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A-9. Hybrid Courses

Purpose

To establish policies to deliver administratively approved hybrid courses for Penn State Harrisburg.

Introduction

Hybrid courses utilize digital technology to enhance learning with multimedia sources; allow for multiple learning strategies; comply with university policies concerning delivery and access; include flexible scheduling; integrate in-person instruction and online, technology-based learning with student-faculty interaction; and broaden the concept of learning communities. Hybrid courses require more advanced planning for the instructor than courses solely offered on campus. All meeting times not listed as “AND WEB” in the course listing are expected to meet during the stated class times in LionPATH.

Guidelines 

Definition of a hybrid course

Hybrid courses are combinations of online and face-to-face instruction.  There are three types of hybrid courses:

  1. Hybrid: 25-50% Online (H2): Class will meet in person and online. 25-50% of the class will be taught online synchronously or asynchronously.
  2. Hybrid: 51-74% Online (H5): Class will meet in person and online. 51-74% of the class will be taught online synchronously or asynchronously.
  3. Hybrid: 75% and up Online (H7): Class will meet in person and online. 75-99% or more of the class will be taught online synchronously or asynchronously.

Consultation and Approval

  1. The program faculty should:
    • Determine if a potential course is appropriate to offer as a hybrid course for the program and designate a course author.
    • Identify the pedagogical reasons for why the course should be transformed to a hybrid course.
  2. Once a program has identified a course as suitable for hybrid delivery, the designated instructor is strongly encouraged to take a self-assessment to determine if a hybrid course would be compatible with the instructor’s style. The instructor should contact the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) for information on how to complete the self-assessment.
  3. The course author must complete and sign the Request for Proposal for Online Course Development Form, gain the signature of program leadership, and submit the proposal to the school director at least six months before the course is to be offered for his/her approval. (If the course will be offered on the DLC, please indicate that as appropriate on the Request for Proposal for Online Course Development Form.)
  4. If the school director agrees to approve the request, the school director will sign and submit the form to the assistant dean for academic affairs.
  5. The assistant dean for academic affairs will sign and submit all approved proposals to CTE. CTE staff will arrange for an initial consultation with the instructor for the development of a plan for how the course will be designed for online delivery.
  6. The instructor will then work with an instructional designer in the CTE to develop the course.

Development of hybrid courses

The length of time needed to develop a hybrid course varies based on the instructor’s prior experience in online teaching and course design; the amount of time the instructor can devote to the redesign effort; the extent of revision required; the number of online sessions to be designed; and the need for multimedia development. Typically, at least six months are needed to create a new hybrid course. 

All hybrid course development completed in the CTE must adhere to:

  1. The Penn State Quality Assurance Standards. The standards ensure that distance learning courses serve the learning needs of Penn State students. 
  2. Senate Policy 42-23, which stipulates that all courses meet the hours of equivalent instruction.
  3. Standards regarding accessibility. See Accessibility at Penn State | Course Accessibility Guidelines
  4. Standards regarding accommodations from the Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity

The faculty member is the subject matter expert who provides the course content. The instructional designer lends expertise in implementing the course in a professional and pedagogically sound manner.

Program faculty should review each hybrid course every three years to determine if the course is still needed and if a course review and revision are required. If the course is still needed, faculty are encouraged to consult with CTE staff to make sure that the most current distance learning strategies are being employed in the course.

Intellectual property rights

Faculty should review the University’s policy regarding intellectual property rights by referring to the University’s Policy IP03, Courseware. The Courseware Copyright Agreement is provided on the course approval form.

Assessing hybrid courses

Faculty teaching hybrid courses should be available for peer review as any other class offered at the College.

 

  • Presented to College Faculty Senate: March 22, 2012. Approved by Academic Council: April 24, 2012.
  • Revisions presented to College Faculty Senate: October 26, 2017. Approved by Academic Council: November 29, 2017.
  • Revised February 16, 2023.  Revisions reviewed by College Faculty Senate April 11, 2023.  Approved by Academic Council:  April 20, 2023.

Academic Guidelines and Policies

  • A-1. Management of Special Courses
  • A-2. Final Examination Policy
  • A-3. Obtaining Approval for Simultaneous [Concurrent] Degrees and Multiple Majors [With Sample Form]
  • A-4. Establishment and Management of Centers, Institutes, and Consortia
  • A-5. Moving, Sharing, Acquiring, Offering, and Proposing University or College Majors and Minors at Capital College
  • A-6. Management of First Year Seminar
  • A-7. Administration of the First-Year Seminar Requirement at Penn State Harrisburg, the Capital College
  • A-8. Limitations on Registering for More Than 19 Credits per Semester
  • A-9. Hybrid Courses
  • A-10: Online Courses
  • A-11. Graduation Requirements
  • C-1. Selecting the Capital College Faculty Commencement Marshal
  • C-2. Governing Commencement Ceremony Practices at Capital College
  • C-4. Cancellation of Classes Unrelated to Weather
  • C-5. College Operations during Periods of Inclement or Dangerous Weather Conditions or Other Weather-Related Emergencies
  • C-6. Inviting and Receiving Short-Term (Six Months or Less) International Scholars to Penn State Capital College
  • C-7. Academic Integrity Policy - Penn State Harrisburg, the Capital College Implementation
  • F-1. Implementation of the AC-40 Extended Review
  • F-2. Summer Compensation for Teaching Faculty
  • F-3. Compensation for Faculty Performing Non-Teaching Duties During Summer Sessions
  • F-4. Governing Overload Compensation for Faculty
  • F-6. Internship Compensation during Summer Session
  • F-7. Faculty Consulting Agreements
  • F-8. Capital College Faculty Teaching at Other Penn State Locations
  • F-9. Course Release for Faculty Senate Presidents, Vice-Presidents, and Senate Officers
  • F-10. Processing New Adjunct Faculty (FT2)
  • F-11. Faculty Workload Policy
  • F-12. Academic Policies and Forms for Graduate Programs
    • Integrated Undergraduate/Graduate Student Processes
  • F-13 A. Promotion and Tenure Criteria for Penn State Harrisburg, The Capital College
    • School of Behavioral Sciences and Education: Promotion and Tenure Criteria
    • School of Business Administration: Promotion and Tenure Criteria
    • School of Humanities: Promotion and Tenure Criteria
    • School of Public Affairs: Promotion and Tenure Criteria
    • School of Science, Engineering and Technology: Promotion and Tenure Criteria
  • F-13 B. Guidelines and Criteria for Promotion for Full-Time Non-Tenure Line Faculty
    • School of Behavioral Sciences and Education: Promotion for Full-Time Non-Tenure Line Faculty
    • School of Business Administration: Promotion for Full-Time Non-Tenure Line Faculty
    • School of Humanities: Promotion for Full-Time Non-Tenure Line Faculty
    • School of Public Affairs: Promotion for Full-Time Non-Tenure Line Faculty
    • School of Science, Engineering and Technology : Promotion for Full-Time Non-Tenure Line Faculty
  • F-14. Faculty Salary Supplements
  • F-15. Implementation of the Faculty Five-Year Review of Teaching
  • R-1. Guidelines Governing the Submission, Administration, of Grants and Contracts at Capital College
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Penn State Harrisburg

A comprehensive college in southcentral Pennsylvania offering more than 70 undergraduate and graduate programs.
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