Asynchronous learning (JMU’s Data Dictionary)
Asynchronous Learning refers to education, instruction, and learning that do not occur in the same place or at the same time.
Attendance/Academic Activity Verification for Financial Aid
Students receiving Title IV funds must attend or conduct some form of academic activity in classes for which they receive aid by certain deadlines or JMU could be liable for inappropriately disbursing funds. As a result, faculty must complete a one-time collection of Attendance/Academic Activity Verification rosters via MyMadison to provide the required verification of student enrollment. For details, see https://www.jmu.edu/financialaid/terms-and-conditions.shtml#Set-1-A-section1 (scroll down to to Section 12: Class Attendance and Retaining Aid Eligibility (Attendance Verification).
Distance Education
The JMU Data Governance Distance Learning Subcommittee (2023-2024) elected to hold off on defining “distance education.” Instead, the University will follow the operational definition established by the Federal Department of Education in its Distance Education and Innovation regulation. That definition, which went into effect July 1, 2021, is operational in nature, thus provides some guidance in how to determine what is considered distance learning.
The definition is below. Terms formatted in bold are defined within the definition.
Federal Department of Education Definition as stated in the 2021 Distance Education and Innovation regulation:
Distance Education is education that uses one or more of the technologies listed in paragraphs (1)(i) through (1)(iv) of this definition to deliver instruction to students who are separated from the instructor or instructors, and to support regular and substantive interaction between the students and the instructor or instructors, either synchronously or asynchronously.
- The technologies that may be used to offer distance education include —
- The internet;
- One-way and two-way transmissions through open broadcast, closed circuit, cable, microwave, broadband lines, fiber optics, satellite, or wireless communications devices;
- Audio conferencing; or
- Other media used in a course in conjunction with any of the technologies listed in paragraphs (1)(i) through (1)(iii) of this definition.
- For purposes of this definition, an instructor is an individual responsible for delivering course content and who meets the qualifications for instruction established by the institution’s accrediting agency.
- For purposes of this definition, substantive interaction is engaging students in teaching, learning, and assessment, consistent with the content under discussion, and also includes at least two of the following—
- Providing direct instruction;
- Assessing or providing feedback on a student’s coursework;
- Providing information or responding to questions about the content of a course or competency;
- Facilitating a group discussion regarding the content of a course or competency; or,
- Other instructional activities approved by the institution’s or program’s accrediting agency.
- An institution ensures regular interaction between a student and an instructor or instructors by, prior to the student’s completion of a course or competency—
- Providing the opportunity for substantive interactions with the student on a predictable and regular basis commensurate with the length of time and the amount of content in the course or competency; and
- Monitoring the student’s academic engagement and success and ensuring that an instructor is responsible for promptly and proactively engaging in substantive interaction with the student when needed, on the basis of such monitoring, or upon request by the student.
Delivery Mode
All Virginia institutions must assign a specific mode of delivery for each class section according to unique categories pre-established by SCHEV (for reference see Delivery Mode Categories Established by SCHEV below). In some cases, the ways in which JMU operationalizes online learning concepts do not perfectly align with the terms and definitions established by SCHEV. However, for reporting and compliance purposes, JMU’s data systems and reporting tools must reflect SCHEV’s descriptions.
SCHEV’s delivery mode terms and definitions most relevant to online learning are Online Class Delivery and Hybrid Class Delivery. The term In Person can help determine what is NOT online or hybrid class delivery.
Synchronous Learning (JMU’s Data Dictionary)
Synchronous Learning refers to instructors and students gathering in real time, on the same days/times (as defined by the class schedule). The location can be either online or in person
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