Standard Number 3.4.7: The institution ensures the quality of educational programs/courses offered through consortia relationships or contractual agreements, ensures ongoing compliance with the comprehensive requirements, and evaluates the consortial relationship and/or agreement against the purpose of the institution.

Full Compliance

Georgia Southern University fully complies with the comprehensive requirements (see response to Requirement 2.7.4) relating to consortia and contracts and through its adherence to the Board of Regents policies ensures the quality of educational programs and courses offered through these agreements and evaluates the consortial and contractual relationships in terms of the University's mission and Strategic Plan . The academic integrity of Georgia Southern's programs and courses is protected through administration of the Board of Regents requirement that no more than one-fourth of the work required for an undergraduate degree and one-half the work required for a master's degree can be earned off-campus unless taken at an approved center or through an authorized external degree program (Board of Regents Academic Affairs Handbook , § 2.12.02, “ Off Campus Course Work ”). The University System of Georgia authorizes the establishment of consortia and off campus instruction in order to provide the best educational opportunities to local citizens by the most qualified faculty. To protect the integrity of the University System, however, the Board mandates that prior to the establishment of off campus instructional programs, the president of the institution proposing the work is required to have the written concurrence of the president(s) of any other University System institution(s) located in closer proximity to the proposed site of off campus instruction.

These checks and balances built into management of the University System extend further to assure programmatic quality. The Board of Regents policy mandates that University System institutions are only authorized to offer off campus work when the quality is equivalent to that offered on campus—considering employee qualifications, the availability of library and other learning resources, and the material and equipment required to support off campus instruction in making this decision. Moreover, Board policy specifically requires that all off campus instructional sites and programs be reviewed and approved by the Board of Regents (Board of Regents Academic Affairs Handbook , § 2.12.02, “ Off Campus Instructional Siting ”).

Against this backdrop, Georgia Southern University has established its responsibility and purpose to extend the benefits of an education to the people of southeast Georgia through a variety of outreach programs. In addition to providing resident undergraduate and/or graduate credit through four off campus locations , Georgia Southern collaborates with Augusta State University in offering an external doctoral degree program in Educational Administration. It also provides a doctoral program in Educational Administration in the Savannah area through another cooperative agreement with Armstrong Atlantic State University . Both of these programs are governed by Memoranda of Understanding —non-contractual legal instruments approved by the Board of Regents, administered by the campus' Office of Legal Affairs , and signed by the President as well as the president of each university.

The University also participates in the Regents' Engineering Transfer Program (see 2004-2005 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog , p. 226) and the Georgia Tech Regional Engineering Program (see 2004-2005 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog , p. 226) with other accredited institutions. These programs allow students to transfer after two years of study to the Georgia Institute of Technology or to other engineering schools in the southeastern United States . In another consortial relationship with Armstrong Atlantic State University (AASU), Georgia Southern students are permitted to transfer to AASU under the Medical Technology program to obtain the Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology (see 2004-2005 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog , p. 135). The College of Business Administration participates in the Georgia WebMBA program . This program offers qualified and highly motivated students an opportunity to earn an accredited Masters of Business Administration degree. Instruction is provided through a consortium of institutions including Georgia College & State University , Georgia Southern University, Kennesaw State University , State University of West Georgia, and Valdosta State University . In its April 2004 meeting, the Board of Regents approved another consortial arrangement for a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology degree offered by five University System institutions (see Board of Regents Meeting Minutes , April 2004).

To ensure programmatic quality, the consortial relationships described above are all governed by Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) . The MOUs serve to define, guide, and control the general understanding for a three-year period between the University and the affiliated institution, including the respective responsibilities. New contracts are executed at the time programs are considered for renewal. In this manner, each consortial relationship is thoroughly reevaluated at least once every three years when decisions must be reached concerning program renewal. Further evaluation occurs through the program review process. Board of Regents policy stipulates that all external academic degree programs are subject to program review [see Board of Regents Academic Affairs Handbook , § 2.12.04, “ External Degree Programs —Procedures (B.)]. Furthermore, as noted above, the University must demonstrate that all off campus instruction is of equal quality as that of the corresponding on campus program during the initial Board of Regents approval process and then in subsequently in program reviews.

Beyond these more traditional instructional approaches, Georgia Southern University recognizes the educational benefits associated with an applied learning experience consonant with its mission . “The University's hallmark is a culture of engagement that bridges theory with practice, extends the learning environment beyond the classroom, and promotes student growth and life success.” To that end, the University has developed a number of educational programs offered through consortia or contractual agreements where qualified students receive off-campus, “real world” training in their field of study. Indeed, the University currently cooperates with over 900 facilities nationwide. As with other consortia, Georgia Southern's legal relationship with these internship facilities is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)—in this case, a non-contractual legal instrument approved by the Board of Regents, administered by the campus' Office of Legal Affairs , and signed by the President as well as the authorized agent of each facility. Again, the MOU serves to define, guide, and control the general understanding for a three-year term between the University and the affiliated facility, including their respective responsibilities regarding the supervision of Georgia Southern students and the services offered to the facility's patients, clients, students, customers, or general public. For the protection of the student, the supervising faculty, the University, and the affiliated facility, an MOU must be executed before a Georgia Southern student commences an applied learning experience. New contracts are executed at the time programs are evaluated for renewal.

Four types of MOUs are available depending upon the nature of the applied learning experience and the services offered by the internship facility: the MOU Between the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia and the Georgia Hospital Association ; the MOU Concerning Affiliations of Students for Clinical Education Experience ; the MOU Concerning Affiliation of Students for Applied Education Experience ; and the MOU Concerning Affiliation of Students for Clinical Training .

Once the MOU is processed and approved, implementation and evaluation of the program falls to the deans of the colleges (or their designees) in which the program is housed. As articulated in the contract, the facility at which the internship takes place is responsible for evaluating the student. The Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs has final responsibility for evaluating the agreement against the mission of the University.

To illustrate this process, the clinical practica offered within the School of Nursing are discussed because they provide an instructive example of the process of review, implementation, and evaluation of consortia and contractual agreements used by Georgia Southern University. No School of Nursing courses or programs are offered in their entirety through consortial relationships as defined in the SACS requirements. Furthermore, no organizations or institutions conduct instruction other than faculty in Georgia Southern's nursing program. Nonetheless, the nursing program does have approximately 150 clinical practica contracts with numerous healthcare agencies. These contracts permit the nursing program to bring students into the clinical facility for applied learning experiences. Participating students care for clients of the agency—generally two, eight-hour days per week. In the senior year of the undergraduate program, and throughout the program for graduate students, students work with a preceptor. These experiences involve a contract as well, but again contracts only give permission to have the student in the facility. Nursing program faculty are the instructors in all cases.

Another illustration of the general University model for implementing consortia and contractual agreements are the College of Business Administration (COBA) internships. When a COBA student meets the specified requirements and has secured an internship with an approved organization, a contract is executed between the student, the organization, and the College of Business Administration . The contract is examined and approved by the Office of Legal Affairs and then each department office coordinator processes and maintains the contracts for their majors; however, the contract language is the same for all COBA internships. Students are allowed to intern for three to six hours, depending on the nature of the internship and the student's need for credit hours. A compliance officer is employed by COBA whose function is to ensure that all students meet the necessary requirements before being considered for an internship experience. The department coordinators approve and evaluate the organizations, the job descriptions, the number of hours allowed, and other terms of the contract. They are also responsible for getting the contracts processed through the Office of Legal Affairs and supervising the interns during their internship.

Other contractual agreements include those for student teaching, which are mandated by the Georgia State Department of Education; internships in psychology, sociology educational psychology, and sport management; and other cooperative agreements with a variety of businesses. All are handled according to the basic model described above.

Resources:

Hard copies of contracts are located in the College of Health and Human Science's Office of the Dean, the Office of Student Teaching and Field Experiences in the College of Education , and in the College of Business Administration departmental offices. Additional copies are located in the Office of Legal Affairs.