Online vs Distance Learning Courses

Please check the Provost’s site for most the recent course modality definitions.

Online Courses are designed asynchronously which means that students engage with the course content, with other students, and with the instructor, at times that are convenient for them to do so, but within prescribed time-frames and deadlines.

Distance Learning courses often combine virtual meetings through Webex, Blackboard Collaborate, or Microsoft Teams that are synchronous (meeting times listed in the syllabus and in StudentAdmin/Peoplesoft) with other content and activities that can occur more flexibly for the students on their own outside of a required meeting time. Students should make sure they are available for course times as listed in StudentAdmin and the course syllabus.