UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA - USF



USF TAMPA GRADUATE COUNCIL

Policy/Fellowship Agenda

9 – 11 a.m., November 4, 2013 ALN296

|Members |Liaisons |

|Levine, Alex Vice-Chair and Policy Chair |Peter Harries |

|Dennis, Danielle (added 10/23/13) |Carol Hines-Cobb |

|Fanning, Kent (added 10/23/13) |Joe Butts |

|Fridell, Lorie | |

|Jiang, Xiaomei | |

|Osman, Hana | |

|Sahebzamani, Frances | |

|Sandoval, Scott - Grad Student Rep | |

|Sutton, Nina | |

|Wecker, Lynn | |

|Wilbers, Loren - Graduate Student Rep | |

|Wiranowska, Marzenna | |

|Zheng, Hao (added 10/23/13) | |

1. Introductions

2. Admission Requirements

i. Bologna Process – Review current guidelines and other information pertaining to Bologna three year degrees, and establish a written statement for the Admission Requirements in the Catalog. Reference information attached.

3. Course Process Timing Proposal

i. Update from Dr. Levine

4. Proposed USF System Policy:

i. 10-066 Identify Verification of Distance Education Students (Attached)

BOLOGNA REFERENCE INFORMATION

Guidelines:

Bachelor’s Degree Equivalence for International Applicants

 

In most cases, the bachelor’s degree must include the number of credits associated with 4 years of post-secondary academic study.  In recognition of reforms initiated by the Bologna Process, degrees from participating institutions in countries that have fully implemented the Bologna Process* may be considered equivalent for admission evaluation.  The Graduate School is undertaking a pilot study that will recognize three-year baccalaureate degrees from these countries* as an equivalent bachelor’s degree.  Three-year degrees from other Bologna signatory countries may be considered on a case-by-case basis.  In addition to supplying all other application documents required by USF, applicants with 3-year Bologna degrees must include an official diploma certificate and diploma supplement (in English) from the degree granting institution.

 

*USF recognizes 3-year baccalaureate degrees from countries where the Bologna Process has been fully implemented, including the use of nationally established qualification frameworks, use of the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), and issuing of diploma supplements (link to list of these countries).  The following countries meet these criteria: Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, United Kingdom.

Summary of the framework for the Bologna degree system.

 

Qualifications Framework of the European Higher Education Area

The basic framework adopted is of three cycles of higher education qualifications . The framework of qualifications[9] adopted by the ministers at their meeting in Bergen in 2005 defines the qualifications in terms of learning outcomes. These are statements of what students know and can do on completion of their degrees. In describing the cycles the framework makes use of the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS):

·         1st cycle: typically 180–240 ECTS credits, usually awarding a bachelor's degree. The European Higher Education Area did not introduce the Bachelor with Honours programme, which allows graduates with a "BA hons." degree (e.g. in UK, Australia, Canada) to undertake doctoral studies without first having to obtain a master's degree.

·         2nd cycle: typically 90–120 ECTS credits (a minimum of 60 on 2nd-cycle level). Usually awarding a master's degree.

·         3rd cycle: doctoral degree. No ECTS range given.

In most cases, these will take 3, 2, and 3 years respectively to complete. The actual naming of the degrees may vary from country to country.

One academic year corresponds to 60 ECTS-credits that are equivalent to 1,500–1,800 hours of study.

1 Proposed: USF System Policy

2 Number: 10-066

3 Subject: Identity Verification of Distance Education Students

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5

6 I. INTRODUCTION (Purpose and Intent):

7 The University of South Florida System (USF System) is committed to the academic honesty

8 and integrity of its entire community. USF System Regulation 3.027, Academic Integrity of

9 Students, defines academic integrity as the “the completion of all academic endeavors and claims

10 of scholarly knowledge as representative of one’s own efforts." Additionally, USF System

11 Regulation 3.027 (1) identifies and defines violations of academic integrity, e.g., cheating and

12 plagiarism, where students use assistance which has not been authorized by the instructor and

13 presents the work of another as one’s own; (2) defines four levels of violations according to the

14 nature of the infraction; and (3) recommends corresponding sets of sanctions.

15

16 Recognizing the unique circumstances in which distance or correspondence education students

17 are instructed and assessed, this Policy on Identity Verification of Distance Education Students

18 is intended to adopt and complement USF System Regulation 3.027 by ensuring that a student

19 who registers in USF System distance or correspondence education courses/programs is the

20 same student who participates in and completes the course or program and receives credit.

21

22 Additionally, this Policy is intended to ensure compliance with the requirements of regulatory

23 and accrediting agencies, including the requirements and procedures that are mandated through

24 the Florida Board of Governors (BOG), the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

25 Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Federal Requirements 4.8.1 and 4.8.3 and USF System

26 Policies and Procedures.

27 II. DEFINITIONS:

28 A. Distance Education: A formal educational process in which the majority of the instruction

29 (instruction between students and instructors and among students) in a course/program occurs

30 when students and instructors are not in the same place. Examples of distance education

31 courses include:

32 1.) Online Learning: Noncredit and credit-earning courses/programs where greater than

33 50% of instruction is delivered in an online format.

34 2.) Correspondence Education: A formal educational process under which the institution

35 provides instructional materials, by mail or electronic transmission, including examinations

36 on the materials, to students who are separated from the instructor.

37 B. Academic Honesty: The completion of all academic endeavors and claims of scholarly

38 knowledge as representative of one’s own efforts.

39 III. STATEMENT OF POLICY:

40 A. Knowledge and maintenance of the USF System academic standards of honesty and integrity

41 are the responsibility of the entire academic community, including the instructional faculty,

42 staff, and students.

43 B. Each student who registers in a distance education course/program is personally responsible

44 for completing all the academic requirements of the course/program, including all academic

45 assignments and methods of assessment.

46

47 C. Enrolled students may be asked to personally verify their identity prior to performing any

48 educational assignment or assessment in a format and time to be determined by the USF

49 System.

50 D. To assist in verifying the identity of individual students in distance education

51 courses/programs, instructional faculty and administrators must use one or more

52 methodologies approved by the USF System, such as a secure log-in and password, or

53 proctored examinations.

54 E. If the use of approved student identity verification methodologies is not conclusive, the USF

55 System may require the distance education student to re-take or perform an educational

56 assignment or assessment.

57 F. In conjunction with an advisory board established by the CEO of Innovative Education,

58 Innovative Education shall serve as the administrative unit responsible for securing approval,

59 and providing oversight via policies and procedures, for the methodologies used by

60 instructional faculty to verify the identity of students enrolled in distance education

61 courses/programs.

62 G. Incremental costs associated with verifying student identity in a distance education

63 course/program shall be established by Innovative Education, and charged to students

64 enrolled in the course or program.

65 H. Information on additional student fees associated with verifying students’ identities in a

66 distance education course/program shall be provided to the students at the time of

67 enrollment in the course or program.

68 I. Each college or school within the University System may propose alternative student identity

69 verification methodologies to meet the unique requirements of the discipline. Approvals for

70 alternatives must be obtained as follows (1) Proposals for student identity verification

71 technologies and practices not referenced in this Policy (except for those within USF Health)

72 shall be submitted to the CEO, Innovative Education (2) Proposals for each College or

73 School within USF Health may adopt its own processes to implement this Policy that are at

74 least as restrictive as outlined and which are best suited to its needs as based on consultation

75 with all affected groups, including faculty, staff and students. If a USF Health College or

76 School adopts such processes, they must be submitted to the Senior Vice President for USF

77 Health for appropriate review and approval to ensure consistency with USF Health and

78 University requirements.

79 J. This Policy is complementary to and must be interpreted in conjunction with existing

80 University Regulations and Policies regarding students with disabilities.

81

82 Authorized and signed by:

83 Ralph Wilcox, Provost and Executive Vice President

84. Judy Genshaft, President

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