KSU utilizes sustainable course design, in which faculty develop and have approved fully online course shells that they may then use in various formats and teaching modalities (i.e., online asynchronous, online synchronous, hybrid, and/or face to face). This process recognizes that it is the faculty in each of the departments and schools who are best positioned to design the courses and instructional materials for our students and determine how to best organize each of their individual courses, thereby making the pedagogical decisions for their own instruction within the various disciplines across the college.

Review Process 

All online courses will go through a review process using the KSU Course Quality Checklist. Sections A and B are required to be fully satisfied. Sections and A and B are comprised of the federally mandated requirements.

1. Faculty will begin the review process by requesting a review by DLI.

2. The course will be reviewed in accordance with sections A and B of the KSU Course Quality Checklist.

3. DLI Reviewers will conduct a formal review and provide the faculty designer with feedback on what standards are met and what standards, if any, are not met. Course reviewers will continue to work with the faculty designer until the course design meets sections A and B to be approved. 

4. Once the digital course design has passed the required review, it will be added to the KSU Course Quality Database. A faculty member’s fully online course shell that has been approved through the online review process may also be used by the faculty member for hybrid instruction.

Timetable

Submission for review will be determined by the semester in which the course is scheduled to be taught. Online courses must be re-reviewed and recertified every five years.

Training

• Faculty assigned to teach an online or hybrid course need to successfully complete the appropriate training through KSU’S office of Digital Learning Innovations (DLI).

• RCHSS recognizes that new faculty members may be hired with previous training to teach and/or build online courses. In these cases, chairs/directors may determine that faculty members are exempt from taking the required online training provided by KSU.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I submit my course for review?

  Please fill out the DLI's Course Review Request form with the required information. You will need the following information:

  1. Your course name (i.e. ENGL 1101)
  2. Your course offering code/course ID (see: How to Find the Course Offering Code)
  3. Your course review request type: Please indicate that you would like a Full Course Review if you would like your course to enter the certification process. 
  4. Course type/modality (i.e. Online asynchronous, online synchronous, hybrid, face to face)
  5. Template course designation (i.e. will your course be used as a template? Talk to your department chair/school director if you are unsure)
  6. Proposed semester offering (i.e. when your course will be taught next)
• Can I teach my online course in spring 2023 if it is not approved?

  Yes. This requirement starts for courses in summer 2023 and forward.

• I already have my XXXX course approved as an online course, do I need to do anything?

  No, not until the course is due to be re-reviewed. Make sure the course appears in the RCHSS online modality database. The database will note when the course re-review is needed.

• How do I know what courses have been approved for online teaching?

  Check the RCHSS online modality database for a complete listing of all courses. If you do not see a course on the list that you think should be approved, and have supporting documentation of a review, it can be added to the database. Contact Kris DuRocher (kduroche@kennesaw.edu)

• I have my XXXX course approved as a hybrid course, can I teach it as an online course?

  No. While an online course can be taught as a hybrid course, a hybrid course can only be taught as a hybrid course.

• I already have my XXXX course approved as a hybrid course, can I teach it as a hybrid course in Fall 2023, or does it have to be approved as an online course?

  Yes, as long as your hybrid course appears in the RCHSS hybrid modality database you can teach in the modality for which it was approved.

• I have a 15-week online course approved; do I need to get it approved as an 8-week summer course?

  No. In a sustainable design model, once you build an online course and have it approved you can modify it to suit different course modalities and approaches.

• What if I find out that something in my class has become inaccessible?

  Accessibility is a moving target and can be affected by numerous changes in technology. What is important is that we make every effort to address any items that are not meeting the needs of our students. For assistance, please reach out to ODE to assist with addressing any concerns.