DL Summary and Goals

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Report Focus

This report provides an overview of the LBCC Distance Learning (DL) program in 2004-05 and includes comprehensive data about the course offerings and the students attending the courses. In line with the CCC System Office Multiple Delivery Method initiative (initiative A4, System Office Strategic Plan, December 2005 draft) and LBCC overarching goals for 2005-2010, the school offers DL courses that are equivalent and comparable to their on-campus version. To maintain the quality and integrity of the courses, all LBCC DL courses go through a separate rigorous approval process by the Curriculum Committee.

The LBCC DL program has grown significantly since its inception in Fall 1997. Dedicated faculty in various academic departments and the staff of the Instructional Technology Development Center have teamed up to design and offer 75 courses (113 course sections), and established the LBCC DL program as one of the largest programs in the California Community Colleges system. The main objective of the program is to offers DL courses as an alternative learning mode for students who otherwise could not easily attend courses on campus. This includes single parents or students that are required to stay home with their families, students with inflexible work schedules, students with disabilities, students who work or live far from campus, etc.

The program achievements and challenges are described in detail in various parts of this report. The data included in this report is submitted to the office of Academic Affairs and other areas in the college to ensure the continuous success of the program and to enable LBCC to offer a reliable alternative mode of learning in response to students' needs to accomplish their academic and professional goals.

Questions and comments are welcome; please send them to the Director of Instructional Technology and Distance Leaning.

Highlights

Courses

244 DL course sections were offered in 2004-05 (up to 113 sections per semester); 7.4% increase (17 class sections) from 2003-04.
91 unique DL courses were offered in 2004-05 ;3.4% increase (3 courses) from 2003-04.
140 DL courses are approved by the Curriculum Committee; 28% increase from 2003-04.
46 courses (16%) of GE Plan A, 40 courses (16%) of GE Plan B, and 32 courses (19%) of Plan C were offered as DL courses

Students
(Data obtained from a total of 726 students who responded to surveys after each term in 2004-05)

5973 students attended DL courses in 2004-05; less than 1% increase from 2003-04.
85% of the DL students surveyed indicated that they were unable to attend their course on campus.
48% of the DL students surveyed work full-time; 29% work part-time.
95% of the DL students surveyed have computers at home.
22% of the DL students surveyed live 16 miles or farther away from the college.
40% of the DL students surveyed are 31 years old or older.
57% of the DL students surveyed took their courses to fulfill transfer or AA degree requirements.
21% of the DL students surveyed took their courses because of disability.
88% of the DL students surveyed would like LBCC to offer more DL courses.

Faculty

61 full- and part-time faculty taught DL courses in 2004-05; an increase of 40% from 2003-04.
99 full- and part-time faculty attended DL related faculty professional development at the FRC.
179 interactive instructional Web activities tailored for needs of DL students were developed by teams of faculty and ITDC staff
50% of the DL students surveyed indicated that the online availability of the instructor was a factor in their success.

Retention and Success

61% retention in online courses; 41% retention in TV courses (average of rate for all semesters in 2004-05)
51% success in online courses; 29% success in TV courses (average of rate for all semesters in 2004-05)