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Online Course Approval

An online course is a course in which a majority (more than 50 percent) of the instruction occurs when the student(s) and instructor(s) are not in the same place and the primary mode of delivery is electronic. (See THECB definition here: 19 TEX. ADMIN. CODE Chapter 4 Subchapter P: Approval of Distance Education Courses and Programs for Public Institutions.) Faculty or departments that wish to offer electronically-delivered courses must obtain approval to do so.

The Online Course Proposal consists of two parts:

  • Part 1. Approval to Develop (Provisional Approval) - required before course can be listed as INET in Schedule of Classes
  • Part 2. Approval to Deliver (Final Approval) - required before electonically-delivered course can be opened for registration

    Successful completion of Part 2 (Final Approval) also requires an initial course design quality review that is conducted by a CLEAR Instructional Consultant to ensure that the course meets minimum online course design standards. It is important that the faculty member start the process early and remain on track to ensure the course can be delivered in this format by the intended semester. The table below shows the deadlines for submitting each part and recommends a deadline by which a faculty member should schedule a quality review. More detailed information on each part as well as the quality review process is provided following the table.

Online Course Approval Deadlines

Submit the Online Course Proposal by the appropriate deadlines shown below for upcoming semesters.

To deliver electronically in Spring 2017  
  1. Submit Part 1 by June 24, 2016*
  2. Submit Part 2 by September 23, 2016

    Upon submission of Part 2, an instructional consultant will contact the faculty course designer to schedule the initial course design quality review.

Note: Early registration for Spring 2017 begins in late October 2016. Courses must pass the quality review and have Part 2 on file before the course can be opened as INET for registration.

*If you have missed the deadline for submitting Part 1, but have already begun developing the course, please contact CLEAR at 940-565-2708.
To deliver electronically in Summer 2017  
  1. Submit Part 1 by December 9, 2016*
  2. Submit Part 2 by March 24, 2017

    Upon submission of Part 2, an instructional consultant will contact the faculty course designer to schedule the initial course design quality review.

Note: Early registration for Summer 2017 begins in early April 2017. Courses must pass the quality review and have Part 2 on file before the course can be opened as INET for early registration.

*If you have missed the deadline for submitting Part 1, but have already begun developing the course, please contact CLEAR at 940-565-2708.
To deliver electronically in Fall 2017  
  1. Submit Part 1 by December 9, 2016*
  2. Submit Part 2 by March 24, 2017 (to be eligible to open course for early registration)

    Upon submission of Part 2, an instructional consultant will contact the faculty course designer to schedule the initial course design quality review.

Note: Early registration for Fall 2017 begins in early April 2017. Courses must pass the quality review and have Part 2 on file before the course can be opened as INET for registration.

*If you have missed the deadline for submitting Part 1, but have already begun developing the course, please contact CLEAR at 940-565-2708.
To deliver electronically in Spring 2018  
  1. Submit Part 1 by June 23, 2017*
  2. Submit Part 2 by September 22, 2017 (to be eligible to open course for early registration)

    Upon submission of Part 2, an instructional consultant will contact the faculty course designer to schedule the initial course design quality review.

Note: Early registration for Spring 2018 begins in early October 2017. Courses must pass the quality review and have Part 2 on file before the course can be opened as INET for registration.

*If you have missed the deadline for submitting Part 1, but have already begun developing the course, please contact CLEAR at 940-565-2708.