Digital Learning Policies and Procedures

The Distance Education Policy, originally authored in 2015 and updated most recently in 2020, provides primary information for decision making around distance and online education at Mount Saint Mary College. The goals of this policy are:

• Define laws, policies, procedures, and best practices in online and distance education and how those should be incorporated in to online course delivery;
• Provide guidelines for accreditation and state-level standards for Distance Education/Online Learning;
• Offer insights in to student-centered online learning environments and effective assessment strategies;
• Outline the technological and pedagogical supports offered through the Office of Digital Learning and Instructional Design Services

Per its original proposal, this policy should be updated every 3-5 years. The most recent policy will always be available on the MSMC Portal.

Mount Saint Mary College and the Office of Digital Learning and Instructional Design Services recognizes the intellectual property rights of faculty, staff and students. When requesting access to or sharing eClass course content, it is important to keep intellectual property rights in mind. The procedures and guidelines found in the document linked below are aligned with those of the College, already in place, which can be found in the Distance Education Policy.

This document is intended to serve as a set of procedures and internal guidelines for the use of the learning management system eClass (brand name Moodle™) licensed to Mount Saint Mary College. This document is intended to provide the following:

• transparency in related expectations for the use of eClass at the College;
• consistency in decision making related to eClass support;
• transparency in eClass support staff roles and responsibilities;
• transparency in faculty responsibilities pertaining to their personal eClass courses;
• enhance the credibility of the Learning Management System;
• reinforce collaboration between the Office of Information Technology and the Office of Digital Learning and Instructional Design Services;
• reinforce polices outlined in the Distance Education Policy

Future Updates:

This document was created with input and guidance from the Academic Technology Advancement Committee (ATAC). The Director of Digital Learning and Instructional Design Services (DLIDS) will be review this document annually to ensure content is up-to-date with current practice. DLIDS will consult with ATAC and/or Academic Affairs only when major changes to these procedures are required. The most recent policy will always be available on the MSMC Portal.