XIV. Policy on Hybrid Teaching

A. Definition and Equivalency

1. Definition: Hybrid Course

   A hybrid course at the University of Tampa combines online and traditional face-to-face classroom instruction. Hybrid courses are organized to reduce or replace the number of required face-to-face contact hours in order to improve effectiveness and flexibility for instructors and students and/or to achieve other efficiencies. Hybrid courses reduce, by no more than 50%, the number of required face-to-face contact hours.

2. Equivalency:

   All policies and guidelines currently in place for courses approved and offered at the University are the same regardless of the mode of delivery. This pertains to credit hours, contact hours, accrediting guidelines (e.g., SACS), learning outcomes, assessment, and the like. Defined below are only equivalency guidelines specific to hybrid courses.

   Description, Outcomes and Content: Courses taught in the hybrid format must be equivalent to the same courses taught in the fully face-to-face format. Departments offering a course in hybrid format should be prepared to document that the course has student learning outcomes that are equivalent to the same course taught in the fully face-to-face format.

   Credit Hours / Contact Hours: Credit hours and contact hours for hybrid courses should be the same as those for fully face-to-face courses. No less than 50% of the content must be delivered face-to-face. For regular, non-lab or studio, courses, the credit hours and contact hours are as follows:

B. Eligible Courses

Courses may only be proposed for hybrid delivery in the summer sessions and within graduate programs unless expressly approved for delivery at another time by the Provost or the Provost’s authorized representative. Guideline for the structuring of such courses are available on the University website through the Center for Teaching and Learning.

C. Approval and Ongoing Review of Courses for Hybrid Delivery

1. Process for Approval:

   All courses proposed for hybrid delivery must already be approved by the Curriculum Committee and other related faculty committees for special designations, if applicable (e.g., Spartan Studies, Honors).

   New courses designed for hybrid delivery must be submitted to and have the approval of the home department and the Online Teaching and Learning Committee (OTLC) before the course can be offered as a hybrid. Once approved by department and OTLC, a memo will be sent to the Curriculum Committee to University records.

   Faculty proposing a course for hybrid delivery are required to follow the procedures set forth by the OTLC, which are available on the University website through the Center for Teaching and Learning. Procedures address faculty training requirements, guidelines for course structure design, and timelines and processes for submitting a course for approval.

2. Course Requirements:

   A course proposed for hybrid delivery must be equivalent to the same course delivered face-to-face (see Equivalency ) and should adhere to the course requirements identified elsewhere in this Handbook (see Chapter 3, Section I, Instructional Responsibilities of Faculty Members).

   A course accepted for review by the OTLC must be fully developed following best practices and OTLC procedures and guidelines and should include the full content of the course being proposed for hybrid delivery.

3. Ongoing Review:

   Approved hybrid courses must adhere to the structure approved by the OTLC. Ongoing courses offered in a hybrid format are reviewed by the OTLC at least every three years for compliance with standards established by the OTLC. Instructors may request peer reviews by the OTLC at any time.

D. Faculty Competencies

1. Faculty Training:

   Faculty proposing and/or teaching a course for hybrid delivery must complete required training in the basics of hybrid course design and instruction. 

   Relevant required training is part of the HCRC course approval process to ensure that faculty teaching hybrid courses are knowledgeable and competent in hybrid delivery paradigms. Faculty teaching a hybrid course are expected to abide by established policies and procedures for hybrid course delivery and be knowledgeable in best practices. The University must regularly offer faculty training and certification in the hybrid method.

2. Course Management System and Related Technologies

   To achieve consistency and competency for students taking hybrid classes, the University requires use of the University’s course management system for the structuring and delivery of courses in hybrid format. The University also may limit the technologies and software not supported through the University’s informational technology systems.

   Students taking hybrid courses must have adequate technical support available through the University. (Updated 4/5/16)