Relevant to: faculty and staff
This article contains information considered accurate at the time of publishing. Technology updates, changes in University security practices, and/or policies and procedures may affect the information in this article - updates to articles are scheduled on a periodic basis and will address any required changes.
Overview
A faculty primary is a course developed, maintained, and taught by an individual faculty member.
Empire Online encourages faculty to submit faculty primaries for review to help ensure courses meet applicable online course quality expectations, including design, accessibility, and other university-supported standards.
Who Can Use a Faculty Primary as a Copy Source
Only line faculty can use their faculty primaries as copy sources for undergraduate online mode of study sections. Other course modalities, including non-School of Nursing and Allied Health graduate level Online courses, may use faculty primaries as copy sources at will, independent of faculty appointment type.
Step 1: Request the Course Through the OAA Request System
Faculty who want to create or use a faculty primary should begin by submitting a request through the OAA request system.
Through that system, faculty can request a primary using:
- content from another faculty member,
- content from a coordinator-managed primary,
- their own content.
- no content (a blank shell).
Approval to use content is provided through the request system. Questions regarding using the request system should be submitted using a service desk ticket.
Step 2: Request an Empire Online Course Review
After the primary has been created and updated as needed, the faculty member may request a course review from Empire Online using the Project Intake Form.
Empire Online will review the course using the Empire Online course quality checklist. The review is intended to help identify any recommended updates related to course design, accessibility, course quality standards, and other applicable requirements.
Step 3: Review Results Are Shared
After Empire Online completes the review, the results are sent to:
- the faculty member, and
- the department chair.
The review results provide feedback for consideration before the faculty primary is approved by the department chair for use.
Step 4: Faculty and Department Chair Determine Next Steps
The faculty member and department chair collaborate to determine what updates, if any, need to be made based on the review results and their assessment of the course.
Faculty are responsible for making necessary edits and updates to their faculty primary. Updates should comply with applicable regulations, policies, and online course quality standards, including accessibility, copyright, and grading policy expectations.
Step 5: Request Help, If Needed
If help is needed with course updates, the faculty member may submit a Service Desk ticket to request training and guidance relating to Brightspace functionality.
Step 6: Department Chair Communicates Approval
Once the course is finished and approved, the department chair should communicate that approval via email to Empire Online.
Empire Online will then update its records to reflect the faculty primary has been approved by the department chair.
Summary of the Process
- Faculty request the course through the OAA request system.
- The course is created using the faculty's own content or content from another faculty.
- Faculty may request an Empire Online review using the Project Intake Form.
- Empire Online reviews the course using the course quality checklist.
- Review results are sent to the faculty member and department chair.
- Faculty and the department chair determine and complete any needed updates.
- The department chair confirms approval with Empire Online.
- Empire Online updates its records.