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eCampus Center

Online Program Development

The eCampus Center guides and supports a multi-semester program planning and development process.  Our purpose is to facilitate skillfully designed, high-quality, online degree and certificate programs that provide opportunities for individuals to continue their education regardless of their location, age and job responsibilities.  Throughout the process, we work in partnership with the faculty, the academic department and the college to help shape the academic program so it will be equal in rigor and quality to in-person options, competitive in the online education market and aligned to workforce needs. Video transcript.

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Designer and faculty work together
eCampus Partners With Faculty

Program Development Services

This is a multi-step process that undergoes vetting, state board approval, launch and continuous improvement.  Our services include:

  • Concept
  • Feasibility
  • Budget development
  • Operations/logistics for program development
  • Lifecycle support

Instructional Design and Development Services

  • Online program design
  • Course design and development
  • Faculty development options focused on online teaching
  • Transition to a course maintenance

Planning and Development Steps

This in-depth planning and development process is designed to ensure all new online degrees are well prepared and ready to launch. Throughout each stage of the process, student retention and graduation is the primary focus. The process of developing a quality online program at Boise State requires a significant time commitment by faculty and academic department chair or program director.

1. Concept

To clearly define the proposed program(s), collate and share comprehensive data (competition and labor market analysis), and highlight pertinent considerations in an effort to inform the decision of whether to move forward with Feasibility.

2. Feasibility

To collect and share comprehensive information about the program so that stakeholders can make an informed business decision. This includes document program structure, create feasibility report, define approval timeline, examine university readiness, prepare materials for submission to the State Board of Education, provide state authorization and professional licensure consultation.

3. Online Program Design Process

Strategically design a solid foundation for the online program:

a. Design program curriculum to meet the needs of their specific online student audience that maximizes the online learning environment.

b. Align the curriculum to meet learning outcomes and avoid curriculum gaps and overlaps.

c. Provide a framework for consistency across courses to ensure a cohesive online learning experience for students.

d. Identify a plan for ongoing course maintenance and redesigns.

4. Approvals

To receive new online program approval from the college curriculum committee, University Curriculum Committee (UG), Graduate Council (GR), and the State Board of Education (SBOE).

5. Compliance

As many states have prescribed an “authorization” process for out-of-state institutions delivering online programs to its state residents, Boise State University has taken steps to protect its students and operations through nationwide compliance and currently participates in a voluntary State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) encompassing all states except California. The regulatory affairs coordinator works to ensure the new online program complies with accreditation and/or state authorization standards. If the academic program leads to professional licensure or certification, then the academic program must take the necessary steps to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations.

NC-SARA Approved Institution Seal
Boise State University has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.

6. Operations

To systematically facilitate the administrative functions necessary to launch new online programs.

7. Course Design and Development

An instructional design consultant and members of the development team assist faculty with the design and development of individual online courses within the framework defined by the academic department during the online program design process.

8. Launch

Students enrolled and first courses begin.

9. Lifecycle Support

A holistic continuous improvement process.

Contact Us

Contact us with your ideas for new online degrees or certificates.