5% |
10 |
Instructional designer/developer |
31.3% |
5 |
Recruitment/retention |
0% |
0 |
Learning technologist |
18.8% |
3 |
Professional developer/trainer |
6.3% |
1 |
Other:
- Support & Training Specialist
- Distance Learning Specialist-Distance Learning Support Servcies Specialist-Support Services Coordinator
- Learning support specialist - room reservation, VCT enrollment, student support, etc
- Web Support Specialist
- Software Manager, Support Specialist, Media Specialist
- Faculty support specialist, Media services department Switchboard
- Coordinator of Distance Learning. Both positions report directly to the Dean of Workforce, Learning Resources, Distance Learning and Continuing Education
- Distance Learning Webmaster
|
50.0% |
8 |
Answered question |
94.1% |
16 |
Skipped question |
5.9% |
1 |
5. How many employees INDIRECTLY support distance learning activities at your institution?
# of positions indirectly supporting DL |
Response % |
Response count |
0 |
17.6% |
3 |
1 |
5.9% |
1 |
2 |
11.8% |
2 |
3 |
11.8% |
2 |
4 |
5.9% |
1 |
5 |
5.9% |
1 |
Greater than 5 |
41.2% |
7 |
Answered question |
100% |
17 |
Skipped question |
0% |
0 |
6. What positions INDIRECTLY support distance learning activities but do not report directly to the distance learning administrator?
Position titles indirectly supporting DL |
Response % |
Response count |
Administrative assistant |
28.6% |
4 |
Instructional designer/developer |
21.4% |
3 |
Recruitment/retention |
28.6% |
4 |
Learning technologist |
28.6% |
4 |
Professional development/Trainer |
21.4% |
3 |
Other (please specify):
- Computer Help Desk
- Blackboard Administrator - Instructional Applications Administrator - Distance Learning Counselor
- Enrollment services, chairs, administration
- Media Services Faculty mentors on stipend
- DE Advisor and IT support person
- Server Administrator
- Counseling Center, Testing Center, Deans and Assistant Deans, Faculty
- Counselor, registrar assistant
- IT and Administrative computing.
- IT Support Staff, professional development, VCT
|
71.4% |
10 |
Answered question |
82.4% |
14 |
Skipped question |
17.6% |
3 |
7. What is the title of the administrator responsible for distance learning activities?
Answered question: 17 (100%)
Skipped question: 0
- asistant director of distance education
- Director of eLearning
- Director of Distance Learning
- Director of Distance Education
- Unofficially....Coordinator of Distance Learning
- Director of Distance Education
- Director, Distance Education
- Director of Distance Learning
- Dean of Distance Education
- Director of Online Instruction
- Director of Distance Learning and Instructional Technology
- Director, Learning Asst, Distance Learning & Instructional Media
- Dean of DL
- Dean of Workforce, Learning Resources, Distance Learning and Continuing Education
- Director, Distance Education
- Associate Dean
- Director of Distance Learning
8. To what position does the distance learning administrator report to?
Answered question: 17 (100%)
Skipped question: 0
- dean of instructional support
- VP of Instruction
- Associate VP for Instructional Resources and Technology
- Vice President of Academic Affairs
- Academic Vice President
- Provost
- Dean
- Associate Vice-Chancellor for Teaching & Learning
- Vice President
- Vice President of Academic Affairs
- Vice President of Instruction
- Dean, Education Programs & Services
- VP of Instruction
- Vice President for Academic Affairs
- Associate V.P. of Student Learning
- Dean of Academic Studies
- Vice President of Instruction
9. Is the staffing of your distance learning department sufficient? If not, what positions should be added?
Position titles indirectly supporting DL |
Response % |
Response count |
Yes, the distance learning department is adequately staffed. |
41.2% |
7 |
No, the distance learning department is not adequately staffed and these are the positions that should be added:
- Instructional Designer
- Instructional designer Mulit-media specialist
- Instructional Designer Instructional Technologist
- We need an additional person with technical skills to help train and troubleshoot software problems.
- More technical positions for design, media, and building of course sections. Position for advising and retention. More positions for curriculum and training of faculty.
- Another support specialist and part-time people for help desk at night/weekends
- Administrative Assistant, Help Desk Support, Instructional Designer, Administrative Assistant
- Advisor/Administrative Assistant for Distance Learning Course Management System and Instructional Technology Support Specialist
- Two positions: instructional designer and retention specialist
- Barely, but we get by.
|
58.8% |
10 |
Answered question |
100% |
17 |
Skipped question |
0% |
0 |
10. Please share any comments dealing with your distance learning organizational structure. Is it working? Why or why not? Ways to improve DL efforts, etc. (11 responses)
Answered question: 11 (64.7%)
Skipped question: 6 (35.3%)
- It is working well.
- Basically within IRT (see above) are the Instructional Design Services, and Systems Administration which support DL. Please look at org chart to get an idea of our structure. http://www.austincc.edu/orgref/pdfs/irtorg.pdf IT is under the same VP so that also helps. See org chart. http://www.austincc.edu/orgref/pdfs/cssisd.pdf Support wise, this organizational structure seems to be working.
- The position is unique because it primarily is responsible for the strategic planning and marketing of the distance education endeavors (i.e. weekend, certificate programs, etc) of the college. The office provides training only to students and this is of course only if they call in to ask for help. There is no student learning center at this time although there are plans to have one. So the structure of this position does not have a direct impact or should I say influence over such matters as curriculum design, program design, or instructional layout of the online courses.
- We are understaffed and do not have enough resources. The administrator of the program is a full time, tenure track faculty member as well as the full time administrator of DL. We serve over 7500 during the Fall/Spring semeseters and well over 300 faculty. Doing more with less....begins to wear thin....
- Our org structure is working well. I have access and a good working relationship with those over me and under me. Very good working relationship with faculty.
- Our organizational structure is working well, we just need more positions due to the increased growth of the program.
- It is working. We are always spread thin, but I think most of us are used to that by now.
- Too many people go too many different ways with no coordination.
- Works wonderfully. Minimum supervision, freedom to innovate,can draw on the resources of the college without interminable meetings.
- It works, to the extent that we have succeeded in increasing the number of online classes, quality of online courses, and online enrollment. However, the lack of adequate staffing continues to present a serious problem in terms of learner advisement and support.
- Institution not recognizing the opportunities available through distance learning. Difficult to enhance much needed support structures even though DL enrollments continue to climb.