Chair Resources

This is a sample online course with modules, discussions and assignments contributed by Valley College instructors. Come and see what you can do in an online course by visiting "Virtual" Virtual Valley Etudes Couse.

The user id is "virtualvalley2@lavc.edu"

The password is "guest"

As part of an instructors evaluation process, students need to complete class evaluation forms. For an online instructor this can be easily accomplished by putting the evaluation on line for the students to complete. We have done several of these without any problem. When you arrive at the point where you need an online survey created, please feel free to contact Khaled Hussain and he will set up the survey, collect the data and print you the results.

You as department chair have total control on offering a course online. You might find the following useful when offering a course online for the first time.

1. Make sure the course is eligible to be offered online. Check the list “Approved Class List” located in the right hand column to see if the course has been approved by the curriculum process. If not, go to the section titled “Online Course Approval Process” for complete instructions.
2. Make sure you have an eligible instructor. To teach online, all instructors need to be Etudes certified. The link in the right hand column “Approved Online Instructors” lists all the instructors that have been certified and who listed LAVC as their primary school. You may have others on your faculty who have been trained at another school. To verify that they have been trained, just email Jim Marteney at: martenji@lavc.edu and he will check on their verification.
3. Check the Union Contract. There are several parts of the contract that relate to distance learning located in Article 40 of the current agreement. Some of the highlights include: Seniority list must be followed when deciding who will teach an online course, but a seniority list also based on their online competency.

Article 40.C.5 Class size is limited to 25 students the first time the class is taught, or 35 with instructor permission, as the instructor is learning online teaching strategies. Thereafter the class size shall not exceed 40 students. Instructors may add up to 5 more students before the semester starts and then they have the freedom to add any number of students after the semester begins. Article 40.C.a

Large Class Authorization can be made at the written request of a particular instructor and approved by the department chair. This allows an instructor to increase the class size and be financially compensated for the increase number of students. This does not count against the instructor as the number of classes he or she is teaching. This arrangement must be made as the courses are being scheduled. Complete explanation can be found in the contract. Article 40.C.b