Distance Education is any formal instruction that is not conducted on the home campus. This can include a wide range of modalities, but generally are distinguished between synchronous (off-campus, face-to-face and electronic-to-group) and asynchronous delivery (online). Universities and health-related institutions are required to notify all area institutions and/or the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board of their plans to offer distance education courses and programs.

All Distance Education are subject to review for potential SACSCOC considerations. Please see the link below for more information:

• SACSCOC Notification, Approval, and Assessment

Step One: Document Preparation and Submission

• Complete a Notification Memo ( SAMPLE), which must include all relevant CIP Codes. The Notification Memo is to come from the Dean of the academic unit making the request.
• The Notification Memo is to be addressed to the Provost and CC Daniel Chang, Executive Director for Academic Programs.
  
  • For graduate-level proposals, CC Dr. Sarah Larsen, Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School, and the Chair of the Graduate Professional Studies Committee (GPSC)
  • For undergraduate-level proposals, CC Dr. Teri Longacre, Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Student Success, and the Chair of the Undergraduate Committee (UC).
• A Notification Memo includes:
  1. A clearly stated and succinct request.
  2. Nature and rationale/justification for the request.
  3. Statement about budget implications.
  4. Faculty contact information.
  5. References/citations, which may support the rationale/justification for the request.
• Ensure that the Notification Memo is on the Office of the Dean Letterhead and initialed by the Dean.
• Complete the  THECB Certification Form for Electronically Delivered and Off-Campus Education Programs .
• Determine any potential SACSCOC considerations.
• Email all documents to Academic Programs.

Step Two: Proposal Review

• Academic Programs will submit all proposal documents to the appropriate faculty committee(s) for review (if necessary). Upon approval, the proposal will be submitted for review and approval by the Provost.
• Once approved by the Provost
  • For synchronous delivery modalities, an electronic notification will be sent by the Office of the Provost to all other public institutions of higher education within a 50-mile radius of the proposed delivery site. After 30 days, the full proposal will be submitted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) for review.
  • For asynchronous delivery modalities, the full proposal will be submitted to the THECB for review.

Step Three: Notifications

• If approved by the THECB, Academic Programs will send an email notification with all relevant documentation to the faculty contact of the academic unit that submitted the proposal.
• Academic Programs will notify all relevant UH stakeholders to proceed in implementing the administrative modification into UH data systems.