The meeting was called to order at 12:55 p.m. by Dr. Toni Cleveland who introduced herself to the new committee members as the Vice Chancellor of Academic Services and Research.

Present:

Toni Cleveland, System Office, tcleveland at vccs.edu
Carole Schultz, System Office, cschultz at vccs.edu
Melody Moore, John Tyler Community College, mmoore at jtcc.edu
Mary Digiacomo, Piedmont Virginia Community College, mdigiacomo at pvcc.vccs.edu
Sara Brown, Lord Fairfax Community College, lfbrows at lfcc.edu
John Ambrose, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, jambrose at jsr.vccs.edu
Paul Meadows, Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, pmeadows at dl.vccs.edu
Sheila Hobbs, Paul D. Camp Community College, shobbs at pc.vccs.edu
Ken Fairbanks, Southwest Virginia Community College, Ken.Fairbanks at sw.edu
Inez Farrell, Virginia Western Community College, ifarrell at vw.vccs.edu
John Dever, Tidewater Community College, jdever at tcc.edu
John Van Hemert, New River Community College, nrvanhj at nr.edu
Bill Hightower, Southside Virginia Community College, Bill.Hightower at sv.vccs.edu
Rebecca Kittelberger, System Office, rkittelberger at vccs.edu
Bob Vawter, Rappahannock Community College, System Office, rvawter at rcc.vccs.edu
Leslie Smith, Rappahannock Community College, lsmith at rcc.vccs.edu
Charles Boling, Virginia Highlands Community College, cboling at vhcc.edu
Sue Ellen Boatright, Mountain Empire Community College, sboatright at me.vccs.edu
Carolyn Byrd, Patrick Henry Community College, cbyrd at ph.vccs.edu
Rebecca Blankenship, Germanna Community College, rsblankenship at gcc.vccs.edu
Ruth Smith, Thomas Nelson Community College, smithr at tncc.vccs.edu
Geoffrey Hicks, Central Virginia Community College, HicksG at cvcc.vccs.edu
Gene Damon, System Office, gdamon at vccs.edu
Scott Langhorst, Tidewater Community College, SLanghorst at tcc.edu
Tim Tirrell, System Office, ttirrell at vccs.edu
Steve Sachs, Northern Virginia Community College, ssachs at nvcc.edu
H. Neil Matkin, System Office, nmatkin at vccs.edu
Evelyn Tobian, System Office, etobian at vccs.edu
 
Carole Schultz welcomed the group and reviewed elements of the Distance Learning Strategic Plan, June 27, 2001.  The Distance Learning Plan created the Distance Learning Advisory Committee.

The report emphasized that the Virginia Community College System would provide world class distance learning in response to programs and services identified as needs of citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Dr. Schultz reviewed the vision; talked about the drivers behind the vision, what it would take to achieve the vision, the components of the Distance Learning Service Center.

Revenue streams to support the Distance Learning Plan were discussed.

The report indicates the Committee reports to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Services and Research who is responsible for developing and advising on overall policy infrastructure.

The group was provided with an overview of the e-learning infrastructure - what exists, what is in  pilot phase, and what does not yet exist. Tim Tirrell reviewed where we are and critical areas. 

The Committee:

A VCCS Distance Learning Committee, reporting to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Services and Research, is responsible for developing and advising on overall policy and direction for distance learning; the Committee membership includes deans, faculty, and functional support for personnel from the colleges.

Toni Cleveland reported on Dateline 2009 and the ODU Initiative.

Negotiations are ongoing towards a proposed partnership between Old Dominion University (ODU) and the Virginia Community College System (VCCS).  The partnership would:

•      Expand Teletechnet
•      Expand terms to Fall, Spring and Summer
•      Develop 10 internet based programs with the VCCS;
•      Draft proposal and budgetary needs - ODU agrees to relinguish lower level courses to us

The current Committee has five (5) members on the Tech Council and five (5) Vice Presidents in its membership.  The Committee reports directly to the Vice Chancellor of Academic Services & Research.  It would then be the determination of that position to send items being sent forward to the appropriate level:  Technology Council, Vice Presidents/Provosts, Advisory Council of Presidents, or State Board for Community Colleges.

Dr. Cleveland introduced Dr. Neil Matkin, the new Vice Chancellor for Information Technology.  Dr. Matkin stated that academics should steer technology and not the other way around.  He asked the following questions:

•      Where will funding come from?
•      What will drive it?
•      Who will provide it?

The quality of distance learning courses should be a major focus of this Committee.

Dr. Cleveland asked the Committee to identify a chairperson.  She also asked for two volunteers to head up the sub-committee looking into the Group Portal and the review of the Distance Learning Plan and Committee Structure.

Steve Sachs, Northern Virginia, ssachs at nvcc.edu will Chair the Committee.
Scott Langhorst, Tidewater, SLanghorst at tcc.edu will Chair the Group Portal sub-committee.  John Ambrose, J. Sargeant Reynolds, jambrose at jsr.vccs.edu will Chair the Distance Learning Plan and Committee Structure sub-committee.

The Committee voted on changing the name of the Distance Learning Committee to the Distance and Distributed Learning Committee.  A majority ruled.

The Committee set its next meeting for December 3, 2003 in Charlottesville, VA.  Everyone will be notified when the logistics are completed.

The meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m.