New Directions: Online Learning & the University of California’s A-G Subject Area Requirements Monica H. Lin, Ph.D. Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions University of California | Office of the President e-Learning Strategies Symposium December 7, 2012

2 Overview  Policy background  The “a-g” course lists & course update process  New “a-g” review process for online courses  Policy implementation: challenges & successes

Policy Background

4 UC and Online Learning  University of California priority: accessibility of a broad range of high-quality, rigorous college-preparatory courses  UC keeping pace with the changing landscape of online learning –Facilitate students’ access to “a-g” online courses –Encourage online educators to uphold promising practices of online learning for student success  Revised policy to offer improved guidance and more efficient process of satisfying UC admission requirements

5 Highlights of Policy Revisions  UC “program status” requirement for online entities has been eliminated  New policy focuses on quality assessment of online courses for “a-g” purposes –Flexible to accommodate differing types of online courses –Addresses UC faculty online learning guidelines  Policy revisions incorporate national quality standards for online courses and programs  Partnership between UC and the California Learning Resource Network (CLRN)

A-G Course Lists & Course Update Process

7 A-G Course Lists  UC and CSU admissions requirements include satisfying a 15-course pattern of college-preparatory “a-g” courses –High school courses must undergo “a-g” review and approval to appear on the “a-g” course list  The “a-g” course list is an important component of the applicant review process –All “a-g” course lists must be updated each year to maintain accuracy for applyUC and for UC’s comprehensive review  Updates to the “a-g” course list are submitted using the UC Online Update website: –

8 A-G Course List Update Timeline New update cycle opens on February 1 Submit new courses and other course list updates New courses submitted on or before June 1: up to 2 resubmissions allowed New courses submitted on or before August 1: only 1 resubmission allowed New courses submitted on or before September 15: no resubmissions allowed Update cycle closes on September 15

New A-G Review Process for Online Courses (effective )

10 Online Course Publisher vs. Online School  UC now differentiates between an online course publisher and an online school –Online course publishers develop their own curriculum and sell or license their online courses for delivery by a teacher within a high school or district –Online school is a credit- or diploma-granting institution that offers courses strictly through Internet-based methods, with time and/or distance separating the teacher and learner  Institutions that act as both an online course publisher and online school will follow the procedures for online schools

11 Review of Online Courses (effective ) Submit online course to CLRN for review* Assess the online course against the iNACOL Standards for Quality Online Courses and CA content standards CLRN-certified OR Self-assessed Submit online course to UC for “a-g” review Conduct subject- specific review against UC faculty’s content criteria Approve course for “a-g”? Add course to online publisher’s or online school’s “a-g” course list; approval expires in 3 years STEP 1 STEP 2 *If not eligible for CLRN review, the online course must be self-assessed by the online publisher or school. YES

12 Step #1A: CLRN Certification  Effective for: –Online course publishers serving public institutions –Public online schools  A CLRN-certified online course must: –Meet at least 80% of CA Content or Common Core Standards –Fulfill all 15 “power standards” from the iNACOL Standards for Quality Online Courses –Satisfy at least 27 (or 80%) of the remaining iNACOL Standards  Courses not aligned with a set of standards must be self- assessed (Step #1B)  To submit a course to CLRN: –

13 Step #1B: Self-Assessment  Effective for: –Online course publishers serving only private institutions –Private online schools –Any online courses not aligned with state standards – school year: Non-online high schools, districts, and programs  Institution conducts self-assessment against iNACOL Standards for Quality Online Courses  Self-assessment will be incorporated into the course submission process for UC “a-g” review

14 Step #2: UC A-G Course Review  Only CLRN-certified or self-assessed online courses can be submitted to UC during the course list update cycle –Open annually, February 1 through September 15  Basis for “a-g” course review and approval: –“a-g” course evaluation guidelines –Subject area course requirements  All courses are reviewed by a subject area analyst –“Blind” reviews –Goal: new CLRN-certified online courses reviewed within 2-4 weeks  To submit a course to UC: –

15 Adding A-G Online Courses Access UC’s “a-g” Online Update website Indicate intent to add previously approved online course(s) Certify that program/school/district will satisfy UC’s online learning guidelines and policy for online courses to receive “a-g” approval (once per annual update cycle) Add online course to “a-g” course list Select online course to add to “a-g” course list

Policy Implementation: Challenges & Successes 16

17 Challenges  Shifting the focus from UC “approving providers” to UC approving courses  Identifying expert reviewers of quality online delivery  Sheer volume of “homegrown” teacher-created online courses  Definitions of online entities are not always clear-cut

18 Successes  The appropriate experts are reviewing online courses: –CLRN ensuring quality online delivery –UC ensuring quality “a-g” content  Improved efficiencies in seeking “a-g” approval for online courses  Anticipated increase in “a-g” online course offerings –Broader access to “a-g” courses –Greater preparation for UC admissions  Enhanced quality of online learning for students

19 New Directions  Elimination of principal certification for non-UC-approved online courses –Not acceptable for online courses completed in academic year and beyond  Re-evaluation of policy regarding online courses in laboratory science and in visual & performing arts –Under current policy:  Online science courses OK but require supervised, on-site wet lab  Online VPA courses not allowable  UC encourages educators to incorporate promising practices for excellence in online teaching and learning

20

21 Resources  Helpful links: –California Learning Resource Network (CLRN)  –International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL)  –UC Doorways websites:  “a-g” Course List website –  Online Update website –  Contact High School Articulation in UC systemwide Admissions: – –Phone: (510)

22 Thank You To provide feedback on this session, please go to: