TEXT OF PRESIDENT McCORMICK'S AUGUST 2010
RESPONSE TO THE REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON CHARGE S-0806, HYBRID COURSES AND MODEL OF TEACHING
I am writing in response to the Report and Recommendations on Charge
S-0806 on Hybrid Courses and Model of Teaching, as adopted by the
University Senate on October 23, 2009, upon the recommendation of the
Instruction, Curricula and Advising Committee.
Given the increasing use of hybrid courses at Rutgers, I applaud the
Senate’s investigation into hybrid courses and accept its
recommendations regarding best practices when this mode of instruction
is employed. In addition to the teaching and learning potential
provided by hybrid courses noted in the Senate report, such instruction
also helps to extend Rutgers’ reach among non-traditional
students, increasing access and opportunity. With respect to the
balance between online and face-to-face instruction in hybrid courses,
and other matters related to academic approvals and learning goals, I
will refer the Senate’s recommendations to the academic units for
their consideration when making decisions about developing and
implementing hybrid courses. By copy of this memo, I am referring
your recommendations to Vice President Caprio for his consideration
and, in addition, am asking Executive Vice President Furmanski and the
Chancellors to share these recommendations with their academic Deans so
that they may be appropriately considered within the context of
particular academic units. I also urge that units conduct careful
evaluations of the effectiveness of hybrid courses in comparison to
more traditional ones, and to examine in particular their use by
students with different levels of preparation and academic
qualifications. It may very well be that hybrid courses are more
effective when taken by some students than by others or when used to
deliver certain kinds or levels of course material.
Regarding the Senate’s other recommendations, I am pleased to
report that training is available for instructors wishing to use hybrid
course models. The Center for Teaching Advancement and Assessment
Research offers regular workshops and customized assistance for
instructors interested in incorporating such approaches and
technologies into their teaching. Additional training workshops
focusing on specific online platforms are offered through the Division
of Continuing Studies, the Office of Academic Technology in Newark, and
the Instructional Design and Technology Office in Camden.
Further, I understand from Arun Mukherjee that our room assignment
system already has the capacity to search for all rooms that are not
being used at specific times, and that he routinely assigns rooms that
are used only part of the week by hybrid courses for other
classes.
The members of the Instruction, Curricula and Advising Committee have
my thanks for their deliberations on this issue. We will continue
to support and monitor the appropriate use and impact of technology on
teaching.
Sincerely yours,
Richard L. McCormick
c: Ray Caprio, Vice President of Continuous Education and Outreach
Steve Diner, Chancellor, Newark Campus
Philip Furmanski, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Arun Mukherjee, Director of Scheduling and Space Management
Wendell Pritchett, Chancellor, Camden Campus
Barry Qualls, Vice President for Undergraduate Education